Okinawa

Southeast Botanical Gardens, Okinawa, Japan.

Okinawa, city, Okinawa ken (prefecture), Japan. It is situated in the central part of Okinawa Island and was designated as a new city in 1974. Originally occupying a region of agriculture and forestry, the city, after World War II, became the location for the U.S. Kadena military base, which continued to exist after the American occupation of Japan was ended. Okinawa city has the Southeast Botanical Gardens displaying tropical plants, an aquarium, an amusement park, a zoo, and the Moromi Folkcraft Museum. Pop. (2005) 126,400; (2010) 130,249.