Okinawa

Okinawa Travel Guide

Local tips, regional food and places off the tourist trail

Japan’s subtropical island chain, once the Ryukyu Kingdom, with its own food, music and culture. The main island has Naha, Shuri Castle and the Churaumi Aquarium, while Ishigaki and Miyako offer coral reefs and quieter beaches.

Open Okinawa on the map52 places on the map · 8 local favourites

Local tips

TipIshigaki and Miyako are far from the main island, so fly there; ferries from Ishigaki then reach Taketomi and Iriomote.
TipThe Yui Rail monorail only covers the Naha area; to reach the north and beaches, rent a car or use highway buses.
Heads upNaha’s roads jam at rush hour and some lanes become bus-only at set times; follow the road markings carefully.
Heads upTyphoons peak from summer into autumn and can cancel flights and ferries for days; leave buffer time and consider travel insurance.
DoLook out for Ryukyuan culture: shisa lion-dogs on rooftops, sanshin music in izakaya, and eisa drum dancing in summer.

What to eat

Okinawa soba沖縄そば

Thick wheat noodles (not buckwheat) in a pork and bonito broth, topped with simmered pork.

Goya champuruゴーヤーチャンプルー

A stir-fry of bitter melon with tofu, egg and pork, a home-cooking staple.

Rafuteラフテー

Pork belly slow-braised in awamori, soy sauce and brown sugar until meltingly soft.

Local favourites

Places mostly visited by people who live here — quieter, and often the highlight of a trip.

Miyara Donchi

宮良殿内 Sights & History

Old aristocratic residence in Ishigaki town with a rock garden, a rare example of Ryukyu-era samurai architecture.

● Mostly locals

Sueyoshi Shrine

末吉宮 Temples & GoshuinchoNature & Scenery

A little-known shrine hidden in the forested Sueyoshi Park, reached by old stone steps through the trees. Feels worlds away from the city despite being in Naha.

● Mostly locals

Miyako Shrine

宮古神社 Temples & Goshuincho

Modest local shrine in Hirara town, the main shrine of the Miyako Islands, with a small hilltop setting near the port. Few visitors besides locals.

● Mostly locals

Koza Gate Street

コザゲート通り Nightlife

Okinawa City's street by the Kadena base gate, lined with old bars, live music venues and international restaurants. A gritty, unique mix of Okinawan and American…

● Mostly locals

Nakamura House

中村家住宅 Sights & History

A well-preserved old farmhouse of an Okinawan gentry family, with stone walls, a pig pen and fukugi windbreak trees. A rare glimpse of traditional rural life.

● Mostly locals