Okinawa offers a mix of war history, marine life, and Ryukyuan culture that you will not find elsewhere in Japan. The reconstructed Shuri Castle in Naha is the obvious starting point for understanding the island's past as the seat of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The Peace Memorial Park and Himeyuri Monument in the south confront the devastating Battle of Okinawa head-on.
On the lighter side, the Churaumi Aquarium on the Motobu Peninsula is genuinely impressive, with whale sharks gliding through one of the world's largest tanks. Offshore, the diving around the Kerama Islands and the Blue Cave near Cape Maeda draws divers from across Asia. For a quieter afternoon, the traditional pottery village of Tsuboya in Naha and the Ryukyu glass workshops scattered around the island are worth a visit.