What other travelers are saying about Nakamura House
This little GEM of a place it’s amazing! I’m so glad we made it here. Super cute and well preserved. With a garden around the grounds and totally worth to check out all the little spots on that map out front (Photo spots all over) Easy to explore and plenty of parking. We were one of the only ones there. Yen only.
Worth the trip 100%
Nakamura House is a traditional Okinawan residence that dates back over 300 years. It is preserved as a historic house museum, showcasing traditional Okinawan architecture and the lifestyle of the Ryukyuan aristocracy during the Ryukyu Kingdom era.
The house is noted for its distinctive Okinawan architectural style, which includes a red tiled roof, limestone walls, and a traditional courtyard. This style is designed to withstand the region’s frequent typhoons and high temperatures, reflecting the adaptability and ingenuity of Ryukyuan builders.
Photography is generally allowed in the outdoor areas of Nakamura House, but may be restricted inside the main building to protect the delicate artifacts and interiors. Always check for signs or ask staff members about specific photography policies.
Yes, visitors are allowed to tour the interior of Nakamura House. The house contains historical artifacts, traditional furnishings, and detailed explanations of the family history and the architectural features that are unique to the Ryukyu era.
A must stop over if visiting Okinawa. Step back in time and see how Okinawans lived their everyday lives. You can enter the home and see and feel history! I totally recommend it here.
This well-known Okinawan traditional house is called "Nakamura House," designated as one of Japan's National Important Cultural Properties. There is a pig sty, and an altar room.
The Nakamura House was designated as a major cultural treasure by Japanese national government, even though it is a residence/ house of the rich farmer or farming elite family, the Nakamura Family.
The House could be traced back to 1720 or around, and it is well preserved and maintained, without much damage, even survived from Okinawa Battle in 1945. Wooden structure, mixed with stone slabs, bamboo frames inside and tall stone walls outside, are shield by tall Fukugi trees [aka, Happiness Trees] from strong winds and sands, even hurricanes/ typhoons.
On roof top, visitors can see a talisman, Shi-sa, which is believed to be a guardian to scare away or drive away unwanted ghosts or spirits.
Even with its long history, Nakamura House is well maintained and has been in continuous restoration for its originality.
Staffs can command fluent English for site-visit questions, although visitors can use QR Code to scan and access for multilanguage onsite guides at major local points.
Entrance admission is $ 500 Yen for adult and $200 or $ 300 Yen for teenagers or children, depending on age. There is a gift shop near ticket office,
It was a very peaceful area, and the interior was nicely decorated with several unique items that you could find from that time like pottery, robes, tools, etc. I really appreciated the supplemental information provided by the pamphlet and their website you could find with a QR code that appeared a couple times around the old home. It was quite interesting, but unsure whether it is worth ￥500. In the end they surpassed my expectations though by providing a free little treat. I won't say what, but it's a great strategy to bring customers into their gift shop to check out their neat selection. It's all worth a look if you already happen to be in the area checking out the Nakagusuku Castle or something!
