[Travel](https://tripguroo.com/en/travel/) › [Guides](https://tripguroo.com/en/travel/) › [Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa)](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/) # Guide to Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa) To visit Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa), check entry requirements, connectivity and this guide’s local references. Okinawa combines Ryukyuan castles, reefs and a distinct cuisine. Naha and the smaller islands offer very different travel rhythms. [Places in Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa) · 3 catalog places →](https://tripguroo.com/en/places/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/) ## Visa for your trip Your passport countrySelect countryAfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAntigua & BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBhutanBoliviaBosnia & HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaComorosCongo - BrazzavilleCongo - KinshasaCosta RicaCôte d’IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzechiaDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFijiFinlandFranceGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGrenadaGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHondurasHong Kong SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKosovoKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacao SAR ChinaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMauritaniaMauritiusMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmar (Burma)NamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorth KoreaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSamoaSan MarinoSão Tomé & PríncipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSt. Kitts & NevisSt. LuciaSt. Vincent & GrenadinesSudanSurinameSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTimor-LesteTogoTongaTrinidad & TobagoTunisiaTürkiyeTurkmenistanTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVatican CityVenezuelaVietnamYemenZambiaZimbabweChoose the passport you travel with. The lookup adapts automatically. Conditions and other situationsShort tourist stays with an ordinary passport. Residence, other visas, stay length and transit can change the requirement. Check with the authority before booking or travelling. [Destination source](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/) · [Check itinerary with IATA](https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/passport-visa-health-travel-document-requirements.htm) Enable JavaScript to adapt this lookup to your passport. You can also check the destination source. ## eSIM and connectivity Compare Saily and Airalo plans. Check destination coverage and phone compatibility on the provider’s website. [Saily ↗](https://tripguroo.com/api/affiliate/go/esim?source=guide&lang=en)[Airalo ↗](https://tripguroo.com/api/affiliate/go/esim-airalo?source=guide&lang=en) Affiliate links: we may earn a commission on purchases. ## Currency and payments Japanese Yen (JPY) · Japanese Yen (JPY) · Japanese Yen (JPY) ## Embassy Missions are filtered by your passport country. Confirm services, opening hours and appointments with the mission. View 219 missions and contacts ### [Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925317) Tokyo 9-10 Nanpeidai-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0036[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925317) ### [Embassy of Afghanistan, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61924232) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61924232) ### [Embassy of Albania, Tokyo](https://ambasadat.gov.al/japan/) Tokyo Hokkoku Shimbun Bldg., 6-4-8 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877397) ### [Embassy of Armenia, Tokyo](https://japan.mfa.am/) Minato #230 Residence Viscountess, 1-11-36 Akasaka[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105539155) ### [Embassy of Angola, Tokyo](https://www.angola.or.jp/) Tokyo Daizawa, 2 Chome−１０−２４[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30403436) ### [Embassy of Argentina, Tokyo](https://ejapo.cancilleria.gob.ar/) Minato 2-14-14 Moto Azabu, Minato-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877352) ### [Consulate-General of Argentina, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q66432022) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q66432022) ### [Embassy of Austria, Tokyo](https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/austrian-embassy-tokyo) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61786527) ### [Consulate-General of Australia, Fukuoka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55984198) Fukuoka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55984198) ### [Consulate-General of Australia, Osaka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55971902) Osaka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55971902) ### [Australian Embassy, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11668251) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11668251) ### [Embassy of Azerbaijan, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16417892) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16417892) ### [Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tokyo](https://www.bhembassy.jp/) Tokyo 3-29 Minami Azabu 5-chome Minato.ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877417) ### [Bangladesh embassy in Tokyo](https://tokyo.mofa.gov.bd/) Chiyoda [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52213274) ### [Embassy of Belgium, Tokyo](https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/japan) Tokyo Nibancho, ５−４[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20664366) ### [Burkina Faso embassy in Tokyo](https://sites.google.com/site/burukinafasotaishikan/) Tokyo 東京都渋谷区大山町45-24[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877075) ### [Embassy of Bulgaria, Tokyo](https://www.mfa.bg/embassies/japan) Tokyo 5-36-3 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877428) ### [Embassy of Bahrain, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925022) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925022) ### [Embassy of Benin, Tokyo](http://www.beninembassy.jp/) Kasuga 東京都文京区春日1丁目11-14[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30403674) ### [Embassy of Brunei, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52215631) Kita-Shinagawa [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52215631) ### [Embassy of Bolivia, Tokyo](https://ebja.jp/) Minato Shibakoen 3-4-30[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877357) ### [Consulate-General of Brazil, Hamamatsu](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q63706523) Hamamatsu Motoshiro-cho Kyodo Bldg. 1F, Motoshiro-cho 115-10, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, 430-0946[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q63706523) ### [Embassy of Brazil, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10272279) Minato 2-11-12 Kita Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10272279) ### [Consulate-General of Brazil, Nagoya](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q63705691) Nagoya 460-0002 Aichi-ken, Nagoya-shi, Naka-ku, Marunouchi 1-10-29 Shirakawa 8th Bldg. 2F[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q63705691) ### [Consulate-General of Brazil, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q63750735) Shinagawa Ichigo Gotanda Bldg. 2F Higashi Gotanda 1-13-12, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q63750735) ### [Embassy of Botswana, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48280900) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48280900) ### [Embassy of Belarus, Tokyo](https://japan.mfa.gov.by/) Tokyo Higashi Gotanda, 5-6-32[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q99600347) ### [Embassy of Belize, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q96264588) Nishi-Shinjuku 東京都新宿区西新宿4丁目9-7[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q96264588) ### [Embassy of Canada, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5369599) Akasaka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5369599) ### [Consulate of Canada, Nagoya](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56240875) Nagoya [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56240875) ### [Consulate-General of Canada, Osaka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q89971170) Osaka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q89971170) ### [Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877091) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877091) ### [Consulate of Switzerland, Osaka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109604583) Osaka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109604583) ### [Embassy of Switzerland, Tokyo](https://www.eda.admin.ch/tokyo) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61924159) ### [Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877162) Tokyo Meguro Estate Building, 3-8-5 Kamiosaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877162) ### [Embassy of Chile, Tokyo](https://chile.gob.cl/japon/) Minato 3-1-14 Shiba[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56151305) ### [Embassy of Cameroon, Tokyo](http://cameroon-embassy-jp.org/) Setagaya Minami Twin House A & B, 3-27-16 Nozawa Setagaya-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106453445) ### [Consulate-General of China, Fukuoka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q54807068) Fukuoka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q54807068) ### [Embassy of the People's Republic of China, Tokyo](http://www.china-embassy.or.jp/) Minato 東京都港区元麻布3－4－33[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q29869769) ### [Consulate-General of China, Nagasaki](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55442936) Nagasaki [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55442936) ### [Consulate-General of China, Nagoya](http://nagoya.china-consulate.org/) Nagoya [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55713763) ### [Consulate-General