Don't go on a self-driving trip to Okinawa anymore!
Don't come to Okinawa anymore! After visiting Okinawa, I no longer want to go to other tropical countries. This time, I spent 5 days and 4 nights on a self-driving trip in early June. Although the time wasn't very sufficient, there were so many places worth visiting. Okinawa feels like a destination where different types of travelers can enjoy themselves! I've marked the parking situation at the places I visited, hoping to help everyone plan their self-driving trips!
🗺【Itinerary】
Day 1: Naha City/Southern Area
Senaga Island (Free parking) - First, I picked up the car near the airport and drove to Senaga Island. Here, a row of white houses built along the hillside exudes a Greek and Italian vibe. There are restaurants offering cuisines from various countries, such as Turkish, American, and Mexican dishes. It doesn't feel like Japan at all~ I chose a sea-view restaurant to enjoy steak, and the scenery was incredibly relaxing.
Gyokusendo Cave (Free parking) - About a 30-minute drive away, you can marvel at the natural wonders formed over hundreds of thousands of years. The underground stalactite cave boasts over a million stalactites. The tranquil and dimly lit cave is truly relaxing. Outside, there are various Okinawan cultural displays, such as traditional musical instruments and glass-blowing performances. If you're interested in Okinawan culture, you'll likely spend a long time exploring here~ (Note: Closing time is 4:00 PM, so plan your visit early to avoid missing out on many photo spots.)
Originally, I planned to visit the DMM Aquarium afterward, but I was too tired and decided to postpone it to the next morning.
Day 2: Northern Naha
DMM Aquarium (Free parking) - This is a new aquarium in Naha. Unlike traditional aquariums, DMM Aquarium offers semi-open pools simulating shallow seas, complete with wave sounds and lighting effects, making you feel like you're on a beach. Besides marine life, there are land animal exhibits and limited feeding experiences. I tried feeding a sloth this time—it was so adorable, hanging on a tree and slowly taking the carrot slice.
Pokemon Center (Free parking) - Located in Aeon Mall, the Pokemon Center needs no introduction! Although it's not as large as the one in Osaka, for a fan like me, it was enough to spend all my travel budget here!
Nakagusuku Castle (Free parking) - The ruins of the ancient Ryukyu Kingdom, located on a hill, offer panoramic views of the eastern and western areas. The stone-built ruins exude a strong sense of history!
Shurijo Castle (Prefectural paid parking) - Unfortunately, it was previously destroyed by fire, so what I saw this time was the reconstruction of Shurijo Castle. Side note: There are many cats and ducks nearby, super cute!
Day 3: Northern Village/American Village
Blue Cave Diving (Parking provided by the diving company) - The most recommended activity! Okinawa is all about diving. Once underwater, you'll see tropical fish that you usually only see in movies or games. If you're not comfortable with scuba diving, snorkeling will also offer great views!
Cape Zanpa Lighthouse (Free parking) - One of the few lighthouses in Japan you can climb. From the top, you can see nearly three-quarters of the view facing the sea—it's spectacular!
American Village (Free and paid parking available, but parking gets crowded after sunset) - The most beautiful spot! This place feels like a parallel universe, with American-style architecture and people from all over the world gathering here. After sunset, the area becomes lively, with music playing everywhere. The neon lights on the buildings make you feel like you've traveled back to the 70s and 80s in America. There are street performances and fireworks at night, making it hard to leave.
Day 4: Nago City
Nago Pineapple Park (Free parking) - A pineapple-themed botanical park, suitable for family activities. They sell pineapple-related snacks and drinks—I regret not buying more!
Churaumi Aquarium (Free parking) - This is probably the most famous attraction in Okinawa besides Kokusai Street. While the overall experience was good, I found DMM Aquarium's presentation more innovative and interesting. Churaumi Aquarium is often crowded, making it hard to take good photos. Some display tanks require queuing, which feels a bit congested and slightly affects the experience.
Day 5: Okinawa's northernmost point, return car in Naha
Cape Hedo - The northernmost point of Okinawa, about 50 kilometers from Nago City. If the weather and your energy allow, it's a great spot to watch the sunrise. The eastern side is completely unobstructed, allowing you to see the sun rise from the sea. Unfortunately, it was raining heavily when I visited, so I could only check in without seeing the sunrise. I hope someone else gets to witness it!
📍【Must-Visit Attractions】
1. Diving in Okinawa 🤿! The shallow waters here are stunningly beautiful, filled with colorful tropical fish. This time, I joined a scuba diving session with Umi Diving Company. The instructor was friendly, communicated in English, and helped me adapt to the underwater environment while taking photos!
2. Senaga Island - Close to the airport, the European-style architecture is perfect for photos. There are various types of restaurants, and you can watch planes take off and land. If you're lucky, you might even see fighter jets. It's recommended as the first or last stop of your trip.
