What other travelers are saying about Ryukyu Mura (Ryukyu Village)
The place is nice to visit, see old traditional houses, music etc.
But i left crying after seing how this poor creature is being held there. 😢😢😢
The beautiful big water buffalo is being kept for people to take a photo with. He lives in a tiny little fenced space with no place to move, unable even to move his head because he is tied on a short rope through his nose.
When i asked about it they told me:
"We can't know if he likes it because he can't tell us, he is not human. So it is okay."
"We walk him few times a day in a small circle and back."
"At night he goes home to sleep where he is untied."
"Oh, you people from Europe thinking animals shouldn't be in cages."
I am very aware that many people don't care about animals. But my suggestion is at least to give him a bit more space to move around. There is plenty of space exactly where he is. Just making the fence bigger and taking the rope off would make some difference, and it wouldn't hurt the place at all.
He is already old, as they told me, so he probably won't suffer much longer 😞 But I wish at least his last working days were a little less painful ❤️
Good for kids, saw lots of younger families there. It was touristy but peaceful, it wasn’t like one of those other tourist attractions that are super crowded. Plants and greenery were beautiful, even on a cloudy December weekday. I agree with another review that says this isn’t a “must-see” but can be enjoyable still.
More about Ryukyu Mura (Ryukyu Village) from our blog
Frequently Asked Questions
Ryukyu Mura is situated in the central part of Okinawa Island, near Onna Village. It's easily accessible by car or bus from Naha, the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture.
Visitors can explore traditional Ryukyu houses, watch Eisa dance performances, participate in craft workshops such as pottery making and weaving, and enjoy traditional Okinawan foods. There are also parades and seasonal festivals that showcase the vibrant culture of the Ryukyu Islands.
Yes, Ryukyu Mura offers several dining options where visitors can taste traditional Okinawan cuisine, including soba noodles, goya champuru (bitter melon stir-fry), and sweet potato treats. There are also snack stands throughout the park.
Yes, Ryukyu Mura offers a variety of hands-on workshops where visitors can learn traditional crafts and skills such as pottery, weaving, and making Okinawan sweets. Some workshops require advance booking and an additional fee, so it's recommended to plan ahead.
Nice themed village that offers a great introduction to Okinawan culture. There are performances at selected times of the day, and it’s a must‑visit if you enjoy cultural experiences. There’s an admission fee, but it’s affordable and well worth it to support the preservation of local traditions.
Big time history buffs this is your spot! I rather enjoyed this one. We came in the late afternoon at 2:30 it wasn’t super busy, but mostly everything is in Japanese some main things on signs are in English. The shows are all in Japanese. There are 2 shows, at 3 intervals between 9:30 and 1600 the last entry is at 1600.
The first show is the song and dance the second show is the drums and dance
For the second show If it looks like rain they’ll move you indoors past the “habupit”
Watch out for mosquitoes they’re abundant today when we came (10/11/2025 - 10th November 2025)
I do have one qualm though…. The way the water buffalo is being kept. And the smaller enclosure for the goats…. Breaks my heart a little the way some animals are kept. Could’ve had a bigger area that they can graze but everything else was enjoyable. Long okinawan history. Very interesting.
It's a nice place to visit and immerse yourself in Ryukyuan culture. Some might find it a little disorganized but I kind of liked the messiness, as it brings an authentic and friendly feel to the place, as most touristic sites may feel too artificial nowadays. The staff are all very friendly, and give a feel that they live there in the village, as even in their time off they are just strolling around the houses, sitting around, playing sanshin and talking with one another! Again, some might not like it because of that, but I think this gives a more human feel to the place.
TLDR is: it might not be for the more fancy-liking luxury travelers, but for everyone else is at least worth dropping by!
