Ryukyu Mura

Ryukyu Mura opened in 1982 on the Onna coast and collects Okinawan houses moved here from across the islands - red-tiled roofs with shisa figures, coral walls, and in several cases buildings a couple of hundred years old with registered heritage status, saved from demolition. Inside them are working demonstrations: bingata stencil dyeing, basho-fu banana-fibre weaving, pottery, sugar cane crushed by a water buffalo turning a mill, awamori distilling, and glass. Eisa, the Okinawan drum dance performed at Obon, is staged several times daily along with a habu snake show and a small procession. Visitors can try the dyeing, weaving and a sanshin lesson. It is a commercial heritage village rather than a lived-in place, and it says so; what it does well is put the crafts in front of you being made rather than in a case.

What you actually see

• Relocated farmhouses - red tile, shisa and coral walls, several of them registered heritage.
• Working crafts - bingata dyeing, banana-fibre weaving, pottery and awamori.
• A buffalo sugar mill - cane crushed by an animal turning a stone mill.
• Eisa drumming - the Obon drum dance staged several times a day.

When to go

All year. Two to three hours; check the performance timetable on arrival.

Honest expectations

It is a commercial heritage village, not an authentic settlement. The habu snake show divides opinion on animal welfare. Hands-on sessions are charged on top of entry and book up. Coach parties fill it in the middle of the day.

Nearby

Cape Manzamo is north; Naha is south down Route 58.