of China, Niigata](http://niigata.china-consulate.org/) Niigata [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55721649) ### [Consulate-General of China, Osaka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53479024) Osaka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53479024) ### [Consulate-General of China, Sapporo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55234181) Sapporo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55234181) ### [Embassy of Colombia, Tokyo](https://japon.embajada.gov.co/) Tokyo 3-10-53 Kami Osaki[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28057259) ### [Embassy of Costa Rica, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61911621) Minato R-West, 6-6-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61911621) ### [Embassy of Cuba, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925879) Minato [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925879) ### [Embassy of Cyprus, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q91673990) Minato 4-6-28 Minami-azabu[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q91673990) ### [Embassy of the Czech Republic, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877435) Tokyo 2-16-14 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877435) ### [Consulate-General of Germany, Osaka-Kobe](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q54556046) Osaka Prefecture Umeda Sky Building, Tower East, 35th F. 1-1-88-3501, Oyodonaka, Kita-ku, Osaka 531-6035[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q54556046) ### [Embassy of Germany, Tokyo](https://japan.diplo.de/) Tokyo 〒106-0047 東京都港区南麻布4-5-10[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16061535) ### [Embassy of Djibouti, Tokyo](http://djiboutiembassy.jp/) Tokyo 5-13-1 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55342231) ### [Embassy of Denmark, Tokyo](https://japan.um.dk/) Shibuya 29-6, Sarugaku-cho[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877440) ### [Consulate-General of the Dominican Republic, Tokyo](https://jpn.mirex.gob.do/consular/tokio/) Minato [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q117662372) ### [Embassy of the Dominican Republic, Tokyo](https://embadomjp.gob.do/) Tokyo KU Gobancho Building No. 2F-A, 10 Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61911649) ### [Embassy of Algeria in Japan](https://algerianembassy-japan.jp/) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30403250) ### [Embassy of Ecuador, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877364) Minato 3-5-7, Azabudai[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877364) ### [Embassy of Estonia, Tokyo](https://tokyo.mfa.ee/) Tokyo 2- 6- 15 Jingu-mae[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877445) ### [Embassy of Egypt, Tokyo](https://egyptembassy.jp/) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56664948) ### [Embassy of Eritrea, Tokyo](http://www.eritreaembassy-japan.org/) Minato [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52097223) ### [Embassy of Spain, Tokyo](http://www.exteriores.gob.es/embajadas/dhaka/es/Paginas/inicio.aspx) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q43389868) ### [Embassy of Ethiopia, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11668250) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11668250) ### [Embassy of Finland, Tokyo](https://finlandabroad.fi/web/jpn) Tokyo 3-5-39 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11668255) ### [Embassy of Fiji, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61786637) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61786637) ### [Embassy of Micronesia, Tokyo](http://fsmemb.or.jp/) Tokyo 4-10-6, Meguro[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61786683) ### [Consulate General of France in Kyoto](https://jp.ambafrance.org/Consulat-general-de-France-a-Kyoto-13380) Sakyō-ku [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16543710) ### [Embassy of France, Tokyo](http://www.ambafrance-jp.org/) Tokyo 4-11-44, Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2841652) ### [Embassy of Gabon, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877234) Tokyo 1-34-11, Higashigaoka, Meguro-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877234) ### [British Consulate General Osaka](https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-consulate-general-osaka) Osaka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q59290223) ### [Embassy of the United Kingdom, Tokyo](https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-tokyo) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11668259) ### [Embassy of Georgia, Tokyo](https://japan.mfa.gov.ge/) Minato [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52388399) ### [Embassy of Ghana, Tokyo](https://tokyo.mfa.gov.gh/) Minato 1-5-21 Nishi-Azabu[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877237) ### [Embassy of Guinea, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877262) Tokyo 12-9 Hachiyama-cho, Shibuya-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877262) ### [Embassy of Greece, Tokyo](https://www.mfa.gr/missionsabroad/japan.html) Minato 3-16-30 Nishi-Azabu[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61911514) ### [Embassy of Guatemala, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q62042923) Higashi-Azabu [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q62042923) ### [Embassy of Honduras, Tokyo](https://hnembassyjp.wordpress.com/) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61911680) ### [Embassy of Croatia, Tokyo](http://jp.mvep.hr/) Shibuya 3-3-10 Hiroo[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55190063) ### [Embassy of Haiti, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61911666) Minato 4-12-24 Nishi Azabu[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61911666) ### [Consulate of Hungary, Osaka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134270250) Osaka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134270250) ### [consulate general of Indonesia, Osaka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50344678) Osaka Nakanoshima Intes Building 22 F, 6-2-40, Nakanoshima Kita-ku Osaka, 530-0005 Japan[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50344678) ### [embassy of Indonesia, Tokyo](https://kemlu.go.id/tokyo) Shinagawa 5-2-9 Higashigotanda, Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo 141-0022[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q45380967) ### [Embassy of Ireland, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48814432) Yotsuya‐Honshiochō Ireland House, 1-6, Yotsuya Honshiocho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0003[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48814432) ### [Embassy of Israel, Tokyo](http://embassies.gov.il/tokyo) Chiyoda 3 Nibancho[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q43378645) ### [Embassy of India, Tokyo](https://www.indembassy-tokyo.gov.in/) Chiyoda 2-2-11 Kudan-Minami[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52175858) ### [Consulate-General of India, Osaka](https://www.indconosaka.gov.in/) Osaka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q60661604) ### [Embassy of Iraq, Tokyo](http://www.iraqi-japan.com/) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11668249) ### [Embassy of Iran, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46994693) Minato [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46994693) ### [Embassy of Iceland, Tokyo](https://www.stjornarradid.is/sendiskrifstofur/sendirad-islands-i-tokyo/) Tokyo 4-18-26, Takanawa Minato-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11668248) ### [Embassy of Italy, Tokyo](https://ambtokyo.esteri.it/it/) Minato Mita, 2 Chome−2−5−4[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q24479841) ### [Consulate-General of Italy, Osaka](https://consosaka.esteri.it/consolato_osaka/) Osaka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56033327) ### [Embassy of Jamaica, Tokyo](http://jamaicaembassy.jp/) Tokyo 2-13-1, Motoazabu, Minato-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925887) ### [Embassy of Jordan, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925155) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925155) ### [Embassy of Kenya, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877275) Yakumo 3-chōme 24番3号[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877275) ### [Embassy of Kyrgyzstan, Tokyo](https://mfa.gov.kg/en/dm/tokyo) Tokyo 1-5-7, Mita Minato-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925498) ### [Embassy of Cambodia, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52175898) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52175898) ### [Chongryon](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1058121) Fujimi [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1058121) ### [Consulate General of South Korea, Kobe](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105593427) Chūō-ku [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105593427) ### [Consulate General of South Korea, Sapporo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56640306) Chūō-ku [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56640306) ### [Consulate General of South Korea, Fukuoka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56064978) Fukuoka Prefecture [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56064978) ### [Consulate General of South Korea in Osaka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56237429) Kyūtarō-machi [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56237429) ### [Consulate General of South Korea, Hiroshima](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105593475) Minami-ku [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105593475) ### [Consulate General of South Korea, Nagoya](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105593431) Nagoya [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105593431) ### [Consulate General of South Korea, Nigata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105593755) Niigata [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105593755) ### [Consulate General of South Korea, Sendai](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105593604) Sendai [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105593604) ### [Embassy of South Korea, Tokyo](https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/jp-ko/index.do) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q553886) ### [Consulate General of South Korea, Yokohama](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105593438) Yamatechō [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105593438) ### [Embassy of Kuwait, Tokyo](http://kuwait-embassy.or.jp/) Minato 4-13-12, Mita, Minato-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11668252) ### [Embassy of Kazakhstan, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925337) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925337) ### [Embassy of Laos, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925568) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925568) ### [Embassy of Lebanon, Tokyo](http://tokyo.mfa.gov.lb/) Tokyo Pastel City Higashiyama #101, 2-6-9, Higashiyama, Meguro-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105540473) ### [Embassy of Sri Lanka, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17003682) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17003682) ### [Embassy of Liberia, Tokyo](https://www.liberianembassyjp.org/) Shinjuku 1-2-61 Ichigaya Sadoharacho[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877277) ### [Embassy of Lesotho, Tokyo](http://www.lesothotokyo.com/jpn/top/) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877276) ### [Embassy of Lithuania, Tokyo](https://jp.mfa.lt/) Tokyo 3-7-18 Moto-Azabu, Minato-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61911536) ### [Embassy of Luxembourg, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61923107) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61923107) ### [Embassy of Latvia, Tokyo](https://www.mfa.gov.lv/japan) Tokyo 37-11 Kamiyama-cho, Shibuya-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61911532) ### [Embassy of Libya, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925231) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925231) ### [Embassy of Morocco, Tokyo](https://jp.diplomatie.ma/) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47522641) ### [Embassy of Moldova, Tokyo](https://japonia.mfa.gov.md/) Tokyo Enoki-cho nr. 72, Shinjuku-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q100695295) ### [Embassy of Madagascar, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56754458) Minato [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56754458) ### [Embassy of the Marshall Islands, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q84034197) Setagaya 8-2-22, Todoroki, Setagaya-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q84034197) ### [Embassy of North Macedonia, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61923555) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61923555) ### [Embassy of Mali, Tokyo](http://www.ambamali-jp.org/) Tokyo 3-12-9, Kami Osaki, Shinagawa-Ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877294) ### [Embassy of Myanmar, Tokyo](http://www.myanmar-embassy-tokyo.net/) Shinagawa [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925625) ### [Consulate-General of Mongolia, Osaka](http://www.osaka.mfa.gov.mn/index.php?lang=en) Osaka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48200928) ### [Embassy of Mongolia, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q45875126) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q45875126) ### [Embassy of Mauritania, Tokyo](http://www.amba-mauritania.jp/) Tokyo 1-16-17 Gohongi, Meguro-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877285) ### [Embassy of Malta, Tokyo](https://foreignandeu.gov.mt/mt/Embassies/ME_Tokyo) Minato 4-3-20 Toranomon[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104491974) ### [Embassy of the Republic of Mauritius, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q135964423) Tsukiji 東京都中央区築地6-25-10 築地センタービル 7F[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q135964423) ### [Embassy of Maldives, Tokyo](https://jp.mdvmission.gov.mv/) Chiyoda [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55096462) ### [Embassy of the Republic of Malawi in Japan](http://www.malawiembassy.org/) Tokyo Takanawa Kaisei Building 7 F, 3-4-1 Minato-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11668256) ### [Embassy of Malaysia, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925610) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925610) ### [Embassy of Mozambique, Tokyo](http://www.embamoc.jp/) Tokyo 世田谷区桜新町1-33-14[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11668257) ### [Embassy of Namibia, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q100696145) Tokyo 3 Chome-5-7 Azabudai[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q100696145) ### [Embassy of Nigeria, Tokyo](https://tokyo.foreignaffairs.gov.ng/) Tokyo 3-6-1Toranomon, Minato-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42310134) ### [Embassy of Nicaragua, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61911629) Shinjuku [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61911629) ### [Embassy of the Netherlands, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61923811) Minato 3-6-3 Shibakoen[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61923811) ### [Consulate-General of the Netherlands, Osaka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q112661961) Osaka Kitahama 1-Chome Heiwa building 8B, 1-1-14 Kitahama, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0041, Japan[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q112661961) ### [Embassy of Norway, Tokyo](https://www.norway.no/ja/japan/) Minato 3-4-30 Shibakoen[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19383603) ### [Embassy of Nepal, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50167021) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50167021) ### [Embassy of New Zealand, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61786690) Shibuya Kamiyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61786690) ### [Embassy of Oman, Tokyo](http://www.omanembassy.jp/) Tokyo 4-2-17 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0012 Japan[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15264061) ### [Consulate-General of Panama, Kobe](http://www.embassyofpanamainjapan.org/) Kobe [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q62026142) ### [Embassy of Panama, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q62025616) Minato Roppongi 3-15-5[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q62025616) ### [Consulate-General of Panama, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105363523) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105363523) ### [Consulate-General of Peru, Nagoya](http://www.consulado.pe/es/Nagoya/Paginas/Inicio.aspx) Nagoya [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61396224) ### [Embassy of Peru, Tokyo](https://www.gob.pe/embajada-del-peru-en-japon) Shibuya 2-3-1, Hiroo[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61314250) ### [Consulate-General of Peru, Tokyo](http://www.consulado.pe/es/Tokio/Paginas/Inicio.aspx) Shinagawa Ichigo Gotanda Bldg. 6F Higashi Gotanda 1-13-12, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61314535) ### [Embassy of Papua New Guinea, Tokyo](http://png.or.jp/) Tokyo 32-20, Shimo Meguro 5-chome[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61786715) ### [Embassy of the Philippines, Tokyo](https://tokyo.philembassy.net/) Minato [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52215545) ### [Consulate-General of the Philippines, Nagoya](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q103512932) Nagoya [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q103512932) ### [Consulate-General of the Philippines, Osaka](https://osakapcg.dfa.gov.ph/) Osaka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q78704594) ### [Embassy of Pakistan, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30402941) Minato [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30402941) ### [Consulate of Pakistan, Osaka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50319241) Osaka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50319241) ### [Polish Cultural Institute in Tokyo](https://instytutpolski.pl/tokyo/) Meguro / Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48176412) ### [Embassy of Poland, Tokyo](https://www.gov.pl/web/japonia) Tokyo 2 Chome-13-5 Mita, Meguro, Tokyo 153-0062[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30906141) ### [General Mission of Palestine in Japan](https://www.palembjp.org/) Minato [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28111926) ### [Embassy of Portugal, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61923846) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61923846) ### [Embassy of Palau, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q59313885) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q59313885) ### [Embassy of Paraguay, Tokyo](https://www.embapar.jp/) Chiyoda 2-2 Ichibancho[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q44193958) ### [Embassy of Qatar, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925280) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925280) ### [Embassy of Romania, Tokyo](https://tokyo.mae.ro/) Tokyo 3-16-19, Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61923869) ### [Embassy of Serbia, Tokyo](http://www.tokyo.mfa.gov.rs/) Minato 4-16-12 Takanawa[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61923962) ### [Embassy of Russia, Tokyo](https://tokyo.mid.ru/) Azabudai 〒106-0041 東京都港区麻布台2-1-1[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4374046) ### [Office of the Consulate-General of Russia in Sapporo in Hakodate](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58333412) Hakodate [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58333412) ### [Consulate-General of Russia, Niigata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57714694) Niigata [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57714694) ### [Consulate-General of Russia, Sapporo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57596744) Sapporo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57596744) ### [Consulate-General of Russia, Osaka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57493152) Toyonaka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57493152) ### [Embassy of Rwanda, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877328) Setagaya Annex #A 1-17-17 Fukasawa Setagaya-ku Tokyo, 158-0081[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877328) ### [Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Tokyo](https://embassies.mofa.gov.sa/sites/japan) Minato 1-8-4, Roppongi[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q31075981) ### [Embassy of Sudan, Tokyo](http://www.sudanembassy.jp/) Tokyo 7番1号[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877333) ### [Embassy of Sweden, Tokyo](http://www.swedenabroad.com/Tokyo/) Minato 1-10-3-100, Roppongi, Minato-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10686028) ### [Embassy of Singapore, Tokyo](https://www.mfa.gov.sg/Tokyo) Minato 5-12-3- Roppongi[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52213051) ### [Embassy of Slovenia, Tokyo](http://tokyo.embassy.si/) Minato 14-12 Minamiaoyama 7-chome[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12805327) ### [Embassy of Slovakia, Tokyo](https://www.mzv.sk/web/tokio) Tokyo 2-11-33, Moto-Azabu, Minato-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61924052) ### [Embassy of San Marino, Tokyo](http://rsm-giappone.com/) Minato 東京都港区元麻布3-5-1[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q89149550) ### [Embassy of Senegal, Tokyo](http://www.senambatok.org/) Tokyo 1-3-4 Aobadai, Meguro Ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877329) ### [Embassy of South Sudan, Tokyo](https://southsudanemb.tokyo/) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134450764) ### [Embassy of El Salvador in Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61911684) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61911684) ### [Embassy of Syria, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q44825284) Akasaka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q44825284) ### [Embassy of Togo, Tokyo](https://ambatogojapon.net/) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877336) ### [Consulate-General of Thailand, Fukuoka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58855858) Fukuoka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58855858) ### [Consulate-General of Thailand, Osaka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56107213) Osaka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56107213) ### [Embassy of Thailand, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26326829) Shinagawa Kamiosaki, 3 Chome−１４−６[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26326829) ### [Embassy of Tajikistan, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925753) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925753) ### [Embassy of East Timor, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52215240) Tokyo 8-9, Fujimi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52215240) ### [Embassy of Turkmenistan, Tokyo](https://japan.tmembassy.gov.tm/ja) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55664157) ### [Embassy of Tunisia, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925305) Kudanminami 3-6-6, Kudan-Minami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0074[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925305) ### [Embassy of Tonga in Japan](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47510848) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47510848) ### [Consulate General of Turkey, Nagoya](https://nagoya-bk.mfa.gov.tr/) Nagoya [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q76435148) ### [Embassy of Turkey, Tokyo](https://tokyo-be.mfa.gov.tr/) Shibuya 2-33-6 Jingumae[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26326681) ### [Naha Branch, Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q59492245) Kumoji [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q59492245) ### [Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Osaka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q59347042) Osaka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q59347042) ### [Fukuoka Branch, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Osaka](https://www.roc-taiwan.org/jpfuk_ja/index.html) Sakurazaka 12-42, Sakurazaka 3-chōme, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka City 810-0024[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q59403373) ### [Sapporo Branch, Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan](https://www.roc-taiwan.org/jpokd_ja/index.html) Sapporo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q59536081) ### [Yokohama Branch, Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q59449029) Yokohama [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q59449029) ### [Embassy of Tanzania, Tokyo](http://www.tanzaniaembassy.or.jp/) Setagaya Kamiyoga, 4 Chome−２１−９[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16964538) ### [Embassy of Ukraine, Tokyo](http://japan.mfa.gov.ua/) Nishi-Azabu 3-5-31 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12142738) ### [Embassy of Uganda, Tokyo](https://tokyo.mofa.go.ug/) Minato [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877338) ### [Consulate-General of the United States, Osaka-Kobe](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50822896) Kita-ku / Osaka Prefecture [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50822896) ### [Consulate of the United States, Nagoya](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52159574) Nagoya [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52159574) ### [Consulate-General of the United States, Sapporo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50756231) Sapporo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50756231) ### [Embassy of the United States, Tokyo](https://jp.usembassy.gov/) Tokyo 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato ku, Tokyo, 107-8420[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2331721) ### [Consulate-General of the United States, Naha](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50392326) Tōyama [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50392326) ### [U.S. Consulate Fukuoka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47452365) Ōhori [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47452365) ### [Embassy of Uruguay, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61911677) Minato 1-2-1, Shibadaimon[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61911677) ### [Embassy of Uzbekistan, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925853) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61925853) ### [Apostolic Nunciature to Japan](https://www.cbcj.catholic.jp/japan/rome/) Tokyo 7-3 Yonban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0081[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12784968) ### [Embassy of Venezuela, Tokyo](https://venezuela.or.jp/) Tokyo Seiko Bldg. 3F, 2-7-4 Irifune, Chuo-ku[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877375) ### [Consulate-General of Vietnam, Fukuoka](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53112476) Fukuoka [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53112476) ### [Consulate-General of Vietnam, Osaka](https://vnconsulate-osaka.mofa.gov.vn/en-us/Pages/default.aspx) Sakai [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52951921) ### [Embassy of Vietnam, Tokyo](http://www.vnembassy-jp.org/) Shibuya [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52853599) ### [Embassy of Samoa, Tokyo](http://www.samoaembassyjapan.jp/) Minato [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61786749) ### [Embassy of Kosovo, Tokyo](https://ambasadat.net/Japoni/) Minato Vort Toranomon South Bldg. 10 F, 3-13-7, Nishishinbashi[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q100695987) ### [Embassy of Yemen, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61911599) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61911599) ### [Embassy of South Africa, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877330) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877330) ### [Embassy of Zambia, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877341) Tokyo [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877341) ### [Embassy of Zimbabwe, Tokyo](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877349) Tokyo 108-0073 東京都港区三田五丁目4-3 三田プラザビル6階[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61877349) ### [Embajada de México en Japón](https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/japon) Chiyoda [Source](https://portales.sre.gob.mx/directorio/embajadas-de-mexico-en-el-exterior) ## Highlights ### [Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island](https://tripguroo.com/en/places/unesco-1574/) UNESCO natural World Heritage, inscribed in 2021. ### [Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu](https://tripguroo.com/en/places/unesco-972/) UNESCO cultural World Heritage, inscribed in 2000. ### [Naha](https://tripguroo.com/en/places/ciudad-tcc-naha/) Okinawa’s capital, with markets and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom. ## Complete guide · chapter reading [Introduction](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/#full-chapter-0) · [Regions](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/#full-chapter-1) · [Destinations](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/#full-chapter-2) · [Understand](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/#full-chapter-3) · [Talk](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/#full-chapter-4) · [Get