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Trip.Best Popular Best Things to Do in Okinawa Prefecture [2024]

Explore the best things to do in Okinawa Prefecture! Uncover top activities and experiences for an unforgettable visit.
Updated Sep 2024
  • top_1
    󰺂7.3
    4.8/5
    329 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 604 reviews
    "Okinawa Ocean Expo Memorial Park (The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium) is a comprehensive, subtropical, large-scale park built in 1975 at the site of the Okinawa International Ocean Expo. The park covers an area of 700,000 square meters and is 3 kilometers north and south, with the theme of "Sunshine, Flowers, Sea". It is also the second largest marine park in the world after the Atlanta Georgia Aquarium."
    Motobu
    57.1km from downtown
    No.1 of Water Fun Attractions in Okinawa Prefecture
    Highlights: The Ocean Expo Park Management Center is a national park established in August 1976 at the former Expo site in commemoration of the Okinawa International Ocean Expo Park held in 1975. The theme of the park is "Sun, Flowers and the Sea", and various facilities such as the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, dolphin shows, and the Marine Culture Center in the park are popular. Of the three areas of the park, the historical and cultural area is home to the Marine Museum, which displays household items and fishing equipment that show the connection with fishermen in the South Asia-Pacific region. The Okinawan countryside village reproduces the old architectural style of the Ryukyu Islands. There is also the Shiruo Botanical Garden, where you can enjoy 22 species of plants that appear in the ancient Okinawan poetry collection "Shiruo no Omorosaushi". In the marine area, there is the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, one of the largest in the world, where large sharks and rays live, as well as the Dolphin Theater, Manatee House, Turtle House, Dolphin Lagoon, and Emerald Beach. The floral and botanical area is filled with lush flowers and houses a Tropical Dream Center, a world-class greenhouse, and a tropical and subtropical urban green botanical garden for tourists to explore a variety of plants.
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  • top_2
    󰺂7.3
    4.7/5
    1723 Review
    From1261.92
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 5536 reviews
    "The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is a must-visit if you’re in Okinawa. Whether you're a marine life enthusiast or just looking for a memorable experience, this aquarium offers something for everyone. The variety of sea creatures, interactive exhibits, and breathtaking tanks make it one of the best aquariums in the world.Pro tip: Book tickets in advance online to save time at the entrance, and visit during off-peak hours to enjoy a more peaceful experience. Also, be sure to check the weather, as Ocean Expo Park is best explored on a clear day!This trip was an unforgettable part of my Okinawa experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the island. Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with family, the Churaumi Aquarium is bound to leave you in awe!Pro Tip: You can combine your aquarium trip with a visit to Emerald Beach for a perfect day of marine life and relaxation. The beach is located just a short walk from the aquarium and is great for swimming or simply lounging by the sea."
    Motobu
    57.1km from downtown
    No.1 of Family-friendly Attractions in Okinawa Prefecture
    Highlights: Recreate the deep sea world of Okinawa and watch 150 rare deep sea creatures from 200 meters deep in the sea up close.Learn more about shark habits in the ocean observation room through an intense and emotional Kuroshio adventure.Observe corals, colorful tropical fish, lobsters and other rich sea creatures up close, and listen to the call from the sea.△ Whale Shark Sculpture, a huge whale shark statue is waiting for you at the entrance of Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. Stand in front of the Whale Shark Monument and take a beautiful commemorative photo with the words "Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium" on the back as the background!After passing the Whale Shark Sculpture, Uminchu Gate awaits you. Uminchu means "fisherman" in the Okinawan dialect. From Uminchu Gate, you can enjoy the emerald-green ocean of Okinawa and the endless beauty of Ie Island. Take the escalator from Fisherman's Gate to the third floor. The entrance to Churaumi Aquarium is on your right. After entering the entrance, there is a row of touch pools. You can personally touch starfish, sea cucumbers and other marine life living in the coral reefs. They are all safe. You only need to touch them lightly, but please do not take them out of the water. There are special wash basins and hand dryers next to the touch pool. Going forward is a huge water tank called the "Coral Sea", with about 800 coral reef communities composed of 70 species of corals. There is also the "Sea of ​​Tropical Fish", where various tropical fish thrive in seawater that simulates the natural environment.△ The huge water tank "Kuroshio Sea" runs through two floors. In 7,500 cubic meters of sea water, three whale sharks over 8 meters long swim around above your head, which is very shocking. On the first floor of the aquarium, there are areas such as the deep-sea adventure area, Happy Ocean Research Laboratory and souvenir shop. If you want to buy some souvenirs, the aquarium’s T-shirts, whale shark and manta ray plush toys, mobile phone lanyards, etc. are all good choices. Outside the aquarium, there are several venues near the sea, including the Manatee Pavilion, Turtle Pavilion, Dolphin Lake and Dolphin Theater, which can be visited together.△ The "Aqua Room" allows people to observe whale sharks and manta rays from various angles. There is a Cafe"Ocean Blue " next to the large tank, where you can enjoy pasta, pita bread, rice tortillas, cakes, sweet potato ice cream and other delicacies while watching the fish in the "Kuroshio Sea". The cafe does not accept reservations. When there are many people, you need to queue up to get a number. In addition, there is a "Churaumi Theater" on the second floor, which screens multiple high-definition documentaries about Okinawa's ocean every day.
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  • top_3
    󰺂6.3
    4.5/5
    997 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 2735 reviews
    "International is the best street in Okinawa, eating and drinking, there is no need to worry about language, will speak Mandarin, compared to Osaka, I prefer Okinawa, the place is small to find it is not tired."
    Naha.Kokusai Dori
    488m from downtown
    Highlights: Kokusaidori Street is the main street symbolizing the commercial prosperity of Okinawa. It has also been called "The Miracle Mile" since the Second World War, retaining the prosperity of those times. The streets are lined with large department stores, restaurants, boutique clothing stores, large shopping centers, various entertainment venues, and all kinds of popular information and goods, with reasonable prices to guarantee you leave satisfied.
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  • No.

