Okinawa, Japan’s tropical paradise, is the perfect destination to enjoy crystal-clear beaches and immerse yourself in a unique culture. During World War II, Okinawa was the site of one of the fiercest battles in the Pacific, leaving deep scars behind. Over time, however, the island has transformed into a symbol of peace, known for its hospitality and rich culture, which is distinct from the rest of Japan. This archipelago is made up of more than 160 islands, but the main ones are Okinawa, Miyako, and Yaeyama. In this guide, I’ll show you how to make the most of Okinawa’s main island in 4 days, exploring charming towns, temples, and finishing your trip by discovering stunning coral reefs.
How to Get to Okinawa (Naha)
You can reach Okinawa by plane or ferry, although flying is by far the most convenient option. From Tokyo and Osaka, several airlines offer direct and convenient flights:
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- ANA (All Nippon Airways): This Japanese airline operates daily flights between Tokyo (Narita and Haneda Airports) and Naha, Okinawa. It also offers flights from Osaka (Kansai Airport).
- Japan Airlines (JAL): Like ANA, JAL offers daily flights from Tokyo to Okinawa, as well as from Osaka.
- Skymark Airlines: This airline occasionally operates Pokémon-themed aircraft, although the specific route featuring the themed plane is only announced the day before.
- Peach Aviation: If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, Peach Aviation, a low-cost carrier, offers frequent flights to Okinawa from Tokyo (Narita) and Osaka.
- Jetstar Japan: Another low-cost airline connecting Tokyo (Narita) and Osaka with Okinawa.
These flights usually take between 2 and 3 hours, depending on your departure city.
When to Visit Okinawa
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- Best time to visit: April to June and September to November, when the weather is warm and there are fewer tourists.
- Avoid: Typhoon season (July–August) and the hottest months (July and August).
4-Day Okinawa Main Island Itinerary
Day 1 – Chatan / Mihama American Village
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- Morning: Arrive at Naha Airport. Take the monorail into Naha and check in to your hotel.
- Afternoon: Take the bus to Mihama American Village in Chatan, one of the most unique and entertaining places to visit in Okinawa. This shopping and entertainment complex has a completely different atmosphere from the rest of the island, inspired by an American military base with a retro feel. There are plenty of souvenir shops, as well as Pokémon photo spots known as “Pokégenic” murals. Keep in mind that traffic in and out of Naha is particularly bad during rush hour, so I recommend catching the return bus around 5 PM, and no later than 6 PM. Take bus numbers 28 or 120. The fare from Miebashi Station is ¥770 each way, approximately €9.50 per person for the round trip.
- Evening: Return to Naha and enjoy dinner at one of the city’s many restaurants.
Day 2 – Churaumi Aquarium, Kouri Island & Nago
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- Morning: Wake up early to pick up your rental car at 9 AM. I recommend booking it well in advance, especially during busy travel seasons, as availability can be limited. We rented ours from Toyota Rent A Car, with pickup at Miebashi.
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- If you’re a Pokémon fan, make your first stop at the Pokémon Center Okinawa, located inside AEON Mall Rycom.
- Next, continue to the famous Churaumi Aquarium, one of Okinawa’s most iconic attractions and an essential stop on any itinerary. It’s part of Ocean Expo Park, and its main highlight is the enormous Kuroshio Sea tank, home to a whale shark along with countless marine species, including giant manta rays. You’ll also find fascinating exhibits on coral reefs and other marine ecosystems. You can buy your tickets in advance on Klook. Admission is ¥2,180 for adults (around €13 depending on the exchange rate).
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- Afternoon: Cross the spectacular Kouri Ohashi Bridge to Kouri Island. Then head up to Kouri Ocean Tower to enjoy panoramic views. You can purchase your tickets here. Admission costs ¥1,000 (around €6). Afterwards, head down to Kouri Beach to watch the sunset.
- Evening: Drive to Nago, where you’ll spend the night. Check into your hotel, stroll around town, and enjoy dinner.
- Morning: Wake up early to pick up your rental car at 9 AM. I recommend booking it well in advance, especially during busy travel seasons, as availability can be limited. We rented ours from Toyota Rent A Car, with pickup at Miebashi.
Day 3 – Cape Manzamo & Cape Maeda
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- Morning: Enjoy breakfast in Nago before driving to Cape Manzamo. Located in Onna, this iconic cliff offers breathtaking ocean views and is famous for its distinctive elephant trunk shape. It is undoubtedly one of Okinawa’s most recognizable landmarks. The name “Manzamo” roughly translates to “a field where 10,000 people can sit.” Admission is a symbolic ¥100 (around €0.60).
- Afternoon:
- Drive to Onna no Eki, a local market that’s perfect for sampling Okinawa’s regional cuisine. You’ll find everything from fresh vegetables and seafood to affordable meals at the nearby restaurants.
- Later, continue to the Cape Maeda area, a paradise for snorkeling (although we didn’t go snorkeling ourselves). There is a large parking area where you can leave your car before walking to several peaceful, idyllic beaches. The main attraction here is the Blue Cave, an underwater sea cave where sunlight creates a spectacular glowing blue effect. If snorkeling interests you, you may want to skip the following stop and instead join a guided Blue Cave tour. Here’s a recommended Klook tour.
