Oct. 27, 2023: Our ship docked at Naha Port on Okinawa Island this morning after visiting two small ports in the last two days. Naha Port is considered a major port with well-established facilities.

Our primary objective for the day was to explore the castles and parks on the outskirts. Naha Port offers convenient transportation options, including buses and monorail trains. In just over an hour, we reached Shuri Castle on the outskirts. Originally the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom, it was built in the style of the Forbidden City. Unfortunately, the main hall inside the castle walls was entirely destroyed by a fire in 2019 and is currently undergoing reconstruction.

After departing from the castle, we discovered a nearby local cultural heritage site – the Kinjo Stone Path, an old stone pathway with steep steps. Traditional guesthouses lined the pathway, highlighting the daily challenges faced by residents in their comings and goings. At an intersection, we encountered well-preserved traditional Japanese village houses.

Walking along the tranquil stone pathway, we stumbled upon a restaurant at the end, a delightful find. We relished a delicious and reasonably priced Japanese hot pot and noodle soup for two.

Following lunch, we climbed over a small hill. We embarked on a journey of over thirty minutes to reach Shikina-en, the royal garden of the Ryukyu Kingdom, once favored as a vacation spot for Chinese emperors. While wandering through the garden, we unexpectedly saw someone filming a video. Although unsure whether they were celebrity or an internet sensation, we were captivated by a young man playing the Sanshin and singing beautifully.

We returned to the city center by bus and explored the commercial district, where we indulged in some delectable sushi made with black-haired wagyu beef, renowned for its tenderness. Although most shops along the main commercial street offered various tourist souvenirs, we felt genuinely distinctive Japanese items were lacking.

十月二十七日:接连去了二个小港，今天早上我们的船来到冲绳岛的那霸港，算是个大港，周围设施完善。

今天主要想看郊外的城堡和公园。大港口到底不一样，公交车，单轨铁路都很方便。一个多小时便来到郊外的首里城堡，原是琉球王国的皇宫，按紫禁城建造的，又是一个世界遗产名录的景点，只可惜城墙里面的大殿在2019年被大火全部烧毁了，正在全部重建。

出了城堡，附近有一个当地的文化遗产 - 旧时的石道，坡度很大，还有阶梯。石道二旁还都是民宿，感叹当地的居民每天进出是有多么不方便。路口边还保留着收拾得非常干净的日本传统村屋。沿着幽静的石道往下走，在石道的尽头看到一家餐厅，走进去发现真是找对地方了。俩人吃上一顿物美价廉的日本火锅和汤面。

饭后，我们爬过小山坡，走了三十多分钟来到识名园，琉球王国的皇家花园，以前还用于中国皇帝度假的地方。在花园里，正遇见拍摄小视频，也不知是哪个明星或网红。看了一会儿，弹琴唱歌的男生唱得真不错。

坐公交车回到市中心，在商业区里转一大圈，尝试了一下黑毛和牛寿司，好吃，很嫩。整条商业主街上以卖各种旅游纪念品的商店为主，但觉得真正有日本特色的并不多。