ⓘ This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this guide free.
This translation was generated by AI and may contain wording that differs from the facts. Please check the Japanese original or official sources for anything important. Japanese original
Quick facts
- Region: Kyushu & Okinawa
- Capital: Naha
- Population: 1.5 million
- Climate: Southwest Islands (subtropical)
- Cherry blossom (average): 18 January
- No. 1 in Japan: Japan's highest birth rate; sugar cane and pineapples — Japan's only subtropical prefecture. Shuri Castle and Churaumi Aquarium
⭐ Top sights
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Whale sharks over 8 m long glide through one of the world's largest aquarium tanks.
Miyakojima Yonaha Maehama Beach
Seven kilometres of white sand and 'Miyako blue' sea. The 3.5 km Irabu Bridge is Japan's longest toll-free bridge.
Ishigaki Kabira Bay
A three-star Michelin Green Guide bay. Glass-bottom boats glide over coral and tropical fish.
Okinawa Soba
No buckwheat — 100% wheat noodles in pork-and-bonito broth, topped with pork belly or soki ribs. From about ¥600.
Okinawa Karate Kaikan
Birthplace of karate: dojo sessions and exhibits at the 'holy land' for the world's 100 million practitioners.
Taketomi Island
Ten minutes by boat from Ishigaki: a village of red-tiled roofs and white-sand lanes where water-buffalo carts amble. Shallow turquoise water at Kondoi Beach.
Shuri Castle
Royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The main hall burned down in 2019; its reconstruction is completed in autumn 2026
🍲 Local food
Goya champuru, Okinawa soba, rafute, sata andagi
Champuru means "all mixed up". Okinawa soba is 100% wheat noodles in a bonito and pork broth
🏮 Festivals & events
- Okinawa Zento Eisa Festival — The weekend after Lunar Obon (late August to early September). Youth associations from across the islands compete in eisa, dancing to pounding drums. Okinawa City
- Naha Great Tug-of-War — October (Sports Day long weekend). East and west pull a Guinness-certified rope 200 m long and weighing 40 tonnes
🏨 Where to stay in Okinawa
The area around Naha, the capital, has the best transport links and the widest choice of hotels; a night at a hot-spring town is also worth it.
Other prefectures in the region
Fukuoka · Saga · Nagasaki · Kumamoto · Oita · Miyazaki · Kagoshima · 47 prefectures
Frequently asked questions
What is Okinawa famous for food-wise?
Okinawa's best-known local dishes are Goya champuru, Okinawa soba, rafute, sata andagi. Champuru means "all mixed up". Okinawa soba is 100% wheat noodles in a bonito and pork broth
What are the top sights in Okinawa?
Top picks in Okinawa include Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Miyakojima Yonaha Maehama Beach, Ishigaki Kabira Bay, Okinawa Soba.
When do cherry blossoms bloom in Okinawa?
In Okinawa (Naha), Somei-yoshino cherry trees usually start blooming around 18 January, reaching full bloom about a week later.
