We spent 8 days in Okinawa, spending most of our time in the suburban areas of the prefecture. In this blog, we will provide you with the itinerary of our stays and the places we visited, from accommodation (Airbnb and Hotel), restaurants, cafes, to famous attractions, and less touristy spots.
Also provided is a narrative of the expectation we had when we decided to visit the Island of Okinawa and how it changed afterwards.
Quick Navigation (Table of Contents):
- First Impression of Okinawa
- Uruma City & Miyagi Island (Airbnb included)
- Banta Cafe (a famous spot review)
- Halekulani Resort Hotel (a Luxury Hotel experience)
- Kunigami District (Airbnb Included)
- Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium & Tropical Dream Center
- Ginowan and Firework Festival (Airbnb included)
- Our Reflection of Okinawa
The Prologue (Before the trip)
Dear Readers,
“It does not look like the Japan I’m used to; something about it feels a little off-putting,” I said whilst browsing the internet and flicking through the images on the attraction spots that pop up on the map on my phone. A feeling of uncertainty creeps into my thoughts, and fear starts to form among the skeptical feeling that keeps pouring in during the research.
What if it is not the Japan experience I am looking for? Should we not just go to the main Island? I began silently questioning my partner, who had chosen Okinawa for our next trip to Japan.
The form of questioning was done solely in my head, of course. Her enthusiasm, eyes open wider than usual, glimmering in the light of our room, so radiant that it could have been excitement itself that I was seeing, the moment she proposed this plan was too strong for me to question it just because some images online do not look like the usual Japan I had fallen in love with throughout the years. I had also agreed to it right on the spot, without any idea of what to expect.
I am sure some other people might also be saying something along the lines of, ‘We are going all the way to Japan, why not go to one of the main regions where there is more to explore?’ I feel their concern and can relate to the thought. In short, however, I would say that Okinawa will likely fill the criteria you have for an ideal Japan trip, while also offering its unique culture.
The first impression of Okinawa
Simply put, the first impression was no doubt that of landing in Japan, which, of course, it is.
During April, it was the perfect temperature to wear a short-sleeve T-shirt or beachy dress. The temperature was just right, not too hot that you start sweating and not too cold that you can’t walk around without shivering. Coming from a country where it is hot all-year-round, it was a big relief.
The first day we spent exploring Naha, but we will not be focusing on the city. The main highlight of the trip was exploring further.
Heading up to the central part of Okinawa Island
In this trip, we rented a car on the island, and it will be our only mode of transportation during our time exploring the part outside the city center. Airbnbs will also be where we spent most or our nights at.
The first stop: Uruma & Miyagi Island, Okinawa
Browsing through the list of Airbnbs, one particular place caught our attention, a home in Uruma, where we decided to stay with a plan to explore Miyagi Island. The city of Uruma is connected to the Island by road, around 5 kilometers long.
A location with an almost perfect score in 2026 on Airbnb, 4.98/5, from 111 reviews. A score we were not surprised to see after our stay there. In a few words, it was a modern, private, stylish home with a great view.
One thing we like to do whenever we explore a new city is to get a glimpse of what it is like living there. We spent our time exploring the local supermarket and making use of the kitchen at the house, walking around nearby, avoiding attractions, and getting a taste of the city, both figuratively through our eyes and at a local diner we passed. Enjoying the sunset at the accommodation, cooking, and spending time together in the house is a meaningful part of the trip.
We spent the second day exploring around.
Highlight of our stay in Uruma city & Miyagi island:
- Fukurou (ふくろう) (local Izakaya)
- Kaichu Road (stopping over midway and 海中道路展望台)
- Kafu Banta
- Nuchima-su Salt Factory
- Ndakachina Beach (Featured on this post thumbnail)
A salt factory might not feel that interesting; salt tastes like salt for an everyday individual, untrained palate. The amount of salt products, though, was quite amusing. We bought a small container of powdered salt from there, and it was very convenient for dissolving in water to soak vegetables or fruits in.
A small detour to Banta Cafe by Hoshino Resorts
Probably one of the most popular cafes, and for a good reason.
We stopped by after leaving our Airbnb in Uruma. The beachside cafe was located directly on the opposite side of the island from the city on Kanai Beach.
We parked our car at Mitsuino Repark Hoshino Resort Banta Cafe Parking Lot, right beside the cafe. Before walking towards the cafe, something caught our attention. One of the most beautiful we have seen was visible in the opposite direction. The place was so captivating that we stopped by for some photos from afar. Lazor Garden Alivila is the name in case you are finding a location for wedding.
On to Banta Cafe, the place is somewhere you feel the luxury the moment you see the entrance, you also feel the cost of a drink at the same moment. However, most people were probably not there for any food or drinks; they were there for the beach, and it was worth it.
As a place one might describe as Instagrammable, the food and drinks were fine, but not in any way memorable, and many go there solely for photography reasons. The beach and the setting, though, were worth the time.
Our advice is not to mind too much about the popularity; if a place is nice, then it is nice, and the beach there was wide enough not to feel crowded.
Halekulani Okinawa, Onna.
A special occasion of the trip, a night at one of the finest hotels in the world. A part of the AMEX Fine Hotels + Resorts collection in Leading Hotels of the World, enjoy a possible early check-in and a guaranteed 4 pm checkout with booking through AMEX.
With the price paid for the stay, we spend every minute to make it count. Relax in the room, explore the property, and swim at the facility, which also includes a heated indoor pool.
Overall, we would highly recommend this place for one to two nights if you are not in any budget constraint and seek a bit of luxury during your trip. We had a very pleasant stay there.
