Things to do · Okinawa · Japan
18 best things to do in Okinawa
18 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Syohei Arai, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Okinawa are Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Shuri Castle and Kokusai-dori. Of the 18 picks below, 8 are free, 4 work on a rainy day and 4 suit children. Allow about 6 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
- Free sights
- 8
- Good on a rainy day
- Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
- Time to see the highlights
- 6 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium | Motobu Peninsula | Half a day with the park | Mid-priced |
| Shuri Castle | Naha (Kokusai-dori) | 2 hours | Low cost |
| Kokusai-dori | Naha (Kokusai-dori) | 2 hours | Free |
| Daiichi Makishi Public Market | Naha (Kokusai-dori) | 1–1.5 hours | Mid-priced |
| Tsuboya Yachimun Street | Naha (Kokusai-dori) | 1 hour | Free |
| Okinawa Peace Memorial Park | Nanjo and the south | 2 hours | Free |
| Himeyuri Peace Museum | Nanjo and the south | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Sefa-utaki | Nanjo and the south | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Okinawa World and Gyokusendo Cave | Nanjo and the south | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Nakagusuku Castle | Okinawa City (Koza) | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Nakijin Castle | Motobu Peninsula | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Zakimi Castle | Yomitan | 45 minutes | Free |
| Cape Manzamo | Onna | 30 minutes | Low cost |
| Mihama American Village | Chatan | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Kouri Island | Motobu Peninsula | 2 hours | Free |
| Bise Fukugi Tree Road | Motobu Peninsula | 1 hour | Free |
| Cape Maeda Blue Cave | Onna | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Naminoue Shrine and Beach | Naha (Kokusai-dori) | 1 hour | Free |
The 18 best things to do
Aquarium · Motobu Peninsula
1.Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
The aquarium's centrepiece is the Kuroshio Sea tank, holding about 7,500 cubic metres of water, in which whale sharks and manta rays swim behind one of the world's largest acrylic panels. Coral-reef and deep-sea zones lead down to it, and the surrounding Ocean Expo Park has a free dolphin show, a turtle pool and Emerald Beach.
Watch a whale-shark feeding session at the big tank, then walk to the free dolphin show and Emerald Beach in the same park.
- Time needed
- Half a day with the park
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Kids
- Rainy day
Castle · Naha (Kokusai-dori)
2.Shuri Castle
The hilltop palace of the Ryukyu kings is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its vermilion main hall burned in 2019 and has been undergoing reconstruction scheduled for completion around 2026; the restored gates, including Shureimon, the stone ramparts and views over Naha remain open, and parts of the rebuilding have been shown to visitors.
Ride the Yui Rail to Shuri station and walk up through Shureimon gate, then continue down the Kinjo-cho stone-paved path.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Views
Street · Naha (Kokusai-dori)
3.Kokusai-dori
Naha's main street runs for about 1.6 km past souvenir shops, awamori bars, Okinawan restaurants and live-music venues. Side arcades such as Heiwa-dori and Ichiba-hondori lead to the market and older shops, and the street is often closed to traffic on Sunday afternoons.
Explore the covered side arcades rather than the main street for better prices on crafts and snacks.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- After dark
- Free
Market · Naha (Kokusai-dori)
4.Daiichi Makishi Public Market
Naha's 'kitchen' reopened in a new building in 2023. The ground floor sells colourful reef fish, lobster, Agu pork and sea grapes; buy seafood downstairs and restaurants upstairs will cook it for a fee, a system known as mochiage.
Ask the fishmonger to recommend a cooking style and which upstairs restaurant to use before you buy.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Street · Naha (Kokusai-dori)
5.Tsuboya Yachimun Street
Since 1682, when the royal government gathered potters here, Tsuboya has been Naha's pottery district. A stone-paved lane of about 400 m is lined with studios and shops selling yachimun (Okinawan pottery), and the Tsuboya Pottery Museum explains the craft.
Look for the old Arayachi climbing kiln along the lane, and buy shisa figurines direct from the workshops.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- History
- Art
- Free
Historic site · Nanjo and the south
6.Okinawa Peace Memorial Park
On the cliffs at Mabuni, where the Battle of Okinawa ended in 1945, the Cornerstone of Peace lists the names of more than 240,000 people of all nationalities who died in the battle. The Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum covers the battle and its impact on civilians with clarity and restraint.
Allow time for the museum's testimony rooms, and visit with the Himeyuri Peace Museum nearby to understand the civilian experience.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Views
Museum · Nanjo and the south
7.Himeyuri Peace Museum
This museum tells the story of the Himeyuri students, schoolgirls mobilised as nurses during the Battle of Okinawa, many of whom died in the caves of the south. It uses survivors' testimonies, photographs and a recreated cave.
It is emotionally heavy; combine it with a quiet walk or cliff-top café rather than a theme park afterwards.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
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Religious site · Nanjo and the south
8.Sefa-utaki
The most sacred site of the Ryukyu Kingdom's indigenous religion is a forested grove of prayer spaces among limestone rocks, where royal priestesses were once ordained. Its famous triangular rock passage frames a view of Kudaka Island, the island of the gods. It is UNESCO-listed.
