Is Okinawa Japan Worth a Visit?

When thinking about Japan, most people envision the bustling crowds of people crossing at the Shibuya intersection. Or the neon-lit signs advertising ramen restaurants or izakayas. Japan is known worldwide for its sushi, sumo, and otaku culture.

But rarely do people associate Japan with white sand, crystal waters, and exotic paradise getaways. But being an island country in the Pacific, Japan has many tropical and lush forests, beaches, and landscapes. One of these landscapes is located in the southern part of Japan, Okinawa, has its own distinct culture, food, language, and history.

About Okinawa

Okinawa prefecture, which houses over 160 islands, is an island getaway that according to Wikipedia brings in over 9 million tourists every year. Most Japanese people visit Okinawa when looking for beach resort vacations, planning an island wedding or honeymoon, and experiencing unique food and culture that differs from other parts of Japan.

Okinawa is known as the birthplace of karate, has the highest ratio of longest and healthiest living humans, and has a colorful history rooted from the Chinese Ryukyu Kingdom.

Okinawa was also a major battleground in World War II and currently houses the most amount of US soldiers and military bases in Japan.

Things to Know Before Going

The best, shortest, and cheapest way to get to Okinawa is by plane. The flight from Tokyo takes only about 2.5 hours and there are many flights leaving each day.

Transportation in Okinawa is also not that frequent or convenient as in other parts of Japan, so renting a car once in Naha is also recommended. There are day tours also available for those who don’t want to drive or don’t have a license.

You might want to avoid going in August and September as they are the rainiest months and typhoon season.

That being said, we had no choice and went in mid-August. Luckily there were no typhoons but one of the days was quite rainy. The best time to travel to Okinawa is March-April.

The climate is the subtropical climate so throughout the year it will be quite warm. Highs of 30’s Celsius to lows of 15 are average. There are a variety of places to stay in Okinawa ranging from luxurious resorts to youth hostels so depending on your budget you should have no problem finding a place.

Places to Visit

There are so many amazing places to visit on this small island that you could spend weeks here. Alternatively, you could just lie on the beach the entire time, and still feel like you accomplished a lot.

For us, however, we were only in town for a couple of days before heading out to our next island destination so here is a list of places we visited and are worth checking out.

Be advised we had a rental car but due to limited time and weather conditions, we decided to stay on the main Okinawa island and in the Naha area mostly.

Chauraumi Aquarium and surround Expo Park

This is Japan’s largest and world’s second-largest aquarium. It houses a variety of sea life but the stars of this aquarium are the massive whale sharks and the giant tank that holds over 7 million liters of water and has over 70 different species of sea life. The aquarium indoor area itself will take you some time to appreciate so expect to be here for a few hours. Outside, there is also a dolphin and sea turtle area as well as a sea show to enjoy.

The surrounding park area next to Emerald beach is a nice stroll that houses many plants, flowers, and even a traditional Okinawa village people can walkt hrough. Definitely a scenic and well-built facility you will be snapping a lot of selfies with the backdrop of beach and ocean.

Kokusai Dori

We decided to head to this major tourist shopping and restaurant district in the evening and definitely recommend visiting during the evening hours. The shops and restaurants with all the lights and the crowds of people on the street shopping, drinking, and enjoying the island vibe were great.

Though some people might claim this is a tourist trap or that it is too touristy, I really enjoyed this area because it provided a taste of all the island has to offer in one place.

There were a variety of restaurants that ranged from American-style burger joints, Japanese-style izakayas, and Okinawa seafood and dinner show restaurants.

Obviously, Okinawa is an island so fresh seafood is a must-try.

But rather than going to a seafood restaurant, we decided to head to Okinawa dinner shows which provide authentic Okinawa foods as well as Okinawa dancers and performers.

On our first night, we had bar-style Okinawa food like Umi budo, croquettes, Orion Beer, and Okinawa-style pizza. The musicians were also singing Okinawa-style music and playing the famous Okinawa instrument Sanshin which is a snakeskin cover 3-string type banjo.

Kokusai Dori also has many shops selling a multitude of souvenirs. Okinawa print t-shirts, hats, Sanshin instruments, plants, lotions, beauty products, foods and snacks made from Okinawa products, and much more.

Nightlife is also located on this street as we headed to a nightclub which had mostly Japanese people and all-you-can-drink beer, cocktails, and Okinawa specialty alcohol called Awamori. The music was good, the vibe was friendly and it was a fun drunken night overall.

American Village (Chatan)

Much like it sounds, American village is a large shopping, eating, and entertainment complex that looked like something out of Miami Vice.

The buildings are painted bright yellows and pinks and it has a very 80’s Americana nostalgic summer vibe

There are many food shacks selling tacos, takoyaki, smoothies, and burgers as well as Americanized restaurants and cafes. The shops all sell vintage American style goods and you will find much American imported fashion and food. There is also a game center arcade as well as a Ferris wheel.

We also accidentally found a really good revolving sushi restaurant just across the street called Gurume Conveyor Belt Sushi that I highly recommend. There was about a 20-minute wait but the fresh sushi is definitely worth the wait.

Beaches

Okinawa has amazing beaches, some with crystal clear water and white sand while others have amazing rock formations and seem untouched. Once again we were only here for a short time so we attempted to see the most popular beaches on the main island.

Manza Beach

This was recommended to us as the most popular beach as it is central and located by the Intercontinental Hotel Resort.

There is a giant inflatable island playground popular for families and many chairs set out for sunbathing. This beach is also popular for water sports and the vibe seemed very family-friendly.