A stay in Kunigami District, Okinawa
A Penthouse Airbnb
Our second Airbnb is located in Kunigami, which is also where the famous Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is. We purposely booked a 2-night accommodation around here for our visit to the aquarium.
The Airbnb is a Corner Penthouse, but before this scares you, the price is very reasonable.
We would say that this place is well-worth the value for up to 8 people. A top-floor penthouse with a view of the sea. Although the room is not the most modern or newly furbished it is not that old and kept very clean. The only downside is that there is only one bathroom; we were only a group of 4 so it was not a problem, but for a group of eight, it would take very good bathroom management and collective effort.
The view of Iejima and Mount Gusuku on the island during sunset from this Airbnb is unmatched.
Exploring the area
We very much enjoyed a relaxing stroll along the street, stopping at a restaurant around there, which was magical, looking around Hanasaki Marche, and buying some ingredients to cook breakfast at the apartment.
Highlight of our stay near Okinawa Charaumi Aquarium:
- Kairo (食堂海路): curry rice
- Hanasaki Marche
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
One of the most popular highlights of Okinawa. The aquarium is probably one of the must-visit places when you are in the prefecture, especially if you have never seen a whale shark before. The scale of this place is huge, and it is in fact considered the largest in all of Japan, with the largest water tank.
Our Experience There
It is worth the visit. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is where we would describe as impressive. You can expect to see a good amount of sea life, from the more common ones to some you may have never seen before, like bioluminescent marine life and the whale shark.
We would say that what to expect is not the longest walk around the aquarium, one so big that it feels endless. The aquarium’s large water tanks take up a good amount of the space, and it feels a little shorter than we thought. With that said, it is not a let-down in any way, as the thing you do see is a large-scale exhibition, which is a more uncommon experience.
There are also dolphin shows, sea turtles, and some other animals outside of the main building, so make sure you don’t miss that.
Looking up at the whale shark in real life makes you feel small; such magnificent marine life is worthwhile to witness for yourself. In a way, we would say that it is a little sad seeing him swim in a circle around a small tank, considering its size, but at least he is not alone; there are a lot of other fish species around. Jinta is the whale shark’s name, and he is around 8.8 meters in length. He has been here since 1995, a couple of years before Gen Z came into existence.
The line is also surprisingly not too bad compared to the one in Osaka we went to, where the long queue made us give up. We did not make a reservation or anything, just showed up at the place a bit before it opened
Tropical Dream Center
This place is located near the aquarium. The Tropical Dream Center is a large tropical garden with countless flowers. The entrance fee is very cheap, less than a thousand, and you can spend a good amount of time there.
The center is designed in a way that you follow a path, and it takes you through different areas, passing many species of plants and flowers along the way. We went there in April and did not find it crowded at all. We enjoyed a leisurely walk at our own place, taking photos, and also stopped by a cafe with a view of the sea.
Highly recommend, especially if you are taking your parents on vacation.
Staying a night in Ginowan
The third Airbnb on our trip was a small room in an apartment in Ginowan. This place comes the closest to feeling like you live in a normal apartment in Okinawa. This was our last stop before returning to Naha.
What to do in Ginowan:
- San-A Ginowan Convention City (a shopping mall)
- Ginowan Seaside Park
- Tropical Beach
- Regens German Bakery
Although we chose to stay in this part of the city for the fireworks show that was being held, it is a good city to stop by for a night, even if there was no festival. Visiting the mall, walking around the park, and staying at the Airbnb opens up an opportunity for us to walk around the area that is not touristy, which is very enjoyable and feels like an authentic way to see Okinawa. In a way, it reminded us of the peace we felt in Obama, Fukui.
Our Experience There
We found out about the Okinawa Firework Festival after we had booked the tickets, and decided to plan our trip so that we could pass by the town. Firework festivals are among our recommended activities you should go see when you are in Japan.
The one we went to is the Ryukyu Kaiensai Firework Festival, which is one of the biggest displays in Okinawa, a festival held in April every year at Ginowan Seaside Park. If you miss the chance for that one, there is also another option for fireworks in Okinawa, like the Summer Festival at Ocean Expo Park, held in July; this one is said to be the largest, but Ryukyu Kaiensai also states that it has the same amount of fireworks, which is 10,000. The difference between the two may lies on the number of people attending, with the Summer Festival being more popular.
Events with a firework display include the Nago Festival during late July, Orion Beerfest during mid-September, and many other events. Fireworks are not the only thing to see in most festivals, and we highly recommend you visit them if your trip happens to overlap the date on which it is held.
The Closing (our reflection of Okinawa)
Looking back as I write this post, I am now wondering what it was that shaped my impression of Okinawa the way it did during the research process. It may have been the mentioning of international influence in various sources that came up, or it might have been the photo of the Naha shopping district with Palm trees lined up along the main street. Maybe it was because being born a Thai person, personally, destinations with beaches just do not sound so amusing to me, as we have a bunch of them, and growing up, it was always a go-to travel destination whenever we traveled locally.
Whatever the reason was, Okinawa has proven me wrong. Becoming addicted to the mountains, lakes, and rivers on the main Islands, like our trip to Hyogo, Japan, made me turn away from a destination like Okinawa. The warmer climate, the island setting, and the different influences make Okinawa unique in a good way, but the feeling of being in Japan does not change; it was undoubtedly a lovely place.
In a way, if the beautiful chaos of Thailand in the form of an Island is Phuket, then Okinawa is the version of order in Japan in the form of an Island. Both of them are great places to travel to, and both of them, even though possessing a certain unique trait of their own, still harbour the culture of the country and its essence.
May you have a great vacation,
Travel Tegami