Naha is the capital city of the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa. The city was officially founded on May 20, 1921, but prior to that Naha had already been for centuries one of the most important sites in the Ryukyu Islands. Naha is a coastal city located on the East China Sea coast of the southern part of Okinawa Island, the largest of the Ryukyu Islands.
A must visit is the rebuilt Shuri Castle which is one of the finest castles and among the most important historical sites in Naha. The palace consists of a series of tunnels underneath it which was used as a major command post by the Imperial Japanese military during World War II. The castle was almost completely destroyed in 1945 by the US Marines, Army and Navy. Today the Shuri Castle has been rebuilt along with the famous Shureimon.