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40-544: In 1496, memorial tablets representing the kings of the Ryūkyū Kingdom were installed in the temple, establishing it as a royal mausoleum. Anyone entering the temple grounds, including the king himself, had to dismount and enter the temple on foot out of respect for the prior sovereigns. The temple grounds were expanded at this time as well, with the construction of the massive stone gates and walls which remain today. Though these royal memorial tablets continued to be enshrined in

80-451: A Jōmon period kaizuka (shell mound), ancient Chinese coins were found. Pottery found by archaeologists indicates that the area was an active site of trade with the Japanese archipelago and Korean peninsula at least as early as the 11th century. Though it is not known just when the area first became organized as a functioning port city, it was active as such by the time of the unification of

120-496: A humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfa )—bordering on tropical rainforest climate ( Köppen climate classification Af )—with hot summers and mild winters. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year; September is the wettest month and December is the driest. Naha has hot and humid summers with July and August being the city's warmest months, exceeding an average high of 31 degrees Celsius (88 °F). Naha has warm winters, with average high temperatures in

160-558: A Buddhist place of worship is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Tamaudun Tamaudun ( 玉陵 ) is one of the three royal mausoleums of the Ryukyu Kingdom , along with Urasoe yōdore at Urasoe Castle and Izena Tamaudun near Izena Castle in Izena, Okinawa . The mausoleum is located in Shuri , Okinawa , and was built for Ryūkyūan royalty in 1501 by King Shō Shin ,

200-553: A co-op market, many restaurants and a movie theater. The Okinawa Prefectural Museum , containing sections devoted to the art, history, and natural history of the Ryukyus, opened in the area in November 2007 and sits in front of Shintoshin Park . The city includes seventy-eight wards. Among the former municipalities, only Shuri still exists administratively as a local subdivision. According to

240-413: A limited time, after which the bones were washed and entombed. The shisa (stone lions) guarding the tomb are examples of traditional Ryūkyūan stone sculpture. The architectural style of the mausoleum represents that of the royal palace at the time, which was a stone structure with a wooden roof. The structure suffered extensive damage in the 1945 battle of Okinawa , and was subsequently looted, but

280-462: A massive shōtengai filled with fresh fish, meat, and produce stands, restaurants, tourist goods shops, and liquor shops. Just outside the market area is the neighborhood of Tsuboya ( 壺屋 , "pot/jar shop") , which was once a major center of ceramic production (see Tsuboya-yaki ). Northeast of Kokusai-dōri is a relatively new commercial district called Shintoshin ( 新都心 , "New Metropolitan Center") . The area, formerly United States military housing,

320-533: A narrow causeway called Chōkōtei ( 長虹堤 , lit. "long rainbow embankment" ) which led on to Shuri. The main port area for international trade, Naha proper, was divided into the East ( 東 , higashi ) and West ( 西 , nishi ) districts and was on the southwestern portion of Ukishima. A large open-air marketplace was active in front of the royal government trading center, or oyamise ( 親見世 ) . A number of Japanese temples and shrines were located here, along with

360-456: A residence and embassy, known as the Tenshikan ( 天使館 ) , for visiting Chinese officials. A pair of forts ( Mie gusuku and Yarazamori gusuku ) built atop embankments extending out across the entrance to the harbor defended the port, and a small island within the harbor held a warehouse, Omono gusuku ( 御物グスク ) , used for storing trade goods. Tomari ( 泊 ) , on the mainland of Okinawa Island to

400-515: The Irosetsuden ( 遺老説伝 ) , the name of Naha comes from its original name, Naba, which was the name of a large, mushroom -shaped stone in the city. ( Naba is a Western Japanese and Ryukyuan word for " mushroom .") Gradually, the stone wore away and became buried, and the name's pronunciation and its kanji gradually changed. In Naha, some archeological relics of the Stone Age were found. From

