The Complete Okinawa Travel Guide to Read First

Here, we’ll show you how to get from Naha Airport—Okinawa’s main gateway—to Kencho-mae Station.
Kencho-mae Station is very close to Kokusai Dori, one of Okinawa’s most popular tourist areas, so you’ll likely use it often.

In Okinawa, buses and the monorail run only in limited areas, so most travel is by rental car or taxi.
Since sightseeing using only public transportation can be quite difficult, renting a car is recommended.
If renting a car isn’t an option, consider joining a sightseeing bus tour or booking a sightseeing taxi.

The “Okinawa Route Bus Pass” is a ticket that lets you ride unlimited local route buses on Okinawa Main Island, excluding the airport limousine bus and scheduled sightseeing buses.
It comes in two types: a 1-day pass and a 3-day pass, and you can also add a 1-day Yui Rail ticket to either one.
Prices are as follows. (As of May 2025)

By taking route buses, you can still reach many popular attractions, so if you don’t drive, this pass is well worth considering.
Another benefit is that you can enjoy local drinks like awamori without worrying about driving afterward.
For details, please check the official website.

If you’re visiting the Northern Okinawa Main Island Area, which covers the northern half of the island, be sure to immerse yourself in its untouched natural landscapes.
In “Yanbaru,” located at the far north, you’ll find a subtropical jungle and rare wildlife, including the Okinawa rail (Yanbaru kuina).
Its biggest appeal is the chance to escape the everyday—whether you’re trekking through deep forests home to 1,250 plant species or exploring mangroves by kayak.
Nago City, the gateway to Yanbaru, is a popular destination with plenty to see, including facilities where you can easily experience Okinawa’s flora and fauna, parks with sweeping ocean views, and even a pineapple-themed park.
Just south of Nago, you’ll find Nakijin Village, known for its classic Okinawan scenery, and Motobu Town, home to many attractions and beautiful beaches.
If you visit Nakijin, don’t miss Kouri Bridge, famous for its stunning views.
With emerald-green water stretching out on both sides, it’s an unforgettable drive.
In Motobu, be sure to stop by Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, one of Okinawa’s signature attractions.
Farther south, Onna Village is all about beaches and marine activities.
Many hotels have private beaches, making it easy to enjoy a relaxing resort stay.
Popular highlights include Cape Maeda, a well-known diving and snorkeling spot, and Manzamo, a scenic cliff whose shape resembles an elephant’s trunk.

Central Okinawa Main Island is home to villages and towns with a wide range of unique local cultures.
One of the most popular is Yomitan Village, known as “Yachimun no Sato.”
“Yachimun” is an Okinawan word for pottery—especially ceramics—and Yomitan is dotted with yachimun studios and shops.
With its warm, rustic feel, yachimun makes a perfect Okinawa souvenir.
Chatan Town is another top destination, packed with stylish cafes and restaurants, as well as facilities for shopping and entertainment. With Sunset Beach nearby, it’s an easy place to enjoy a resort-like vibe.
You’ll also find plenty of other distinctive towns influenced by American culture, such as Kadena, Ginowan, and Okinawa City—so consider exploring the area by car and stopping wherever catches your eye.

Southern Okinawa Main Island is home to Naha Airport, making it the main gateway for most Okinawa trips.
In Naha City, the central hub, you’ll find many classic attractions, including the main thoroughfare Kokusai Dori and Shurijo Castle, one of Okinawa’s symbols.
With the monorail running through Naha, public transportation is more convenient here than in other parts of the prefecture.
Farther south, you’ll find many spots that combine rich nature with Okinawa’s spiritual culture, such as the Gangala Valley—formed by the collapse of a limestone cave tens of thousands of years ago—and the sacred Sefa Utaki, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
If you want to focus on traditional culture and performing arts, Haebaru Town is recommended.
This area was also a major battleground during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II, and in and around Itoman City you can visit buildings and facilities that convey the tragedies of war.

The Miyako Islands sit in the middle of the Ryukyu Arc, which stretches in a bow shape from Okinawa Main Island toward Ishigakijima and Iriomotejima.
Among these eight islands of various sizes—including Ikema Island and Oogami Island—the main one is Miyakojima.
Its biggest appeal is the sea, widely considered among the most beautiful in all of Okinawa. With highly transparent emerald-green and cobalt-blue water, it’s also famous as a top spot for diving, snorkeling, and other marine sports.

Ishigakijima is the main island of the Yaeyama Islands, floating in the East China Sea Approx. 400 km southwest of Okinawa Main Island. It’s Approx. 50 minutes away by plane from Okinawa Main Island.
It’s the third-largest island in the prefecture after Okinawa Main Island and Iriomotejima, and it’s known for its warm, tropical climate and crystal-clear ocean waters.
Its beauty draws divers from around the world, making it a globally recognized diving destination.

Kumejima is a remote island floating in the East China Sea Approx. 100 km west of Naha City.
During the Ryukyu Kingdom era, it was considered especially beautiful among the many islands and was called “Kumi no Shima” (“the island of beauty”). In 1983, the entire island was designated as a prefectural natural park.
The island’s biggest highlight is Hatenohama, a stretch of white sand and cobalt-blue water often described as “the best in the East.”
You can also enjoy local food specialties such as Kumejima awamori (a distilled spirit), the branded chicken “Kumejima Akadori,” as well as kuruma shrimp and mangoes.
With many dive sites, it’s also an island that attracts divers from around the world.

