Up in the hills, just outside of Naha, lie the Shikinaen Gardens, the summer house of the last kings and queens of the Kingdom of the Ryukyus. Destroyed during WWII (like most of Okinawa’s historical sites), but carefully restored, the Gardens are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a beautiful example of traditional Okinawan architecture.

It’s a mere ¥200 to enter the gardens (about US $1.50), and once inside you follow a lovely little route through the gardens, past ponds and fountains, and once you take off your shoes you’re able to walk inside the wooden summer house. Talking about shoes, definitely don’t wear your fancy heels here. The path is made from very smooth, very old stones and it is slippery!