GoJapan
Menu

Destination guide

Okinawa

Japan's subtropical south is a chain of islands closer to Taiwan than to Tokyo, with coral reefs, turquoise water and a culture — the old Ryukyu Kingdom — distinct from the mainland's.

Facts checked October 2026

Best for
Beaches, snorkelling and diving
Days to allow
4–6
Bases
Naha plus a beach resort
From Tokyo
Fly Haneda–Naha, ~2 h 45 min

When to go

  • April to June is warm and quiet before the summer rush, but Okinawa's rainy season runs from about 10 May to 21 June.
  • July to September is peak beach season — and typhoon season. Okinawa sees more typhoons than anywhere else in Japan (around eight approaches a year), so keep plans flexible and insure your trip.
  • October to November is still warm enough to swim, with fewer storms.
  • Winter is mild (around 20°C by day) and good for sightseeing rather than swimming. The year's first cherry blossom appears here in late January.

Naha and the south

  • Shuri CastleThe red palace of the Ryukyu kings, destroyed by fire in 2019. The rebuilt Seiden (main hall) reopens on 23 November 2026; entry to the interior uses timed reservations.
  • Kokusai-doriNaha's main street of shops, bars and restaurants, with the Makishi public market just off it.
  • Peace Memorial ParkOn the southern cliffs, remembering the more than 200,000 people who died in the 1945 Battle of Okinawa.
  • Tsuboya pottery districtWorkshops and kilns producing Okinawa's distinctive ceramics.

The north and the islands

  • Okinawa Churaumi AquariumOne of the world's largest aquariums, with whale sharks and manta rays in a vast main tank. ¥2,180; about two hours' drive from Naha.
  • Kouri IslandReached by a long bridge over shallow turquoise water, with a heart-shaped rock on its northern beach.
  • JUNGLIA OkinawaA nature theme park in the Yanbaru forest, opened in July 2025. Overseas adults pay ¥8,800, with timed entry; reviews have been mixed, so read recent ones before you go.
  • Kerama IslandsA national park of white beaches and clear water 20–50 minutes by ferry from Naha's Tomari port — superb for snorkelling, and for whale-watching from January to March.
  • Ishigaki and MiyakoFurther south, a short flight from Naha or direct from Tokyo: quieter, with some of Japan's best beaches and coral reefs.

Getting there and around

  • Fly from Tokyo Haneda to Naha in about 2 h 45 min; many flights a day, including on budget airlines.
  • In Naha, the Yui Rail monorail links the airport, the centre and Shuri Castle.
  • Beyond Naha, hire a car — buses are slow and the best beaches and the aquarium are spread out. UK drivers need a 1949-convention International Driving Permit, obtained in the UK before travel. Japan drives on the left, as in the UK.

What to eat

  • Goya champuru — stir-fried bitter melon with tofu, egg and pork.
  • Okinawa soba — thick wheat noodles in pork broth; soki soba comes with stewed spare ribs.
  • Taco rice — a post-war fusion of Tex-Mex taco filling on rice.
  • Sata andagi — dense, crunchy Okinawan doughnuts.
  • Awamori — the island's own distilled rice spirit, and Orion beer.

Sources