3. American Village - A must-visit place that you'll never want to leave. It has various restaurants, indoor amusement parks, and beautiful architecture for photos. It's suitable for all ages. Note: It's quieter during the day, so it's best to visit around sunset. Restaurants require reservations; otherwise, you're likely to encounter full bookings.
🥘【Must-Try Food】
Okinawa Meat Shop, Nago City - A small Shabu Shabu restaurant. The prices are on the higher side, but the taste is excellent, and the portions are generous. The black wagyu beef and Agu pork are tender and not chewy. The staff patiently explained each dish and how to eat it.
🏠【Accommodation Recommendations】
1. Naha Water City - Located within a 10-minute walk from Kokusai Street, it features an infinity rooftop pool. The hotel has paid parking, making it convenient for different types of travelers.
2. Okinawa Arena - Under VESSEL HOTELS, located in central Okinawa near the U.S. military base. The location is suitable for self-driving trips, making it easy to explore central attractions like American Village and Nakagusuku Castle.
📣【Self-Driving Tips】
Okinawa has only one highway; the rest are regular roads with traffic lights, which may take longer. It's recommended to plan your itinerary according to the route direction to avoid wasting time waiting at traffic lights.
Очень понравилось. Лучший океанариум, где я бывал. Тигровая акула внушает. Есть бесплатное шоу дельфинов каждые несколько часов.
Nice view and lot of fascinating sea life, especially whale 🐳 and dolphins 🐬 o
Such a beautiful aquarium at a great location! The views are breathtaking and the fish are so beautiful and colorful
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, where you can see the world's largest whale shark swimming over your head, and the super shocking "Kuroshio Sea" main tank seems to take you into the deep sea! 🐋✨ There are also super cute dolphin shows and touch pool experiences. Children and adults don't want to leave~ The aquarium is right by the sea. After visiting, you can also enjoy the blue sea and blue sky of Okinawa. It is definitely worth checking in! 📸
Churaumi Oceanarium is one of the most worthwhile places to visit in Okinawa, Japan. You can take a bus directly from the bus terminal to the entrance of the oceanarium at about 1:30. It is very convenient to get off the bus. The oceanarium is located in the Ocean Park. The Ocean Park does not require tickets. The oceanarium tickets purchased on Ctrip.com are more affordable than those purchased at the on-site window. From the moment you enter the gate of the Ocean Park, you will feel shocked and very spectacular. There are many fish in the oceanarium's trough, which is colorful and very beautiful. It is also one of the largest troughs in the world. In short, it is a must-visit attraction in Okinawa.
For us who stayed at Onna Hotel, the Churaumi Aquarium was quite far away. As we were traveling with our kids, we decided to charter a car. In fact, the Churaumi Aquarium is part of the Ocean Expo Park. Only this aquarium is charged, and the others are free. Tickets to the aquarium are discounted at convenience stores, and the discounted price is 1,660 yuan per ticket. The free part includes dolphin performances, manatee hall, sea turtle hall, etc. The most attractive part of the aquarium is the Dark Tide, which is a super large aquarium with various fish. There is also a cafe next to it where we can have lunch. It takes about 3-4 hours to see the whole thing.
First of all, the location of Ocean Park is on the northernmost side of Okinawa. If it takes more than two hours to live on the high-speed bus from Naha to Naha, it takes a long time to go back and forth for four hours. The coastal mile scenery before the destination is still very good. It feels good to wait for family, children, girlfriends and so on to turn around. The distraction of oneself or a few base friends is also good. There are a lot of people. Pay attention to your family. I hear people looking for children. Say something about it: 1. Watch the feeding and dolphin performances at different times and pay attention to the time of the next show. There are also scrolling screens on the forms. 2. If you are hungry and want to eat or come back to the same feeding link to see if there are employees near the exit can let them stamp a small stamp on the back of their hands, colorless and tasteless ultraviolet light will have patterns that do not wash out. When you come in again, just give the staff a look. 3. There's a garden landscaping far away. Tropical Botanical Garden. Half-price admission is allowed for those with seahouse tickets. The most important tourist facilities must be the ocean hall, in addition to the manatee, the turtle pond and so on, can be another day, the seaside scenery is very good, but not to let down to the beach, I see a brand like there are many poisonous creatures haunt..
Okinawa, as the largest water resource in the island, has built the aquarium, which boasts the largest Kuroshio in the world, and has become one of Okinawa's must-see attractions. Because the aquarium is located in the famous Haibo Park in the north of Okinawa, two hours'drive from Naha downtown area, it is strongly recommended that visitors who want to go deep or visit their parents and children can choose to stay in hotels near the aquarium. In this way, we can make full use of the advantages of geographical convenience and spend a day in Haibo Park. Otherwise, recommend a one-day tour group, save time and effort, stay in the aquarium for three hours, horse-riding is almost enough!