Okinawa, an island located in the extreme south of Japan, is one of the pearls to visit during a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun.
Even though many tourists prefer the classic Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka-Hiroshima route, think of Okinawa the next time you come back!
And the reason seems pretty obvious. Between the turquoise beaches, the marine activities, the good temperature and the local dishes of the region, the island will offer you so much to discover once there.
Contrary to what one might think, Okinawa is not only a seaside resort although it is true that it is mainly known for its numerous beaches.
You will also have the opportunity to discover a new side of Japanese culture: dance, music, historical sites, and traditional dishes. In short, here is what awaits you.
So let me introduce you to this island in my own way. Here, we will not only talk about the main tourist places, but also about the discoveries that few people talk about. As a solo backpacker, I'll show you a new way to visit Okinawa for those who want to get off the beaten path!
How do I get to Okinawa Island?
To come to the island of Okinawa, you have 2 choices: either by plane or by ferry.
Coming to Okinawa by plane
In my opinion, the plane is the fastest and the most profitable in terms of cost and time. There are several departure airports for going to Okinawa. Here is a non-exhaustive list of departure cities:
- Tokyo (Narita Airport)
- Osaka
- fukuoka
- Kagoshima
- Miyazaki
- Kumamoto
- sapporo
- Ishigaki Island
- taipei
- Seoul (Incheon Airport)
Count between 60 and 200€ for a round trip depending on the airport of departure and the season in which you leave.
For my part, I left from Fukuoka city having spent ¥11,360 (around €70) the return ticket. The duration of the trip was approximately 2 hours.
Getting to Okinawa by ferry
The other way to get to Okinawa is by sea. There is in fact a ferry leaving from the city of Kagoshima.
Two companies offer you the possibility to come to Okinawa: A-Line and Marix Line.
Both companies serve the islands that are on the way to Okinawa. The trip lasts about 25 hours.
If you are going to travel by ferry at a reduced price, count around ¥16,560 (around €104) one way only.
Visit Okinawa Island
First of all, you should know that Okinawa is made up of several islands. The one that interests us here is the main island with its city Naha, considered to be the starting point for your future visits.
Indeed, it is in Naha that you can access several of the islands around including Zamami, Ishigaki or Amami by taking the ferry.
Instead, I am going to detail the things to do on the main island. Because without a doubt, there are already a lot of things to do, and you will be surprised at the many nice places that few people know about.
In total, there are 3 interesting spots you really need to do when you land in Okinawa.
The city of Naha
So Naha is the city where everything starts your journey. Indeed, the airport is located right next to the city.
A monorail from the airport will allow you to have direct access to the city in less than 15 minutes.
So what is there to do in this city?
Kokusai Street
Among the places to visit, there is of course the famous Kokusai Street. It embodies the vibrant essence of local culture and is a must-see attraction for visitors.
Located in the heart of Naha, this main street is brimming with bustling energy, offering a mix of traditional shops, restaurants, and quaint stalls.
At the corner of Kokusai Street, take advantage of the Heiwa Dori covered market to stroll and discover new exotic flavors from local products.
Explore the colorful stalls offering handmade goods, unique souvenirs, and local delicacies.
By plunging a little deeper into the heart of the Heiwa Dori covered market, admire the small streets decorated with red lanterns and stroll along them to soak up a relaxed atmosphere.
And why not sit down at one of the tables and try the dishes served by nice Japanese chefs?
From morning to night, Kokusai-dori, or “the international street,” offers a total immersion in Okinawan daily life.
Kokusai Street Food Village
At the corner of Kokusai Street, there is a mini-village dedicated to Japanese street food. On the menu, several small dishes à la carte that you can order at very affordable prices.
The atmosphere is very friendly, especially in the evening, since it is one of the places where young people meet to share good times around a table after work.
Kokusai Street Food Village is composed of multiple stands. There are a total of 20 restaurants where you can choose from the multitude of dishes served by each one. Like izakaya restaurants, there are a variety of choices: kebabs, fries, soups, aperitifs,...
Each stand has its own specialty, it's up to you to choose what you want the most!
Shuri Castle and its surroundings
A few minutes by Monorail from Kokusai Street is the famous Shuri Castle.