in](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/#full-chapter-5) · [Get around](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/#full-chapter-6) · [See](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/#full-chapter-7) · [Do](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/#full-chapter-8) · [Buy](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/#full-chapter-9) · [Eat](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/#full-chapter-10) · [Drink](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/#full-chapter-11) · [Sleep](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/#full-chapter-12) · [Stay safe](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/#full-chapter-13) · [Stay healthy](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/#full-chapter-14) · [Go next](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/islas-ryukyu-okinawa/#full-chapter-15) ## Introduction Okinawa (: 沖縄 Okinawa, Okinawan: 沖縄 Uchinaa) is a subtropical island chain between mainland and . Formerly the Ryukyu Kingdom, with its own language and culture, it's now one of Japan's 47 prefectures and the country's answer to , with a complicated mix of gorgeous scenery, mass tourism, tragic history, cultural pride, and looming military presence. ## Regions The largest island in both size and population, the heart of Okinawan culture. (including )Small islands with pristine beaches near the main island Three isolated, rarely visited islands far to the east Subtropical islands with some of Japan's nicest beaches The southernmost part of Japan, tropical with jungle wilderness, great beaches, and great diving The term Sakishima Islands (先島諸島 Sakishima-shotō) is occasionally used to lump together the Miyako and Yaeyama Islands. In addition, the to the north of Okinawa are historically part of Okinawa. ## Destinations - the lesser-known half of scuba diving haven Miyako - large island full of untamed jungle - the laid-back gateway and transport hub of the southern - beautiful island renowned for its awamori liquor - the capital of the Okinawa Prefecture and by far the largest city in the islands - a carefully preserved traditional village and some of the best beaches in Japan - the westernmost island in Japan, with miniature horses and mysterious underwater structures - popular among snorkelers and divers, with several deserted islands nearby ## Understand The name Okinawa means "rope in the open sea", a fairly apt description of this long stretch of islands between the main islands of Japan and Taiwan. Consisting of 49 inhabited islands and 111 uninhabited islands, Okinawa has a subtropical to tropical climate, and is a popular beach holiday destination for Japanese, with frequent flights from all the major cities of Japan. While visitors from nearby countries are increasingly discovering Okinawa's charms, the number remains low compared to the tourist destinations on mainland Japan. History Traders between Japan, Korea and China have traveled through the islands of Okinawa since time immemorial. In 1429, King Shō Hashi unified three kingdoms on the main island into the Ryukyu Kingdom (Japanese: 琉球王国 Ryūkyū Ōkoku, Okinawan: 琉球國 Ruuchuu Kuku), which prospered off trade as a tributary state of that was nevertheless de facto independent. The islands were first invaded and brought under the control of Satsuma (modern-day ) in 1609, who allowed them to continue maintaining their tributary relationship with China. This arrangement allowed the Satsuma domain to use them as a conduit for trade with China when the rest of Japan was in self-imposed isolation, to the profit of all three parties. The common people were less happy about the arrangement: Satsuma imposed heavy head taxes, and there are many stories of people committing suicide to prevent their entire village from being punished. Ryūkyū was annexed by Japan during the Meiji Period in 1879, which Qing China was by then powerless to stop, and the Japanese proceeded to do their best to suppress indigenous culture, language and religion. With little time to adjust to their new status as Japanese subjects, the people were nervous about nearby wars and in order to escape and with the encouragement of the government, there was heavy migration out to , and other . Okinawa was a major battleground in the . The Americans landed on the main island on April 1, 1945, took control of the central part of the island in just three days and then proceeded to take the northern half in a relatively short time. They expected strong resistance but were surprised to find many people willingly surrendering. With most of the island under American control, the U.S. turned its eyes south where the capital was located, and the further south they moved, the stronger the resistance became. For the locals, survival was difficult. The Americans bombed the island relentlessly and burned all vegetation in an attempt to flush out hidden threats. Many people hid in caves (of which there are many) and in the turtleback Ryukyu tombs, but naturally, Japanese military members also used these locations to hide and attack from, so they were targeted by U.S. forces whenever they were discovered. Because Okinawa had not been a prefecture for long, the Japanese military did not fully trust the locals and did not value them as equals. Due to these views in combination with military needs superseding all other needs, the Okinawan people were forced to give up their food to the military, walk out into battlefields to fetch water, go out on suicide missions, or kill themselves. Those who refused military orders were killed, and there are countless tales of atrocities committed against civilians by both Japanese and US troops. Those who surrendered or were captured by American troops were taken as POWs. Many of the POWs starved to death and many of those who were taken to camps in the north got malaria and died as Okinawa was not malaria-free at that time. By the end of the war, 120,000 Okinawans or one fourth of the island's population were killed. 90,000 of those were civilians, and many so-called military casualties included boys as young as elementary school who were enlisted in desperation. After the war, the islands continued to be occupied by the United States. Women were forced to work to try to rebuild their communities as the number of males still alive was only about half of what it was pre-war. The local economy relied heavily on the U.S. military but the American presence also prevented progress, as most of the island was off-limits to Okinawans and travel between Okinawa and the mainland was also restricted. This led to strong resentment among the people, and although early independence movements were quelled, over time the discontent and anger was too much for the U.S. to ignore. Nearly thirty years after the war and after many years of protesting and fighting to regain control of their island, occupation finally ended in 1972, and the islands were returned to Japan, but land was still set aside for the U.S. to hold military bases. The U.S. bases still take up 20% of the total island territory, and sporadic protests against the U.S. military presence continue to occur, but repeated polls show that most Okinawans do not object to the presence of the bases. When the U.S. handed control of the island back to the Okinawans, they were able to develop it. Over time, they've been able to move from an economy reliant on U.S. military spending to an economy whose main source of income is now tourism which continues to grow to this day, although Okinawa remains Japan's poorest prefecture. Culture With their own language and customs, Okinawans regard themselves as different from the mainland Japanese and some still harbor a certain degree of resentment towards the mainland for the brutal way the islands were treated as colonies and during World War II. Okinawans proudly call themselves uchinanchu (沖縄人) in the local language and talk of the way things are done on the shima (島) or islands, in contrast to the ways of the mainland, known as hontō (本島) in standard Japanese, yamato (ヤマト) in the local dialect, and sometimes as the slightly derisive local slang naichi (内地). Due to its history as a tributary of Imperial China, Okinawan culture has a stronger Chinese influence than mainland Japanese culture, and continues to celebrate local festivals according to the Chinese calendar. Okinawa's most famous export worldwide is the martial art of karate. Okinawan culture is popular throughout Japan thanks to popular musicians and local foods. Okinawan music is very attractive and unique because of the mixture of original Okinawan sounds and American rock, jazz, and other sounds from the USA. The distinctive instrument of choice is the sanshin (三線), a three-stringed, banjo-like distant relative of the mainland's shamisen, whose pentatonic melodies are instantly recognizable. The island has produced a disproportionate number of musicians, most famously J-pop singer Namie Amuro, and The Boom's electric-guitar-and-sanshin modern interpretation of the folk song Shimauta ("Island Song") has been dubbed Okinawa's unofficial national anthem — even though the group actually hails from mainland . On the roof or at the gate of almost every house you will spot the ubiquitous Okinawan shīsa or guardian lion-dogs, one with its mouth open to catch good fortune, the other with its mouth closed to keep good fortune in. Climate NahaClimateJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLow °C14.915.116.719.122.125.227.026.825.823.520.416.8High °C19.820.221.924.327.029.831.931.830.628.125.021.5Precipitation mm101.6114.5142.8161.0245.3284.4188.1240.0275.2179.2119.1110.0 The above measurements are for Naha City. Source: [Japan Meteorological Agency](http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/data/en/smp/index.html). Most of Okinawa is subtropical, with the southern extremities ( and the outlying islands) fully tropical. Even in January and February, the average high temperature is around 20°C (68°F), making the area a popular winter getaway, although it's often cloudy and usually a little