Things to do in Okinawa: top sights and where to go
Okinawa is an island over 100 km long, not a walkable city: Naha has Shuri Castle, Kokusai-dori with Makishi Market, Naminoue Shrine and Shikina-en garden; the south has the Gyokusendo cave at Okinawa World and the Sefa-utaki sacred grove; the north has Cape Manzamo, Churaumi Aquarium and Kouri Island. Do Naha and the south in a day by monorail and taxi, and give the north a second day by car.
Sights
Okinawa itineraries
Okinawa travel guide
Before you go: Shuri Castle and Naha, Churaumi Aquarium, Cape Manzamo and Kouri Island, beaches, driving, seasons and sea.
Okinawa on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- 4–7 days: Naha, the north, beaches
- When to go
- April and October–November; summer for the beach
- Visa
- Depends on your passport — many are visa-exempt
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Currency
- Japanese yen (JPY); carry some cash
- Getting there
- ≈ 2.5–3 h flight from Tokyo, ≈ 2 h from Osaka
- Airport
- Naha (OKA) — Yui Rail monorail ≈ 15 min to the centre
- Driving
- The easiest way around; left-hand traffic
- Licence
- Japan accepts 1949 Geneva Convention permits
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Sea
- ≈ 22–29°, swimming season April–October
- Time zone
- UTC+9 all year
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 972Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Ryukyu Kingdom”Sourcei
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium — official websiteSourcei
Wikipedia, “Kokusai Street”Things to do in Okinawa
The top things to do in Okinawa are Shuri Castle and Shikinaen garden in Naha, Kokusai Street and seaside Naminoue Shrine, Churaumi Aquarium’s whale sharks in the north, Cape Manzamo and Kouri Island with its bridge over turquoise water, the sacred Sefa-utaki, Okinawa World with Gyokusendo Cave and Ryukyu Mura village. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| Naha | Shuri Castle, Shikinaen | ½ day |
|---|---|---|
| Central Naha | Kokusai Street, Naminoue | evening |
| South | Okinawa World, Sefa-utaki | ½ day |
| Mid-island | Cape Manzamo, Ryukyu Mura | ½ day |
| North | Churaumi, Kouri Island | 1 day |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries for 1–2 days, with places in a sensible order.
Getting to and around Okinawa
Okinawa is about 2.5–3 hours by air from Tokyo and 2 hours from Osaka. Naha Airport (OKA) is right by the city: the Yui Rail monorail reaches Kokusai Street in 15 minutes. A car is the easiest way around the island — Churaumi in the north is about 2 hours’ drive.
| Flight | Tokyo | ≈ 2.5–3 h |
|---|---|---|
| Flight | Osaka | ≈ 2 h |
| Yui Rail | Airport — Kokusai Street | ≈ 15 min |
| Car, bus | Naha — Churaumi | ≈ 2 h |
Pick up a hire car at the airport; without one, tour buses cover the north of the island.
Okinawa weather by month
Okinawa is subtropical: ≈ 20 °C by day in winter and ≈ 31–32 °C in summer. The swimming season runs April to October, with the sea at 23–29 °C. May–June is the rainy season and July–September brings typhoons. The best balance of weather and sea is April and October–November.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 20° | 20° | 22° | 24° | 27° | 30° | 32° | 32° | 31° | 28° | 25° | 22° |
| Night | 15° | 15° | 17° | 19° | 22° | 25° | 27° | 27° | 26° | 23° | 20° | 16° |
| Sea | 22° | 21° | 22° | 23° | 25° | 27° | 29° | 29° | 28° | 27° | 25° | 23° |
| Rain | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: April and October–November
- day ≈ 20°
- night ≈ 15°
- sea ≈ 22°
- rain 11 days
About 20°; Japan’s earliest cherry blossom. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 22°.
- day ≈ 20°
- night ≈ 15°
- sea ≈ 21°
- rain 10 days
About 20°, breezy. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 21°.
- day ≈ 22°
- night ≈ 17°
- sea ≈ 22°
- rain 11 days
About 22°; beaches open. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 22°.
- day ≈ 24°
- night ≈ 19°
- sea ≈ 23°
- rain 10 days
About 24° — a great time. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 23°.
