Okinawa

Asia

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Japan

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Okinawa

Okinawa is the second largest city in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The city exudes a strong American culture, which is reflected in the city view near Gate 2 Street and Park Avenue Street (BC Street). The area around Gate 2 Street, Palmyra Street, Park Avenue Street, and Ichibangai Arcade is home to several uniquely themed shops and restaurants where you can find a tourist information center.

If you visit Park Avenue Street and Gate 2 Street, you will find various imported clothing shops, souvenir shops, clubs, bars, and live houses that line the two main streets. On the other hand, you can see residential areas rich in nature, such as Awase. In this area, you can find the Okinawa Comprehensive Athletic Park, an excellent place for recreation, sports, and various cultural exchange events.

Okinawa is also known as a center for music, entertainment, and sports. You can find Koza Music Town at the corner of Gate 2 Street and Route 330, where there is the Otohibora concert hall which holds concerts of various genres. Apart from that, you can also watch a number of free events held in the indoor plaza on the first floor of Koza Music Town.

Okinawa is also famous for its many beautiful tropical beaches. Several beaches that you can visit in Okinawa, such as Manza Beach, Zanpa Beach, and Mibaru Beach, are very suitable for enjoying the waves of the sea, playing in the sand, or enjoying the beauty of the sunset.

Travel Tips for Okinawa

What you need to know before traveling here

Getting Around Okinawa

A guide to Okinawa's local transportation

Bus

Car Rental

Bicycle Rental

Opting for the bus is a good choice when exploring Okinawa as the public bus routes cover tourist attractions, shopping areas, and even remote beaches. Bus fares in Okinawa depend on the distance to your destination, ranging from approximately 200 to 300 yen per trip. You can pay with cash or use the OKICA IC card which you can get at monorail stations or bus depots. If you use cash, make sure you use 1000 yen notes and coins other than 1 yen and 5 yen.

Practical Tips for Okinawa

Things to prepare and best way to visit

What is Okinawa known for?

Okinawa is famous for its unique music. People say that Okinawan music is very different from other Japanese music. The music typical of Okinawa is usually referred to as oriental reggae where Okinawa City is the best place to listen to this genre of music.

What are things to do in Okinawa?

When visiting Okinawa, make sure you visit the Southeast Botanical Gardens where you can observe more than 1300 varieties of tropical and subtropical plants and see more than 50 species of animals. You can also stop by the Southeast Botanical's Water Garden where you can see a large pond covered with various types of flowers, or feed the fish in the pond by buying a box of goldfish food at the vending machines along the path around the pond.

Apart from that, you definitely have to visit the Okinawa Zoo & Museum which has thousands of animals with around 150 species, including elephants and lions, and you even have the opportunity to see a native Okinawa animal, the Yonaguni horse. Here, you can fish in the Water Field Area or see animals up close at the Petting Plaza. Not only that, you can also watch the Wonder Museum attraction to increase your knowledge.

For those of you who like sports, come to Koza Sports Park to play various sports games. Here you will find the Okinawa City Gymnasium, Koza Shinkin Baseball Stadium, athletics fields, and various other sports facilities. Apart from that, Koza Sports Park is also a place to hold various events, such as the All-Island Eisa Festival and the Orion Beer Festival.

What to eat in Okinawa?

When visiting Okinawa, you can savor a variety of local dishes that you definitely shouldn't miss. First, try Okinawan soba noodles, a type of noodle cooked in a broth made from pork bones and bonito, served with pork belly, green onions, ginger, and kamaboko. A popular variation of Okinawan soba is soki soba, served with spare ribs and various toppings such as soft tofu and seaweed salad – a single serving may not be enough for you to fully enjoy this dish.

Another dish worth trying is Rafute, or Okinawan-style stewed pork. Rafute consists of locally sourced sweet and salty pork belly boiled in bonito broth and Okinawan liquor (awamori), seasoned with soy sauce. Rafute is also served as a topping on rice bowls or fried rice, where the tender meat melts in your mouth as you chew.

If you've had your fill of hearty meals, you can explore Tofu Yo or Okinawan-style fermented tofu made from shima tofu fermented with awamori, red yeast, and malted rice (komekoji). Tofu Yo pairs well with alcoholic beverages.

What is the best time to visit Okinawa?

Okinawa has a subtropical climate with comfortable temperatures throughout the year. If you want to avoid the rainy season, it's advisable not to visit from May to June. Additionally, it's best to steer clear of July and August when typhoons are more likely to occur. The best times to visit Okinawa are from March to April or from October to December when the air temperatures are pleasantly cool.

How many days should I stay in Okinawa?

If you want to explore Okinawa City, 1-2 days is ideal to visit several places and try local dishes in this city.