Naha, Japan Cruises

As the largest city on the Japanese island of Okinawa, the entire city of Naha has become something of a shrine to the sacrifices made during the second world war, with memorials and monuments paying tribute to the Battle of Okinawa at every turn.

The battle itself took place in 1945, and continues to shape the local culture to the present day, with much of the island's development over the past seven decades having been undertaken with the conflict in mind. For example, the amazingly picturesque Okinawa Peace Park has become something of a focal point, containing a number of memorials while also offering stunning views across the sea.

Elsewhere the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum is the place to go if you want to learn more about the battle and its history, while the Okinawa Peace Memorial Hall exhibits the work of leading Japanese artists.

Other activities in Naha include Scuba diving around the nearby Kerama Islands, fishing and simply relaxing on the beach while enjoying the sunshine.