Okinawa, Japan Travel: Must-Visit Spots in Okinawa

I can’t actually remember why I chose Okinawa. Every trip is spontaneous yet resolute, no reason, just a desire to go.

This is the honeymoon destination for Naoki and Kotoko in “It Started with a Kiss,” where brother Leslie Cheung left behind memories in “Love in Okinawa.” There’s also Yui Aragaki’s smile and Rimi Natsukawa’s singing voice. Yui Aragaki, a pure Okinawan, is beautiful like a painting. Doesn’t her smile instantly uplift you?

Okinawa Prefecture is located between Kyushu Island, Japan, and Taiwan. It is an island prefecture under the illegal US-administered mandate, centered around the Ryukyu Islands, consisting of the Miyako Islands, Yaeyama Islands, and other islands. Numerous small islands form an arc around the Chinese mainland, covering about 0.6% of Japan’s total land area.

Okinawa is hard to find on a map, just a tiny island, yet it’s a place with infinite beauty.

Departing from Xiaoshan, there are multiple flights to Naha, Okinawa. Only one route is direct, others require transfers. If you want to save time, choose the direct flight. The timing is good too, departing at 2:45 pm, arriving at 6:10 pm (Okinawa, Japan, is 1 hour ahead of China).

Okinawa is full of traces of US military bases. Naha Airport is almost half military aircraft, quite a sight.

Naha Airport’s International Terminal and Domestic Terminal are separate, so plan your trip accordingly. If your booked hotel is far away, consider pre-booking their airport shuttle service.

Baggage Storage

Okinawa Airport’s Domestic Departure Terminal has baggage storage services, highly automated. Just insert coins, you can exchange for yen in Japan. There’s a Lawson convenience store at Naha Airport, you can buy anything there and get change. Don’t worry about them not changing for you, the staff are all super friendly.

Zanpa Misaki is located at the northern tip of the Yokai Village, on Okinawa Island, a protruding cape. The cliff is 30 meters high and stretches for 2,000 meters. Zanpa Misaki consists of a beach, a white lighthouse, a red lion statue, a plaza, and a hotel.

Transportation

Taxi / Charter Car

Chartering a car along the route is the most common way. Japan’s transportation is incredibly expensive, taxi fares start at 500 yen (within 1.8 km, then 60 yen for every additional 401 meters).

Charter cars cost about 1,200 – 1,500 RMB per day.

Bus

From various starting points, take Yokai Chobian Line 28 or Yokai Kimina Line 29, get off at the last stop, and walk about 20-30 minutes.

Take the ticket you get when you board, 14 means you boarded at the 14th stop. Don’t pay when boarding, pay according to the amount shown on the electronic screen when you get off. It’s very intelligent. For example, 14 corresponds to 460 yen, so pay 460 yen when you get off.

Chapel

Okinawa has several white chapels built by the sea. I’ve seen pictures before, and they usually have large floor-to-ceiling windows facing the ocean, holy and beautiful. There are local photography companies that collaborate with these chapels. If you contact them in advance, you can get married here. If you need it, you can check it out.

Lighthouse

Lighthouses always feel very fresh. It’s said that in August 2001, it became open to the public due to demand, and requires an additional 200 yen per person to climb.

There’s a statue next to the lighthouse, a model of Taiqi, who visited China five times during the Ryukyu Kingdom period. It was very dangerous to sail to China back then, and locals admired his courage. He was also a good businessman, the first Ryukyuan to leave his name in Chinese history. Since he was born in Yokai Village, the locals built a statue pointing to China: Taiqi, to commemorate him, and worshiped him as the “God of Merchants.”

Zanpa Misaki has a free beach. Just 2-3 meters from the beach, you can see groups of tropical fish. You can see the fish in the sea on a small boat, with time slots, so pay attention to your schedule.

Next, let’s go to the American Village in Kitakoshi.

The American Village (アメリカンビレッジ), located about 20 km northeast of Naha City in Chatan Town, is not far from Zanpa Misaki, just take bus 28 to Sonna or Gunbyoin-mae, and it’s not far from there.

