All Reviews of Okinawa World

I really recommend planning a trip to Okinawa World! It brings Okinawa's nature, history, and traditional culture together in one park, and the spectacular Gyokusendo Cave is the one thing you can't miss. Okinawa has more than 600 limestone caves, and Gyokusendo Cave is one of the most iconic and impressive. About 800 meters of the cave are open to visitors, and walking the entire route takes around 50 minutes.

Along the way, you can see stalactites that slowly formed over hundreds of thousands of years. Their unusual shapes, illuminated by the lights, add to the mysterious and magical atmosphere. Most amazingly, these stalactites are still growing and slowly taking on new forms. As you walk through and see the traces nature has left little by little, you can't help but marvel, "Nature's craftsmanship is truly incredible!"

After leaving Gyokusendo Cave, don't rush off〜Okinawa World itself is also well worth exploring! You can experience traditional Okinawan culture and see distinctive buildings and historical artifacts throughout the park. I especially recommend seeing the taiko drum show!

The roughly 30-minute performance is powerful, with thunderous drumming and an incredibly lively atmosphere. It has a distinctly Okinawan feel!

The park has even more to offer than I expected, and the cave walkway was much longer than anticipated. After touring Gyokusendo Cave, there is still plenty of traditional Okinawan culture and history to enjoy as you make your way back.

During my trip to Okinawa, I planned an itinerary full of awe-inspiring sights and local flavor, visiting one of the area's most iconic large theme parks, Okinawa World. Gyokusendo Cave in particular, hailed as one of the greatest wonders of the East, truly left me speechless at nature's incredible craftsmanship!

The moment I entered Gyokusendo Cave and descended into the underground limestone cavern, the temperature around me immediately became cool and comfortable. This five-kilometer-long underground cave was sculpted by nature over 300,000 years, and about one kilometer is currently open to visitors. Along the walkway, thousands upon thousands of oddly shaped stalactites and stalagmites surrounded me overhead and on all sides, along with underground rivers. Illuminated by lights, they looked mysterious and magnificent. The most breathtaking area was the “Dragon God Pond,” where the mirror-like water reflected massive limestone columns. It was so beautiful that it looked like a scene from a sci-fi movie.

After finishing the underground tour and returning above ground, the atmosphere of the entire park instantly shifted to one rich in traditional Ryukyuan culture. In the quaint village of traditional Ryukyuan houses, you can not only enjoy spectacular traditional Eisa drum and lion dance performances, but also try various local crafts.

I highly recommend adding Okinawa World and Gyokusendo Cave to your must-visit list when traveling to Okinawa. Whether you're seeing the magnificent natural wonders underground or experiencing the rich Ryukyuan culture, you're sure to come away with incredibly vivid and wonderful memories of the entire trip!

I really recommend visiting Okinawa World (Gyokusendo Cave) when you come to Okinawa! It's not just a limestone cave. The entire park brings together Okinawa's natural scenery, traditional culture, and distinctive performances, making it a great place to spend half a day exploring at a leisurely pace.

Gyokusendo Cave impressed me the most. As you walk deeper into the underground cave and see all the unusual and magnificent stalactites, you can't help but keep taking photos. It's also very cool inside, so you don't have to worry about getting too hot in the summer!

I also highly recommend seeing the taiko drum show. It features dragon and lion dances along with exciting traditional performances. It's about 30 minutes long, but the pace is fast, and the whole show is very entertaining.

The park also has a reptile house, restaurants, snacks, and souvenir shops. There's plenty to see, eat, and buy, and 3–4 hours is just right.

The ground inside Gyokusendo Cave can be quite wet and slippery, so remember to wear non-slip shoes for safety. If you haven't been here yet while visiting Okinawa, it's definitely worth adding to your itinerary!

Okinawa World is an attraction with a lot of distinctive Okinawan character. In the park, you can enjoy traditional Ryukyuan culture, a limestone cave, and old-fashioned streetscapes. Just walking through it gives you a strong sense of the local character. The entire park is filled with nature and culture, giving you a deeper understanding of Okinawa.

During this visit, what impressed me most was Gyokusendo Cave. Seeing the spectacular stalactites inside really made me feel how amazing nature is. Along the way, you can also admire traditional Ryukyuan architecture and experience traditional Okinawan culture. The whole experience was very interesting.

This trip made me feel that Okinawa World is more than just a tourist attraction; it's more like a short cultural journey through Okinawa. You can experience everything from natural scenery to traditional ways of life all in one place. It's both fun and educational, making it a stop well worth adding to your itinerary.

I actually came this time entirely for Gyokusendo Cave. I originally thought I could leave after seeing the limestone cave and checking out some traditional Okinawan buildings, but once I went in, I realized the layout of Okinawa World is incredibly well designed. There's basically no way to pick and choose only what you want to see.

The route through the park starts with Gyokusendo Cave. After exiting the cave, it naturally leads to the tropical fruit garden, traditional craft experiences, the Ryukyu Kingdom Castle Town, shops, performance areas, and other facilities, one after another. You basically follow the route through the entire park. I thought three hours would be enough, but everything flowed so smoothly that I ended up staying for the performance too. I arrived a little after 1 p.m., and by the time I left, it was almost closing time.

That said, Gyokusendo Cave itself is definitely worth making a special trip for. The cave is about 5 kilometers long, with around 890 meters currently open to visitors, and it contains over one million stalactites. Walking through it is truly spectacular. Along the way, you can see the many different forms created by the stalactites, and even small stalagmites slowly forming where water has been dripping near the walkway for years.

I really liked the lighting inside. It illuminates the cave clearly without giving it that cheap tourist-attraction feel from excessive lighting. Instead, it beautifully brings out the layers and shapes of the different stalactites. There are a few things to keep in mind when visiting, though. The cave has plenty of ups and downs, and the ground can get wet. Some stalactites hang so low over the walkway that protective padding has been installed. Taller visitors really need to watch their heads, because if you hit one, people might be more worried about the stalactite than your head.

Also, Gyokusendo Cave is not wheelchair accessible, and the public route is nearly 900 meters long. If you're traveling with seniors or children, or if you have difficulty with stairs and wet, slippery surfaces, it's best to consider your stamina beforehand.

Overall, the admission isn't exactly cheap, but the scale and scenery of Gyokusendo Cave are impressive. Along with the traditional Ryukyu buildings, craft experiences, tropical plants, and live performances afterward, I still recommend setting aside half a day if it's your first time in Okinawa. The overall atmosphere really doesn't feel like Japan.

Gyokusendo Cave’s stalactites formed over hundreds of thousands of years. The lighting creates spectacular, dreamlike scenery that showcases the incredible artistry of nature. The park also offers traditional Ryukyu dance and taiko performances, along with hands-on activities like glassmaking and textile dyeing, providing a deeper look into Okinawan culture.

This place is perfect for spending a relaxed half day exploring! Gyokusendo Cave was even more impressive than I expected. Walking inside felt like entering another world, and the stalactites looked so beautiful under the lights that I couldn’t stop taking photos.

After that, strolling through the Ryukyu Kingdom Castle Town area gave a great feel for Okinawa’s historic atmosphere. The whole park has a lot to see and is super photogenic. Definitely worth a visit.

On a hot summer day, visiting the limestone cave was actually pretty cool and refreshing.

Okinawa World has three main attractions: Gyokusendo Cave, the Folk Village, and the Habu Museum. The taiko drum performance is my top recommendation—definitely worth checking out.