Sesoko Beach

This beach was actually recommended to us by the hotel’s front desk. A secluded beach that requires a drive over a small bridge, this beach was said to have the whitest sand and great water for snorkeling and swimming. However, after driving across the bridge and finding the beach we were turned away as the entire beach area was closed for construction.

We couldn’t even see what the beach looked like. We were sad but determined so we continued our search for more beaches.

Emerald Beach

This beach which is located next to Churaumi Aquarium is called emerald for a reason. The water is beautiful emerald green and the water is so clear you can see the bottom of the ocean for miles. We walked the beach line and enjoyed the views but didn’t go in the water. It seemed no one was going in so we didn’t want to be the first.

Sunset Beach

Next to the American village, this beach had an interesting boardwalk and seemed like it would be a fun place to hang out on a sunny day. Unfortunately, the day we visited this beach was quite rainy and overcast. It is called Sunset beach because it is a great place to watch the sunset.

There are even restaurants and hotels along the beach in the American village that have balconies where people can enjoy a drink or meal while watching the sunset along the beach.

Okinawa has a variety of unique and traditional foods that are local to Okinawa because of the culture, history, and environment. Here is a list of popular Okinawa foods and snacks you should try when you are in Okinawa.

Goya Champuru

Goya is a bitter melon native to Okinawa that resembles a zucchini. It is much bitter but when fried with tofu, pork, and egg, and soy sauce, it is quite delicious. My friend, of course, didn’t have any but this was probably my favorite dish in Okinawa. It was filling, healthy-ish, and a memorable taste.

Taco Rice

A modernized food that was created because of the American influence on the island, this dish is exactly what it sounds like. Taco on Rice. A bed of rice topped with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and ground beef marinated in Mexican taco spice. It is sometimes served with nachos and is definitely a filling but amazing eating experience. You might want to avoid it though if you are trying to lose weight.

Seafood

Okinawa has some of the best seafood whether it be in sushi, sashimi, or grilled form. As I mentioned before, we ate sushi at the conveyor belt sushi restaurant near the American village and had grilled fish at the dinner show in Kokusai Dori. But, pretty much anywhere you go on the island you are sure to come across amazing restaurants serving fresh raw and cooked fish and seafood.

Rafute and Okinawa Soba

These were popular dishes that were recommended to us. I was told Okinawa soba noodles differ from the rest of Japan. They are made 100% from wheat flour and therefore are chewier and thicker. But to tell you the truth, I couldn’t really tell the difference too much.

I guess they were a bit thicker than regular soba noodles but taste-wise I couldn’t really tell the difference. But I am sure connoisseurs of noodles would be able to distinguish between them.

Umi Budo or Sea Grapes

These salty bubbly green plants aren’t grapes. They are actually a type of seaweed and are salty. But they look like tiny green grapes so they are called the grapes of the sea. Kept in seawater, they are dipped in soy sauce or vinegar and are a great appetizer or side dish to an Okinawa meal. They are so popular that many souvenir shops sell bags of them to take home.

Blue Seal Ice Cream

Originally from America but Okinawa has taken this brand and made it their own. They have over 30 flavors with Okinawa exclusive flavors as well. I personally liked the salt cookie flavor the best. It won’t be hard to find a Blue Seal Ice cream shop or stand as they are all over the island and as common as a McDonald’s in America.

Chinsuko

These are probably the most famous snack and souvenirs that people eat and buy. They are shortbread-type butter cookies that have a salty taste and are great with coffee. You will find these cookies sold at cafes, souvenir shops and food stands around the island.

Sata Andagi

Another favorite for souvenir giving, Sata Andagi are deep-fried brown sugar donut balls. Hard exterior and soft moist center, these donuts are addictive. You will find food stands and souvenir shops that sell them. If you are planning to eat them right away then I definitely suggest trying them from a food stand warm and fresh.

They come in brown sugar, plain, sweet potato, and black sesame. You might find some newer and more interesting flavors like cinnamon or cheese if you look hard enough.

Alcohol

If you are a fan of beer then you won’t be disappointed with Okinawa’s famous Orion Beer. It has a very crisp and mild taste which is great for the summer tropical climate and goes well with Okinawa foods.

If you like sake-type drinks, you might want to try an Okinawa alcohol called Awamori. A distilled liquor made of rice is quite strong (30 to 40 %) but goes down smooth which is a dangerous combo.

Finally, while walking through the streets of Okinawa you might see large jars of alcohol-containing viper snakes. A form of awamori, this snake wine is called Habu-shu. The snake loses its poisonous content in the alcohol and is safe to drink. It is also said that this snake wine increases male libido so might be a good natural Viagra.

Final Thoughts

I got a small taste of all that Okinawa has to offer but I now see why many Japanese people go back every year. More than just a beach resort town to drink cocktails by the beach, this part of Japan provides a variety of cultural, historical, and seasonal activities throughout the year.

There are many water sports, diving, and snorkeling sites. There are many traditional festivals and events that happen throughout the year like the world’s largest tug of war and there are so many different foods and restaurants to fill your taste buds.

And without a doubt, there are plenty of beaches, forests, caves, rock formations, and natural landscapes around Okinawa that can be explored.

Literally, I could spend months in Okinawa and still feel like I haven’t soaked it all up so I definitely know I will be heading back here again. Hopefully, I have convinced you to check out this Japanese paradise as well.

This story also appears here: https://medium.com/fml-or-bust/is-okinawa-japan-worth-a-visit-ca7dc0bdc66d