Things to Do in Okinawa, Japan

Kokusai Street

Naha's Vibrant Main Shopping Street

A 1.6-kilometer shopping and entertainment street that is the heart of Naha's tourism scene.

Okinawa World

A sprawling theme park featuring one of Japan's largest limestone caves, a recreated Ryukyu Kingd...

Shuri Castle

Ryukyu Kingdom's Royal Palace

The reconstructed royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom, a mix of Chinese and Japanese architecture ...

Naha

Naha - Okinawa's Tropical Capital

The vibrant capital of Okinawa Prefecture and gateway to Japan's subtropical island chain.

Miyako-jima

Miyako-jima Island

A coral island in the far south, closer to Taiwan than to the Japanese mainland, ringed by white ...

Kerama Islands

Crystal Clear Waters and Pristine Beaches

A national park archipelago with some of Japan's clearest ocean water, excellent snorkeling, and ...

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Home of the World's Largest Whale Sharks

Built around the Kuroshio Sea tank, one of the largest in the world, which holds whale sharks and...

Ishigaki Island

A tropical island in the Yaeyama Islands with vivid coral reefs, white sand beaches, and crystal-...

Yonaguni Island

Japan's Westernmost Island, Two Ferries a Week from Ishigaki

Japan's westernmost inhabited island, 111 km from Taiwan, with sea cliffs, free-roaming Yonaguni ...

Yanbaru

Yanbaru: The Forested North of Okinawa Island, Home of the Okinawa Rail, Two Hours From Naha by Car

The hilly, forested north of Okinawa Island, spread over the villages of Kunigami, Ogimi and Higa...

Michi-no-Eki Kyoda

Mozuku tempura where the expressway ends

Okinawa's first registered roadside station, on Route 58 just past Kyoda IC where the Okinawa Exp...

Naminoue Shrine

Naminoue Shrine: Naha's Cliff-Top Shrine Above the City Beach

A shrine on a limestone cliff at the edge of Naha, ranked first among the eight official shrines ...

Zamami Island

Kerama Blue Water and Winter Humpbacks, 50 Minutes from Naha When the Boats Run

A small island of about 600 people in Keramashoto National Park, about 40 km west of Naha, with c...

Okinawa Peace Memorial Park

Mabuni, Where Everyone Who Died in the Battle of Okinawa Is Named

A park of about 40 hectares on the coastal plateau at Mabuni, at the southern end of Okinawa Isla...

Hateruma Island

Japan's Southernmost Inhabited Island, Reached by an Open-Sea Boat That Often Doesn't Run

The southernmost inhabited island in Japan: about 440 people, sugarcane fields, the white sand of...