Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum (Okimyu) — Attraction in Naha

I was very much appalled by a museum staff (mid-age man) who was so rude in instructing me (I was scolded actually, and he used his fingers to point) not to take photos of one painting portrait. I was visiting with a SLR but I never took any photos by using it in the museum. This man stalked me from the very beginning when I stepped in the exhibition hall, which made me uncomfortable. I understand I should follow the rules, but the phototaking rules in this museum is super confusing and disturbing for foreigners.

There are tons of items being exhibited. Some allow phototaking, while some don't. In each section of the museum, there is a label sticking on the wall of the entrance, telling people whether items in this hall can be photographed or not. BUT: even if that label says non-flash photography is allowed, there are always items in the hall which cannot be photographed. So why don't they just ban photography completely and tell visitors clearly at the entrance that no photograph is allowed? It is okay to do so. It is better than confusing the visitors.

Nobody from the staff team reminded me about the complex rules at the tickets, entrance, and all sections in the museum, except when you have this guy coming to me, speaking in huge volume.

They can even ask visitors to store their bags and cameras in the lockers beforehand, which is perfectly okay. I have visited hundreds of museums worldwide and have never seen each ridiculous micro-management arrangement of rules for photography. The attitude of the male staff who 'instructed' me not to take photos was horrible. This totally contradicts with the excellent impression I have for Japanese hospitality.

If I don't feel welcomed, why should I visit again or tell my friends to visit...

The museum does an amazing job of showcasing the rich history and culture of the Ryukyu Kingdom. From the moment I walked in, I was impressed by the well-designed exhibits and the wealth of information on display.

The museum's collection includes everything from ancient artifacts and pottery to royal regalia and traditional Okinawan crafts. I particularly enjoyed the exhibits on the Ryukyu Kingdom's history, including its relationships with China and Japan. The displays were engaging, informative, and beautifully presented.

One of the highlights of my visit was the museum's attention to detail in recreating traditional Okinawan scenes and environments. The exhibits on traditional Okinawan clothing, food, and architecture were fascinating, and I loved the interactive elements that allowed me to learn more about the local culture.

The museum also offers a range of temporary exhibitions, which I've heard are always worth checking out. My only criticism is that some of the signage could be translated into more languages, as I noticed some tourists struggling to understand the Japanese text.

Overall, I would highly recommend the Okinawa Prefectural Museum to anyone interested in learning more about this unique and fascinating region of Japan. It's a must-visit destination for anyone...

For the price of £3 it was ok I guess but only visit if you have nothing else to do. On the plus, it looks nice and is open and clean.

However the were lots of little things that pulled it down. When we bought tickets they didn’t tell us we could get audio guides for free and we only knew when we saw audio labels inside. We came out and the guides weren’t even at the main desk, go to another room to get them. So it isn’t very user friendly when it comes to the details.

Worse though, the cables for the audio guides aren’t long enough and are attached to clip boards and a pen so you’re carrying around this weight holding your hands near your chest because the cable is too short. My arms grew tired by the end of

The order of the exhibits are confusing. Often I had no idea where to go to next.

There was a big sign at entry saying photo allowed but as soon as I entered and took some photos a lady came up to me and did the X sign. I then noticed that lots of the individual exhibits had a tiny no photo label on them. So maybe just say no photo at the entrance so as to not confuse people? It was confusing what can and can’t be photographed.

All in all, a good idea...