A historical treasure of Okinawa in Japan, Shuri stands as an iconic symbol of the island's cultural wealth. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this royal castle offers a fascinating dive into the history of the archipelago.
However, you should know that the castle is currently under reconstruction. The reason is that a fire broke out on October 31, 2019, thus destroying a large part of the structures that compose it.
Nevertheless, the castle is still open to the public despite its reconstruction. You will be able to observe the workers advance on its renovation inside a white building.
Admission is chargeable. Count ¥400 to have access to the castle, the gardens and the wall that surrounds Shuri.
The main structure is located in the big white building and is currently under reconstruction.
Nestled atop a hill offering panoramic views of Naha, Shuri Castle wows visitors with its distinct architecture, bright red roofs, and beautiful gardens.
Do not hesitate to take a look around! Although the main attraction is the castle itself and it is under reconstruction, not only will you support the project, but you will also have a great view of the city of Naha.
Leaving Shuri Castle, I invite you to take the road to Kinjo Stone Road just next to it. As its name suggests, it is a magnificent alley made of stones.
On the road, take the small path that will take you to the famous tree of more than 20m and dating back more than 100 years that survived the various wars on the island of Okinawa.
Turn back the path, and continue down the alley to admire various panoramic views of the city of Naha.
As you continue on your way, you will come face to face with a magnificent traditional Okinawan house: Kinjomuraya Old House.
You can rest inside because it is accessible to the public. Tatami mats are available so you can sit down while enjoying your snack and rehydrating yourself. Be careful not to put them on the tatami mats!
Sesoko Island, northwest of Okinawa
Sesoko Island is less well known of all the islands that exist in the archipelago, and yet, in my opinion, it is one of the best places to relax, snorkel, or simply enjoy the wonderful turquoise beach.
To get there, the bus is the preferred way and costs around ¥1800 the way out from Naha.
Allow about 2 hours 20 minutes for the total trip. Indeed, the YKB888 bus will take you to the entrance of Sesoko Island in 1 hour 50 minutes, then you will have to walk about 30 minutes in the direction of the Sesoko Bridge and cross it..
Located in the northwest of the main island of Okinawa, you will be surprised at the hidden spots that few people venture there. And that's pretty good, because you will be quiet and far from tourist places!
Sesoko is not known for having historical places to visit. I would even say that it is a place where the Japanese like to go there for its calm, its wild aspect, its many paradisiacal restaurants and cafes with a panoramic view of the sea.
Foreigners are less present because the island is much less popular on the Internet or in travel agencies. The latter will rather prefer the island of Zamami or Ishigaki.
I also think that the reason for the low tourist presence is its difficulty in being able to access them by public transport. Indeed, few buses pass on the island and if you do not have a car, traveling around can be complicated.
Personally, it was a Japanese friend who took me with him by car to spend 3 nights in the Guesthouse Sesoko Blue, which is a truly amazing place that I would highly recommend. I will write a complete article on this guesthouse that I had a huge crush on.
The aOkinawa Churaumi Aquarium
If there is an aquarium to visit in this world, the Okinawan Churaumi is one of them. Indeed, you will mainly find the exotic fish of the island, in addition to some very rare species including the famous whale shark, emblem of the aquarium.
Admission costs ¥2180, and you have the option of booking the ticket in advance on their official site.
Not far from Sesoko Island, you can reach it by taking the Bus number 65 for about 45 minutes by car. Be careful though, because there are only 2 buses during the day!
If not, another bus called Yanbaru Express Bus Allows you to leave from Sesoko Island to Kouri Island. In this case, you will get more buses by taking this one. You can get off at the station corresponding to the Chiraumi Aquarium. The one-way ticket costs ￥400.
Where to stay in Okinawa
Depending on the places you are going to visit, I am going to recommend my best youth hostels and guesthouses on the island of Okinawa.
Having booked several, I therefore have several recommendations of accommodations to offer you.
In the city of Naha
We start with the Kitchen Hostel Ao. In my opinion, it is the best place in terms of quality/price ratio.
Located a few meters from Kokusai Street and all amenities (konbini, restaurants, public transport), it's the first default choice that goes through my head.
In addition to having comfortable beds, the bedrooms and bathrooms are cleaned very well every day, making the place clean and pleasant to live in.
