Nature’s Magic Classroom::Gyokusendo Kingdom Village::Okinawa

The hot summer is perfect for enjoying Okinawa’s island sunshine, beaches, and sea. Beyond the seaside vibes, don’t miss the local Gyokusendo Kingdom Village, where you can delve into the fascinating stalactite formations for a visually stunning experience, and also explore the history, culture, folklore, and craftsmanship of the Ryukyu Dynasty.

Okinawa’s distribution of Ryukyu limestone has led to the formation of many mysterious caves, and it was the academic exploration team from Ehime University in Japan that discovered this natural magic classroom in 1967 (Showa 42).

To systematically manage and protect this artistic wonderland, Gyokusendo Kingdom Village was established here, centered around Gyokusendo, one of Japan’s three great stalactite caves. Ten themed parks were built around it, showcasing Okinawa’s unique uplifted coral reefs as they appeared over 300,000 years deep underground. The total length spans 5 kilometers, making it the second largest in Japan and the largest underground art gallery in Southeast Asia. The area currently open to tourists is about 850 meters long.

Among them, the cave is famous for the "Oriental No.1 Cave," known as Japan’s “art gallery of nature,” built from countless large stalagmites, and the golden-yellow stalactite dubbed the “Golden Cup.” The lighting projection effects inside make visitors feel as if they’ve entered a magical fantasy world.

Outside Gyokusendo lies a large-scale theme park, the Okinawan Cultural Kingdom, a must-visit for Okinawa tourism. The park recreates the appearance of the Ryukyu Dynasty’s castle town, allowing visitors to take a trip back in time through century-old traditional houses. The square features lively performances of the Ryukyuan “Tamashii Matsuri Dance.” Other highlights of Gyokusendo include a tropical fruit garden, craft village, and the heart-pounding Poisonous Snake Museum.