A spontaneous trip to Okinawa in 2025

🏝 4 Days 3 Nights in Okinawa｜Sunshine, sea breeze, and endless delicious food! This Okinawa trip was absolutely perfect! Four days and three nights may not be long, but every day was full of surprises. From Naha to Kouri Island in the north, from Shurijo Castle to Kokusai Street, whether it’s natural attractions, cultural vibes, or food and shopping, Okinawa is love at first sight ❤️. We chose to stay at Mercure Hotel Naha this time. The location is super convenient, close to the airport and Kokusai Street. The best part? No need to change hotels and move luggage every day, which is a huge plus! --- ✈️ Day 1: Arrival in Okinawa → Southern Cultural Exploration Arrived at Naha Airport at 9:20 AM, picked up the rental car, and officially started the journey! First stop: Shurijo Castle. Although the castle area is under reconstruction, its grandeur remains. Standing on the castle walls overlooking the entire Naha city gives a sense of time travel. Then, we went to try the highly recommended "Shuri Soba." The simple yet rich broth paired with chewy noodles was the perfect Okinawan start! In the afternoon, we drove to the dreamy Chinen Misaki Park in the south. The blue there is no exaggeration—it’s the kind of blue that makes you go "Wow!" at first sight. Next, we visited Sefa Utaki, where the serene atmosphere naturally slows you down, allowing you to feel the Okinawan respect for nature and spirits. By evening, we headed to Senagajima Umikaji Terrace to catch the sunset. The white terraced buildings paired with the sea and sky view are like Okinawa’s version of Santorini! Enjoying the sea breeze with a drink and taking photos was pure bliss. At night, we returned to the city to explore Kokusai Street. Street music, countless souvenir shops, and restaurants immersed us in the vacation vibe. --- 🚗 Day 2: Northern Highlights Galore! Early in the morning, we drove along the coastline to the north. The first stop was the legendary Kouri Bridge. That moment was breathtaking—a straight bridge cutting through the blue sea, with gradient blues and greens on both sides. It’s like a desktop wallpaper without any editing! On Kouri Island, we tried the popular "Shrimp Rice." The aroma, light flavor, and sea breeze made it incredibly soothing. Next, we visited the famous Churaumi Aquarium. Seeing the massive whale shark tank was awe-inspiring! Just watching it swim peacefully made the world feel harmonious (haha). The dolphins and sea turtles in the aquarium were also super cute, making it a place loved by both kids and adults. On the way back in the evening, we stopped by American Village. The sunset on the colorful buildings was dreamy. The nighttime vibe of American Village was even better, with many international restaurants. We chose an American burger joint to experience the deliciousness of American-style burgers! Although the day was packed, everyone was all smiles on the way back to Naha. It was truly a day well spent. --- 🏙 Day 3: Naha’s Local Culture and Shopping Paradise The third day was much more relaxed. Before returning the car, we visited a few spots in Naha city. In the morning, we went to Naminoue Shrine. This seaside shrine is unique, with Naminoue Beach just across a small road. It’s a great spot for photos. The afternoon was for shopping! We visited Aeon Naha, Hard Off (a second-hand electronics store), and Manga Souko. Each place was so captivating that we lost track of time, especially treasure hunting at Hard Off, which was super fun with items ranging from cameras to small appliances. Before evening, we returned the car and continued strolling around Kokusai Street. At night, we enjoyed skewers and drinks at "Yatai Village," instantly washing away all the fatigue from the trip. --- 🛍 Day 4: Relaxed Shopping → Return Home The last day was a laid-back one. After packing in the morning, we walked to the nearby Don Quijote Kokuba store for some last-minute shopping. This store has everything, from cosmetics and snacks to daily necessities, and the prices are slightly cheaper than in the city center. After shopping, we headed straight to Naha Airport. At the airport, we had lunch at the food court and continued exploring. Naha Airport is also great for shopping, with duty-free shops, desserts, awamori, and purple sweet potato tarts all available. Before departure, we enjoyed Okinawa-exclusive BLUE SEAL ice cream, marking the perfect end to this trip! --- 🍜 Must-Try Food Recommendations Okinawa Soba (Shuri Soba / San-chome no Shima Soba-ya) Pork and Egg Rice Ball (Makishi Main Store) Ryukyu Beef Yakiniku (Highly Rated) A&W Root Beer + Burgers Oujima Tempura (Loved by Locals) BLUE SEAL Ice Cream --- 🎁 Must-Buy Souvenirs Purple Sweet Potato Tarts Brown Sugar, Sea Salt Awamori Liquor Snow Salt Ice Cream Ryukyu Glassware --- 💡 Summary: Smooth and Easy Free Travel! The best part of this trip was having all accommodations fixed in Naha, eliminating the need to move luggage daily. Day 1 was southbound, Day 2 northbound, Day 3 in the city, and Day 4 for a relaxed wrap-up. The itinerary was super smooth, making it a free travel plan even lazy travelers can handle! Okinawa is perfect for a relaxing trip—sunshine, sea, laughter, and every corner feels like a postcard. We accidentally took hundreds of photos. After returning, we just want to book another ticket. Next time, we’d like to try the outer islands or diving experiences! 🌊 If you’re looking for a "spontaneous yet relaxing" vacation spot, Okinawa is definitely the top choice ❤️