31 Best Sights in Okinawa, Japan

Rows of black granite blocks inscribed with the names of the thousands who lost their lives in World War II cover the rolling, green hills around this excellent museum. Exhibits, some designed specifically for children, provide a rare opportunity to contemplate global issues. Focusing on the brutal Battle of Okinawa, interesting exhibits highlight each side's tactical perspective and the progress of the fighting. More personal displays reveal what life was like on the ground during the chaos and include testimonies of survivors (unfortunately, only a few of these are translated). A diorama portrays life in American-occupied postwar Okinawa. The museum is 80 minutes from Naha via bus; change from Bus 89 to 82 at Itoman Terminal. The total cost is ¥1,070.

The Seiden (central hall) of the royal castle Shurijo was destroyed by fire in October 2019; however, the castle walls, gateways, and many buildings still remain of the sprawling, grandiose seat of the ancient Ryukyu Kingdom. The castle, far more reminiscent of Beijing's Forbidden City than Kyoto's Imperial Palace, is still a marvel for the eyes. The original 15th-century castle was once part of an even more extensive property, but was mostly leveled during World War II when the Japanese Imperial Army made the complex its local headquarters. After reconstruction in 1992, Shurijo was named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Once again Shurijo will rise like a phoenix from the destruction, supported by both local government and donations from around the world. Reconstruction of the Seiden is underway and is expected to be completed in 2026. It's a 10-minute walk from the Shuri monorail station. 

Yonaha Maehama Beach is regarded by many as Japan's best beach, and it lives up to its reputation. White sand stretches for miles on a smooth, shallow shelf extending far into the warm, clear water. In front of the Tokyu Resort there's a section of water that is netted off to protect swimmers from jellyfish, and a lifeguard on duty from 9 to 6. Water-sports equipment rentals, showers, refreshments, toilets, and showers are available at a beach shack. Take on your friends or the locals at beach volleyball—this is an amazing place to play a game. The beach is 25 minutes by taxi, 40 mins by bus from Hirara Port area. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming.

On the southern shore of the island, a swimming pool filled with water from a cold natural spring sits next to a picturesque stretch of sand. Snorkel gear and kayak rentals can be arranged through the pool complex, which includes a refreshment stand. Many of the local dive shops offer snorkeling excursions, or multisport packages that include a visit to the pumpkin-shape rock formation. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (free); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling.

If you have a couple of hours to spare, take a leisurely walk out to see Cape Higashi-Hennazaki's rugged landscape. A twisty, narrow road atop a spine of rock leads through a thatch of green grass out to a lonely, perfectly lovely lighthouse. The 2-km (1-mile) peninsula retains an impressive, end-of-the-earth feeling, and in spring the ground is covered with trumpet lilies. The multicolored coral can be viewed from above. Allow about one hour to walk from the Bora bus stop at Boraga Beach. If you rent a scooter in Hirara, you can ride to the end of the road next to the lighthouse.

Don't leave Okinawa without hearing the unique sound of sanshin music made from the three-stringed, snakeskin-covered instrument native to Okinawa and the Amami Islands. And you shouldn't leave Naha without taking a peek into one of the most highly regarded sanshin-maker's shops in the country. Higa-san will give you a free lesson, and several ranks of beginner-oriented sets let you choose a good arrangement if you want to take one home. (Buy one made with fake snakeskin, as real snakeskin is illegal in many countries.) Chindami Sanshinten is on the side street off Kokusai-dori.

Set in the very north of the Yambaru National Park, Daisekirinzan is a family friendly park where you can wander among giant banyan trees and the limestone spires of Japan's only tropical karst landscape. Many of the unusual formations are considered power spots by the islanders. Of the four trails, the longer Wonder of Rocks Trail, marked in yellow, makes for a very interesting 1-km (½-mile) scramble. Daisekirinzan was one of the shooting locations for the TV series Cobra Kai. After visiting the park, it's just a few kilometers further to Cape Hedo, Okinawa's northernmost tip, for more otherworldly rock formations.

