The Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum in Omoromachi has an impressive exterior that resembles an old castle.

Many people are probably curious about what it's like inside this building, aren't they?

While there are countless famous tourist spots in the prefecture, this is a place where you can learn about Okinawa in depth through fun activities. It's a facility I would recommend to discerning Okinawa fans.

This time, we visited the museum's permanent exhibition. We'll give you a thorough analysis of what we saw!

<Contents>
1. What kind of place is the Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum?
2. I visited the museum's permanent exhibition.
2-1 Even if you have limited time for your visit, be sure to see these!
2-2 Interactive Learning Room
3. Conclusion - Basic Information -

1. What kind of place is the Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum?

The Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum was established in Omoromachi in 2007.
The museum, which had previously been based in Shuri, was moved to its current location due to the aging of its facilities.

The reason it looks like an old castle is because the design was inspired by the stone walls of castles from the Ryukyu Kingdom era.
The following year, in 2008, it received the Good Design Award, and it is well worth seeing as an architectural structure.

Despite its imposing exterior, the building incorporates architectural features that reduce the heat burden from sunlight. This is something you'd only find on a tropical island like Okinawa.It's packed with content, consisting of three booths in total: outdoor exhibits outside the museum, the museum's permanent exhibition, and an interactive experience room where you can learn by touching things.
If you also want to see the adjacent art museum, you won't be able to see everything even in a single day.

This time, we mainly visited the museum's permanent exhibition. Below, I will describe our experience in detail.

2. I visited the museum's permanent exhibition.

The Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum is located about three blocks from Omoromachi Station on the Yui Rail line.

It takes about 10 minutes to walk there, but you can go through DFS and large shopping malls, so you'll get there surprisingly quickly.

The museum's outdoor exhibits greet visitors in front of the main entrance.

Here, you can actually go inside the traditional houses with red tile roofs and take photos. They are also used as venues for events and other activities.Upon entering the building, first purchase your ticket at the ticket counter and hand it to the reception staff.
If you purchase a ticket for the special exhibition, you can also view the museum's permanent collection.When I visited, only the permanent exhibition was open, so the admission fee was 410 yen for one adult.
(As of 2023, admission to the museum's permanent exhibition is 530 yen per adult, and admission to the art museum's collection exhibition is 400 yen.)
Admission is free for those aged 70 and over, and for those with a disability certificate.

You can also get discounts on the museum's permanent exhibitions with a Yui Rail free pass or a ticket stub from Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium or Shuri Castle Park.

I realized this on my way out, but apparently you could also borrow audio guides for free from this reception desk. What a missed opportunity! (cries)

2-1 Even if you have limited time for your visit, be sure to see these!

I visited the museum on a weekday around 15 PM.

It wasn't extremely crowded, but there were people of all ages visiting, including young people, families, and elderly people.The theme of the museum's permanent exhibition is "Living on the Sea and Islands."
The museum features a comprehensive exhibition that provides a historical overview from the distant past of humankind to post-war Okinawa, as well as five separate exhibition sections.

The exhibits cover a wide range of topics, including items related to Okinawa's nature, works of art and crafts, and everyday items that were actually used, allowing visitors to explore Okinawa's history from various perspectives.

The tour is structured so that the time period progresses as you move towards the second half, making it very easy to follow.

However, this museum is quite large, so it takes a considerable amount of time to see every corner of it.

Moreover, I had plans afterward and wanted to make sure I saw all the highlights, when I discovered this at the entrance.A handmade flyer prominently displays the words, "Don't miss this!" The back side contains detailed explanations of each item.

Each booth has one exhibit, so there are a total of 10 exhibits. This means you don't need to spend too long to see them all.

Below, we'll introduce three of our top picks from the exhibits!

First up is a stuffed specimen of the Okinawa Rail, a natural monument. You can see it in the natural history booth.Even though it's a taxidermied specimen, you don't see a real Okinawa Rail very often.
In addition to these, there were many other stuffed animals from the Ryukyu Islands on display, and they were so impressive that they might appear in your dreams.

This is the former Shuri Castle main hall bell (Bell of the Bridge to All Nations), a nationally designated important cultural property. You can see it in the Kingdom's Prosperity booth.Collection of the Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum

A loud banging sound is heard every 30 minutes. Foreign tourists were also taking pictures, seemingly intrigued.

Finally, let me introduce you to a license plate from the time when Okinawa was under American rule.

You can see it in the post-war Okinawa booth, which is the last exhibit in the main exhibition.Collection of the Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum

At first glance, it may seem like an ordinary license plate, but apparently, it was once used to distinguish the status of military personnel.
The words "KEYSTONE OF THE PACIFIC" below the alphanumeric characters were particularly striking.

I'll stop here to avoid spoilers, but the other exhibits are also incredibly impressive.

It took me about an hour and a half to look around everything.
Apparently, it can take some people two to three hours.

Major exhibits are marked with QR codes, allowing visitors to read explanations on their smartphones or tablets.

There are exhibit monitors at each booth, so feel free to ask them any questions.
I actually asked them a question, and they were very friendly and helpful. They also offer volunteer guided tours every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from 14:00 PM to 17:30 PM.

One of the highlights is that you're generally allowed to take photos of most of the exhibits. (Exhibits where photography is prohibited are marked with a "no photography" icon.)

2-2 Interactive Exhibition Room Where You Can Learn by Touching

In the "Interactive Experience Room," located right next to the entrance of the museum's permanent exhibition, you can learn about Okinawan culture through play with 37 different hands-on exhibits (kits that you can touch and experience) that are linked to the museum's permanent exhibition.

Playing the sanshin (Okinawan stringed instrument), wearing a kimono, and touching folk crafts.

One of the great things about this place is that there are staff members inside who can teach you how to play.

Various events are held every Saturday, so be sure to check the official website before you visit!

3. Conclusion - Basic Information -

What did you think.
The day I visited, a typhoon was approaching and it was raining heavily outside, but I felt that being able to enjoy the museum even in such conditions is one of its best qualities.

Also located on the third floor of the building is the stylish, all-glass restaurant "Kame Kame Kitchen," where you can see a few local ladies enjoying a leisurely lunch.
It only opened in May of this year, and it's apparently so popular that many people come just to have a meal there.

To be honest, I visited without really knowing what was on display, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it!
Not only is it a fun way to learn about Okinawan history, but it also displays cultural artifacts that are rare even on a national level, making it well worth a visit.

For those looking for a different kind of Okinawan sightseeing experience, why not give it a try?

<Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum> Approximately 10 minutes on foot from Omoromachi Station on the Yui Rail. Address: 3-1-1 Omoromachi, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture 900-0006 Phone: 098-941-8200 Closed on: Mondays (open if Monday is a national holiday, substitute holiday, or Memorial Day, and closed the following weekday), New Year's holidays (December 29th to January 1st), and other days. Opening hours: Normally 9:00-18:00, Fridays and Saturdays only 09:00-20:00 (Entry is permitted until 30 minutes before closing time.) Parking: Available (158 spaces, free) Official HP:http://www.museums.pref.okinawa.jp

Please make your hotel reservation here.

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