In Okinawa, the US military has established ten airbases, including Kadena, Naha, and Futenma. The formation of Chatan Town’s American Village is due to the nearby Kadena US Air Base. It started as a commercial area for US military base personnel and their families, gradually developing into a large-scale integrated commercial district today, modeled after an American town, with shops and restaurants everywhere.

There’s a huge revolving sushi restaurant at the entrance. I’ve seen many travel blogs recommending it before coming here.

The American Village is full of colors, bustling commercial streets, and a large AEON mall nearby, with many drugstores offering good discounts in addition to being duty-free.

Kokusai Dori Street is the most bustling area of Naha City, the largest city in Okinawa. It stretches from the Kumoji intersection to the Anri three-way intersection. Along the 1.6 kilometer stretch, there are department stores, souvenir shops, restaurants, cafes, small bars, etc. It developed rapidly after the war like wildfire, hence its name “Miracle Mile.”

The entire main street of Kokusai Dori is filled with souvenir shops. There are many side alleys branching off the main street leading to different places, with many small shops. It’s really fun to browse. Even the buses are cute, this is truly a cute country.

There are many unique shops along Kokusai Dori, perfect for taking beautiful photos. Every staff member is friendly, welcoming you with smiles and politeness. You can buy Okinawa specialties like sea salt, cookies, and brown sugar here as souvenirs.

There are many shops on Kokusai Dori, popular with locals. If you want to taste authentic Okinawan cuisine, you can stroll around and pick a place you like.

I’ve seen Makishi Market in online travel blogs. If you want seafood, you can buy it here, and the shop can arrange processing for you. Prices are clearly marked.

Sakurazaka Dori is less crowded, and most Chinese tourists don’t know about it. However, it’s very popular on Instagram, with tons of exquisite shops, less crowded, perfect for snapping photos. The porcelain in the shops is beautiful, but equally expensive. It depends on your needs whether to buy or not.

Sakurazaka Theater

Often plays some Okinawan local underground movies, occasionally hosts small concerts, and sells records on the first floor.

Aka Island is the third largest island in the Kerama Islands. Aka Island is primitive and unspoiled, with a population of only about 350 residents. Tourists mostly rely on residents’ trucks to get around the island.

As a result, even the seawater at Aka Island Port is exceptionally clear and bright. From above, the fish, sea turtles, and boats in the sea seem to be floating in the air.

Going to Aka Island is an island excursion, best booked a day in advance. Also, departure times may change temporarily due to weather and other factors, which may differ from the website information. If you’re worried, it’s best to ask at the window, there are staff who can speak Chinese.

Types of Boats

Ferry Zamami – Regular Boat

One and a half hours one way. Round trip fare is 4,030 yen, about 200 RMB.

Queen Zamami – High-Speed Boat

50 minutes one way. Round trip fare is 5,970 yen, about 300 RMB.

Important, you must bring your passport, you must bring your passport, you must bring your passport. Important things said three times.

For the shipping schedule, see the Zamami Village website
http://www.vill.zamami.okinawa.jp/ship/ There are two ways to book, one is to book and pay directly through this website, you must book early, tickets are very tight, it’s said that some people couldn’t book fast boats even a month in advance.

The ferry is actually very stable, not at all nauseating.
The ferry is large, three stories, with seats inside and out. Your luggage will be collected by staff before boarding and can be retrieved ashore upon disembarkation.

There are many seats on the ship, air conditioning in the cabin, areas where you can lie down and sleep, and beverage vending machines, toilets, etc. are all excellent, very user-friendly, the riding experience is very good.

If your schedule is set, it’s best to buy two tickets for the round trip, you can enjoy a round trip discount.

Island Precautions

1. Wear short-sleeved shirts and shorts, bring a long-sleeved shirt or scarf, the air conditioning on the boat is very strong, avoid catching a cold.

2. Sunscreen and hats are essential, otherwise you’ll turn into a little black person.

3. For those going into the water, it’s highly recommended to buy a one-piece dive skin, about 0.5 mm thick, known as a jellyfish suit on Taobao. Okinawa has many marine creatures, it can prevent them from getting too close to you. Most importantly, it provides sun protection in hot weather and warmth in cold weather, very useful.