The icing on the cake, the hostel offers a homemade breakfast for barely ¥500 : toast, coffee and a small bowl of fresh cabbage!
The price of one night in this hostel is really affordable: ¥2000. But this price may vary according to the seasons. It is even possible that the price of one night is even cheaper!
On Sesoko Island
Again, without hesitation I offer you the magnificent Guesthouse Sesoko Blue. This one was recommended to me by my very good Japanese friend Tatsuki-san and even took me there to spend a few days there. Very good memories with the hosts!
If you like to sit back and enjoy the peace and quiet, admire the stars at night, stroll in nature, and have a good time with the hosts of the guesthouse, It's THE best place on Sesoko Island. And I weigh my words.
Although English is not their strong suit, it is possible to communicate with them like real friends. At the same time friendly, warm and really kind, I spent my best moments on the island of Okinawa thanks to them.
Here are some photos that justify my recommendation of Sesoko Blue, not only because the accommodation is really comfortable and I want to support them.
The rate for one night is generally ¥3200, but may vary depending on the season. Quite honestly, for the price and the quality of the welcome as well as the atmosphere, the price is really reasonable.
If you have some time to enjoy the north of the main island of Okinawa, make a detour to Sesoko Island and spend at least one night in this wonderful guesthouse, you won't regret it! Maybe you'll even extend it for a few more days, who knows.
The best restaurants to do in Okinawa
If you are reading this far, then you are in luck because I have for you the best restaurant recommendations that were offered to me by the locals.
By going a bit off the beaten track, you will discover wonderful hidden corners that few tourists know about.
So here is my list of non-exhaustive restaurants to do at least once before leaving the island.
Sobe Soba: a traditional soba restaurant in the heart of Naha
When you come to the island of Okinawa, the first reference dish that everyone must eat at least once are Okinawan soba.
In Naha, you have a soba restaurant little known to foreigners, but quite frequented by locals and Japanese who come there to spend their holidays: Sobe Soba.
When ordering, simply ask for “Okinawa Soba Hitotsu Onegaishimasu” to say you want a single bowl of Okinawa Soba.
For the drink, you can also order a glass made with Shikuwasa juice. This one is the equivalent of lemon juice, but with a rather particular taste. I really liked the taste because of its touch of acidity, and a touch of sugar to balance it all out. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
The soba costs ¥850 while the drink costs ¥400, which makes a total of ¥1250.
For the setting that this restaurant offers you as well as the rather hearty dish with a lot of taste, I can only tell you to go for it without hesitation.
Shimujyo: a hidden restaurant located in the hills of Naha
If you are looking for a restaurant not far from Shuri Castle, stop by for lunch at Shimujyo.
Retracing your steps after visiting the castle, you can take the Monorail and get off at Naha City Hospital station.
Then, get ready to climb a fairly steep hill for a few minutes in order to come across this restaurant with a decor worthy of a Japanese movie.
As with the Sobe Soba restaurant, Shimujyo only offers sobas, a specialty from the island of Okinawa.
You can either not order the soba bowl alone, or a set composed of several small dishes. So it is the latter that I have chosen to show you what it can look like.
On the menu, a bowl of soba with leeks at the top and two slices of fish cake. To this is accompanied by a platter of pork chop with a sweet sauce and very melting in the mouth.
A bowl of rice with pork crumbs, a few pieces of carrot and seaweed is served as a complement.
Then you have additional side dishes to complete the menu: ginger to add to the soba, radishes and noodles for a touch of freshness as well as a salty tofu-based pudding. The total for this menu is ¥1300.
And if you decide to try the famous Orion beer from Okinawa, count on an additional ¥600. That makes a total of ¥1900.
Mokulele: a Hawaiian-style restaurant in front of the sea
Direction the northwest of the main island of Okinawa. We're tackling a small restaurant with a Hawaiian atmosphere: Mokulele.
Since I went to Okinawa during the low season, there was almost no one on the horizon. But that doesn't mean the restaurant is to be run away from!
Because casually, the setting is really paradisiacal for the moment. You literally have a view of the turquoise sea, and the restaurant owners are really friendly.
To get there, you will need either the car or take the bus. But be careful, because they are infrequent during the day when passing through this restaurant.
Being little frequented by tourists, this is an opportunity to go there to have your brunch.
