🗺️ Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum

Combining a museum and an art gallery, this is the largest cultural facility in Okinawa Prefecture, affectionately known by the nickname "Okimyu." The museum focuses on the theme "Living in the Sea and Islands," unveiling Okinawa's nature, history, and culture. Starting from the coral reef pathway laid beneath your feet, visitors can learn about the birth and demise of the Ryukyu Kingdom, as well as the journey from post-war Okinawa to the future. Additionally, the traditional high storehouses and residential houses featured in the outdoor exhibits are also highlights. Inside the art gallery, the oil paintings, watercolors, sculptures, and other three-dimensional arts nurtured by Okinawa's unique environment are worth seeing, along with video art (films, video works, etc.). The gallery also showcases modern and contemporary artworks from Japan and various Asian countries. The museum's souvenir shop "Yuimui" sells original products designed based on the museum and art gallery's collection materials, as well as traditional crafts. Furthermore, the Museum Cafe "camecame kitchen," which offers dishes made from selected Okinawan ingredients, is not to be missed.

A combined facility that merges a museum and an art gallery is quite rare in Japan. The grand design of the facility is inspired by the Okinawa Castle (Gusuku) and won the GOOD DESIGN Award in 2008. The museum houses approximately 100,000 items, while the art gallery has around 4,800 pieces in its collection. The museum reveals the nature, history, and culture of Okinawa, while the art gallery showcases works related to Okinawa and its surroundings.