Things to do in Tokashiki

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Okinawa Island - Central

American Village

American Village is a coastal shopping and entertainment district themed after the American West Coast. It was developed on reclaimed land from a former US military airfield. In the early years, it gradually attracted American-style shops and restaurants to meet the needs of US military personnel and their families. Today, with its streets full of graffiti murals, neon signs, and vibrant retro architecture, it has become a destination for shopping and ocean views in central Okinawa. The bustling heart of the district is Depot Island, where colorful buildings, palm trees, and coastal boardwalks connect, providing photo opportunities everywhere. Nearby, American Depot is famous for its vintage clothing, military surplus, and imported goods, making it perfect for browsing. Dining options also have a strong American flair, with taco rice, burgers, steaks, and Blue Seal ice cream—which originated at local US military bases—all available. Entertainment facilities like cinemas and game centers are also interspersed throughout. Around dusk is an especially charming time for this district. Chatan Park, located on one side, features Chatan Park Sunset Beach, which faces the west coast and is a popular spot for watching the sunset; in summer, you can even swim there. After nightfall, the neon lights and decorations gradually light up, presenting two different atmospheres between day and night. It is worth noting that the large Ferris wheel that once appeared in many promotional photos has been dismantled, so there is no need to look for it.

Selected for Best Things to Do in Okinawa Prefecture

Umikaji Terrace Senagajima

Umikaji Terrace Senagajima is located in Tomigusuku City, Okinawa Prefecture, and is a seaside resort area famous for its pure white, Greek-style architecture. This oceanfront commercial facility attracts many visitors with its unique charm and beautiful, expansive views. Since its opening, Umikaji Terrace Senagajima has attracted many visitors to experience its unique charm. It brings together restaurants serving authentic Okinawan cuisine, specialty dessert shops, handicraft stores, and various activity venues. Visitors can enjoy delicacies such as the traditional Okinawan dessert Sata Andagi and ice cream made with local ingredients. It is also an ideal spot for watching planes take off and land, and you can enjoy romantic sunsets in the evening. Umikaji Terrace Senagajima perfectly blends exotic charm with local Okinawan culture, making it an ideal destination for relaxing, taking photos, and enjoying delicious food.

2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

You can experience Okinawa's rich nature, history, and culture within Ocean Expo Park, and even play with dolphins. The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is one of the most popular attractions in Ocean Expo Park. The aquarium is filled with mysterious Okinawan marine life swimming before your eyes, as if expanding this vast world. The sunlit "Sea of Coral" keeps and displays large-scale coral communities. In the massive tank known as the "Sea of Kuroshio," you can see large fish such as whale sharks as well as successfully captive-bred manta rays, and the powerful display space is a feast for the eyes. In the "Deep Sea" area, the mysterious deep waters of Okinawa are recreated, making you feel as if you are surrounded by the seas of Okinawa and have entered an underwater world. We look forward to your every visit bringing new encounters and new discoveries!

Ocean Expo Park

Okinawa memorial park is located by the sea in the northern part of Okinawa's main island. Built in August 1976 on the former site of the 1975 Okinawa international ocean exposition, the park carries the theme of "sun, flowers and ocean." The grounds are broadly divided into three zones: ocean, history & culture, and flowers & greenery, featuring an aquarium, dolphin shows, botanical gardens and beaches - perfect for a half-day visit. The ocean zone is particularly popular: Okinawa Churaumi aquarium, the park's flagship attraction, houses whale sharks and manta rays in its massive tank; the adjacent dolphin theater continues shows dating back to the exposition era; the manatee house hosts manatees gifted by the Mexican government, while the turtle house observes turtle growth and dolphin lagoon offers close-up dolphin viewing; emerald beach is an artificial coral sand beach within the lagoon, swimmable in summer. The history & culture zone's ocean culture museum displays hundreds of exhibits including large canoes, showcasing Okinawa's maritime connections with the South Pacific and Southeast Asia, along with an observatory; nearby Okinawa traditional village recreates a 17th-19th century Ryukyu kingdom settlement with red-tiled houses, elevated granaries and windbreak trees, accompanied by Soro botanical garden featuring over twenty local plants mentioned in ancient ballads. The flowers & greenery zone's tropical dream center maintains year-round orchid and tropical plant displays in greenhouses, while the tropical/subtropical urban greening garden and sunset plaza make worthy stops. The expansive park requires walking between zones, with electric carts available. While most visitors head straight for the aquarium, Okinawa traditional village offers a more relaxed pace with trilingual audio guides in historic houses and occasional sanshin performances, providing deeper immersion into Ryukyu's maritime heritage.

Ama Beach

Ama Beach is located in Okinawa, Japan, and features blue skies and clear waters. Visitors can not only admire cute marine life but also relax on beach chairs and soak up the sun.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Okinawa Island - North

Ryukyu Mura

Ryukyu Village is a tourist theme park where you can fully enjoy Okinawa, easily accessible by car in about an hour from the airport. Surrounded by traditional Okinawan houses and the sound of the sanshin (Okinawan stringed instrument), you can enjoy a moment of peace and relaxation that will make you forget the stresses of everyday life. Furthermore, the availability of Ryukyuan traditional clothing experiences and various other programs allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in Okinawan culture and atmosphere, which is another attractive feature. At Ryukyu Village, you can enjoy a unique Eisa performance that incorporates traditional Eisa music and choreography. Eisa is a type of "dancing Buddhist chanting" performed on the night of the Obon festival to send the spirits of ancestors back to the afterlife, and it is one of Okinawa's representative traditional performing arts. The youth associations of each region parade through the village at night, performing drums and hand dances to the sound of the sanshin (Okinawan stringed instrument), welcoming the spirits of their ancestors and praying for a bountiful harvest and the safety of their families.

Marilyn the Faithful Dog

Geruma Island

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Okinawa Island - Central

Okinawa Zoo & Museum

Okinawa Zoo & Museum, located in Okinawa, is a great destination for families and sure to entertain the kids. The zoo itself is built next to a mountain overlooking the nearby lake and distant sea. Although not big in size, it offers visitors a number of opportunities to interact with animals, such as feeding giraffes, and petting chicks and guinea pigs. In addition, the museum provides scientific games and art workshops that bring to life originally boring scientific principles.

No. 6 of Night Attractions in Okinawa Prefecture

Churasun6okinawa

Churasun6okinawa, located in the Matsuyama Entertainment District of Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, is a large-scale immersive nighttime entertainment space that has emerged in recent years. Positioned as a "theater-style show," the venue combines dance, music, and stage performances to create a fusion experience similar to a television show and a nightclub. The interior features a "spaceship capsule" design, complemented by numerous lighting installations and LED screens, creating a strong visual impact that allows audiences to quickly immerse themselves in an extraordinary atmosphere upon entering. The venue has rapidly attracted attention with its large scale and advanced sound and lighting equipment. Equipped with approximately 400 stage lights and a high-specification sound system, it can support high-intensity dance and music performances, presenting rhythmic and highly interactive content.