Okinawa travel guide: Naha, Shuri Castle, Churaumi Aquarium, beaches and car rental

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Okinawa feels like a different country from the rest of Japan: subtropical, laid back, with its own history as the Ryukyu Kingdom, its own food and some of the clearest sea in Asia. It is also an easy flight from Seoul, Busan and most of Japan. Here is how to plan a first trip.

Naha and Kokusai-dori

Most visitors arrive at Naha Airport on the main island. Naha, the capital, is a good base for the first night or two.

Kokusai-dori: Naha's main street, roughly 1.6 km long, lined with souvenir shops, restaurants and bars. It is touristy, but fun in the evening.
Makishi Public Market: just off Kokusai-dori. Buy seafood downstairs and have it cooked at a restaurant upstairs.
Tsuboya pottery street: a quieter lane of potteries and shops, a short walk away.
Okinawan food to try: goya champuru (bitter melon stir-fry), Okinawa soba (thick wheat noodles in a light broth, often topped with pork), rafute (braised pork belly), taco rice, and Blue Seal ice cream. Orion is the local beer.

Shuri Castle

Shuri Castle was the royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom and is a World Heritage site. Its main hall, the Seiden, burned down in a fire in 2019, and the reconstruction has been carried out in view of visitors, with the grounds and several restored buildings open throughout. As of the latest reports, the Seiden's exterior work is complete and a restoration completion ceremony is scheduled for 22 November 2026, with public viewing planned from the following day. Schedules can shift, so check the official Shurijo Castle Park website before you go. The castle is on a hill above the city, with views over Naha. Take the monorail to Shuri station and walk, or ride a bus closer.

Churaumi Aquarium

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, in Ocean Expo Park on the Motobu Peninsula in the north, is one of the largest aquariums in the world. Its main tank holds whale sharks and manta rays and is genuinely breathtaking. Allow half a day, combined with the free parts of the park and nearby beaches. It is about two hours from Naha by car, longer by express bus. Nearby are Kouri Island, reached by a long bridge over turquoise water, and the Bise Fukugi tree-lined village.

Beaches

Central and northern west coast (Onna, Motobu): resort beaches with clear water, many with lifeguards and nets against jellyfish in summer.
Kerama Islands: a short ferry from Naha, with some of the best snorkelling and diving in Japan.
Southern beaches: quieter, close to Naha.

Swim at managed beaches where possible; currents and venomous jellyfish are a real risk in summer, and coral cuts easily.

Getting around

Yui Rail (the Okinawa monorail) runs from Naha Airport through central Naha to Shuri and beyond. It is ideal for Naha but does not go to the rest of the island.
Renting a car is the easiest way to see the island. Japan drives on the left, and you need an international driving permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format along with your home licence and passport. Book ahead in peak season, allow time for traffic around Naha, and note that rental pick-up is usually by shuttle bus from the airport.
Buses and tours: express buses link Naha with the resort areas and the aquarium, and day tours to the north are a good option if you would rather not drive.

When to go

Spring (March–May): warm, fewer crowds, before the rainy season. The rainy season usually comes earlier here than in mainland Japan, around May into June.
Summer (July–September): hot, humid, best for the sea, and busiest.
Autumn (October–November): still warm, with the sea often swimmable well into autumn.
Winter: mild and quiet, too cool for most people to swim, but good for sightseeing and cheaper.

Typhoons

Typhoon season runs roughly from summer into autumn, with the highest risk in August and September. A typhoon can cancel flights and ferries for a day or more and close attractions. If you travel in these months, buy travel insurance, keep a buffer day before your flight home, watch the Japan Meteorological Agency forecasts, and follow your hotel's advice when one approaches. Have you been to Okinawa, or are you planning a trip? Share your favourite beach, food or questions in the comments.