This moving museum tells the story of 240 girls from a high school near Naha. Mobilized as field nurses in the war's final months, their hellish experiences tending to wounded Japanese soldiers in hidden caves near the city are retold in an intensely poignant series of dioramas, textual explanations, and displays. Photographs and journals show the girls' innocence and hope before the war, providing a moving counterpoint to the ghastly conditions they endured during the fighting. Photographs of each girl drive home the war's tragic effects. The museum is an hour from Naha via Bus 34 or 89 (¥590), with a change in Itoman to Bus 82, 107 or 108 (¥330). Buses depart hourly and continue on to the Peace Memorial.

Connected to the northwestern corner of Miyako Island by a bridge, this small island, ringed by a scenic coastal road, has fine views above and below the sea. The Ikema Wetlands in the center of the island is a wildlife protection area, and home to a variety of ducks, egrets, and waders. The island is 35 minutes by bus from Hirara Port.

This small island has two gorgeous and secluded beaches: Toguchi-no-hama Beach and Sawada-no-hama Beach. Irabu Island is connected to the main island by the longest toll-free bridge in Japan.

In these cold, clammy tunnels Admiral Ota and 174 of his men came to a dramatic end on June 13, 1945. He and six of his top officers killed themselves to escape capture or death by American forces. The grenade blasts that killed the rest of Ota's men left visible shrapnel damage on the walls. An information desk has pamphlets in English, but staff are unlikely to speak anything but Japanese. It's 25 minutes from the Naha Bus Terminal Asahibashi Mae via Bus 55, 88, or 98. Get off at the the Uebaru danchi-mae stop, and walk 10 minutes uphill to the ticket gate.

This kiln was started by a distant forebear of the current master, Takashi Kobashikawa, himself a government-designated Master of Traditional Crafts. Mugs and tankards are around ¥5,000, cup and saucer sets from around ¥6,500, and larger bowls and platters range from affordable to astronomical. Wrapping and domestic shipping services are available. From the Heiwa-dori arcade, head 200 yards until a small incline leads you up to the red-and-black sign.

You're sure to get caught up in the buzz of Kokusai Street, Naha's central hub for dining, shopping, and people-watching. It's an eye-popping introduction to Okinawa's varied demographics, from the crew-cut military personnel, Japanese teenagers on high school trips, honeymooning couples, and excited families, all while the local octogenarians do their daily shop at the market. You'll find many similarly laden souvenir shops filled with the local spirit awamori, shisa (lion-dog) figurines, purple sweet potato tarts, brown sugar, and Kariyushi shirts. However, amongst these you'll also find the stores of local craftsman selling traditional lacquerware, fabrics, and ceramics. The street is pedestrian-only on Sunday, making it the best time to visit.

Three covered shopping arcades run perpendicular to  Kokusai Street. The arcades still have many souvenir shops, but they're mixed with food vendors and more practical local stores selling vegetables, everyday clothes, and recycled items. Sample deep-fried doughnuts, leaf-wrapped mochi, and tropical fruit drinks on your way to the Kosetsu Ichiba Market, a five-minute walk from Kokusai Street. Passing between outdoor fruit stalls into an unassuming doorway leads you to a carnival of delightful and grotesque butcher counters, fishmongers, and pickle sellers. Pig faces stare ghoulishly down from racks displaying every other part of the animal (including some you likely never thought anyone could eat). Multicolor shellfish, neon eels, and giant crustaceans are so shockingly exotic they seem like they were pinched from the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.

