Okinawa & Ishigaki

When you cruise from Shanghai, check the essential items off the to-do list: See the classical architecture of the Bund neighborhood and walk among the smell of tea and incense in the fortified Old City. Then, if you have extra time, see the nearby Qibao Ancient Town — check out the pagoda-like bell tower, see Qibao Template (it dates back to the 900s) and snap pics of the photogenic bridges and buildings along the Puhui River.

Naha, die Hauptstadt und zugleich größte Stadt der Präfektur Okinawa, rühmt sich mit ihrer einzigartigen japanischen Kultur. Als Verkehrsknotenpunkt der ganzen Region dient Naha als Verbindung zu den anderen Gegenden Okinawas, Japans und Asiens. Demzufolge zeichnen sich die Bewohner Okinawas durch ihren offenen Umgang mit ihren Traditionen aus, die sie sehr gerne mit Besucher aus der ganzen Welt teilen – insbesondere auch ihren eigen Dialekt, Uchinaguchi.

The most cosmopolitan island in the Yaeyama Island Group of Okinawa, Ishigaki’s subtropical climate means it’s beach weather all year round here — the island is rimmed with powdery white beaches and sky-blue waters teeming with coral reefs. Cruise to Ishigaki and take the one-hour hike up Okinawa’s highest peak, Mt. Otomo, and marvel at the ocean views dotted with neighboring islands. Walk around Ishigaki’s small town: Sample freshly caught fish at the Public Market, explore the 19th-century Miyara Dounchi House and Gardens, or channel inner calm at nearby Torinji Zen Temple. Looking for more thrill factor? Head to the mangroves of Nagura Anparu Wetland for a kayaking adventure.

When you cruise from Shanghai, check the essential items off the to-do list: See the classical architecture of the Bund neighborhood and walk among the smell of tea and incense in the fortified Old City. Then, if you have extra time, see the nearby Qibao Ancient Town — check out the pagoda-like bell tower, see Qibao Template (it dates back to the 900s) and snap pics of the photogenic bridges and buildings along the Puhui River.