Naha

Naha needs 3 days: the Churaumi Aquarium, with one of the world's largest whale shark tanks, on one, Shuri Castle, the former seat of the Ryukyu Kingdom rebuilt after a 2019 fire, on another, and a white-sand, coral-reef beach on the third. March-June and October-November are best, avoiding the summer typhoon season. It's mid-priced for Japan. It was the capital of the independent Ryukyu Kingdom until its annexation in 1879, with a distinct culture, language and cuisine still alive today, and its coral beaches, very different from the rest of Japan, made it the favorite tropical destination for Japanese people themselves.