A trip full of mishaps: 3 days and 2 nights in Okinawa

0. I finally visited Okinawa, a place I had always wanted to go, with my partner. I thought 3 days and 2 nights would be enough, but it didn’t take long to realize how wrong I was. While the abundance of tourist spots was one reason, the sweltering weather and unique terrain also played a big part. In the end, I felt regretful because there were so many places we couldn’t visit. 1. Day 1 We found a beautiful and affordable hotel, the 5-star Ryukyu Hotel in the southern area (the hotel itself is artistically stunning). However, since there was nothing around the hotel, we checked in at 5:30 PM, rested briefly, and then drove an hour to the famous American Village. ‘Ah... we should’ve just stayed in this area for the first night...’ ‘Such a beautiful and charming place, but I can’t even enjoy a beer because I have to drive back...’ After another hour-long drive, we returned to the Ryukyu Hotel for the night. 2. Day 2 After checking out at 11 AM, we decided to visit Sesoko Beach, said to be the most beautiful beach. It’s a 2-hour drive from Ryukyu Hotel. Parking costs 10,000 won for the whole day. Renting a parasol and sunbed costs 42,000 won. The sea is breathtakingly beautiful, so it’s worth it. After enjoying the beach, we headed to our second hotel, Moon Beach Museum Resort (1 hour from Sesoko Beach). The hotel has an izakaya nearby, the resort is beautiful, and the price is reasonable—very satisfying. The biggest downside is that the outdoor pool only has about 10 sunbeds, which was inconvenient. The staff didn’t offer much help. However, the stunning scenery and atmosphere made up for it. 3. Day 3 After checking out, we visited Umikaji Terrace. Every photo you take here looks like a magazine cover. There’s very little shade, so you end up buying drinks frequently. After returning the rental car, we said goodbye to Okinawa. — Final Thoughts: ° Avoid Ryukyu Hotel unless you have a relaxed schedule. But it’s an incredibly stylish and stunning hotel. ° American Village alone is worth it. Avoid the midday heat and visit around sunset. ° Sesoko Beach: The water is shallow and safe, with emerald-green seas. However, unless you plan to snorkel, it might not be worth the long trip. ° Moon Beach Museum Resort: A great value-for-money hotel! Highly recommended except for the sunbed issue. However, there were so many Korean tourists—almost too many, haha. ° Umikaji Terrace: Close to the airport, so it’s perfect for a quick 1-2 hour visit before your flight home. Thank you!