Things to do & places to visit in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

Okinawa Prefecture #4 destination in Japan 2023. The average rating score is 4.17 based on 105.1k traveler reviews, of 482 attractions. Timezone: Asia/Tokyo, current date and time: Monday, May 06, 2024, 5:09.

Okinawa Prefecture Weather Statistics view more »

General weather summary in May

77°F - 75°F

Temperature Highs - Lows

Pleasantly warm with a gentle breeze

Feels like

50%

Chance of rain

320.0 millimeters

Amount

14.3 mph

Wind speed

84%

Humidity

13.4

Daylight length

5:43 AM

Sunrise

7:07 PM

Sunset

31%

Cloud cover

Sleeveless shirt, rain coat and rain boots

What to wear

Top things to do (29)

Top destinations in Okinawa Prefecture 17

See more 5 destinations »

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Aloha Divers Okinawa (668 reviews)
- Pedro and Andrea are the absolute best!
Monday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Scuba & Snorkelling • Water Sports

Aloha Divers is hands down the best diving shop on Okinawa! I've done almost 100 dives with them over the past 2 years, and they continue to be top notch. Pedro and Andrea both absolutely love what they do, and are highly professional (unless UNO is involved) - you'll have a great time, and feel confident in their hands at all times. They do tons of great dives, both local spots around Okinawa, as well as weekend diving trips to outlying islands! As an added bonus, they are masters of underwater photography, and well document all of your dives with phenomenal pictures and videos. For SOFA members: They speak English, they take Japanese Yen and US Dollars, and I would definitely recommend them over Tsunami Scuba, and Kadena Marina! See more..
5.0 Street Kart Okinawa (596 reviews)
- Thrill ride on the streets of Okinawa.
Monday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM City Tours • Adrenaline & Extreme Tours

Had 4 of my coworkers do this with me and we were all glad we did. This was amazing. The carts are fast and turn on a dime. Our cart guide was pikachu. We all dressed up in costumes and had a great time. We are trying to figure out another time slot before we go home because it was so fun. Tons of pictures taken by our guide and people on the streets. If you have a few hours this is definitely a must do. See more..
4.5 Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (5.501 reviews)
- Best Aquarium
Monday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Aquariums

This is the best aquarium I ever visit, with the best dolphin show and very informative exhibitions of fishes and sea creatures. Dolphins show was very entertaining and we were very impressed with their performance. The whale sharks in the huge glass tank was the other big attraction that kept us standing there staring and enjoying their swim with the other smaller fishes. It was so fun and enjoying to be in this aquarium that time flew so fast that we exceeded our planned duration and had to drop the next place to visit. See more..
4.5 Kabira Bay (3.073 reviews)
- This place is too beautiful to be true
Bodies of Water

I feel that I am in a wonder land. I went there twice during my stay in Ishigaki Island. There are many bus routes coming to Kabira bay from Bus Terminal and the schedule is pretty frequent. There are shops, restaurants, view point, rest room and many more. Very convenient and safe place for solo traveler :) See more..
4.5 Kouri Ohashi (1.268 reviews) from $7.50
- Spectacular Views!
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Bridges

This has to be one of the prettiest spots in Okinawa. I was amazed by the coloration of the water at this location. There is a small parking lot and beach here before going onto the bridge. I walked down to the beach area and then about half way on the bridge and the surrounding waters were gorgeous. The bridge itself is very nice as there is a wide sidewalk on one side, perfect for biking or jogging across. I would love to come here again to snorkel and explore more. This is definitely a popular spot, I assume it can become pretty crowded. This is definitely a beautiful spot and I will be back! See more..
4.5 Yonaha Maehama Beach (1.193 reviews)
- Perfect for swimming and sunbathing on a sunny day - and very photogenic
Beaches

