In addition to the World Heritage Site of Shuri Castle and the largest downtown area in the prefecture, Kokusai Dori (International Street), Naha is also home to the natural beauty of Gangara Valley and the impressive Churaumi Aquarium, where visitors can enjoy a wide variety of activities.
The main island of Okinawa is home to Naha Airport, the hub of tourism in Okinawa Prefecture. Naha, where Shuri Castle is located, is home to Kokusai Dori, the largest shopping street in the prefecture, and is ideal for city fun. There are also many spots to enjoy spectacular views, such as Sesoko Beach, which is close to Naha Airport, the Kouri Bridge and Kouri Beach, and Manzamo, where you can view the spectacular scenery from the cliffs.
In the northern part of the island, a virgin mangrove forest remains, where kayaking and other activities can be enjoyed, as well as leisure facilities such as the Churaumi Aquarium. In the south, where Okinawa World and Gangara no tani are located, there are many spots where groups of people can enjoy themselves.
To enjoy sightseeing in Okinawa
The main island of Okinawa is home to Naha Airport, the base for sightseeing in Okinawa Prefecture. Naha, home to the World Heritage Site of Shuri Castle, also has the prefecture's largest downtown area, Kokusai-dori, where you can enjoy city life throughout the day.
Of course, there are also many clear waters that rival those of the outlying islands, and there is no shortage of spots to enjoy the spectacular views, such as Sesoko Beach, which is close to Naha Airport, Kouri Beach from the Kouri Ohashi Bridge, and Manzamage, where you can view the spectacular scenery from the cliffs.
In the northern part of the island, there are still virgin mangrove forests where visitors can enjoy activities such as kayaking, and the Churaumi Aquarium, famous for its powerful tank with whale sharks swimming in it.
In the southern part of the main island, there are many spots that can be enjoyed by groups, such as Okinawa World, where you can explore Gyokusen Cave, one of the largest limestone caves in Asia, and the Valley of Gangara.
You should also visit places of great spiritual significance such as Saiba Utaki and Kutaka Island, and spots where you can learn about wartime conditions such as Himeyuri Pagoda and the former naval headquarters bunker.
History of Okinawa
Okinawa was once the Kingdom of Ryukyu, a nation founded by the Ryukyu people. Ryukyu traded with mainland China, southern countries, and Japan, and developed a unique culture. Even today, we can catch a glimpse of their culture through festivals such as Eisa and Hari, as well as Shisa, their guardian deity, and their unique dialect.
In modern times, Okinawa was incorporated as one of the regions that make up Japan, but during the Pacific War, it was on the front line of the decisive battle for the mainland, and became a fierce battleground with civilian casualties. After the war, Okinawa was under U.S. rule for nearly 30 years, and it was not until 1972 that it finally returned to Japan.
Today, Okinawa is one of the most popular tourist prefectures in Japan, and there is no end to the number of people who move to Okinawa, attracted by its beautiful nature and unique culture.
Okinawa's Local Gourmet, Food Culture, and Specialties
The food culture of the Ryukyu Dynasty still remains strong in Okinawa. Okinawa soba is famous for its soba (buckwheat noodle), which does not contain any buckwheat flour, and is characterized by its rich soup and firm noodles. The dish with pork ribs is called Soki-soba, and is a very satisfying dish.
Other famous stir-fries called chanpuru include goya chanpuru, which is made by stir-frying specialty bitter melon and agu pork with eggs, mimigah (pig's ears), rafte (stewed pork belly), tibichi (pork leg), juicy cooked rice, and hilayachie (okonomiyaki).
The island is also a treasure trove of rare ingredients such as jjimmy tofu, tofu jelly, sea grapes, island cucumbers, and island peppercorns, as well as seafood unique to the South Seas, such as eelabucher and gurukun.
Another characteristic of the island is its many B-class gourmet foods such as tacos, hamburgers, steaks, menchi-korokke (meatball croquettes), and pork roe, all of which were popularized during the American colonial period. In addition to sata andagi and chinsuko, beverages such as Orion beer and root beer are popular as souvenirs.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is one of Okinawa's most popular attractions, home to more than 20,000 marine animals representing around 700 species. Located within Ocean Expo Park on the Motobu Peninsula in northern Okinawa, the aquarium introduces visitors to the rich marine environment surrounding the Ryukyu Islands under the concept of "A Journey into the Okinawan Sea." The exhibits take visitors ...»
Shuri Castle was the royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom and served as the political and cultural heart of the kingdom for centuries. Located on a hill overlooking Naha Port, once an important center of overseas trade, the castle is the largest-scale gusuku, or traditional Ryukyuan castle complex, in Okinawa....»
Katsuren Castle is the historic site of a powerful gusuku, or Ryukyuan castle, that flourished during the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Located in Uruma City on the Katsuren Peninsula, the castle is closely associated with Amawari, one of the most influential local lords of the period. Amawari is remembered as a powerful and ambitious aji, a regional lord who resisted the authority of the Ryukyu kin...»
Naminoue Shrine stands dramatically on a steep cliff overlooking Naha Harbor in Okinawa. Perched above the sea, the shrine has long been one of the most important places of worship in the region and was once revered as the guardian shrine of the entire Ryukyu Kingdom. Affectionately known by local people as “Namin-san” or “Nanmin,” the shrine remains an important spiritual landmark in Naha. Its l...»