- day ≈ 27°
- night ≈ 22°
- sea ≈ 25°
- rain 11 days
Rainy season. Warm for swimming, water — about 25°.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 12 days
Rain, then heat. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 27°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 10 days
Heat ≈ 32°, typhoons. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 27°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 12 days
Hot, typhoons. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 26°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 11 days
About 31°, warm sea. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 28°
- night ≈ 23°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 8 days
About 28° — a good time. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 25°
- night ≈ 20°
- sea ≈ 25°
- rain 8 days
About 25°, sea ≈ 25°. Warm for swimming, water — about 25°.
- day ≈ 22°
- night ≈ 16°
- sea ≈ 23°
- rain 9 days
About 22°, fresh. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 23°.
Typhoons close beaches and ferries — keep a spare day.
What to eat in Okinawa
Okinawan food is unlike mainland Japanese cooking: bitter goya in champuru stir-fries, rafute braised pork, Okinawa soba noodles, umibudo sea grapes and brown-sugar sweets. Kokusai Street’s cafés and shops sell it all.
- Goya champuru — stir-fry with bitter melon, egg and tofu.
- Okinawa soba — wheat noodles with pork.
- Umibudo — “sea grapes”, seaweed with tiny salty pearls.
- Beni imo — purple sweet potato treats.
Okinawa ticket prices
Kokusai Street, Naminoue Shrine, Kouri Island and the beaches are free. You pay for Shuri Castle (the price rises once the main hall reopens), Shikinaen, Churaumi, Okinawa World, Ryukyu Mura, Cape Manzamo and Sefa-utaki.
| Shuri Castle | 42 | 2 h | ¥400; from 23.11.2026 ¥1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shikina-en Garden | 35 | 45 min | ≈ ¥400 |
| Cape Manzamo | 25 | 30 min | ≈ ¥100 |
| Sefa-utaki | 24 | 1 h | ¥300 |
| Okinawa World | 22 | 2 h 30 min | ¥2,000 |
| Ryukyu Mura | 21 | 2 h | ≈ ¥2,000 |
| Churaumi Aquarium | 20 | 2 h 30 min | ¥2,180 |
Free — 3 places: Kokusai-dori, Naminoue Shrine, Kouri Island.
Tips
- Shuri Castle’s main Seiden hall reopens after restoration on 23 November 2026 — check hours and prices.
- Time your Churaumi visit for the whale-shark feeding — the schedule is on the aquarium’s site.
- The sun is strong even in spring — sunscreen and a hat are a must.
FAQ
Is Okinawa worth visiting?
Yes, for subtropical beaches, a distinct Ryukyu culture and food, Churaumi Aquarium and UNESCO-listed castles.
Do I need a visa for Japan?
It depends on your passport: many nationalities are visa-exempt for short stays, others apply for a visa or eVISA. Check the official rules for your passport.
How do I get to Okinawa?
By air from Tokyo in about 2.5–3 hours or from Osaka in about 2 hours; there are also some international flights to Naha.
When is the swimming season in Okinawa?
April to October, with the sea at 23–29 °C; typhoons are possible in summer.
What is the weather like in Okinawa in November?
About 25 °C by day and 20 °C at night, with the sea near 25 °C — still swimmable.
Do I need a car in Okinawa?
It helps: Churaumi, Cape Manzamo and Kouri are in the north and buses are infrequent. Traffic drives on the left.
How do I get to Churaumi Aquarium?
By car from Naha in about 2 hours, or by express bus or tour.
What to do in Okinawa in one day?
Shuri Castle and Shikinaen in the morning, Okinawa World or Sefa-utaki in the south at midday, and Kokusai Street in the evening.
Where are the best beaches in Okinawa?
Around Kouri Island, Cape Manzamo and the central west coast; for diving, the Kerama Islands off Naha.
What to eat in Okinawa?
Goya champuru, Okinawa soba, sea grapes and purple sweet potato sweets.
Sources and fact-check
- UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 972 (Gusuku Sites of the Kingdom of Ryukyu)
- Wikipedia, “Okinawa Island”; “Ryukyu Kingdom”; “Kokusai Street”; Naha climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Shuri Castle Park — official website (Seiden reopening)
- Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium — official website