Top Reasons to Visit

Top Reasons to Visit

Beaches

Some say the best beaches are on Miyako-jima, some say they're on islands in the Keramas, and others argue for the beaches of Ishigaki, Taketomi, or Hateruma-jima. The truth is that virtually anywhere you go in Okinawa, you can find world-class beaches. Even Honto (the main island) has nice ones, especially to the north, and a few on Miyako-jima rival anything in the Caribbean.

World War II Memorials

Okinawa was the site of the final and bloodiest battle of the War in the Pacific, and the largest amphibious landing ever. Outside Naha, these evocative memorials, where the final fighting took place, are in a strangly picturesque and peaceful landscape.

Whale-Watching

In the winter months humpback whales make their way through these waters and you can either watch from land or get up close on a boat tour.

Adventure Magnet

Island-hopping around Okinawa can provide the intrepid traveler plenty of opportunities for adventure, from swimming with the manta rays to trekking through the swamps and deep jungle of the mountainous Yaeyama-shoto islands.

The World Below

Atop a ridge that divides some of the globe's deepest waters, Okinawa is a great destination for snorkelers and intrepid divers, especially in the waters off the southern islands of Miyako-jima, Ishigaki-jima, and Iriomote-jima. Healthy coral and an amazing variety of colorful fish and mollusks thrive in clear, warm seas of deep violet-blue to emerald-green.