Melo Villareal
Bucket List: 15 Best Tourist Attractions in Okinawa, Japan
Okinawa Prefecture consists of 160 inhabited and uninhabited islands, with its capital, Naha, located at Okinawa Main Island. Okinawa’s history goes back to prehistoric times, but it was only in 1879 that it was officially designated Okinawa Prefecture after the Ryukyu Kingdom was abolished. Today, the world recognizes Okinawa’s heritage sites and environmental significance. UNESCO registered the Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu as Cultural World Heritage and the biodiversity of the northern part of Okinawa Island, Iriomote Island, Amami-Oshima Island, and Tokunoshima Island as sites of Natural World Heritage. These preserved sites allow visitors to experience the natural beauty and unique cultural heritage of Okinawa.
Snorkeling
Dive shops and tour operators around Okinawa offer one of the most immersive tours of Okinawa’s natural beauty: snorkeling tours. The prefecture’s rich biodiversity can be credited to the hundreds of coral species in its waters. The astonishing underwater paradise can easily be seen because of the clear and shallow waters surrounding Okinawa.
Some of the prominent dive spots in Okinawa are Blue Cave, named after its blue hues when light filters through an opening, which is one of the most popular spots, which makes it one of the most crowded. Sunabe Seawall is one of the most accessible dive spots. Yabiji Reef is one of Japan’s most extensive reef formations, with over 100 species under shallow water. While Osaki Hanagoi and Cape Maeda are ideal for beginning divers, advanced divers can explore Manza Dream Hole, a dark tunnel open on both ends where divers must drop down 75 feet, and Kaitei Iseki, where the mysterious Yonaguni Monument is located.
Cape Manzamo
Cape Manzamo is an iconic scenic spot with unparalleled views of its iconic cliff. Its name was said to be given by a Ryukyu king who said that the spot “was large enough for 10,000 people to sit on”. The Cape has fantastic views of the East China Sea. During low tide season, the bottom of the cliff becomes a popular diving spot.
Location: Onna, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture
Entrance Rates: 100 yen per person
Gesashi Bay Mangrove Forest
Mangrove kayaking allows visitors to navigate through mangrove channels and enjoy its beauty. In Okinawa, one of the largest mangrove forests is Gesashi Bay Mangrove Forest, a 10-hectare forest with three of four types of mangrove plants. The forest has always been recognized as a treasure, both by the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1959 and the Japanese government in 1972. Visitors can kayak for an hour to five hours and witness rare wildlife and unusual birds.
Shurijo Castle
Shurijo Castle, or Shuri Castle, is the former capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The castle was built in the 1300s and was home to several Ryukyu kings until the late 1800s. The site played an integral role in Ryukyu Kingdom’s diplomacy and politics for centuries until Okinawa became a prefecture in 1879. Shurijo Castle was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage in 2000 under “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu”. Throughout its long history, the castle has been destroyed by wars and fires. Its most recent fire-related destruction happened in 2019, destroying the Seiden main hall and other castle buildings.
Visitors should wear comfortable footwear as the castle sits atop a small hill that overlooks Naha City. Once within the interiors of Seiden, Hokuden, and Nanden Halls, visitors can interact with the exhibits that tell the history of Ryukyu Kingdom and see historical artifacts and replicas that show the opulence of Ryukyu kings.
Location: 1-2 Shurikinjo-cho, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
Visiting Hours: 8:30AM to 6PM, Daily
Entrance Rates: 400 yen per person
Website: oki-park.jp/shurijo
Shikinaen Royal Garden
Similar to Shurijo Castle, Shikinaen Royal Garden was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage in 2000 under “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu”. The garden was constructed in the late 18th century as the Ryuku kings’ second residence. It features Japanese-style architecture and landscapes and native Okinawan flora. A pair of stone bridges connect to a small islet where a pavilion stands.
Location: 421-7 Maaji, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
Visiting Hours: 9AM to 6PM, Daily (Last entry at 5:30PM)
Entrance Rates: 400 yen per person
Nakijin Castle Ruins
Nakijin Castle is another former Ryukyu castle constructed in the late 1200s. It was one of the largest castles second to Shurijo Castle. Nakijin Castle served as the seat to several northern Hokuzan kings before the island unified into Ryukyu Kingdom in the 15th century. Nakijin Castle Ruins was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage in 2000 under “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu”. Located within the ruins is the Nakijin Village History and Culture Center, a small red-tiled building that displays unearthed ancient artifacts and archival documents that tell the history and culture of Nakijin Village.