too cold for sunbathing due to the winter monsoon. Spring, around late March and April, is an excellent time to visit if you take care to avoid (a succession of national holidays from the end of April), however, it does not get busy at all on the small islands even during Golden Week. The rainy season starts early in May and continues until June. Unlike the rainy season in mainland Japan, it rains neither every day nor all day long during the rainy season in Okinawa. Summer in Okinawa is hot and humid but still one of the peak visiting seasons, while September brings a succession of fierce typhoons. October and November are again good times to visit. Tourist Information [Visit Okinawa Japan](https://visitokinawajapan.com/) is the official tourist guide site for the prefecture in English. Visit [Okinawa travel brochures](https://travel-brochures.okinawastory.jp/) page. It provides Korean, English and Japanese, etc. ## Talk Er, excuse me? One of the most distinctive features of modern Okinawan is appending the English ending -er for people who do, well, pretty much anything. The meaning of "boozer" (ブーザー) is fairly obvious, while a "shrimper" (シュリンパー) is just somebody who likes shrimp. However, the common semi-affectionate "beacher" (ビーチャー) does not refer to someone who enjoys healthy marine sports, it means an alcoholic drunk! All Okinawans speak , and many understand English as well, particularly on the main island which houses several large U.S. military bases. Many locals also speak Okinawan Japanese (called in Okinawan Japanese ウチナーヤマトグチ, 沖縄大和口 Uchinaa Yamato-guchi, Standard Japanese: 沖縄弁 Okinawa-ben or 沖縄訛り Okinawa namari), a dialect with lots of vocabulary borrowed from the local Okinawan language, some differences in grammar, and a number of words that have different meanings or uses compared to Standard Japanese (e.g. aruku, which means "to walk" in Standard Japanese, means "to go around" or "to work" in Okinawan Japanese). Some elderly also speak any of at least half a dozen Ryukyuan languages (Japanese: 琉球語 ryūkyūgo; also 島言葉 Shima kotoba, lit. "Island speech"), which are shared (along with much Okinawan culture) with the in Kagoshima prefecture. Although the Japanese commonly brand these as "dialects" (方言 hōgen) of Japanese, they are really separate languages in the Japonic family; they're not mutually intelligible with Standard or Okinawan Japanese, or even with each other. The largest of these languages, (Okinawan: 沖縄口 uchinaaguchi, Japanese: 沖縄語 okinawago), is spoken on the main island of Okinawa and the surrounding islands, but is not used much these days. Most people under 40 can't speak it, the most common exceptions being people who were raised by their grandparents or grew up in rural areas. Each of Okinawa's major islands has its own Ryukyuan language, such as Miyako, and ; some of these endangered languages have tens of thousands of speakers, others just a few hundred. In the , the obscure Hachijo dialect of Japanese by immigrants from the Hachijo Islands is the native language. The Hachijo-Daito dialects are direct descendants of the Eastern dialect of Old Japanese, while all mainland dialects are descendants of the Western dialect. ## Get in By plane Most visitors arrive in , the capital of Okinawa, which is also well served by low-cost carriers like Skymark and Jetstar. Domestic flights do connect major Japanese cities directly to some other Okinawan islands like and , but prices can be steep; for example, the standard one-way fare for - is a whopping ¥50,000. You can save a considerable amount of money by making use of ANA's [Visit Japan](https://www.ana.co.jp/en/us/book-plan/fare/special/visit.html) or JAL's [Welcome to Japan](https://www.jal.co.jp/yokosojapan/japanfare.html) fares, both of which allow domestic flights in Japan for ¥14,040. Low-cost carriers like Peach can also offer good fares if booked in advance. Naha is also served by some international flights to other Asian cities. If you are coming from elsewhere, consider connecting in instead, as Naha is geographically closer to Taipei than to Tokyo. Direct international connections to the other islands are very limited, but there are seasonal winter services from Taipei to Ishigaki and low-cost carriers have experimented with flights from and to Ishigaki and Miyako (Shimojishima). By ship Ferry services to Okinawa have been cut drastically, with Arimura Sangyo filing for bankruptcy and RKK Line stopping passenger services entirely. With long travel times, bumpy seas, frequent cancellations in the fall typhoon season and prices that aren't any cheaper than flying, it's easy to see why this isn't too popular anymore. As of 2024, the only survivors are [A-Line Ferry](http://www.aline-ferry.com/), aka Maru-A (マルエー), and [Marix Line](http://www.marix-line.co.jp/), which run from to (25 hours, ¥16,560 2nd class one-way) on alternating days. The ferries are fairly utilitarian but comfortable enough, with sleeping arrangements varying from shared spaces of tatami in 2nd class (二等 nitō) to private cabins in special class (特等 tokutō). All ferries call at various minor islands including and along the way. If you're planning to island-hop your way through the Amamis to Okinawa and back, the [Yui Passport](https://marixline.com/en/yui_passport/) that gives 14 days of unlimited travel on both companies may be worth considering. At ¥30,000, it's not cheap, but still offers a discount on the ¥33,120 you'd usually pay for the return journey. The only international service to Okinawa is the [Yaima Line](https://yaimaline.com/en/) from , , which travels to once or twice a week. The overnight trip takes about 8 hours, and fares start from 2800 NTD (around 14,000 yen) in "Standard G" class with shared tatami mats. Cruises between Japan and Taiwan also often stop at and/or . ## Get around Ferry and air connections link the islands together, but many of them are simply so small in population that scheduled services may be infrequent and prices vary. By plane Flights between the islands are mostly handled by [Japan Transocean Air](http://www.jal.co.jp/jta/) (JTA) and its subsidiary Ryukyu Air Commuter (RAC), both owned by JAL. ANA also has a limited network radiating out from . Prices are generally quite high. By ferry There are dense webs of ferry links between nearby islands, but only infrequent cargo boats ply lengthier routes like -. If traveling by boat in late summer, note that the area around Okinawa is known as Typhoon Alley for a reason: it's not uncommon for ferries to be suspended for several days if one comes barrelling through. By car Also in this library: Probably more so than anywhere else in Japan, the trainless main island of Okinawa is a car culture, which makes car rental an attractive option for longer stays. Be prepared to drive on the left side of the road. Beware of many traffic jams and generally very slow moving traffic, especially in the densely populated southern part of the island. Plan your return trip to the airport accordingly. An International Driving Permit is required to drive in Japan, and it must be the 1949 Geneva Convention type and obtained before arrival; see for the details. The only exception is for nationals of Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Slovenia, Monaco or Taiwan, who can get an authorized Japanese translation issued at the [Japanese Automobile Foundation Okinawa branch](https://english.jaf.or.jp/common/about-us/headquarters-and-branches/kyushu/okinawa) office in Urasoe, near Naha. If you don't qualify for either, the only option is a Japanese license, which is an expensive and time-consuming hassle. Military and other SOFA personnel may obtain driving privileges via their own installation procedures. SOFA cars have special "Y" plates and special rules for tax, inspection, etc. By bus Most islands of interest in Okinawa have at least a rudimentary bus network, although schedules may be sparse and prices fairly high (e.g. over ¥2000 to cross the main island). Times and routes (usually in both English and Japanese) are indicated at each bus stop and at the various bus terminals. Prices outside of Naha are based on distance travelled and are indicated in the front of the bus as it moves from sector to sector this is roughly charged at 1km intervals. Take your ticket as you enter the bus, it will have your starting sector number on it. There is a changer for 1000 yen bills and coins at the front of the bus. Keep your ticket until you leave the bus. You pay the fare on alighting and it might be, that the bus driver wants to see your ticket with the sector number. It is often good to have exact change, and the driver will not exchange very large denominations. Buses do leave direct from Naha airport to other parts of the island. Prices can be found on the [airport website](https://www.okinawa-shuttle.co.jp/en/timetable). ## See Most people come to Okinawa for the sun and beaches. Even in midwinter, when many areas of the mainland Japan teeter around the freezing point, temperatures rarely dip below 15°C in Okinawa. For more adventurous types, the vast yet almost uninhabited island of is covered in dense jungle. Cultural attractions are rather more limited, as the Japanese invasion and subsequent brutal colonization coupled with fighting in World War II did a regrettably thorough job of eliminating most traces of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Shuri Castle in on is the former royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Already rebuilt once after burning down during World War II, the main hall of the castle burned down again in 2019. Reconstruction is under way, but is not expected to be completed until 2026. The gusuku (castle) ruins of Katsuren, Nakagusuku and Zakimi, all in , have been partly restored and together with Shuri Castle form a UNESCO. For a taste of the Okinawa of yesteryear, the islands of () and () have carefully preserved Ryukyuan villages. Ocean Expo Park: Churaumi Aquarium is a world class aquarium located on the peninsula of the main island. Attractions include one of the world's largest tanks