- If you still have time, head to Ryukyu Mura, a cultural theme park showcasing Okinawan traditions, music, and dance.
- Keep in mind that rental cars usually have to be returned by 6 PM, and Okinawa has some of the worst traffic I’ve ever experienced. I strongly recommend leaving Cape Maeda at least an hour and a half in advance. Although the distance back to Naha isn’t very long, traffic becomes extremely heavy from around 4:30–5 PM as everyone heads back into the city.
- Evening: Dinner in Naha.
Day 4 – SNORKELING, NAMINOUE SHRINE & KOKUSAI DORI IN NAHA
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- Morning: We’ll join a snorkeling tour around the coral reefs of the Kerama Islands, famous for their crystal-clear waters and abundant marine life. Here’s the link to the tour we took. It lasted around 3 hours, and we were back in Naha by 12:30 PM.
- Afternoon: Back in Naha, we’ll have lunch at a local restaurant—I highly recommend trying Okinawa soba. Afterwards, we’ll visit Naminoue Shrine, a sacred shrine perched on a cliff overlooking the sea.
- Evening: We’ll explore Kokusai Dori, home to a huge variety of shops and restaurants. You can also visit Makishi Market for fresh seafood and take the opportunity to buy souvenirs, as the main street is packed with souvenir shops.
Accommodation
Here are some accommodation options for the different stops on our itinerary. We stayed at a hotel in Naha on the first day, another in Nago on the second day, and then returned to Naha for the remaining nights. The following recommendations and prices are based on a private double room with a private bathroom.
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- Naha:
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- Hotel Strata Naha, around €70 per night. We stayed here and absolutely loved it!
- Almont Hotel Naha Kenchomae, around €70 per night.
- Toyoko Inn Okinawa Naha Asahibashi Ekimae, around €60 per night.
- Richmond Hotel Naha Kumoji, around €65 per night.
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- Nago:
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- Green Rich Hotel Okinawa Nago, around €50 per night. We stayed here.
- Hotel Yugaf Inn Okinawa, around €50 per night.
- Hotel Io Lite, around €50 per night.
- Hotel Sakurano Familia Nago, around €60 per night.
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- Naha:
Renting a Car & Traffic in Naha
To rent a car and drive in Japan, you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP). If you’re from Spain, simply book an appointment with the DGT, bring your valid Spanish driving licence, a passport photo, and pay the €10.51 fee. Traffic in Okinawa, especially around Naha, can be very heavy, particularly during rush hour. As the island’s largest city, Naha is the hub for business, tourism, and daily commuting, resulting in significant congestion.
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- Rush hours: Traffic is at its worst between 7:30 AM–9:30 AM and 5:00 PM–7:30 PM. Whenever possible, try to drive outside these times.
- Narrow streets: Naha’s streets are relatively narrow compared to many other parts of Japan, and the lack of alternative routes often causes traffic jams, especially near popular areas like Kokusai Dori and the airport.
- Parking: While parking is generally available throughout Naha, finding a space during busy periods can be frustrating. Most car parks charge by the hour, so it’s worth planning ahead.
- Use public transport in Naha: The city has the convenient Yui Rail monorail, connecting key attractions such as the airport, Shuri Castle, and Kokusai Dori. It’s an excellent way to avoid traffic.
- Outside Naha, once we had rented the car, we had no issues with either traffic or parking.
Budget for Two People in Okinawa
The total cost of your trip will depend on your travel style, preferences, and the choices you make along the way. However, here’s a breakdown of what we spent during our trip to Okinawa. 1. Local transportation – €355
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- Flights from Tokyo to Naha: €100 per person.
- Monorail from the airport to Naha (Miebashi Station): ¥300 each way, around €4 return per person.
- Car rental: €128 for two days.
- Bus from Naha to Mihama American Village: ¥770 each way, around €9.50 per person.
2. Accommodation – €295
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- Hotel in Naha: 3 nights, €240.
- Hotel in Nago: 1 night, €55.
3. Entrance fees – €39.20
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- Churaumi Aquarium: ¥2,180, around €13 per person.
- Kouri Ocean Tower: ¥1,000, around €6 per person.
- Cape Manzamo: ¥100, around €0.60 per person.
- Kerama Islands tour via Klook: €47 per person.
4. Other expenses – €432.51
- Food (supermarket shopping and a few restaurants): around €120 per person.
- IATI travel insurance: the price depends on the duration of your trip, but if you’re combining Okinawa with another destination, two weeks of cover costs around €45 per person (5% discount with my link!).
- Holafly eSIM with a 5% discount. The price depends on the number of days, but expect to pay around €16 per person.
- International Driving Permit: €10.51.
APPROXIMATE TOTAL PRICE FOR 2 PEOPLE – €1,060* approximately (€530 per person)
*Not including souvenirs and all the little extras you end up buying while you’re there.
