Okinawa's "Island of the Gods" and a city of worldly history and culture

Nanjo is a newly incorporated city, formed by the merger of one town and three villages on January 1, 2006, and is shaped like a heart. The city, located within 40 minutes of Naha Airport, is situated on the Pacific Ocean and Nakagusuku Bay, is blessed with a lush natural environment, and the view from the hill is gaining popularity for the beautiful scenery it yields. Many noteworthy historical and cultural sights can be found here, such as Kudaka Island, which is known as the “Island of the Gods”; the World Heritage Site Sefa-Utaki, known as a sacred site; numerous Gusuku, stone-walled fortresses and castles with deep histories; and the cultural heritage of the Agariumai pilgrimage route. Okinawa World, a tourist theme park on a vast site roughly 180,005 square meters in size, can also be found within the city. Inside Okinawa World is the Natural Monument Gyokusendo, a limestone cave that contains a fascinating and mysterious world created by nature. The Ryukyu Kingdom castle town area, where a number of old traditional houses that are National Tangible Cultural Properties line the streets, is a place where you can experience the nature, culture, and history of Okinawa in a space that makes you feel like you traveled back in time to the old days of the Ryukyu Kingdom. This tourist destination is one of the defining attractions of the southern part of the island.