Japan’s southernmost prefecture, Okinawa is made up of several islands that are grouped into three: Okinawa Main Island, also called Okinawa Shoto; Miyako Islands, or Miyako Retto; and Yaeyama Islands, also known as Yaeyama Retto. It is blessed with many historical and cultural spots, natural sites and attractions, such as beaches and natural parks, and also has a diverse and thriving land and marine wildlife ecosystem.
How To Get There
There are two ways to get to Okinawa Main Island: by plane or by ferry.
- Naha Airport serves multiple flights to and from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and Narita Airport, Osaka’s Kansai Airport and Itami Airport, Kobe Airport, Nagoya’s Central Japan Airport, Kagoshima Airport, and Ishigaki Island’s New Ishigaki Airport on a daily basis. Some of the airline companies that operate these flights are All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Skymark Airlines, Vanilla Air, Jetstar, and Peach.
- By ferry, Okinawa Main Island handles ferry operations between Naha New Port and Osaka Nanko Ferry Terminal, and between Naha Port and Kagoshima New Port several times a month.
To reach Miyako Islands, catch a direct flight to Miyako Airport fly from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, Okinawa Main Island’s Naha Airport, Osaka’s Kansai Airport, Ishigaki Airport, and Tarama Airport.
To get to Yaeyama Islands, there are direct flights operated by All Nippon Airways and Japan Transocean Air to Yaeyama Islands’ New Ishigaki Airport from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and Okinawa Main Island’s Naha Airport.
Top Attractions
Okinawa Main Island
- War Memorials – Okinawa Main Island saw some of the bloodiest battles during World War II. It had around 200,000 casualties that included more than 12,000 American soldiers and 100,000 locals. After the war, various museums, monuments, and statues were erected to commemorate those who perished. The centrepiece of the war memorials is the Peace Memorial Park, which has numerous stone plates and monuments that bear the names of civilians and soldiers who died. Hours of operation, tickets, maps, and other resources are available on Peace Memorial Museum’s official website.
- Shuri Castle – Constructed in the late 14th century, Shuri Castle used to be the headquarters of the Ryukyu Kingdom. It is made up of many gates, a main hall, gardens, and a museum. It has a wide selection of artefacts and exhibits from the Ryukyu Era, as well as replicas of the king’s crown and throne. Shuri Castle’s official website provides more information on current exhibits, upcoming events, tickets, access, and others.
- Ocean Expo Park – Considered as one of the best aquarium’s in Japan, the Ocean Expo Park is a large attraction located by the northern coast of the island. It is composed of various ocean-related exhibits, including the highly regarded Churaumi Aquarium, a number of replica ships and canoes, and pleasant walking trails surrounded by beautiful plants and trees. Tickets, hours of operation, access, and other information are found on Ocean Expo Park’s official website.
- Hiji Waterfall – Found in the middle of a dense forest, Hiji Waterfall is a gorgeous attraction that is accessed by a hiking trail through the woods. It offers many opportunities to spot exotic birds, lizards, snakes, and other wildlife. Nearby, there is the Ufugi Nature Museum where you can find guide maps and learn more about the area’s ecosystem.
Miyako Island
Miyako Island is famous for its many beautiful, fine sand beaches. It lies approximately 300 kilometres south of Okinawa Main Island, and also offers excellent spots for scuba diving, snorkelling, swimming, and other water activities.
- Maehama Beach – A white sand beach tucked in the southwestern part of the island, Maehama Beach is a top notch destination that extends about seven kilometres along the coast. It is well-equipped and well-maintained, with various facilities for swimming, diving, snorkelling, and other water sports.
- Yoshino Beach – Popular for its thriving marine life, Yoshina Beach is a favourite when it comes to diving and snorkelling. It has a rental shop where visitors can rent gear to be able to explore its incredible coral reef system.
- Cape Higashi-Hennazaki – Found at the southeastern tip of the island, Cape Higashi-Hennazaki has a towering lighthouse standing on the edge of its two-kilometre long peninsula.
Yaeyama Islands
A fantastic getaway option for those wanting to escape the busy and quick-paced urban lifestyle, Yaeyama Islands is a paradise-like destination that offers a serene and relaxed atmosphere.
- Ishigaki Island – Ishigaki Island is the primary island of Yaeyama Islands, home to the area’s transportation hub that includes an airport and a boat terminal. It has a variety of tourist spots to offer, such as beautiful beaches, spectacular diving and snorkelling sites, and scenic hiking trails.
- Iriomote Island – The second biggest island in Okinawa Prefecture, Iriomote Island is home to a large area of untouched jungle. It is blessed with amazing natural sites, and offers numerous opportunities for kayaking, sailing, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
- Taketomi Island – A popular day trip from Ishigaki Island, Taketomi Island is home to a magnificent, well-preserved ancient Ryukyu Village. This historic site is where you can find different traditional buildings and structures made with stone and red-coloured tiled roofs, and decorated with lion statues to get rid of demons and evil spirits. It also has a couple of beaches for snorkelling, sun bathing, and swimming.
Getting Around
The city of Naha on Okinawa Main Island has a monorail and a bus system that can take you to the major tourist spots in the city centre. There are also limited bus services available on Miyako Island and Yaeyama Islands, and you can find more information on the Bus Map Okinawa website.
However, to reach many of the beaches and other remote locations on Okinawa Main Island, Miyako Island, and Yaeyama Islands, it is best to rent a car. Check out websites such as Rakuten and Ren@Navi to get information on rental car companies available in Okinawa.
Weather
The majority of the year, Okinawa experiences daily temperatures over 20 degrees Celsius. In the summer, the days can be as hot as 30 degrees, and see lots of rain, especially in June, August, and September. In winter, days can be a bit cold at 15 to 20 degrees. In spring and autumn, daily temperatures are in the low 20s, and days are generally dry.