4. If the weather is colder or you want to dive, a wetsuit is recommended, about 3 mm thick, called a wetsuit on Taobao.

5. If you’re not willing to buy dive shoes, bring a pair of broken beach shoes that can be worn for both walking and water, to avoid stepping on dangerous fish while snorkeling.

6. Many guesthouses on the island don’t provide toiletries, you need to bring your own.

Okinawa has three major shopping destinations: Outlets, DFS, Kokusai Dori, AEON in American Village, etc.

Outlets

Departure from Airport

Take bus 95 from Domestic Terminal Platform 4, direct to the Outlet.

Airport→Outlet: Departure from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, hourly. One way 250 yen, about 20 minutes.

Outlet→Airport: Departure from 10:30 am to 7:30 pm, every half hour. The interval is also one hour.

The pick-up and drop-off points for direct buses from the Outlet to the airport are different from regular buses, they are next to ABCMart, with designated pick-up and drop-off points, you will see people queuing up there, next to it is the taxi stand.

Departure from Kokusai Dori

Take bus 98/55/56 from Kencho Kita-guchi Station, get off at “Outlet Mall Ashibina-mae” Station.

One way 460 yen, about 30 minutes.

Departure from Shuri

Take bus 98/55/56 from “Omoromachi Station” in front of DFS, get off at “Outlet Mall Ashibina-mae” Station.

One way 470 yen, about 55 minutes.

DFS

DFS is located in the Shuri new urban area of Naha City, covering an area of 45,000 square meters, selling over 120 luxury brands, divided into five business areas: beauty and fragrances, brand boutiques, luxury watches, fashion bags, spirits, and local souvenirs and food.

Most brands are priced at Japanese duty-free and tax-free prices, saving over 30% compared to the Chinese market. Non-duty-free brands include Chanel, Gucci, Godiva, and local souvenirs and food.

According to Japanese customs regulations, short-term international tourists staying for less than 6 months can present their passport or boarding pass to receive a 5% consumption tax exemption when purchasing Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Gucci. The store accepts RMB cash, UnionPay cards, and various credit cards.

The store provides free Wi-Fi within the business area and offers services such as a nursing room, rest room, accessible restrooms, wheelchair and stroller rentals for free.

Transportation

Take the monorail to “Omoromachi Station”, you can walk directly to DFS from the platform, only 2 minutes away.

Kokusai Dori

Kokusai Dori Street is the most bustling area of Naha City, the largest city in Okinawa. No need to introduce it further.

American Village

The American Village has many drugstores, hundred-yen shops, supermarkets, unique restaurants, and the Okinawa Children’s Kingdom and the largest AEON Mall in Okinawa nearby.

Departure from Naha Airport

Method 1: Taxi 3,500 – 4,000 yen, 45 minutes

Method 2: Naha Airport Bus, 800 yen for adults, 1 hour ride, direct to major hotels in the American Village

Method 3: Bus 120, 790 yen for adults, 1 hour ride, get off at “Sanko” and walk 3 minutes to the American Village

Departure from Kokusai Dori / Shuri

Method 1: Taxi 3,000 – 3,500 yen, 35 minutes

Method 2: Naha Airport Bus, get on at Akamine Station, 720 yen for adults, 50 minutes ride, direct to major hotels in the American Village

Method 3: Bus 120, about 700 yen for adults, 50 minutes ride, get off at “Sanko” and walk 3 minutes to the American Village

American Village to AEON Mall Okinawa Rycom

Method 1: Taxi, 1,500 yen, 13 minutes

Method 2: Bus 96 can go directly, but there are very few runs (board at Sanko, get off at AEON Mall Okinawa Rycom)

Everything in Okinawa is so natural, people are friendly with each other, and people are friendly with animals. No matter if it’s Americans or locals, they will greet you with “konnichiwa” when you meet, it seems like you’re not a tourist, but a friend you haven’t seen in a long time.

Okinawa, worth coming back for!