with huge whale sharks and manta rays and a beautiful public facility called Emerald Beach. Historical sites related to World War II can be found throughout the islands, especially the , including the Peace Memorial Park in , the navy's former underground headquarters and the Himeyuri Monument. ## Do Okinawa is the best place in Japan for all sorts of watersports. Snorkeling and diving The Okinawa archipelago is one of the world's best diving destinations, with the count of marine species on par with the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. You can find over 400 types of corals, 5 types of sea turtles, manta rays, whale sharks, hammerhead sharks and many kinds of tropical fish. The main downside is that's quite expensive compared to, say, — a whole day's diving off a boat (2-3 dives including insurance and lunch) costs between ¥12,000 and ¥17,000, depending on the season and island, plus an additional cost between ¥3,000 and ¥5,000 if you need gear rental. For a 3-day certification course you will need to pay between ¥30,000 and ¥60,000, depending on the season and number of participants. Fortunately, a lot of the diving on Okinawa can be done from the shore (no boat needed), in which case you can get full gear rental and tanks for around ¥5,000, or if you just need tanks (and can guide yourself) then it will only be around ¥500 per tank. To top it off many shops do not accept credit cards, so you will need to carry a thick wad of yen to pay for it all. The language barrier can also be an issue, with most shops only set up to cater to Japanese-speaking tourists, although [Piranha Divers Okinawa](http://www.piranha-divers.jp/), [Reef Encounters](http://www.reefencounters.org/) in or [Bluefield](http://www.bluefi.com/english) in Kadena on , and Umicōza on are welcome exceptions. Diving glossary Most Japanese diving terminology is imported straight from English (finzu, masuku, regyurētā, etc), but the following terms are not: 潜る moguru — to dive; note that dives are counted with –本 (hon) 器材 kizai — equipment 水中 suichū — underwater 水深 suishin — depth 浅い/深い asai/fukai — shallow/deep 流れ nagare — current 安全停止 anzen teishi — safety stop 潜航 senkō — descent 浮上　fujō — ascent 珊瑚 sango — coral If all this does not put you off, there is some world-class diving to look forward to: particular highlights include the gorgeous reefs surrounding the , the manta rays of and and the hammerhead sharks and underwater ruins of . The waters are generally divable all year, although water temperature fluctuates between 22°C in the winter to around 29°C in summer. Also, beware of the typhoons during June–November and the north wind that may frequently close diving sites in the north shores of many of the islands during November and December. Many people dive in boardshorts and rashguards half the year. Most Japanese divers wear a 5mm full-body wetsuit, and dive shops usually provide aluminum tanks with American-style fittings. Sailing Sailing is gaining in popularity in Okinawa. There is a small but passionate international sailing community centered at Ginowan Marina, near the Convention Center. Local and international sailors cruise and race to the Kerama islands and to other locations. Sailing cruises and classes are also conducted out of Ginowan Marina. Surfing Surfing is popular in Okinawa, but it's not particularly easy: waves break over very shallow shelves of reef and/or basaltic rock, resulting in challenging waves. Surfing spots can be found all over the archipelago, but most surfers surf off the . Check out [Mensore Surfing](http://mensoresurfing.com/index.html) for weather forecasts and up-to-date info. Fishing Okinawa has some of the best offshore fishing in the world. Some fish are seasonal, but there are fish for every season of the year. Marlin, mahi mahi, and various species of tuna are some of the fish that are teeming in Okinawa's crystal clear seas. There are many places where you can find a boat to go fishing, but as with diving, language can be a major issue. Some charter services provide fishing tackle, and others require you to rent fishing gear. The cost for offshore fishing in Okinawa is comparable to other charter services around the world. Usually about US$100 per person for walk on charters, and up to US$1,500 for private charters. Shopping Larger malls will apply the duty-free shopping. Spend a minimum of ¥5,000 (before tax) for 8/10% tax off. Applies only to certain products so best ask for the list. At AEON Chatan after your shopping spree, pop across the open car park to the free hot-spring spa, a small hot stream in which you can dip your toes. ## Buy Popular souvenirs from Okinawa include: Kariyushi shirts (かりゆしウェア), the local spin on 's aloha shirts. Short-sleeved, collared and patterned, they were dreamed up by marketers in the 1970s but have been enthusiastically adopted by the locals and are now common both as casual and formal wear. Miniature shisa lion dogs Food products incorporating Okinawan ingredients, notably the ubiquitous purple sweet potato (紅芋 beni-imo) tarts ## Eat Okinawan cuisine is distinctly different from that of mainland Japan. Unlike the simplicity of classical Japanese food, which tries to highlight individual ingredients, Okinawan cuisine mixes lots of ingredients in a single dish to create complex, balanced flavors. Indeed, Okinawa's most famous dish is chanpurū (from the Malay word campur, meaning "mix"), a stir-fry of multiple vegetables and meats. Thanks to Chinese influence, Okinawans too proudly proclaim that they use every part of the pig except the squeal, and pork (あぐー agū) makes an appearance in almost every dish, including bits like ears, trotters (テビチー tebichi) and blood which are generally disdained by mainland Japanese. Goat (ヤギ yagi) is not uncommon and even Spam has a distinct following. Other Okinawan ingredients include vegetables rarely seen on the Japanese mainland such as bitter melon (ゴーヤー gōyā) and purple sweet potato (紅芋 beni-imo or 紫芋 murasaki-imo). Local seaweeds like the gloopy mozuku (モズク), often served in vinegar or deep-fried as tempura, or fluffy green āsa (アーサ), hiding in soups, often get credit for Okinawans' life expectancy, the longest in the world. While Okinawan dishes rarely contain chilies, there's often a bottle of kōrēgusu (コーレーグス), chilies steeped in awamori rice liquor (see ), on the table so you can spice things up according to taste — a little goes a long way. Okinawan tropical fruits including mango, papaya, pineapple, dragonfruit and the sour lime-like calamansi (シークァーサー shīkwāsā) are delicious when in season. Dark cane sugar (黒砂糖 kurozatō) is also a popular snack, eaten both as is and made into a vast variety of candies and pastries. Some dishes worth trying: Gōyā chanpurū (ゴーヤーチャンプルー) is the canonical Okinawan dish, a stir-fry made from goya mixed with pork and tofu. There are lots of other chanpurūs as well, made with tofu, thin sōmen wheat noodles, fu (gluten), etc. Gurukun (グルクン), sometimes called "banana fish", is no less than the official fish of Okinawa prefecture. Small but tasty and prepared in a variety of ways, even the bones are edible. Okinawa soba (沖縄そば) is made with wheat noodles and a pork-based stock, and is closer to Chinese ramen than Japanese buckwheat soba. Often served with sōki (ソーキ), stewed pork ribs, and spiced up with a dash of shima-koshō (島胡椒) island pepper or shima-tōgarashi (島唐辛子) chillies. Okinawa chanpon (沖縄ちゃんぽん) is a hearty dish of stir fried seafood and vegetables on rice. (On the mainland, chanpon is a soupy noodle dish.) Hirayāchī (ヒラヤーチー), an okonomiyaki-like thin savoury pancake. Jīmāmi (ジーマーミ) peanut tofu, slightly sweet and gooey, absolutely delicious when done right Raftī (ラフティー) is a side dish consisting of very fatty cubes of stewed pork. Ninjin shirishiri (人参しりしり), a stir fry of carrots and egg. Shima-dofu (島豆腐) is the Okinawan version of tofu, coarser in texture than the Japanese kind and often served warm. Sātāandagī (サーターアンダギー) are deep-fried balls of dough also aptly known as Okinawan donuts. Okinawan chinmi or "strange foods", eaten as snacks with drinking, include: Chiragā (チラガー), the skin from a pig's face; can be very chewy Mimigā (ミミガー), sliced pork ears in vinegar; crunchy and nearly tasteless Umibudō (海ぶどう) or "sea grapes", a type of seaweed eaten raw dipped into vinegar or soy, mild with a pleasant caviar-like texture Tofuyō (豆腐よう), salty dark red fermented tofu Sukugarasu (スクガラス), salt-pickled tiny fermented fish, usually pressed onto tofu before eating Yagisashi (ヤギ刺), raw goat meat served sashimi style Aficionados of American fast food may find Okinawa to be a curious treat, as many American restaurants popped up here to serve the US military long before they made it to the mainland. Most prominent is the presence of [A&W](https://www.awok.co.jp/) outlets serving hamburgers and root beer (with free refills, even), available practically nowhere else in Japan. Blue Seal ice cream is common, with their purple yam soft ice creams worth a lick. Mexican food of varying levels of authenticity is popular, particularly tacos (タコス takosu). Several hybrid Okinawan-American dishes, most of which seem to employ copious quantities of Spam, are widely available: Nuuyaru burger (ぬーやるバーガー), a specialty of local fast food chain [Jef](https://jefokinawa.co.jp/), is gōyā omelette, cheese and a slice of Spam in a bun. Appropriately enough, the name is an Okinawan pun that translates roughly as "What on earth is this?". Pork eggs (ポーク玉子 pōku tamago) consists of fried slices of Spam served with ketchup, scrambled eggs and — since this is Japan, after all — rice and miso soup. Also available in onigiri rice ball form. Taco rice (タコライス tako raisu) is spiced Mexican-style taco meat with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, but instead of being in a tortilla, it's on rice. ## Drink The local brew of choice is awamori (泡盛), a notoriously strong rice liquor that can contain up to 60% alcohol, although 30-40% is more common. Unlike Japanese shochu, which is usually prepared from potatoes or barley, awamori is brewed using