Located in the heart of Okinawa City, Koza takes its name from “Koza City,” a municipality that existed for a short period after the war. Although it is no longer an official place name, the name “Koza” remains in use today in the names of schools, businesses, and other local institutions.
This area is home to Kadena Air Base, the largest U.S. Air Force base in East Asia. In the years following the war, it developed into Okinawa’s leading commercial district, serving primarily U.S. military personnel and their families.
Even today, Koza's Gate 2 Street is lined with shops and live music venues bearing English signs, and on weekend nights the area is bustling with foreigners. The district has cultivated its own unique history and atmosphere over the decades, offering a character quite different from the tourist-oriented Kokusai Street or the carefully designed streetscape of Mihama American Village.
One of the highlights during the daytime is the Eisa Kaikan, where visitors can experience Okinawa’s traditional Eisa culture throughout the year through interactive exhibits and performances.
To learn more about the history of Koza, a visit to the Okinawa City Postwar Cultural Museum Histreet is highly recommended. Admission is free, and the museum features a wealth of valuable photographs and everyday household items from both before and after the war.
About two kilometers east of Koza's Gate 2 Street, at Koza Crossroads, stands a massive mural known as the “Koza Crossroads Emaki.” Depicting scenes from different periods of the area’s history, this vibrant artwork is well worth seeing.