This is one of the greatest beaches in the world for simply swimming and sunbathing. The sand is beautiful and the water is completely clear. There is a great beach bar for lunch or a drink. Further up the beach is a resort hotel with outside restaurant open to non-residents (Bar Moonshell in the Tokyu Resort Hotel) if you want something more substantial. Simply perfect on a sunny day. See more..
4.5 Irabu Ohashi (1.136 reviews)
- Long bridge and fun to drive
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Bridges

It's the best one in my opinion out of many bridges around Miyako, there are several points during driving to pull over and enjoy the view. Do it on a sunny day and the contrasts of view are simply picturesque. See more..
4.5 Okichan Theater (1.086 reviews)
- whale and dolphins were fantastic
Spent < 1 hour Aquariums

Lovely and smart animals in this free show. Perfect time length for the stars and audiences. But the pool also too small for the whale. See more..
4.5 Cape Hirakubozaki (987 reviews)
- Far but worth going
Lighthouses

The bus run 3 times a day from bus terminal meaning I needed to spend 5 hours here to wait for another bus to go back to my hotel near bus terminal. The traveling time took over 90 minutes. I feel grateful to decide to come here as the scenery is fantastic. Actually, the view when I first arrived was far more beautiful than this. Once arrived, I spent time eating my lunch box and enjoyed the view then when I am done with my lunch, the cloud arrived and everything gets darker. See more..
4.5 Sunayama Beach (960 reviews)
- Must visit if in Miyakojima
Beaches

You need to take a short walk to reach the beach. Best to be in sandals or slippers since it’s the beach! Bring food to feed the fishes and they will appear. Great view but beware there may be jellyfish. See more..
4.5 Tamatorizaki Observatory (894 reviews)
- A place with view of views
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Observation Decks & Towers

Must visit location. The views with the small hut, lazy seats to sit and just enjoy the beauty of ocean, all small things make this place the best to visit in all seasons. See more..
4.5 Kondoi Beach (794 reviews)
- Beautiful beach
Beaches

Part of day trip to Taketomi - visited about 3:30 pm and could walk out to sand bank - there are showers etc - it is a perfect beach See more..
4.5 Joy Create Okinawa Tea-da (706 reviews)
- Great diving around the Keramas
Monday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Scuba & Snorkelling

I did three dives around the Keramas with Teada diving with Takuma and Rina. The seascape in the locations was amazing and I would definitely return to Naha to dive with Teada. They were also very comforting when I was seasick. They don't speak much English, but it's not really a problem under water. All the dives we did were drift dives, which I enjoyed and in the beginning they checked that I have done one before. They also picked me up and returned me to my accommodation which was very convenient. Got to see my first ribbon eel!Arigatou gozaimasu, Teada! See more..
4.5 Yonehara Beach (706 reviews)
- Lovely sunset and good snorkeling
Beaches

Instead of parking were everyone goes and paying an entrance fee we parked nearby and accessed the beach through the camp site for free. It is gorgeous and definitely one of the best beaches we have been on Ishigaki. You have to swim a bit to find the right snorkeling spot but it is worth it. Another day went to a nearby hidden beach after a bridge overlooking a small river 1.5 miles west of the Yonehara village. Access is hard to spot: it is located on a small road right after a noodles restaurant towards the see. A must see in Ishigaki. See more..
4.5 Ikema Ohashi Bridge (687 reviews)
- Connecting bridge
Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Bridges

This a wonderful piece of engineering as it conveniently connects Miyakojima with its small neighbouring island of Ikema. The views as you go across are spectacular - that crystal clear ocean a must take photograph. See more..
4.5 East Henna Cape (668 reviews)
- Beautiful cape that you cannot forget!
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Have been looking forward to visiting this cape when I plan my trip to Okinawa. The place felt so clam although you have the powerful waves pounding against the cliffs, a really unique experience. We arrived just before the sunset and we are able to witness the golden sun setting across the horizon, very beautiful. We waited awhile after the sunset for the sky to get completely dark and the sky is just fill with so much stars! The Milky Way is visible with our naked eyes, such a beauty! If you ever visit Miyako Island, you have to visit! See more..
4.5 Okinawa Memorial Park Ocean Expo Park (600 reviews)
- Save your energy, take the trolley to get around in the park
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Parks