Daisekirinzan is a spectacular trekking destination in northern Okinawa Island, within Yanbaru National Park. The area is characterized by sharp limestone rock formations rising among lush subtropical forests, creating a landscape that feels like a natural maze. The attraction covers an enormous area equivalent to approximately 11 Tokyo Domes. Its unusual scenery has also made it a popular filmin...»
American Village is a lively entertainment and shopping district in Mihama, Chatan, on Okinawa Island. Filled with shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, cinemas, and live music venues, the area remains popular with both visitors and local residents throughout the day and into the evening. The spacious layout of the buildings and the colorful streetscape create a distinctly West Coast-inspired...»
Valley of Gangala is a unique natural attraction in Nanjo City, southern Okinawa. Combining ancient limestone caves, dramatic rock formations, and lush subtropical forest, the valley feels like stepping into another world. The interior of the valley can only be entered as part of a guided tour. As you walk along the trails, the dense vegetation, towering trees, caves, and weathered limestone form...»
Senaga Island is a small island in southern Okinawa known as the island closest to Naha Airport. Although separated from Okinawa's main island by the sea, it is now connected by a coastal road, making it easy to visit by car, bicycle, or even on foot. Its location directly beside Naha Airport gives Senaga Island a unique attraction: airplanes taking off and landing pass remarkably close overhead....»
Cape Manzamo is one of the most spectacular scenic attractions in Onna Village, one of Okinawa's best-known resort destinations. Located within the Okinawa Coast designated park, this dramatic coastal landscape combines towering cliffs, lush grassland, and the brilliant blue waters of the East China Sea. The most famous feature is a rocky outcrop extending toward the sea in a shape that resembles...»
Chinen Castle Ruins are the remains of a historic gusuku, or Okinawan castle, in Chinen, Nanjo City, southern Okinawa. The site is particularly famous for its beautiful stone archways, which form the former main and rear gates of the castle. The castle is also mentioned in the Omoro Soshi, one of the oldest collections of songs and poems from the Ryukyu Islands. Surrounded by stone-paved paths, o...»
Murasaki Mura is a unique cultural theme park in Yomitan Village, Okinawa, where visitors can experience the history, traditional crafts, food, and everyday culture of Okinawa. The park recreates the atmosphere of Okinawa's “Great Trading Era,” from the 14th to 16th centuries, when the Ryukyu Kingdom flourished as a major trading center in East Asia. Traditional-style buildings, streets, gardens,...»
Busena Marine Park is a popular marine attraction located within the Busena Resort area in Nago, northern Okinawa. The surrounding waters are home to a wide variety of colorful tropical fish, allowing visitors to experience the beauty of Okinawa's underwater world without having to dive or snorkel. The park offers two main ways to discover the sea: the Underwater Observatory and a glass-bottom bo...»
Nakijin Castle Ruins, also known as Nakijin Gusuku or Hokuzan Castle, are located in Nakijin Village in northern Okinawa. The castle is one of Okinawa's most important historic sites, combining the dramatic remains of a medieval fortress with sweeping views of the surrounding sea. The castle is closely associated with the Kingdom of Hokuzan, one of the three rival powers that controlled Okinawa d...»
Okinawa World is a large-scale cultural and nature theme park in southern Okinawa that brings together the island's distinctive nature, history, and traditional culture in one fascinating destination. From an enormous limestone cave and a recreated traditional village to traditional crafts, Eisa dancing, and tropical fruits, the park offers a wide variety of experiences that showcase the character...»
Ryukyu Mura is a cultural theme park in Onna Village where visitors can experience the traditional nature, culture, crafts, and lifestyle of Okinawa. With historic houses, traditional sugar-making facilities, pottery workshops, and cultural performances, the park recreates the atmosphere of old Okinawa and offers a glimpse into life during the Ryukyu era. Walking through the village feels almost ...»
Nakagusuku Castle is one of the best-preserved gusuku, or fortified castles, of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Located on a hill approximately 160 meters above sea level, the castle is renowned for its beautifully curved stone walls and sophisticated masonry techniques. The castle occupies the eastern edge of a ridge extending from northwestern to southern Nakagusuku Village. Its elevated position provided ...»
The Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum, affectionately known as OkiMu, is a unique cultural complex that combines a museum and an art museum under one roof. It is one of the few facilities of its kind in Japan, offering visitors the opportunity to explore Okinawa from both historical and artistic perspectives. The museum section features a wide range of materials covering geology, biolog...»
Okinawa Peace Memorial Park stands on elevated ground overlooking the sea in the Okinawa Senseki Quasi-National Park, a protected area dedicated to the battlefields and memorial sites of the Battle of Okinawa. The park's symbol is the Tower of Peace, built as a lasting prayer for peace. Set among the hills of Mabuni in Itoman City, at the southern end of Okinawa Island, the park is both a place o...»
Soki Soba is one of Okinawa's most popular local noodle dishes. The word soki refers to pork ribs, usually bone-in spare ribs, and Soki Soba is Okinawa soba topped with these richly flavored pork ribs. The dish is said to have originated at Gabesoga Shokudo, a restaurant founded in 1966 in Nago, northern Okinawa. According to the story behind its creation, founder Genji Kinjo had previously been ...»