9 Places to Experience Okinawa Like a Local

Kouri Ohashi Bridge is a great place to take pictures of the amazing views, taking in greenery, azure sea, and the impressive bridge itself. Opened in 2005, the bridge connects Okinawa Island to Kouri Island.

When you arrive at Kouri Island, take a stroll past the traditional Okinawan houses and sugar cane fields to enjoy the peaceful, relaxed atmosphere. You can walk barefoot on the beach at the base of the bridge and lose yourself while picking up coral and seashells, or you can go snorkeling to admire the sea creatures living just offshore. Look out for Heart Rock at Teinu Beach in the northern part of the island, a popular selfie spot.

Shuri Castle was the political, diplomatic, and cultural center of the Ryukyu Kingdom. It is a World Cultural Heritage site that was built with a unique architectural style and stone masonry technique, fusing Chinese and Japanese castle-construction cultures.

No visit to Okinawa is complete without a tour of this enchanting vermilion-colored building, decorated throughout with engravings of the dragon, a symbol of the king, and featuring the gorgeous Usasuka throne. Head to the Agari no Azana (Lookout of the East) for unbeatable views of the castle town landscape. If you visit after sunset, you can also enjoy the castle illuminations.

Located off the west coast of the main island of Okinawa, Minnajima Island is a remote island famous for its sea bathing and marine activities. It's affectionately known as "Croissant Island" because of its shape. Jump on a high-speed boat from the Port of Toguchi to Minnajima Island. It takes only 15 minutes. Just next to the pier is the popular Minna Beach.

The sea is so clear that you can see the bottom, and the white sandy beach is perfect for swimming. There are lifeguards too, so it's safe even for small children. There are plenty of activities to enjoy, including banana boats, snorkeling and diving experiences. See the colorful coral reefs and fish that surround the island up close and experience mysterious underwater worlds.

Located near Churaumi Aquarium in the northern part of Okinawa Island, Fukugi Tree Tunnel in Bise is a must-visit for walking and cycling, spectacularly lined with as many as 20,000 Fukugi trees. These trees form windbreaks that have protected the village from typhoons for as long as anyone can remember. Some of the trees are now more than 300 years old.

Take a leisurely walk through the trees in the dappled sunshine and take in the views of the village inside the Fukugi Tree Tunnel and relaxing in a cafe. Or rent a bicycle and ride through the tunnel to appreciate the beauty of the deep blue sea in front of you.

About a 30-minute drive southeast from Naha Airport, the Valley of Gangala is across from the entrance to the Okinawa World tourist facility. Here, a former limestone cave that collapsed several hundreds of thousands of years ago has become a valley with a subtropical forest.

Try a guided walk along the valley, where the river flows through the ancient forest and you can be at one with Okinawan plants and insects. You’ll feel like an explorer, scaling the mysterious limestone cave with a lamp in your hand, looking up at a huge banyan tree, and seeing the horizon from the tree-lined terrace. Entrance to the Valley of Gangala is only available for tours, and reservation is essential.

Kudaka Island is an island of gods according to Ryukyuan mythology, and it's home to some beautiful beaches. Ishiki Beach is said to be a sacred beach where a boat carrying deities arrived. Given its status, it’s no surprise that swimming is prohibited here. Look out for star-shaped sand at Uppama Beach on the east side of the island, and the sandy Megi Beach next to the sea snake fishing grounds. Here, you can enjoy swimming in crystal-clear ocean waters.

There's a mysterious cave to be found at Cape Cabale, which is said to be where the god called Amamakiyo descended. The ocean view from Yaguruga is superb. Recharge your mind and body by tasting Okinawan soba noodles and irabu (sea snake) soup at island restaurants.

Head to RyukyuMura theme park to enjoy the culture and history of Okinawa, about 1 hour by car from Naha Airport. There are various themed experiences to take part in here, such as making Sata Andagi (Okinawan donuts), a local delicacy, making hand-kneaded shisa (Okinawan lion statues), and lessons in playing the Sanshin, a traditional Okinawan 3-stringed instrument.

The park is dotted with typical old Okinawan-style houses with their distinctive red-tiled roofs. Some of these houses are designated as Important Cultural Properties and are more than 100 years old. If you get hungry, you can try some Okinawan dishes such as Soki soba and taco rice at the cafeteria.

Gyokusendo Cave is a natural monument and one of the largest caves of its kind in Japan. This cave has existed for 300,000 years and is still growing at a rate of 1 millimeter every 3 years.

When you pass through the narrow entrance and into the limestone cave itself, you’ll discover a vast space called Toyo Ichido. The ceiling here is tightly packed with stalactites that look as if they are about to fall. It’s not for the faint-hearted. It’s a good idea to join one of the limited summer tours where you can explore the unopened area of the limestone cave.

Cape Manzamo is a scenic place in Onna-son Village, a resort area on the west coast of Okinawa Island. Ryukyu Sekkaigan is a steep limestone plateau, its shape resembling that of an elephant’s trunk. From the cape, you can see the cobalt blue sea and Iejima Island in the distance, and coral reefs in the clear sea just below.

The origin of the name of Manzamo is the idea of there being enough grassland for 10,000 people to sit. There are few better ways to chill out than lying back on the natural grasslands of the plateau and feeling the refreshing sea breeze. On the coastline promenade, you can look for native Okinawan plants such as Okinawan purple and Kanakomi-kanboku while taking a leisurely stroll.