    4

    󰺂6.2
    4.4/5
    336 Review
    From734.17
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 754 reviews
    "Understand the folk customs of the Ryukyu period. The outdoors are hot in summer. There will be three lines at fixed times, drumming and other performances. There are catering and handicrafts at the entrance. You can also change the Ryukyu costumes to take pictures, but it will be hotter."
    Onna
    25.9km from downtown
    Highlights: This is a theme park that embodies Okinawan culture. It retains the old style of Okinawa. There are many traditional Ryukyu red tile roofs, and the whole village is quaint. Here you can experience traditional handicrafts, including pottery making, indigo dyeing, brewing, etc.There are performances such as taiko and folk music shows every day, and you can fully experience Okinawan culture. Wearing Ryukyu costumes for photos is also unique. There are many Okinawan souvenirs in Ryukyu Village, such as Hongyu Pagoda, brown sugar, etc. It is a perfect gift for relatives and friends. In private houses, you can also taste the local sweets (Okinawa-style ball-shaped donuts).
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  • No.

    5

    󰺂6.1
    4.6/5
    186 Review
    From232.62
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 209 reviews
    "At that time, I could go to Japan, and I could leave Shanghai. At that time, I didn’t need the itinerary code. At that time, I didn’t need to calculate the report... I took the children and family to Okinawa, Japan. Shouli City came a few years ago and came again. It was very meaningful."
    Naha
    3.9km from downtown
    Highlights: Shuri Castle Park is located on a highland in Naha City, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The main attractions in the park are Shurei Gate, Huanhui Gate, Fengshen Gate, Wanguojin Liangzhi Bell, Shuri Castle Main Hall, Golden Palace and so on. It combines the unique architectural styles of Chinese and Japanese fortification cultures and stone masonry techniques, and has high historical and architectural value. In October 2019, a fire broke out in Shuri Castle. Affected by the fire, Shuri Castle Park has been closed for correction.
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  • No.