A lovely and often deserted beach on the west side of tiny Kurima Island, Nagamahama Beach can be reached via the bridge just southeast of Yonaha Maehama Beach. This is a fantastic place to spend the day snorkeling and picnicking on the fine white sand. Amenities: parking (free). Best for: snorkeling; solitude; sunrise; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Nakijin Castle is the northernmost of Okinawa's UNESCO World Heritage sites. The hilltop castle ruins provide beautiful views over the forest and ocean to the islands of Izena and Iheya. In the 14th century, when Okinawa was split into three principalities, Nakijin Castle was the fortress of the northern Hokuzan region. Nakijin Castle and nearby Mount Yae are the two most famous spots for cherry blossom viewing in Okinawa. The castle grounds contain hundreds of cherry trees which bloom in late January. Access is easiest by rental car, but is also accessible by either the #65 bus from Nago (plus a 15-minute walk uphill) or the Yanbaru express bus which stops at the Nakijin Castle entrance. Both buses also stop in front of Okinawan Churaumi Aquarium/Ocean Expo Park.

With one of the biggest saltwater tanks in the world, this is the most impressive aquarium in Japan. A pioneering coral-breeding experiment explains the fragile tropical ecosystem, while tanks hold sharks, freaky deep-water species, and thousands of other sea creatures. The star attraction is the 30-foot-deep tank holding a majestic whale shark, a dozen manta rays, and fish native to Okinawa. Additionally Ocean Expo Park includes an Oceanic Culture Museum with a planetarium (¥190), the Tropical Dream Center (¥760) that houses a vast number of orchid species, and a reconstruction of a traditional Okinawan village. A short stroll north of the park is the idyllic village of Bise with its narrow roads lined by fukugi trees. You can get to Ocean Expo Park by car or via the Yanbaru Express bus service that runs from Naha Airport, via central Naha to the aquarium (two hours, 20 minutes). Up-to-date bus schedules are on the park website.

Okinawa is the birthplace of karate, and it's definitely worth visiting the new Okinawa Karate Kaikan if you've come to the islands inspired by The Karate Kid or Cobra Kai. The main hall is used for seminars and competitions, while smaller rooms are available for training. The Reference Room is a small museum documenting the history of karate and kobudo (Okinawan weapon-based fighting), with many fascinating insights into the legendary sensei. Karate Café AGARI has Okinawa Soba, and Okinawa zenzai (shaved ice with sweet beans). The Okinawa Karate Information Center (OKIC) is located with the Karate Kaikan and provides visitors to Okinawa with multilingual support on how to connect with individual karate masters and train at local dojos.

It's worth spending a few hours at Okinawa World to get a quick overview of local culture. There are tropical fruit orchards and workshops for textile weaving, glassblowing, pottery, dyeing, and printing. Traditional Eisa dance performances take place several times a day. The main attraction is Gyokusendo Cave, the second-longest limestone cave in Japan. You can walk through an 890-meter (2,920-foot) cavern and marvel at the giant stalactites and stalagmites. From Naha Bus Terminal, take Bus 54 or 83 and get off at Gyokusendo-mae.

This small beach lies behind a large sand dune (suna-yama means "sand mountain"), out of which juts a rugged natural stone arch. The snorkeling is good, and the beach is only a few miles by bus north of Hirara. Water sports equipment is available for rent in the summer months. Bathrooms, showers, vending machines, and free parking are a short walk (across the dune) from the beach. In summer arrive early for some quiet time before the crowds arrive. Amenities: parking; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling.

It's a 15-minute ferry trip from Ishigaki City to the quaint terra-cotta-roofed cottages, sleepy lanes, and empty beaches of Taketomi Island. The cute little town is easily navigable by bicycle. Another fun option is the "old-fashioned" tour—meander between the narrow rock walls in a water buffalo-drawn cart while you're serenaded by a three-stringed sanshin and the soaring voice of the driver. Kondoi Beach, about 15 minutes by bicycle from the center of town, has good swimming with showers and changing facilities. Hoshizuna Beach is famous for its star sand, which is, depending on who you ask, either the tiny exoskeletons of marine protozoa or the children of stars.