Interesting Facts About Okinawa
Here are some interesting facts about Okinawa:
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- Culture and traditions: Okinawa has a fascinating history, especially related to the Ryukyu Kingdom, which has greatly influenced its architecture and culture. If you have time, you can visit Shuri Castle, an important historical site that served as the residence of the Ryukyu monarchs before Okinawa was annexed by Japan.
- Local food: Okinawan cuisine is quite different from the rest of Japan, with influences from China and other Southeast Asian countries. I recommend trying:
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- Okinawa soba.
- Local Okinawan pork.
- Doughnuts (Sata Andagi).
- Chinsukō, traditional Okinawan cookies.
- Shikuwasa, a local citrus fruit.
- Local beers such as Orion are a must.
- Jimami tofu (peanut tofu).
- Awamori, a distilled liquor unique to Okinawa made from rice.
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- Traditional Okinawan dance: Ryukyu dance originated in the 15th century as an artistic expression of the royal court of the former Ryukyu Kingdom (present-day Okinawa). It was originally performed to welcome envoys from China.
- The clearest sea in Japan: The crystal-clear waters around the Kerama Islands and other snorkelling spots such as Cape Maeda are considered some of the clearest in the world, making them perfect for diving and snorkelling.
- Unique language and culture: Okinawa has its own language, Uchinaguchi, although it is becoming less common among younger generations. The language and culture are unique within Japan, blending Chinese, Japanese, and Southeast Asian influences.
- World War II: Okinawa was the site of one of the fiercest battles of World War II. Today, the Peace Memorial Park and the Himeyuri Museum tell this story with great respect and detail. There are also two active U.S. military bases on the island.
- Stone mounds: You’ll often come across stone mounds known as utaki, which are considered sacred places in the Ryukyu religion. Locals visit them to pay tribute to the spirits of their ancestors.
Internet
I think having Internet while travelling is essential, especially if you want to check train timetables, navigate around, or find directions. In Japan you have several options, and here’s a quick overview of the ones I’ve used:
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- eSIM: Nowadays this is the most common option, so here’s a link with a 10% discount offering different data plans and GB options. If the discount isn’t applied automatically, you can enter the code “JESS10” during checkout.
- Data SIM card: If you prefer a physical SIM card, you can buy one online before arriving in Japan and either collect it at the airport or have it delivered to your hotel. You can purchase one here. You’ll also find shops selling SIM cards at the airport, but I always use this one because it’s well priced. Airport prices tend to be a little higher. Another option is ordering one through Amazon Japan and having it delivered to your hotel.
- Pocket WiFi: This is a portable device that you can rent to provide Internet access until its battery runs out. It’s very compact, easy to carry, allows multiple devices to connect, and can be collected at the airport. You can rent yours here. The only downside is having to keep an eye on the battery level.
Travel Insurance
For this kind of trip I always take out travel insurance with IATI for extra peace of mind in case anything happens. We once had an incident in Japan and it turned out to be incredibly useful. We usually choose either the “IATI Basic” or “IATI Standard” policy, although depending on your destination you may want to consider the “Star” or “Backpacker” options.
You can also add or purchase cancellation insurance. The “IATI Premium Cancellation” policy has been specifically designed to cover cancellation costs (flights, accommodation, excursions, and more), up to a maximum of €6,000, if you’re unable to travel for one of the reasons covered by the policy.
By clicking this link, you can purchase any IATI insurance policy with a 5% discount: https://www.iatiseguros.com?r=81717716852618.
Money While Travelling – N26 Card
Japan uses the Japanese Yen (¥), and as a rough guide, ¥100 is approximately €0.62. We paid for everything with our credit card during this trip and didn’t have any issues.
I got this card before travelling to Iceland, and it’s been fantastic on every trip since then. Over the past few years I’ve travelled to Japan several times and to many other countries outside the Eurozone, and I got tired of paying exchange fees at airports and currency exchange offices, the roughly 3% fee my bank charged for every card payment abroad, and ATM withdrawal fees. So I looked for a solution because, even though the percentage seems small, it really adds up over time.
Now, whenever I travel, I pay for everything using my N26 prepaid card. You can order yours through this link. Here are a few things worth knowing:
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- I opened an account free of charge and can withdraw cash from Spanish and Eurozone ATMs, provided they are contactless.
- If you want the physical card, you can order it for €10.
- Adding money to the card is very easy, as it’s done via bank transfer.
- Some important things to keep in mind while travelling with this card:
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- You can pay in any currency other than the Euro. N26 does not charge any fees for payments abroad, even when another currency is involved. The exchange rate used is the one provided by Mastercard.
- If you have a standard N26 account and want to withdraw cash from an ATM outside Europe, you’ll pay a 1.7% foreign exchange fee (but no withdrawal fee). With an N26 You or Metal account, this fee is waived. I use the Standard account.
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All the payments I’ve made in countries using currencies other than the Euro have had an excellent exchange rate (in this case, Visa’s exchange rate is applied). I compared it constantly with online currency converters to check the daily exchange rate, and the rate used was actually even better than the one shown online.
If you have any questions about this, feel free to send me an email and I’ll be happy to help. The whole process is very straightforward. Here’s the link once again: N26.
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