    6

    󰺂6.1
    4.5/5
    769 Review
    From232.62
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 5185 reviews
    "Shuri Castle, located in Okinawa, Japan, was a historically significant and culturally rich site. The castle served as the Ryukyu Kingdom's royal residence for centuries and featured a unique blend of Japanese and Chinese architectural styles. Unfortunately, in October 2019, a devastating fire destroyed the main hall and several other buildings, resulting in a loss of cultural heritage. The restoration efforts have been ongoing, aiming to preserve and rebuild this iconic landmark. Shuri Castle has always been a symbol of Okinawa's history and heritage, and its historical and cultural significance is undeniable."
    Naha
    3.9km from downtown
    Highlights: • Shurijo Castle symbolizes the history and culture of Okinawa. • Shurijo Castle's history is that of the Ryukyu Kingdom itself. • One of theUNESCO World Heritage.Located in Naha, Okinawa, Shurijo Castle was once the site of the capital and palace of the Ryukyuan Kingdom. In those days, the king of Ryukyu was known to handle state affairs, receive envoys, or hold important ceremonies here, and it has now been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. According to historical records, Shurijo Castle was burned down and reconstructed several times, with today's castle a replica of the Chinese Tang dynasty style architecture that remained from the Second World War. The Ryukyu-style castle combines the architectural features of China, Japan and Okinawa. One of the most iconic buildings is the Chinese-style Shureimon Gate, the plaque on which is inscribed with "Nation of Propriety", which was given by the Chinese Emperor when conferring titles to the Ryukyu King.△ The Shureimon Gate was based on the Chinese roofed “turret” gate style calledpaifang, with a lower red-tiled roof spanning the full width of the gate surmounted by a higher roof in the center.△ Kankaimon is the first gate that leads to the inner castle walls of Shurijo, and the name Kankai means “to welcome”.△ The Seide before it was destroyed by fire
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  • No.

    7

    󰺂6.0
    4.5/5
    491 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 1518 reviews
    "Its target is a large viewing car about 50 meters in diameter. The American village has entertainment facilities mainly based on 3D images, 8-screen cinemas, shopping centers, bowling courts, American restaurants, recording studios, entertainment centers, imported grocery stores, etc., and there are sports complex facilities."
    Chatan
    13.8km from downtown
    No.1 of Night Attractions in Okinawa Prefecture
    Highlights: The American Village is a comprehensive cultural and commercial facility. It has entertainment facilities with 3D images as the main body, an 8-screen movie theater, a shopping center, a bowling alley, an American restaurant, a recording studio, an entertainment center, an imported grocery store, etc. Complex facilities with sports. Chatan Town has Kadena Base, the largest U.S. Air Force base in Japan, and the nearby area is where most of the U.S. military's family members live. Due to the needs of the life of the US military, the Mihama area not far from the base has become a prosperous commercial district, which is now the American Village. The landmark building of the American Village is a large viewing car (Ferris wheel) with a diameter of 50 meters. Be sure to take pictures when you come. There is also a Sunset Beach, a popular spot for enjoying beautiful sunset views.
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  • No.

    8

    󰺂5.9
    4.6/5
    110 Review
    From1159.27
    "Okinawa World Culture Kingdom recommends Yuquan Cave. Yuquan Cave is a limestone cave formed by 300,000 years. The number of limestone caves exceeds 1 million and is the largest limestone cave in Japan. In addition to Yuquan Cave, the cultural kingdom has other special projects. Such as the Viper Museum Park, there are world-class Viper Archives, Shows of Live Snakes and Reptiles, Shows of Viper and Cat. Nandu Winemaking Institute. Provide beer made from Yuquandong groundwater, specialty liquors such as original Bobu snake wine blended with venomous snake extract and 13 spices. There is also a tropical fruit garden. 100 kinds of 450 tropical fruit trees, including mango, papaya, pineapple and so on. Tropical fruits and coconut juice such as pineapple can be tasted at the snack bar next to the orchard."
    Nanjo
    10.5km from downtown
    Highlights: Okinawa World Culture Kingdom is a large theme park in Okinawa where you can experience Ryukyu culture, mainly including Yuquan Cave, Kingdom Village and Viper Museum Park. You can learn about Okinawa's history, culture, nature, etc., and participate in various experience activities. Yuquan-dong is a large-scale natural stalactite cave that has been formed naturally over a long period of 300,000 years. The large-scale and various stalactites in Japan have created a strange landscape. In the "Kingdom Village" of the castle town of the Ryukyu Kingdom, 4 ancient dwellings recognized as national cultural relics have been relocated here. Here, more than 10 cultural experience activities such as weaving, printing and dyeing, and Ryukyu glass making are available. In the "Viper Museum Park", you can learn about the ecological environment of the rice spoon snake and visit various reptiles. There are daily performances of Viper with Rice Spoon Qian, and those interesting and peculiar contents can't help but make people smile. The humorous commentary of the trainer may make people feel a little pity for the terrifying Snake Snake. The performance time is 11:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:30, 16:30 every day, and each performance is about 20 minutes. The must-see large-scale parade performance "Eisa Taiko Dance" is held 4 times a day at 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:00, and the performance location is EisaPlaza. About 25 minutes. The cries were accompanied by drums, and the action climaxed with the performances of traditional theatre and lion dances.
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  • No.