The largest of the Kerama Islands, Tokashiki gets the most tourist traffic from Naha. Two lovely beaches with clean, white sand are on the west side: Tokashiki Beach, in the center of the coast, and Aharen Beach, toward the south.

The largest of the Kerama Islands, Tokashiki Island gets the most tourist traffic from Naha. Two lovely beaches with clean, white sand are on the west side: Tokashiki Beach, in the center of the coast, and Aharen Beach, toward the south.

If you travel across one of the several small bridges from Irabu-jima to Shimoji-jima, you can check out Tooriike Pond, a deep, mysteriously dark limestone-ringed pool connected by underwater caverns to the sea. It's a justly celebrated spot for diving.

Over 300 years of ceramic tradition are celebrated in this area just a five-minute walk from Kokusai Street. More than 20 workshops produce Okinawa's distinctive pottery, ranging from affordable souvenirs to special pieces for wealthy collectors. The famous Japanese potter Shoji Hamada came here in the 1920s and left with the inspiration for his notable works. The limited space and minimalist design of Japanese homes means that buyers are more likely to invest in a single exquisite piece, and this can be shown in the pricing. Some potters specialize in creating elegant cups and teapots for Japanese tea ceremonies, while others produce more functional coffee mugs. A couple of the workshops have the option for you to try throwing your own pots, which they will fire, glaze, and ship to you. If you're looking for active wood-fired kilns, also check out the Yomitan Pottery Village (Yachimun No Sato) in Central Okinawa Main Island.

The small but heartfelt Tsuboya Pottery Museum has exhibits illustrating the history of the region's earthenware production, including representative pieces from all periods, and a reproduction of a traditional Okinawan house, showing Tsubo-yaki tableware and kitchen utensils. Next to the museum is an intact 19th-century climbing kiln, called a nobori-gama. Detailed English explanations make the experience more exciting and informative. Located at the edge of the Tsuboya Pottery District, where the cobbled streets begin.

A real hidden gem, Ichiro Kikuta is a wildlife artist and nature guide who lives in the remote village of Ada. His gallery is located inside the Ada Garden Hotel Okinawa and is themed around the plants and animals that surround him in the Yambaru National Park. Kikuta's work varies in scale from delicate watercolors in his notepad to traditional Japanese room dividers with scenes of the forest printed on the washi paper. His gallery is open to the public, but you need to call in advance, as he divides his time between working in his gallery, and guiding nature lovers in the local area.

Underneath the waters off Yonaguni Island, Japan's westernmost point, is an enormous series of ancient stone structures believed to have been a settlement that dates back to 8,000-10,000 BC, which would make it the oldest—by 5,000 years—human structure of this sort. The site has become popular among divers, especially because schools of photogenic hammerhead sharks migrate through the area in winter. Marlin fishing here is also highly rated. Yonaguni Island is also known for the enormous Yonaguni atlas moth, and the wild Yonaguni ponies that roam the blustery cliff tops. To get to Yonaguni Island, you can fly via JAL operated by Ryukyu Air Commuter from Ishigaki Island or Okinawa Main Island.

Great swimming and snorkeling are yours at the sparkling Yonehara Beach. Watch out for strong currents during tidal changes and various types of critters that can sting or bite. There are several places to rent masks, fins, and snorkels, including the beach shack next to the main parking area. On the island's northern shore, Yonehara is about an hour from Ishigaki City by bus, or half an hour by car. You'll know you've found the right area when you see the giant multicolor shisas of Yoneko-yaki pottery on Route 79. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

The water here is said to have the highest concentration of colorful fish in all of the Miyako Islands; it's an awesome spot to snorkel. The beach is just north of Cape Higashi-Hennazaki. If Yoshino Beach is packed with busloads of tourists, try Aragusuku Beach a little farther north. Bathrooms, showers, vending machines and parking (¥500) are up on the clifftop; a shuttle bus transports visitors half a kilometer down the winding road to the beach. Amenities: parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; sunrise.