440-845: The Tokara Islands . Another settlement, known as Izumizaki, lay on the mainland of Okinawa Island, just across the Kumoji River from Ukishima. Izumizaki had no notable or major port facilities and is believed to have been simply an extension of the residential community of Naha proper, which thus spread onto the mainland as the population and according demand for land grew. At some point, the tidal mudflats and Kumoji River separating Ukishima, that is, Naha, from Okinawa Island were filled in. The neighborhoods of Kume, Wakasa, and Tomari can still be found in Naha today. Commodore Matthew C. Perry 's expeditionary squadron stopped in Naha en route to Tokyo in 1853; and

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480-555: The American ships visited several more times. The lithographs prepared from drawings made by the expedition's official artist would be widely circulated. These images would provide the basis for 19th century impressions of the geography and people of the Ryūkyū islands. After the replacement of the Ryūkyū Kingdom with the Ryūkyū Domain in 1872, Naha became the capital city. The Ryūkyū Domain

520-628: The Immaculate Heart of Mary (Kainan Church) is the episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Naha . The restored and rebuilt Shuri Castle , the former royal palace of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, is one of the finest gusuku (Okinawan castle) and among the most important historical sites in Naha. The palace, and a series of tunnels underneath it, were used as a major command post by the Imperial Japanese military during World War II, and

560-515: The Kingdom of Ryukyu and a National Treasure in 2018. Seventeen of the 19 kings of the Second Shō Dynasty who ruled between 1470 and 1879 are entombed at Tamaudun, along with various queens and royal children. The first person to be buried there was Shō En , for whom the mausoleum was constructed upon the orders of his son and successor, Shō Shin . However, for approximately 25 years, Shō En

600-536: The Ryukyus , Bank of Okinawa and Okinawa Kaiho Bank , are headquartered in Naha. The Bank of Japan , Mizuho Bank , Shoko Chukin Bank and Japan Post Bank also have branches in Naha. Major international insurance companies also have call centers based in the city. Naha Airport is a major transportation hub for the region, and Japan Transocean Air and Ryukyu Air Commuter , subsidiaries of Japan Airlines , are headquartered in Naha. Naha Airport and Naha Port serve

640-421: The Ryūkyū Kingdom in the early 15th century. Though today Naha has grown to incorporate the former royal capital city of Shuri , center of Chinese learning Kumemura , and other towns and villages, in the period of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, it was a smaller city, prominent as a major port, but not as a political center. Medieval Naha was on a tiny island called Ukishima, connected to the mainland of Okinawa Island by

680-573: The Sōgen-ji for many centuries, beginning in 1521, the actual royal remains were entombed in the Tamaudun mausoleum completed that year a short distance from Shuri Castle . In the early years, spirit tablet of three royalties were placed here: Shō Shoku ( 尚 稷 ), father of King Shō En ; Shō Kyū ( 尚 久 ), father of King Shō Hō ; and Shō I ( 尚 懿 ), father of King Shō Nei . In 1699, Shō Shoku and Shō Kyū's spirit tablet were moved to Tennō-ji , Shō I's

720-511: The boundary of the city of Tomigusuku , is listed on the Ramsar list of wetlands . Four universities are in the Naha area. Two are run by Okinawa Prefecture; two are private. The University of the Ryukyus , the sole national university in Okinawa Prefecture, was also in Naha, on the site of Shuri Castle. Before the restoration of the castle, the university moved to the town of Nishihara to

760-597: The castle was subsequently almost destroyed in 1945 by the US Marines, Army and Navy. After the war, the University of the Ryūkyūs was constructed on the site. Today Shuri Castle has been reconstructed, including the famous Shureimon , its main gate, and is registered, along with a number of other gusuku and other Okinawan historical and sacred sites, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Lake Man , covered with mangrove woods on

800-560: The center of classical Chinese learning in Ryūkyū for centuries. Kumemura is traditionally believed to have been founded by 36 Min families sent to Ryūkyū by the Ming Chinese Imperial Court and to be inhabited primarily or solely by descendants of those settlers; historian Uezato Takashi points out, however, that due to Naha's prominence in international maritime trade networks, it is quite likely that many other Chinese, chiefly from Fujian and other maritime trading areas along

