Okinawa – Tropical Japan

Okinawa prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, and the main island, Okinawa Island, is roughly 640km south of the main Japanese island of Kyushu. To visit Okinawa means you are likely going to fly into Naha airport, located in the city of the same name. Naha is the capital city of the prefecture and also the largest city in Okinawa. As such, there are lots of things to see and do here, and lots of delicious foods to try.

Naminoue Shrine

Naminoue Shrine is probably Okinawa’s most famous Shinto shrine, due to its location on a cliff overlooking Naminoue Beach. It’s free to look around the shrine, but for the best photos I recommend crossing the bridge opposite the shrine that runs over the water. From here you can get a view of the entire shrine and the cliff it sits atop to appreciate it in all its glory.

Nagannu Island

Nagannu Island is a tiny island located about a 30 minute boat ride from Naha. Trips to the island can be booked from Tokashiki (see the location on Google Maps below), or in advance from here.

The island has pure white beaches surrounded by crystal clear blue water. While on the island, you can use the sun loungers and umbrellas for free, or you can rent what they call a rest cottage for a little more privacy. I rented snorkeling gear to explore underwater in the designated swimming zone, where there are safety nets to protect against stinging jellyfish. The water was very calm and it was quite shallow, and there were lifeguards at the beach, so even weak swimmers can enjoy searching underwater to find fish. And the fish aren’t hard to find! There are lots of fish to sea swimming around the coral. Other available activities on the island include a snorkeling tour, banana boat ride, parasailing and jet skis. A simple lunch of curry rice was included with my ticket, but there are food and drinks available to purchase on the island. Nagannu Island is definitely the place to spend a whole day if you’re visiting Okinawa.

Shuri Castle

Shuri Castle was the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom for much of its history. It was almost completely destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 before being reconstructed. Unfortunately much of the castle was destroyed again in a fire in 2019. Don’t let that stop you from visiting the castle however, as there is still much to see here and interesting history to learn.

You can walk through the many gates of the castle and see the impressive walls that surround the entire structure. There are plenty of viewpoints around the walls giving a great view over the city, as Shuri Castle is one of the highest points in Naha.

Due to the ongoing reconstruction (scheduled to be finished around autumn of 2026) the main castle building is inside what is essentially a giant warehouse. Inside there are viewing rooms where you can watch the reconstruction process taking place. It’s cool to see and interesting if you’re into building, joinery or that sort of thing.

Part of Shuri Castle, the Shureimon gate, features on the 2,000 yen note.

The Shureimon gate, as featured on the 2,000 yen Japanese note.

Shikina-en Royal Gardens

Leaving Shuri Castle via the Shureimon Gate (the gate that is depicted on Japan’s 2000 yen note) and heading south will lead you down Kinjo Stone Road. This is an old and beautiful path that you can take between the castle and Shikina-en Royal Gardens, though do be mindful that it is quite slippery in the rain.

The Royal Gardens has a route for you to follow that takes you round the main parts of the garden. There isn’t a lot to see here but it’s somewhere peaceful to go if you want a break from the busy city. However, if it’s raining I would recommend skipping this one as the paths become muddy and slippery.

Access to Shuri Castle and the Royal Gardens costs 400 yen each. However, if you have an all-day monorail ticket you can show this at the ticket offices to get 80 yen off both tickets.

American Village

The American Village is located about 15km from Naha, so I recommend renting an e-bike to get there. I used e-Charity to rent a bike. Their store is near the end of the main Kokusaidori Street, close to the Makishi monorail station. E-bikes and safety gear are available to rent. I found the streets between Naha and the American Village to be very quiet and safe to cycle on, with the e-bike doing the hard work on slopes.

On the way to the American Village I stopped at the Tropical Beach at Ginowan Seaside Park for an ice cream and a view of the beautiful white sand and blue sea.

Once I was close to the American Village I parked at Chatan Park Sunset Beach then crossed the canal to the main area of the village.

In the American Village you will find lots of shops and restaurants selling all kinds of souvenirs and delicious food. It’s very touristy but worth the cycle to get there. There are lots of places to take good photos and even a Christmas shop.

While up at the American Village, and if you don’t mind adding another 10km to your cycle, you can head over to the AEON Mall Okinawa Rycom. This mall is huge and features Okinawa’s Pokemon Centre.

Fukushuen Garden

Fukushuen Garden (or Fuzhou Garden after the Chinese city of the same name) will give you a taste of China in Naha. This garden is lovely to walk through, blending Chinese garden design with plants native to Japan. The main feature of the garden is the waterfall, but there are also pavilions, sculptures, bridges and a koi pond to enjoy. Walking around the garden really made me feel like I was back in China.

Kokusai Dori Street

Kokusai Dori Street is the main tourist street in Naha. It runs for roughly two kilometres and has many restaurants, cafes, bars, hotels and shops. Here you can easily find a good place to eat, or a place to pick up a souvenir like the “Orion Beer” t-shirts I saw many people wearing. There are also covered markets or arcades that branch off of the main street that are worth exploring. When I visited on a Sunday afternoon, the street was closed off to traffic from 12-6pm and street performers were entertaining shoppers. I’m not sure if this is a regular thing or a special occasion, so it may be worth asking your hotel so you don’t miss any excitement along the street!

Kokusai Street Food Village

Kokusai Street Food Village is the place to eat in Okinawa. Made up of around 20 small restaurants, the place is packed with life and charm. Lanterns are hung along the alleys, and restaurant goers pack the tables outside the eateries and izakayas, while those inside can eat and drink at the bar as their food is prepared in front of them.

I had the best sushi I’ve ever had at this food village, in a restaurant called Tsukiji Otokomae Sushi. I highly recommend it if you’re a sushi fan.

This food village is also a good place to meet new people or chat to locals. At the sushi restaurant I was chatting to a Chinese family, and the next night at a different restaurant I found myself in a group of South Korean and Japanese travelers, all chatting together in a mix of English, Korean and Japanese. It’s a fun place to go for some really good food!

Sunset in Okinawa

Okinawa had some of the best sunsets I’ve ever seen. One of the best spots I found to enjoy the sunset was near Umisora Park. Just be careful heading to and from there however, as it’s quite close to a soapland area which you might want to avoid, especially at night. In August the sun set perfectly between two lighthouses, and the planes flying into Naha airport were silhouetted by the setting sun. Boats come and go from the nearby port, also providing lots of good photo opportunities.

With little light pollution the show that began after sunset was also spectacular. I could see many stars and constellations in the Okinawa night sky, so I recommend waiting around for it to get truly dark after sunset.