Wear shoes with grip for the uneven stone paths, and treat it as an active place of worship by keeping voices low.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Nature
Theme park · Nanjo and the south
1.Okinawa World and Gyokusendo Cave
This cultural theme park is built around Gyokusendo, a limestone cave about 5 km long, of which roughly 890 m is open on a walkway through stalactite halls and underground pools. Above ground are a recreated Ryukyu village with craft workshops, Eisa drum performances and a habu snake museum.
Do the cave first while you are fresh; it is cool and humid inside, a good choice on a rainy day.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Castle · Okinawa City (Koza)
2.Nakagusuku Castle
These 15th-century ruins have some of the finest stonework of any Ryukyu castle, with curved limestone walls in three building styles laid out over six enclosures on a ridge. From the walls you can see both the East China Sea and the Pacific. It is UNESCO-listed.
Visit in the late afternoon for soft light on the walls and fewer visitors.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Architecture
Castle · Motobu Peninsula
3.Nakijin Castle
The seat of the northern Hokuzan kings before the island was unified, Nakijin has winding stone walls about 1.5 km long on a hilltop above the sea. Early-blooming cherry trees colour the approach from late January.
Combine it with the Churaumi Aquarium, about 15 minutes away by car.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Photo spot
Castle · Yomitan
4.Zakimi Castle
Built in the early 15th century by the general Gosamaru, Zakimi's gracefully curved walls and early arched gateways are among the oldest in Okinawa. The grounds are free and quiet, with views over Yomitan to the sea.
Walk the top of the walls at sunset, then visit the Yachimun no Sato pottery village a short drive away.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Viewpoint · Onna
5.Cape Manzamo
A grassy clifftop whose rock formation resembles an elephant's trunk dipping into the sea, with coral-blue water below. A short path loops along the edge of the cliff.
Come in the late afternoon, when the light is behind you for photos of the rock arch.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
Neighbourhood · Chatan
6.Mihama American Village
A seafront shopping and dining complex built on reclaimed land, with brightly painted buildings, diners, bars and shops, a boardwalk and Sunset Beach next door. It is a popular evening spot with locals, US base personnel and visitors.
Arrive before sunset, walk the seawall to Sunset Beach and stay for dinner and drinks.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- After dark
- Couples
- Free
- Food
Island · Motobu Peninsula
7.Kouri Island
A road bridge about 2 km long crosses turquoise shallows to this small island, where Tinu Beach has the well-known Heart Rock formation. The beach by the bridge is a good place to paddle, and the island's restaurants serve sea-urchin rice bowls.
Stop at the beach at the island end of the bridge for the classic photo looking back over the water.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Free
- Kids
Nature · Motobu Peninsula
8.Bise Fukugi Tree Road
In the village of Bise, thousands of fukugi trees planted as windbreaks form shady green tunnels over sandy lanes that lead to the sea. You can walk, rent a bicycle or take a slow water-buffalo cart.
Rent bikes at the village entrance and ride to the small beach at the far end of the lanes.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Kids
Experience · Onna
9.Cape Maeda Blue Cave
A sea cave at Cape Maeda glows blue as sunlight reflects through the water; guided snorkelling and diving tours swim in from the cliffs or by boat and also visit the surrounding reef. Tours run all year but cancel in high swell.
Book a morning tour, when the sea tends to be calmer, and keep a spare day in case of cancellation.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Active
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Religious site · Naha (Kokusai-dori)
10.Naminoue Shrine and Beach
Okinawa's most important Shinto shrine sits on a cliff above Naha's only city beach, a short walk from Kokusai-dori. It is the island's busiest shrine at New Year, and the small beach is pleasant for a swim between sightseeing.
Photograph the shrine from the beach below, then walk the seafront to the Tsuji district for dinner.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Views
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Tsuboya Yachimun Street and Himeyuri Peace Museum |
| History | Shuri Castle, Tsuboya Yachimun Street, Okinawa Peace Memorial Park and Himeyuri Peace Museum |
| Views | Shuri Castle, Okinawa Peace Memorial Park, Nakagusuku Castle and Nakijin Castle |
| Outdoors and nature | Sefa-utaki, Okinawa World and Gyokusendo Cave, Bise Fukugi Tree Road and Cape Maeda Blue Cave |
| Food and markets | Kokusai-dori, Daiichi Makishi Public Market and Mihama American Village |
| After dark | Kokusai-dori and Mihama American Village |
| With children | Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Okinawa World and Gyokusendo Cave, Kouri Island and Bise Fukugi Tree Road |
| On a rainy day | Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Daiichi Makishi Public Market, Himeyuri Peace Museum and Okinawa World and Gyokusendo Cave |
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Okinawa?
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. The aquarium's centrepiece is the Kuroshio Sea tank, holding about 7,500 cubic metres of water, in which whale sharks and manta rays swim behind one of the world's largest acrylic panels.
+What can you do for free in Okinawa?
Kokusai-dori, Tsuboya Yachimun Street, Okinawa Peace Memorial Park, Zakimi Castle and Mihama American Village. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Okinawa when it rains?
Head indoors to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Daiichi Makishi Public Market, Himeyuri Peace Museum and Okinawa World and Gyokusendo Cave.
+What is there to do in Okinawa at night?
Kokusai-dori and Mihama American Village are best after dark.