Location: 5101 Imadomari, Nakijin, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture
Visiting Hours: 8AM to 6PM, Daily
Entrance Rates: 600 yen per person
Katsuren Castle Ruins
The ruins of Katsuren Castle were listed in the UNESCO World Heritage in 2000 under “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.” The former Ryukyu castle sits atop a hill with sweeping views of the nearby coast. The castle is also known to be the seat of the legendary Lord Amawari in the 15th century. According to the legend, Lord Amawari was a feeble and sickly young child abandoned in the mountains but grew up to be a commanding leader who defeated a tyrannical lord and took over Katsuren Castle.
Location: 3807-2 Katsurenhaebaru, Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture
Visiting Hours: 24/7
Entrance Rates: FREE
Nakagusuku Castle Ruins
Another historic site listed in the UNESCO World Heritage under “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu” are the well-preserved ruins of Nakagusuku Castle. The ruins are among the best-preserved Okinawa, where citadels can still be identified. The north and third enclosures of Nakagusuku Castle were said to be built by Lord Gosamaru using the most advanced masonry technique to defend against the attacks of Lord Amawari of Katsuren Castle.
A traditional Okinawan-style residence from the 18th century is located close to the ruins. Nakamurake demonstrates the conventional features of an affluent Okinawan residence, from the red-tiled roofs of the structure to the lion-like statues that repel evil spirits.
Nakagusuku Castle Ruins
Location: 503 Ogusuku, Kitanakagusuku, Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture
Visiting Hours: 8:30AM to 6PM, Daily (Last entry until 5PM)
Entrance Rates: FREE
Nakamurake
Visiting Hours: 9AM to 5PM, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (Last entry until 4:40PM)
Entrance Rates: 500 yen per person
Zakimi Castle Ruins
Zakimi Castle was constructed around 1420 by the Chuzan Kingdom as a defense against the rebels when the Chuzan Kingdom united Okinawa into the Ryukyu Kingdom. The castle was built with unique features, such as its false passageways to confuse attackers and with innovative masonry techniques that stand the test of time. Today, its ruins remain where visitors can get a bird’s-eye view of the surroundings. The Zakimi Castle Ruins are listed in the UNESCO World Heritage under “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu”.
Within the grounds of the castle ruins is the Yuntanza Museum. The museum exhibits relics unearthed that give perspective on the daily lives of Yomitan Village.
Location: Yomitan, Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture
Visiting Hours: 24/7
Entrance Rates: FREE
Kaiyohaku Park
Kaiyohaku Park, or Ocean Expo Park, was constructed in the 1970s to remember the Okinawa International Ocean Expo held at the same site. The 3-kilometer park has bus routes that stop at several attractions. Some of the park’s entertainment and learning facilities include the Oceanic Culture Museum and Planetarium, which has interactive exhibits on Asian and South Pacific culture and replicas of trade ships from the Ryukyu Kingdom, the Native Okinawan Village that features residences and structures from the different eras and regions of Okinawa, the arboretums and nature trails of the Tropical Dream Center, and Emerald Beach.
Location: Ishikawa, Motobu, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture
Visiting Hours: 8:30AM to 8PM, Daily (Last entry until 7PM)
Entrance Rates: FREE
Oceanic Culture Museum and Planetarium
Visiting Hours: 8:30AM to 8PM, Daily (Last entry until 7PM)
Entrance Rates: FREE, Children under 6 years old, elementary students and high school students; 190 yen, Adults
Native Okinawan Village
Visiting Hours: 8:30AM to 8PM, Daily (Last entry until 7PM)
Entrance Rates: FREE
Tropical Dream Center
Visiting Hours: 8:30AM to 8PM, Daily (Last entry until 7PM)
Entrance Rates: FREE, Children under 6 years old, elementary students and high school students; 760 yen, Adults
Churaumi Aquarium
Churaumi Aquarium is located in Kaiyohaku Park and is considered Japan’s best aquarium. Perhaps this is because of the large tanks that fill the attraction. Kuroshio Tank, named after the Kuroshio current, which plays an integral role in Okinawa’s marine life, is the largest tank in the world. Kuroshio Tank displays various species of marine animals, with whale sharks and manta rays stealing the show. Another impressive tank that visitors get to see contains 70 different coral reefs in the world’s first large-scale exhibit of living coral. Other remarkable tanks worth seeing are the tanks reserved for tiger sharks and bull sharks, and bioluminescent fish.
Location: Ishikawa, Motobu, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture
Visiting Hours: 8:30AM to 8PM, Daily (Last entry until 7PM)
Kuroshio Tank Feeding Times: 9:30AM, 3PM, and 5PM
Entrance Rates: FREE, Children under 6 years old; 710 yen, Elementary students; 1,440 yen, High school students; 2,180 yen, Adults
Website: churaumi.okinawa/en/haisai/
Okinawa World
Okinawa World is a theme park that showcases Okinawan culture and heritage with several cultural and natural attractions. Its most famous attraction is the five-kilometer-long Gyokusendo Cave, a natural museum formed over 300,000 years with striking stalactites and stalagmites.
