Okinawa Free Travel Guide

How to travel in Okinawa without renting a car or joining a tour? Compared to cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, Okinawa is not particularly convenient for tourists, mainly due to its inconvenient transportation. Most Japanese people come here for summer beach activities like diving and surfing, enjoying a seaside vacation. In terms of cultural attractions, there are indeed fewer compared to other places. So, if you insist on traveling freely in Okinawa, how should you do it? In summary: casually explore the main island city; frequently check bus schedules when traveling in the central and southern parts; for island trips, go anytime, and it's best to rent a car or bicycle upon arrival! Accommodation: 1. In the city, it is recommended to book near Kokusai Street, which is close to the airport and has large shopping areas, making transportation relatively convenient. 2. If staying in the northern part, it is recommended to stay near the Churaumi Aquarium, where transportation and dining are relatively convenient, and you won't have trouble finding open restaurants after 5 PM. Travel Guide + Landmark Check-ins: DAY1: Since you arrive in Okinawa in the evening, after checking in, mainly visit Kokusai Street for shopping and dining. Kokusai Street is mainly a shopping area with a large shopping district and a landmark lion statue for photo ops. DAY2-3: Head to Miyako Island. DAY4: Return to Naha and head north to the Churaumi Aquarium. There is a direct express bus from Naha Bus Terminal to Churaumi, costing 2000 yen and taking 2 hours, no reservation needed. DAY5: Visit American Village in the morning and Shurijo Castle in the afternoon. Honestly, these two places are subjective; after visiting, my personal feeling is that they are not very impressive. American Village is like a trendy street selling second-hand goods, and the food is not particularly special. Shurijo Castle is still under construction after being burned down, and compared to China's Great Wall and various palaces, this small castle is quite underwhelming. It takes about 1.5 hours by bus from Naha Bus Terminal to American Village. If you visit in the afternoon or evening, you can take night photos. DAY6: Visit Naminoue Shrine in the morning. The shrine is near Asahibashi Station, a 10-minute walk away. This shrine is the top of the eight shrines in Okinawa and can be visited in half an hour. The main reason to come here is to buy omamori for safety, with the most popular being the golden luck charm and the triangular safe travel charm. After visiting the shrine, walk out and turn right to reach the bridge opposite, which is the best spot to photograph Naminoue Shrine and is a popular check-in point. After visiting Naminoue Shrine, I booked a whale watching tour in the afternoon through a travel platform. They can pick you up from a hotel in Naha, and whether you see whales in the 2-hour tour depends entirely on luck. I recommend bringing a hat, sunscreen, motion sickness medicine, and preferably binoculars. In summary, if you are looking for a quiet seaside vacation with diving in Okinawa, it is quite good. However, if you are interested in cultural attractions, Okinawa does fall short compared to Tokyo and Osaka, so it depends on personal preference.