    9

    󰺂5.9
    4.6/5
    109 Review
    From551.28
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 198 reviews
    "The Ryukyu Islanders in Okinawa were descendants of Polynesian immigrants and former Japanese populations, belonging to the South Island area of Kyushu before the Southern Song Dynasty, and later became independent of the Ryukyu Kingdom. China's Ming Dynasty quoted Taiwan's old list of rulers to be the king of Ryukyu, hundreds of years after Ryukyu separated the Kyushu mainland, a trade hub for neighboring countries because of waterways. By the end of the 19th century, the Ryukyu State had been recaptured by Samoto of Kagoshima. In 1879, after the Meiji Reconstruction, the Ryukyu State was incorporated into Japan, and Okinawa Prefecture was established the same year. After World War II, the United States occupied it. In 1972, the United States returned the Ryukyu Islands to Japan."
    Okinawa
    17.7km from downtown
    No.2 of Family-friendly Attractions in Okinawa Prefecture
    Highlights: Okinawa Zoo & Museum, located in Okinawa, is a great destination for families and sure to entertain the kids. The zoo itself is built next to a mountain overlooking the nearby lake and distant sea. Although not big in size, it offers visitors a number of opportunities to interact with animals, such as feeding giraffes, and petting chicks and guinea pigs. In addition, the museum provides scientific games and art workshops that bring to life originally boring scientific principles.
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  • No.

    10

    󰺂5.8
    4.3/5
    182 Review
    From696.96
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 1107 reviews
    "Tickets are not expensive, the price is higher than many domestic botanical gardens, but remember to change physical tickets. Zhanjiang Xuwen actually has a larger pineapple garden, called "the sea of pineapple", but it has not been developed into a paradise. I think I can learn from it and develop the economy of Guangdong and Western China."
    Nago
    53.3km from downtown
    Highlights: The red, acidic soil in northern Okinawa is particularly suitable for growing pineapples, so the pineapples in this area have been famous since ancient times. Nago Pineapple Garden is a pineapple plantation with a history of more than 80 years. It started to grow and sell pineapples. In 1992, Japan's first pineapple winery was built. Now the farm has turned into a theme park, with hundreds of pineapples and nearly a thousand tropical plants grown in the garden. You can take a pineapple tour bus to watch various varieties of pineapples and rare pineapple flowers in the garden, and you can also visit the production process of pineapple juice and other products.
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FAQ

What Best Things to Do are there in Okinawa Prefecture?
These are all Best Things to Do in Okinawa Prefecture:Ocean Expo Park, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Kokusai-dori, Ryukyu Mura, Shuri Castle
What are some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Okinawa Prefecture?
Some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Okinawa Prefecture include:Ocean Expo Park:4.8, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium:4.7, Kokusai-dori:4.5, Ryukyu Mura:4.4, Shuri Castle:4.6
At what locations in Okinawa Prefecture can Best Things to Do in Okinawa Prefecture be found?
The Best Things to Do in Okinawa Prefecture are mainly located in:Ocean Expo Park:Motobu, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium:Motobu, Kokusai-dori:Naha, Ryukyu Mura:Onna, Shuri Castle:Naha
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