On the menu, a dish consisting of a buttered toast with fried eggs accompanied by a slice of bacon and a small salad. To that, an iced coffee to complete the whole thing.
For a brunch of this level, count ¥630 for the dish and ¥380 for coffee. That makes a total of ¥1010. Given the low yen rate at the time of writing this article, you will barely spend €6.30!
If you are passing through on the way to the Churaumi Aquarium, then consider stopping by Mokulele, because their food is really delicious and the price really paltry.
Nakijin Ichifuji: the recommendation by the Sesoko Blue guesthouse
This one is the icing on the cake of restaurants to try once in a lifetime.
If you liked the Okinawan sobas from the Sobe Soba and Shimujyo restaurants, then you are going to reach 7th heaven with Nakijin Ichifuji.
Located not far from the Churaumi Aquarium, you will most likely need a car to access this famous restaurant that is quite unknown to tourists. In this case, the Yanbaru Express Bus may be the other alternative, but I do not necessarily recommend it given its low frequency of passage.
Only the regulars of the region as well as the Japanese who come on vacation know this establishment. According to the owner of the Sesoko Blue Guesthouse, Nakijin Ichifuji is almost full every day. Many customers even line up just to try, if not one of the best soba in Okinawa.
The restaurant doesn't look like much from the outside, but once inside, you'll be entering another era of Japan.
Luckily we were among the first customers to be served. So there was almost no one there at the time.
Now admire the succulent platter made by an exceptional chef. Know that he's the only one who works behind the kitchen. That shows how confident he is in his own cuisine!
The broth clearly has a deep taste that gives all the flavor to the soba as well as to the meat.
Speaking of meat, it was simmered for several hours in order to make its texture melt in the mouth. Even pork fat is edible!
Finally, if you want to respect the Okinawan soba tradition, add ginger (in purple in the photo above) to your soup.
Regarding the price, you will not spend more than ¥1000. In fact, I added an extra slice of pork for the modest sum of ¥150.
But if you only take the tray without the slice, then you will only pay ¥850.
How long should you visit the main island of Okinawa?
If I had to summarize my trip to Okinawa for you, I spent 1 week there on the main island, which allowed me to produce this article for you here.
In my opinion, it is more than enough if you want to go around. After all, there is nothing stopping you from staying there longer, because there are still many other little-known places to discover!
Depending on what you want to do, whether it is a visit, sports activities or both, the number of days may vary.
My advice would be to stay at least 1 week on the main island to discover the many cities and islands already present.
What to do after the main island of Okinawa?
Okinawa is more than just the main island. Indeed, as it is an archipelago, several islands may be accessible.
Some, for example, will decide to continue their journey by traveling to the surrounding islands, including Ishigaki, Zamami or Iriomote.
While others will return to Tokyo, Osaka or Fukuoka. That was the case for me, as I flew from Fukuoka Airport.
Having been to Fukuoka twice, I would like you to consider visiting Fukuoka. In my opinion, it is one of the cities in Japan with the most open-minded Japanese people.
To know more about this city, I invite you to read my detailed article on Fukuoka. If you like to travel like me and get away from the tourist trails, then this is what you need to read!
More information about the city of Fukuoka
Otherwise, I can also recommend the city of Kagoshima. For those looking for barbarian hot springs and a change of scenery, then head there without hesitation. Likewise, I invite you to read my detailed article on Kagoshima!
More about the city of Kagoshima
Conclusion
Through my solo backpacking trip to the main island of Okinawa, it confirms once again the advantage of going off the beaten path.
Each encounter made it possible to enhance my journey through this wonderful island even more.
Not only was I able to discover places that I would never have thought of checking on Google Maps, but it was especially with the help of the hosts and the staff members of the guesthouses that I was able to experience a new way of seeing Okinawan culture and its population.
From the bustling alleys of traditional villages to remote corners of remote beaches, Okinawa offers an authentic experience away from the crowds.
I am confident that my recommendations in this article will also allow you to benefit from such an experience.
Finally, I am sharing with you the almost complete list of things I did in Okinawa. For me, all the places I've marked are worth it, so you can build on them for your future trip to Okinawa!
If you liked it, consider talking about it around you or sharing it, I would be more than happy! 😊