Iriomotejima lies southwest of Okinawa Main Island and has the second-largest land area after the main island.
Over 90% of its land is covered in subtropical virgin forest.
The entire island is designated as a quasi-national park, packed with natural wonders—sea, mountains, rivers, and waterfalls—truly a treasure trove of nature.
It’s also home to rare and diverse wildlife, including the Iriomote cat, a nationally designated natural monument.
In addition to activities like trekking and canoeing in lush natural surroundings, you can also have the rare experience of exploring Japan’s largest mangrove forest by kayak.
Because it includes habitats of endangered species and is important and meaningful for biodiversity conservation, it was registered as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2021.

Taketomijima, located in Taketomi Town in the Yaeyama Islands of Okinawa Prefecture, is a small island with a circumference of only Approx. 9.2 km. Its three settlements (Nishi Settlement, Higashi Settlement, and Nakasuji Settlement) are designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
It’s popular for beaches with blue seas and white sand, as well as for its star-filled skies recognized as a Dark Sky Place.
The island is known for its traditional Okinawan streetscape, where white-sand paths connect red-tile-roof houses surrounded by coral-stone walls.

Start with classic attractions where you can experience the history and culture of the Ryukyu Kingdom era.
You’ll also visit Kokusai Dori, Okinawa’s main street for shopping and dining, so you can take in both Okinawa’s past and present in a single day.

On Day 2, you’ll visit a wide range of spots, including popular leisure facilities, scenic viewpoints, shopping areas, and places where you can buy and experience traditional crafts.
You should come away with a well-rounded sense of what makes Okinawa special.

On the final day, you’ll experience Okinawa’s spirituality and learn about the devastating history of the Battle of Okinawa, then visit spots where you can enjoy food and shopping.
Savor Okinawa’s memorable cuisine and pick up souvenirs you’ll cherish long after your trip.

In Nanjo City, Okinawa Prefecture, the pair of bridges called Nirai Bridge and Kanai Bridge together are known as Nirai Kanai Bridge.
Near the top, there’s an observation area where you can take in a panoramic view of the clear blue sea and the graceful curve of the Nirai Kanai Bridge in beautiful harmony.
Nirai Kanai refers to an ideal paradise in Okinawan tradition and can also mean “beyond the sea.”
Try capturing this view that perfectly suits its romantic name.

Located along the East China Sea in Onna Village near the center of Okinawa Main Island, Manzamo is one of Okinawa’s best-known scenic spots.
A cape of Ryukyu limestone formed by uplifted coral has been carved by waves into a dramatic cliff Approx. 20 meters high, known for its elephant-trunk-like shape.
The view—blue sky, cobalt sea, and white spray crashing against the cliffs—is truly spectacular.

Cape Zanpa, at the far end of Okinawa Main Island, is known for its powerful scenery: cliffs Approx. 30 meters high stretch for about 2 km.
The cape area is a park where you can observe coastal plants unique to Okinawa’s subtropical climate.
With walking paths in place, it’s also recommended to take a stroll while enjoying the views.
It’s famous for its landmark Cape Zanpa Lighthouse and for its beautiful sunsets.

Located in northern Miyakojima, Sunayama Beach is a hidden beach reached after crossing a sandy hill covered in dense trees.
Once you crest the hill, you’ll find a stretch of white sand and cobalt-blue sea, considered among the most beautiful of Miyakojima’s many beaches.
A distinctive rock formation eroded into an arch shape makes it a popular photo spot.
The beach is also known for its fine, powdery sand, and one of its pleasures is how good it feels to walk barefoot.
With easy access—Approx. 4 km from downtown—it’s loved not only by tourists but also by locals.
If you want to fully enjoy Miyakojima’s beautiful sea, be sure to visit Sunayama Beach.

Gangala Valley, in southern Okinawa Main Island, is an ancient valley formed when a limestone cave collapsed hundreds of thousands of years ago.
Sunlight filtering through the dense subtropical plants creates a truly mystical scene.
Beyond its scenery, it’s also a place where traces of humans from 20,000 years ago remain.
You can explore the forest and caves with a specialist guide, which makes it enjoyable even without prior knowledge.
Note that to enter Gangala Valley itself, you must join a reservation-only guided tour.
At the entrance is CAVECAFE, a cafe set inside a limestone cave, where you can enjoy the unique experience of relaxing in a cave.

Okinawa soba is one of Okinawa’s signature local dishes and a true soul food for the people of Okinawa.
Unlike buckwheat soba from Japan’s main island, it uses noodles made from wheat flour and kansui, without buckwheat.
The thick noodles are paired with a rich broth made from ingredients like pork bones and bonito flakes, and the flavorful soup goes perfectly with the smooth, easy-to-slurp noodles.
Toppings vary by shop, but common choices include pork belly simmered in sweet soy sauce, ginger, and fried fish cake.
Another fun point is how the noodle type, seasoning, and toppings differ by region.

Agu pork is a branded pork prized in Okinawa as a premium ingredient, known as a rare pork due to its slow growth rate and relatively small edible portion.
Its defining traits are tender meat and fat packed with sweetness and umami.
Because the fat has a low melting point, it also offers a melt-in-your-mouth sensation.
A famous Okinawan dish made with Agu pork is rafute (braised pork belly).
It typically uses pork belly (also called sanmaibiku) and is simmered with sugar, soy sauce, and awamori, a well-known Okinawan spirit.
The melt-in-your-mouth texture and deep, savory flavor are outstanding.

Umibudo (sea grapes) are a type of seaweed called Caulerpa lentillifera, named because they resemble clusters of grapes.
Also known as “green caviar” for their popping texture, they’re an essential ingredient in Okinawan cuisine.
They grow only in subtropical and tropical regions, making them one of Okinawa’s specialties.
They’re often eaten with ponzu, but since they’re naturally salty, you can also enjoy them as-is.
They’re commonly used in salads, chilled tofu, and shabu-shabu, adding both color and a nice accent to dishes.
If you visit restaurants serving Okinawan food, you’ll likely have many chances to try them.