Other exciting attractions are Habu Park, a snake, and reptile museum that hosts snake and reptile exhibits and shows, the Tropical Orchards, where over 450 tropical trees are cultivated; and the Culture Center, a museum that displays the Ryukyuan daily life, culture, and heritage.
Location: Tamagusuku Maekawa, Nanjo-city, Okinawa Prefecture
Visiting Hours: 9AM to 5:30PM, Daily (Last entry at 4PM)
Entrance Rates: 1,000 yen, Children; 2,000 yen, Adults
Website: gyokusendo.co.jp/okinawaworld
Okinawa Zoo and Museum
Visitors can get a chance to see over 200 different species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and insects at Okinawa Zoo and Museum. The park houses hundreds of animals native to the Ryukyu Islands, like the Yakushima macaques and Ryukyu Dogs, and migratory birds that visit yearly. The park’s Wonder Museum and Children’s Center are one of the first and only facilities in Okinawa dedicated to fostering their growth and creativity.
Other things to see around the park are the Furusato-en, a replica of a traditional Okinawan farm village from the Meiji to Taisho era, the various rides the park, like the Texas train ride and Merry-go-round, and the birdwatching deck where hundreds of different migratory birds can be seen.
Location: 5-7-1 Goya, Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture
Visiting Hours: 9:30AM to 6PM, Wednesdays to Mondays, April to September (Last entry until 5PM); 9:30AM to 5:30PM, Wednesdays to Mondays, October to March (Last entry until 4:30PM); Closed on Tuesdays
Website: okzm.jp
Okinawa Zoo
Entrance Rates: FREE, Children below 3 years old; 100 yen for 4-year-old children to elementary school students; 200 yen, Junior high and high school students; 500 yen, Adults
Wonder Museum
Entrance Rates: FREE, Children below 3 years old; 100 yen for 4-year-old children to high school students; 200 yen, for Adults
Children’s Center
Entrance Rates: FREE
Rides
The Texas train ride: 200 Yen per person
Go-karting: 100 Yen per person
Merry-go-round: 200 Yen per person
3D Theater Dinosaur World: 300 Yen per person
Valley of Gangala
The Valley of Gangala is an impressive limestone cave formed hundreds of thousands of years ago. Excavations are underway to find traces of the Minatogawa people, ancestors of the Japanese, that date back 20,000 years ago. A giant banyan tree over 150 years old can be seen in the valley, its roots hanging over a cliff.
The only way to see the valley is by booking a guided tour. No walk-ins are allowed. The departure point for tours are at the Cave Café where live events also take place.
Location: Maekawa-202, Tamagusuku, Nanjo, Okinawa Prefecture
Tour Departure Times: 10AM, 12PM, 2PM, 4PM
Guided Tour Rates: FREE, Children below 12 years old; 2,500 yen, Adults
Nago Pineapple Park
Nago Pineapple Park is a theme park that promotes pineapples as a tourist attraction. Before the arrival of cheaper pineapples from other countries, Okinawa has been the primary source of fruit around Japan.
Visitors to the park can get a chance to ride through the pineapple fields in the pineapple train, learn about the history of pineapple and its cultivation in Okinawa, its health benefits, and the different types of pineapples within the park, and dine at Ananas Kitchen and have a try of their pineapple gourmets like cakes, chocolates, and wine.
Location: 1195 Biimata, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture
Visiting Hours: 10AM to 5PM, Weekdays (Last entry at 4:30PM); 10AM to 6PM, Saturdays, and Sundays (Last entry at 5:30PM)
Entrance Rates: FREE, Children under 4 years old; 600 yen, Children between 4 and 15 years old; 1,200 yen, Adults
Website: nagopine.com
Getting to and around Okinawa is proven to be a breeze. International and direct flights can connect to {Naha Airport, the main point of entry to Okinawa, and other airports in {Okinawa’s remote islands, such as Ishigaki Airport and Shimojishima Airport. Once on the main island, visitors can choose from Okinawa’s various transportation options. For a convenient way of getting between destinations, express ferries, monorails, buses, and taxis are great options. To explore the islands at one’s own pace, get rental bicycles and motorcycles. Choose the best mode according to your itinerary.
Okinawa Travel and Tour Packages
Check out our list of affordable Okinawa hotels and resorts via Agoda, Booking, or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.
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