840-532: The city's main street. Kokusai-dōri ( 国際通り , "International Avenue") boasts a 1.6 kilometer (1 mile) long stretch of stores, restaurants and bars. Kokusai-dōri ends at the main bus terminal in Okinawa and is served by several stations along the Okinawa Urban Monorail , the only train system in the prefecture. Spurring off from Kokusai-dōri is the covered Heiwa-dōri Shopping Arcade and Makishi Public Market,

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880-454: The city, ranging from small huts to temples consisting of several houses. The religion is a mix of Shintoism, Buddhism, Taoism, and indigenous traditions. The most visible part of the local beliefs though is by far the shisa, the Okinawan shiisaa ("lion dogs") that are considered protectors of the island and are found everywhere - walls, roofs, windows, street corners and parks. The Cathedral of

920-509: The city. Naha Airport is the hub of Okinawa Prefecture. The Okinawa Urban Monorail , also known as the Yui Rail ( ゆいレール ) carries passengers from Naha Airport Station to the center of Naha, Kokusai-dōri, Shintoshin, Shuri, and to the terminal at Tedako-Uranishi Station in Urasoe . The Tomari wharf in Naha connects the main Okinawa island to the rest of the islands around it. Notably it connect to

960-410: The coolest months of January and February, hovering around 19-20 degrees Celsius (66 to 68 °F) and average lows around 14-15 degrees Celsius (57 to 59 °F). The city sees a substantial amount of rainfall, averaging in excess of 2,000 mm (79 in) of rain per year. Naha is an economic center of Okinawa dominated by tourism, retail and service industries. Okinawa's largest banks, Bank of

1000-531: The fighting. The entire centre of the city had to be rebuilt. On 1 September 1954, the village of Oroku was merged into the city. On April 1, 2013, Naha became a core city , a category of cities of Japan under the Local Autonomy Law of Japan . Naha now carries out many of the functions, notably for public health care, normally delegated to the prefectural government. Naha is the first core city in Okinawa Prefecture. There are numerous shrines throughout

1040-534: The most important and populous sites in Okinawa. Naha is the political, economic and educational center of Okinawa Prefecture. In the medieval and early modern periods, it was the commercial center of the Ryukyu Kingdom . Central Naha consists of the Palette Kumoji shopping mall, the Okinawa Prefecture Office , Naha City Hall, and many banks and corporations, located at the west end of Kokusai-dōri,

1080-462: The name of Shō Shin along with those of eight others involved in the construction. The three compartments of the mausoleum are laid out from east to west, with kings and queens in the eastern compartment and the princes and rest of the royal family in the western compartment, the central compartment used for the Ryukyuan tradition of senkotsu  [ ja ] ; remains would only be kept here for

1120-720: The northeast of Naha. Naha's public elementary and junior high schools are operated by the Naha City Board of Education . Naha's public high schools are operated by the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education . Private schools include the Okinawa Actors' School . Naha-te , (Naha-hand), called Nawate by Gichin Funakoshi , is a type of martial art developed in Naha. The successor styles to Naha-te include Gōjū-ryū , Uechi-ryū , Ryūei-ryū , and Tōon-ryū . Naha has

1160-527: The northeast of Ukishima, served as the chief port for trade within the Ryūkyū Islands. The administrators of Tomari were also responsible for collecting and managing the tribute paid to the kingdom by the Amami Islands , whose tribute ships made port here. Kume-Ōdōri ( 久米大通り , "Kume Great Avenue") ran across Ukishima from southeast to northwest, forming the center of the walled community of Kumemura ,

1200-432: The son of the Ryūkyū Kingdom's last king, Shō Tai , who was entombed there in 1920 in accordance with traditional Ryūkyūan royal funerary rites. 26°13′06″N 127°42′53″E  /  26.21833°N 127.71472°E  / 26.21833; 127.71472 Naha Naha ( 那覇市 , Naha-shi , Japanese: [naꜜha] , Okinawan : Nāfa or Nafa ) is the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture ,

