The Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum occupies a large building in Naha's Omoromachi district, opened in 2007, combining natural history, archaeology, and ethnography in the history wing alongside contemporary and traditional Ryukyuan art in the art galleries. It is the most comprehensive introduction to Okinawa available under one roof.
The natural history section covers Okinawa's remarkable biodiversity — the islands have an unusual number of endemic species due to their geographic isolation — while the history galleries trace the full arc from prehistoric Okinawa through the Ryukyu Kingdom, annexation by Japan in 1879, and the devastating 1945 battle. The art museum holds a strong collection of both traditional Okinawan crafts — bingata fabric dyeing, lacquerware, ceramics — and modern painting. Admission is reasonable and the building is air-conditioned; it makes an excellent refuge from midday heat in summer. Allow two to three hours for the history and art wings together.