Although modern Okinawa can be a culture shock compared to the typical American city, a look back into old Okinawa is also a sight to see.

Located on the Ocean Expo Park in Motobu, a Native Okinawan Village stretches for nearly 10 acres and has eight residences.

According to the Native Okinawa Village guide pamphlet, the village is modeled after a feudal-era system in place on Okinawa from 1611-1897.

In the village’s na, or square, is the ugamiga. The ugamiga was a sacred spring that was the source of water for the entire village and believed to possess life-giving powers, according to the pamphlet.

Past the spring is the political epicenter of the village,the House of Jitude.

This was where the most powerful farmer in the village lived, according to the pamphlet.

The jitude, or manor lord, acted as a representative for larger domain lords performing such duties as overseeing the division of land, preservation of forested land, collecting taxes and ensuring all orders given by higher-ranking officials were carried out, according to the pamphlet.

Another important house in a feudal Okinawa village was the mutu-ya. On a walking tour of the village, this structure is near the center of the layout.

Used as a religious center, the house was also used for ceremonies and festivals coordinated by a designated man, niichu, or woman, nigami, according to the pamphlet.

There was one more villager who had the final decision on all religious services. The House of Noro was the residence of the village priestess who not only managed religious ceremonies but was also responsible for thanking the gods for a bountiful harvest, praying for the health of villagers and supervising all ceremonies, according to the pamphlet.

In essence, the priestess supervised the niichu or nigami.

Traditional feudal Okinawan culture was deeply intertwined with religion, evident from the amount of time spent praising gods and the facilities built to do so.

As self-sufficient societies, feudal Okinawa villagers also grew their own food and cared for their own livestock.

This can be seen at the village’s House of Motobu and House of Yonaguni, both modeled after farmhouses used in 17th century Okinawa, according to the pamphlet.

To ensure all food harvested was safely stored and protected from pests and elements, Okinawans living in feudal era villages would construct high storehouses to store all their grain.

The storehouses were elevated about five feet off the ground and ventilated to safely store the grain in the island’s humid conditions.

Visitors have the opportunity to interact with the locals who help recreate early Okinawa life in the village. The “hands-on experience of early Okinawan life” is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day in the House of Jitude.

The Native Okinawan Village is truly a glimpse into a different era of Okinawa.

For more information, visit www.oki-park.jp/kyoudo/en/index/html.