Ocean Expo Park is a very spacious park with several major attractions, including Tropical Dream Center, which has many tropical trees and flowers, and Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. Save your energy and ride the trolley from one attraction to the next. The trolley is only 200 yen for a ticket that you can use all through a day, getting off and on at the various attractions. It’s well worth it. There’s no trolley schedule posted. You go to one of the stops and wait until a trolley shows up. In our case, we took the trolley twice. Both times, we had to wait less than 5 minutes. But we heard from other tourists that they’d not had that good luck and had to wait quite a while. See more..
4.5 Okinawa Peace Memorial Park (591 reviews)
- Amazing place. Very educational and worth the trip.
Monday: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM Historic Sites • Historic Walking Areas • Monuments & Statues

This is an amazing monument to an amazing people. Okinawa lost almost a third of their population in WW2, caused by both sides. This memorial (peace, not war) maintains an unbiased stance, taking no side in the conflict the Okinawan's didn't want and had nothing to do with, but suffered greatly in nonetheless. A long drive from Naha but worth the trip. Hearing first hand accounts of the battle is gut wrenching. If travelling by taxi recommend making sure you get there early as later in the day it can be hard to get a taxi back. See more..
4.5 Katsuren Castle Ruins (571 reviews)
- Scenic Ruins, Well worth a visit!
Monday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Visitor Centers • Historic Sites • Historic Walking Areas • Castles • History Museums

Katsuren Castle Ruins are one of the UNESCO listed sites around Okinawa. The castle is free to visitors and there is a nice free parking lot across the street. The castle is perched on top of a hill overlooking the ocean, so you do have to walk uphill a bit. Trust me, the views are worth it. The castle is fairly large and there are a lot of signs/markers along the way explaining the history of the castle and certain features. The signs are in both Japanese and English. The stone work here is pretty fascinating, the walls are pretty well preserved. I would say an hour here is enough time to see everything, but it is well worth visiting! See more..
4.5 Valley of Gangala (535 reviews)
- Very interesting tour!
Monday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Valleys

You have to book a tour to visit this valley. The cave is beautiful where you can have a cup of coffee (35 (san go/coral) coffee), which is made in Okinawa and other drinks while waiting for the tour. (Or you can go there just to have drinks). The tour ends in the property of Okinawa world where you can watch Super Eisa for free if you do the tour of Valley of Gangala, so if you plan to go to Okinawa world as well, I recommend you to do Valley of gangala first, then Okinawa world. *You do have to purchase extra tickets for certain part of Okinawa world. Since this is a review of Valley of Gangala, I will not go into Okinawa world review here, but since I didn't know that I end up in Okinawa world after the tour, I thought it might be a helpful information for some people. I totally recommend a visit to Valley of Gangala! See more..
4.0 Shurijo Castle (5.165 reviews)
- Most Parts Open & Free. Go visit.
Monday: 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM Spent < 1 hour Historic Walking Areas • Castles

It's 110% worthwhile to visit the castle ground now, although the main castle is burned down. It was painful to see the damage, but in a big picture, this is one example of how history evolves. I believe it was meaningful for our kids to see the site as well. It's completely free (though you do need to pay parking, if you are driving), and all the shops and the restaurant are open. From a purely logistic standpoint, you have less crowd to fight through. There usually is a line to get dressed in the traditional Okinawan costume to get your picture taken at Shurei Mon (the famous gate that appears on 2000 yen bills), but there was no line when we visited. I think the cost was about 1000 yen per person, if I remember correctly. Shurei Mon is located at the beginning of the route, away from the fire-damaged area. Also, you actually get to appreciate the rest of the castle ground (greens, gates, etc) better. See more..
4.0 Kokusaidori (2.717 reviews)
- Good shopping street
Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks

Easily to come here by Yui rail. We came here several time for shopping and food. It is a famous attraction in Naha city. So packed and crowded during night time. Visited on June 2019. See more..
4.0 Makishi Public Market (2.308 reviews)
- It’s relocating and Don’t go too early
Monday: 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks

Closed due to renovation. Public Market plans to open for business at a temporary building, from July 1, 2019 to March 31, 2022. See more..
4.0 Cape Manzamo (1.898 reviews)
- 迫力の絶景
Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Geologic Formations

新しい施設が2020年にオープンしました。 1階にはお土産売り場、休憩スペース、2階にはレストラン、3階には展望デッキがあります。万座毛の見学は有料で1階でチケットを購入する必要があります。景色はきれいです。 The new facility opened in 2020.There is a souvenir shop and rest area on the first floor, a restaurant on the second floor, and an observation deck on the third floor. Visiting Manzamo is charged and tickets must be purchased on the first floor. The view is beautiful. See more..
4.0 Ishigaki Port Ritoh Terminal (1.563 reviews)
- Central transportation point
Monday: 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Convenient & connection of nearby islands. Central place to buy boat ticket & island tours. Central bus & transportation from all places in Ishigaki. Many small shops selling essential stuff & souvenir as well. See more..
4.0 American Village (1.498 reviews)
- Dining Experience
Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks

Every lunch-dinner experience was awesome!!! All meals were prepared with exceptional care and detail. Regardless of which restaurant you visit, the customer service, meal size and the standard of excellence is displayed. The best food throughout my travels is in Okinawa, Japan. See more..
4.0 Sefa Utaki (1.045 reviews)
- An Interesting Sacred Site
Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM Religious Sites

This is a great place to visit with a camera and anyone studying the history, culture or, religions of the Ryukyu Islands should not pass up on the oppurtunity to study here. It is a treasure trove of history. Good walking shoes are recommended for this one and it is a bit of a climb to reach the viewpoint, where, even today, you may come across a priestess accompanied by a worshipper facing Kudaka-jima to pray and make offerings. Signs and phamplets in several languages, including English, are available at the ticket counter. Depending on the season, bug spray may be advised. See more..
4.0 Michi-no-Eki Kyoda Yambaru Local Products Center (953 reviews)
- Great stop if you want to have lunch! (But not a necessary stop)
Monday: 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Visitor Centers

If you need to go to the bathroom, if you are hungry/thirsty, if you want to do some shopping, this is a great stop to make. If none of the above fits you, this is not a necessary stop, so skip and go to your destination. I was hungry, so I had Taco rice (which is one of the famous Okinawan food) and garlic steak (which steak is also famous in Okinawa). I was very skeptical about Taco rice, but it turned out that it was very very very good! Garlic steak was decent, but it didn't have as much of a wow factor as Taco rice. I highly recommend you to try Taco rice! See more..
4.0 Blue Cave (943 reviews)
- Good for snokelling
Caverns & Caves

We went in the morning on a weekday so not too crowded. Observing the guided tours, they were excellent with their customers and cute to see even grandmas being taken there with floats for when they tired. A bit of a waste if scuba diving - explore the rest of the reef instead of spending time here as resting in the air above water level is more suited for snorkelers and down below is usual stuff. The centre itself is clean with very reasonable parking rates. Y200 for a shower which is enough for a quick rinse over for two blokes. Rentals available which seemed at reasonable prices. You do need adequate footwear at the entry point as the rocks are deeply pitted and sharp. If using slip-on fins, bring a carabiner to attach your footwear to something on yourself as leaving it on the small space is risking a potential wave taking them away. Flip flops not ideal. See more..
4.0 Bise no Fukugi Tree Road (921 reviews)
- Nice place for brisk walking/cycling (Oct 2019)
Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Scenic Walking Areas

We popped by this place after Emerald Beach which was extremely close, like just 5mins drive away or just walk over. It’s just next to the beach (of course depending on which end of the beach you are at). There were a couple restaurants, indoor and outdoor serving pasta/pizza or some local Okinawan dishes. A place to stroll around as one relaxes or cycle which we saw many did. See more..