Okinawa
Subtropical islands ringed by emerald seas and coral reefs. From the Kouri Bridge and Cape Manzamo to the Churaumi Aquarium, Shuri Castle's Ryukyu heritage and Naha's Kokusai-dori — beaches and culture in one.
Travel videos from Okinawa
Videos belong to their respective creators
Okinawa in 8K
▶ Armadas
Sunset drive through Naha 8K
▶ Abao Vision
Flying over Okinawa 4K
▶ Enjoy Relaxation
Okinawa walking tour (summer) 4K
▶ World Wanderings
Living in Okinawa
▶ Best Travel
Life on Okinawa's islands
▶ Planet Travel
Top spots
1Kouri Island & Bridge
A small island reached by a ~2km bridge over emerald sea — one of Okinawa's best scenic drives.
2Churaumi Aquarium
Famous for whale sharks in a giant tank, in Ocean Expo Park in the island's north.
3Cape Manzamo
A clifftop viewpoint shaped like an elephant's trunk over deep-blue sea, on the Onna resort coast.
4Shuri Castle
Symbol of the Ryukyu Kingdom; the main hall is being rebuilt after a 2019 fire (due ~2026).
5Onna Coast (resort beaches)
The mid-island west coast — a string of resort hotels and white-sand beaches, the hub for water activities.
6Kokusai-dori (Naha)
Naha's lively ~1.6km main street — the hub for souvenirs, food and nightlife.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons
About Okinawa
- 🏖️ Best season
- Best for the sea from late June to September (after the rainy season); watch for typhoons Aug–Oct. Winters stay mild — good for whale watching.
- ✈️ Getting there
- ~3h from Tokyo, ~2h from Osaka to Naha Airport (OKA), with many direct flights.
- 🚗 Getting around
- A rental car is almost essential on the main island; in Naha, the Yui Rail monorail is handy.
- 🕒 Time & currency
- Japan Standard Time (UTC+9). Currency: Japanese yen (JPY).
Tips & hidden gems
💡 Book a rental car early
Sights are spread out and public transport is limited, so a rental car is near-essential — book ahead in peak season.
💡 Churaumi is up north
The Churaumi Aquarium and Kouri Island are in the north — ~2h drive from Naha, so plan a full day up there.
💡 Typhoon season
From August to October, typhoons can cancel flights and ferries — leave slack in your schedule.
💡 Shuri Castle is being rebuilt
The main hall, lost to a 2019 fire, is under reconstruction (targeted for 2026) — you can watch the rebuild in progress.
Suggested routes
Naha city — half day
~4 hrs / monorail & walking
- 1Shuri Castle (rebuild)
- 2Shop & eat on Kokusai-dori
- 3Makishi Public Market
Central resort coast — full day
~1 day / rental car
- 1Cape Manzamo
- 2Beach time on the Onna coast
- 3American Village (Chatan)
Northern Okinawa — full day
~1 day / rental car
- 1Churaumi Aquarium
- 2Kouri Island & Bridge
- 3Bise fukugi tree avenue
Live highlights
Live24/7👁 15ブセナテラス｜沖縄 ライブ
Live24/7👁 8恩納 マリブビーチ｜沖縄 ライブ
Live24/7👁 4恩納 かりゆしビーチ｜沖縄 ライブ
Live24/7👁 15那覇空港・瀬長島｜沖縄 ライブ
Live24/7👁 6那覇市内（国際通り付近）｜沖縄 ライブ
Plan your trip to Okinawa
Sample links — affiliate partnerships pending