1240-707: The southern Chinese coast, would have settled here as well. Major sites in the community included the Tensonbyō Taoist temple near the northern end of Kume-Ōdōri and two shrines called Upper and Lower Tenpigū, dedicated to the Taoist goddess of the sea Tenpi, also known as Matsu . A Confucian temple, the gift of the Kangxi Emperor , was built in Kumemura in the 1670s; the Meirindō , a school of classic Confucian Chinese learning,

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1280-532: The southernmost prefecture of Japan . As of 1 June 2019, the city has an estimated population of 317,405 and a population density of 7,939 people per km (20,562 persons per sq. mi.). The total area is 39.98 km (15.44 sq mi). Naha is located on the East China Sea coast of the southern part of Okinawa Island , the largest of Okinawa Prefecture. The modern city was officially founded on May 20, 1921. Before that, Naha had been for centuries one of

1320-459: The third king of the Second Shō Dynasty a short distance from Shuri Castle . The site, covering an area of 2,442 m , consists of two stone-walled enclosures, the three compartments of the mausoleum itself facing north and backed by a natural cliff to the south. A stone stele in the outer enclosure memorializes the construction of the mausoleum, which was finished in 1501, and lists

1360-526: The tombs and royal remains themselves remained intact, and much of the structure has since been restored. In 1992 Hiroshi Shō , the great-grandson of Shō Tai , the last king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom , donated Tamaudun and the royal gardens of Shikina-en to the City of Naha . It was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on December 2, 2000, as a part of the site group Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of

1400-657: Was abolished in 1879 and the former Ryūkyū Kingdom came to an end, fully annexed by Japan as Okinawa Prefecture , with Naha remaining as the capital city. Shuri and other neighboring municipalities were absorbed into the city. An Imperial decree in July 1899 established Naha as an open port for trading with the United States and the United Kingdom. During the battle of Okinawa in World War II , Naha suffered extensive damage from

1440-553: Was established in 1718. Following their destruction in World War II , the Meirindō, Confucian temple, and Tenpigū shrines were rebuilt on the site of the Tensonbyō in northern Kume, where they stand today as the Confucian temple Shiseibyō . On the northwest side of Ukishima lay Wakasamachi ( 若狭町 , "Wakasa town") , a community traditionally said to have been founded by Japanese settlers. It

1480-512: Was moved to Tenkai-ji . All the temple buildings were destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945; only the stone walls and gates, foundations and steps, and some tablets and steles survived. Of two stone tablets erected outside the gates warning visitors to dismount, one remains today. The site is today a public park. 26°13′13″N 127°41′26″E  /  26.22039°N 127.6906°E  / 26.22039; 127.6906 This article about

1520-469: Was not initially interred here, given that he died in 1476 and the mausoleum was not completed until 1501. Other monarchs not interred here include Shō Sen'i (1430-1477), who was not later re-interred here as his brother was, and Shō Nei (1564–1620) who chose to be interred separately in Urasoe yōdore in the aftermath of the Invasion of Ryukyu . The last interree was former Prince of Nakagusuku , Shō Ten ,

1560-620: Was organized around Wakasamachi-Ōdōri, an avenue which intersected with Kume-Ōdōri and ran across tidal mudflats to the east of Ukishima, connecting the community to the port of Tomari on the Okinawan mainland. A number of Japanese shrines and temples were located in Wakasamachi, including the Naminoue Shrine , the Zen temple Kōganji, and temples devoted to Ebisu and Jizō . The community had lodgings specifically set aside for traders and travelers from

1600-484: Was released to Okinawa in 1987, but major development only began in the mid-1990s. Omoromachi Station is attached directly to an upscale shopping mall; another mall, Naha Main Place, a few hundred meters (yards) down the street, contains many upscale Western-brand fashion boutiques, with restaurants and other shops. Frequented by young people, the area boasts large stores such as Toys R Us and Best Denki (an electronics store),

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