imported Thai jasmine rice since during the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom, short-grain rice could not be brought in from the main islands. It's most commonly drunk on the rocks or neat. Awamori keeps well, and when stored more than three years is known as kūsu (古酒, also read koshu in standard Japanese). If the label indicates a specific age, it's 100% at least that old; however, kūsu without a given age is usually a blend of 50% 3-year-old and 50% new awamori. A notorious version of awamori is habushu (ハブ酒), with an entire venomous Okinawan pit viper (habu) pickled in the bottle, often by inserting it while it's still alive. At a minimum of ¥10,000 for a bottle, it's expensive and nobody drinks this stuff for the taste, but it's popular particularly in US military circles as a drunken dare. If awamori even without the snake is a bit too strong for your taste, try awamori umeshu (泡盛梅酒), a delectable sweet liquor made by infusing Japanese ume plums in awamori and cane sugar. Calamansi (shīkwāsā) and coffee-flavored versions of awamori are also available. Okinawa's local beer Orion (オリオン, pronounced "Oree-on") is a safer alternative, at least in small quantities. Most larger islands also have their own microbreweries. Jasmine tea (さんぴん茶 sanpincha) is very popular on Okinawa. Tropical fruit juices are also widely available. Nightlife has the busy nightlife scene you'd expect of a large city, livened up by the presence of many GIs from the military bases. and , near Kadena Air Base, also have many bars catering to the military with frequent live music performances. Okinawa has many live houses in Naha city and Okinawa city, with styles ranging from Okinawan traditional folk music to American rock, jazz and other sounds from the USA. The charge depends on the artist but it's usually about ¥1000-3500, plus one drink. Check the time, the artist, and the price before you go. There is some gay nightlife in Naha. ## Sleep Broadly speaking, accommodation on Okinawa can be divided into two brackets: cheap basic lodges, and expensive fancy resorts. Another option is sleeping in campsites. Budget Okinawa has a multitude of cheap minshuku-type lodges geared towards poor surfers and divers, and unlike the mainland many offer or even specialize in bed-only (素泊まり sudomari) stays with no meals included. The very cheapest dorm-type places can go for less than ¥2,000, although you'll usually be looking at a minimum of ¥3,000 for your own room and around ¥5,000 if you want two meals. Watch out for hidden charges for things like air-con, fridge rental or even using the shower. In you can easily find dirt-cheap places starting from ¥1,000 per night. Camping There are many campsites around Okinawa, some on nice beaches. They offer cheap accommodation if you have your own tent and sleeping bag (and mat) for ¥500-1,000/night. Their facilities are sometimes very poor, they have only cold shower for example (and they even charge you for using it!) and no cooking/cleaning facilities. However they often rent out BBQ sets (¥2,000-3,000) which can make the night unforgettable. Mid-range B&B-type pensions are the most common midrange option, although there are some city hotels also. Figure on around ¥10,000/person with two meals. Splurge The other end of the spectrum is Okinawa's host of resorts, usually located on a private beach in some remote corner of the island — which means you'll be stuck eating at the resort's expensive restaurant and using their expensive watersports services. Rack rates for these places tend to be ludicrous (¥20,000+/head/night), but you can usually get steep discounts by buying flight and hotel packages, especially in the low season. Most hotels in Okinawa prohibit displaying tattoos in pools and sometimes even their private beaches. Cover up with a rash guard. ## Stay safe Okinawa is as safe as mainland Japan or more so. On the smaller islands it's not uncommon to leave front doors not merely unlocked, but open all day. ## Stay healthy The number one health risk on Okinawa is , and it doesn't take long at all to get fried to a crisp when it's sunny outside. Slap on plenty of lotion. Okinawa is also home to Japan's most fearsome array of venomous critters. While the venomous habu (ハブ) snake gets a lot of bad press, mostly due to its unfortunate habit of entering homes in search of rats and mice; not only are you quite unlikely to encounter one outside a sake bottle in a souvenir shop, but bites have a fatality rate of "only" 3%. Jellyfish (クラゲ kurage) and a variety of marine creatures that sting if stepped on present a risk, and many beaches have posters in Japanese (and occasionally English) explaining what to watch out for. ## Go next The to the north are politically a part of Kyushu, but culturally closer to Okinawa. is just to the south of Okinawa, and you can see it from Yonaguni on a good day. Text by Wikivoyage contributors. Article edition: 2026-06-25T23:30:16Z · [Source and revision](https://en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5298515) · [Authors and history](https://en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?title=Okinawa&action=history) · [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) ## Local food ### Okinawa soba Wheat noodles in broth. ### Umibudō Sea grapes with tiny beads. ### Jimami dōfu Silky peanut preparation. ### Sātā andagī Deep-fried dough balls. ### Minudaru Pork with black sesame. ### Ashi tibichi Slow-cooked pork trotters. ## Local drinks ### Awamori Ryukyuan rice spirit. Contains alcohol ### Sanpin-cha Jasmine-scented tea. Alcohol-free ### Shīkwāsā Local citrus juice. Alcohol-free ## Subregional routes ### a ### o ### e ### o ### e ### h ### u ### o ### g ### i ### r ### a Plan your itinerary ### Getting around Combine urban transport in Naha with ferries or flights to other islands. ### Plan ahead Choose fewer islands and keep flexible days for typhoons or cancelled sailings. ### Culture and pace Sacred sites are more than viewpoints: respect barriers and signs. ### Okinawa Island The largest island in both size and population, the heart of Okinawan culture. ### Kerama Islands Small islands with pristine beaches near the main island ### Daito Islands Three isolated, rarely visited islands far to the east ### Miyako Islands Subtropical islands with some of Japan's nicest beaches ### Yaeyama Islands The southernmost part of Japan, tropical with jungle wilderness, great beaches, and great diving Local reading and routes ### [Naha](https://tripguroo.com/en/places/ciudad-tcc-naha/) Okinawa's capital and largest city, and the historical capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom. ### [Southern Okinawa](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Southern_Okinawa) The site of many fierce battles during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. ### [Central Okinawa](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Central_Okinawa) The narrow waist of the island, dominated by large US military bases. ### [Northern Okinawa](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Northern_Okinawa) The most sparsely populated part of the island, with beaches and luxury resorts. Together with Tokunoshima, Iriomote and Amami Oshima, it was listed as a natural world heritage site by UNESCO in 2021. ### [Kerama Islands](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Kerama_Islands) The small islands of Tokashiki, Zamami and Aka, a short ferry ride from Naha and a world away. ### [Iheya-Izena Islands](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Iheya-Izena_Islands) More small islands to the north of the main island, rarely visited by tourists. ### [Kumejima](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Kumejima) (Kume) — a comparative metropolis with 7,000 inhabitants and its own airport, known for its beauty and awamori ### [Tonaki](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Tonaki) a small island at halfway mark between Kume and Okinawa; along with Taketomi, one of only two towns in Okinawa recognized for its historical village architecture ### [Aguni](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Aguni) one bar, one cop, no restaurants, and a few guesthouses catering to intrepid scuba divers ### [Miyako](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Miyako_(Okinawa)) by far the largest of the three main islands that make up the group, linked by bridges to the small islands of Kurima and Ikema. Tiny Ogami, not graced with a bridge yet, is covered here as well. ### [Irabu](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Irabu) Miyako's other island, linked by a large bridge. Adjacent Shimoji with its airport is covered here as well. ### [Tarama](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Tarama) flat as a pancake, known for its August festival, with the island of Minna a short hop away ### [Iriomote](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Iriomote) large island full of untamed jungle ### [Ishigaki](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Ishigaki) the laid-back gateway and transport hub of the southern Yaeyama Islands ### [Taketomi](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Taketomi) a carefully preserved traditional village and some of the best beaches in Japan ### [Yonaguni](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Yonaguni) the westernmost island in Japan, with miniature horses and mysterious underwater structures ### [Zamami](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Zamami) popular among snorkelers and divers, with several deserted islands nearby ## Sources [visitokinawajapan.com](https://visitokinawajapan.com/discover/food-and-longevity/okinawan-food-culture/) · [visitokinawajapan.com](https://visitokinawajapan.com/)Wikivoyage contributors; selection, abridgement, translation and regional planning by TRIPGUROO · CC BY-SA 4.0 [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) · [Wikivoyage · Okinawa](https://en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5379435) [Guides by topic](https://tripguroo.com/en/travel/?view=topics)