Okinawa Travel Guide｜Must-See Attractions, Routes & Travel Tips
When compiling recommendations for attractions in Okinawa, you'll find that most lists are quite comprehensive. However, once you're actually on the trip, you'll realize which places are worth taking your time to explore and which you can move on to after taking photos. This article compiles and references blogger leas_wonderland's Okinawa travelogue, recording the attractions she actually visited according to her daily itinerary and pace of stay. It's compiled into a guide to must-see attractions in Okinawa, combining route planning with her personal experiences, providing a reference for trip planning.
Leia's Okinawa trip continues.
This post will summarize the actual attractions and routes I visited during this trip to Okinawa.
In some places, you really get off and walk around properly; in others, you just stop for a quick photo and then keep going. Only by actually walking around can you tell which places are worth spending more time on and which are best left untouched.
There were a few attractions I really wanted to visit, but we couldn't make it into the itinerary due to time constraints or route limitations, so they're on my shortlist for another time. This post is a record of the itinerary, documenting the trip, and I hope it will be helpful for planning your Okinawa trip.
Must-Visit in Okinawa | Northern Area Photo Spots and Natural Landscape Routes
Must-see in Okinawa | Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium 👉 16:00 Admission Route, Free Area + Highlights All at Once
Photo caption: Must-see in Okinawa | Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Here's a tip for getting in at 4:00 PM: It's cheaper to enter that way.
a. First, take the escalator down to the dolphin theater at the bottom to watch the 4:00 PM show (no ticket required for this part).
b. After watching the show, buy tickets to enter the aquarium, and then watch the whale shark feeding at 5:00 PM.
c. 17:30 Then, we'll explore the Kuroshio Current again, looking at the size of the tanks from the top level of the aquarium.
P.S. Actually, there are many free attractions around the aquarium, such as sea lions and dolphins. I think it's a great place to spend a whole afternoon exploring.
We arrived around 4 pm that day, so our schedule was a bit rushed, and almost all the free areas were closed 😭
I highly recommend spending a day in the north to see all the attractions there in one go. Otherwise, it takes at least two hours to drive up from Kokusai-dori. Plus, Okinawans drive very leisurely, so you really need to allow plenty of time.
Must-see in Okinawa | Kouri Bridge 👉 The sea view is beautiful, perfect for stopping by for photos.
Photo caption: Must-see in Okinawa | Kouri Bridge
Must-see in Okinawa | Alivela Church 👉 White church against a blue sky, requires a detour but the scenery is worth it.
The Alivila Chapel is located inside a hotel. 👉Hotel website
It's so beautiful!
Next time I come to Okinawa, I'd like to stay here.
Okay, I'll still recommend this to everyone.
It's just that it's a bit of a hassle to drive around here specifically.
But to be honest, the blue sky paired with the white church is really beautiful, and it's definitely worth seeing.
Photo caption: Must-see in Okinawa | Alivila Church
Must-see in Okinawa | Heart-shaped Rock 👉 After parking, there's still a bit of walking; assess your physical condition before going downhill.
I originally thought I could drive there directly.
It turned out that you had to park in a nearby private parking lot first and then walk down.
You will see several parking entrances along the way.
Just park where you see the cheapest one (that's what we did).
After parking the car, slowly walk down the mountain to reach the coast.
Photo caption: Must-see in Okinawa | Heart-shaped Rock
Must-visit in Okinawa | Okinawa Lover Instagrammable Wall 👉 Roadside photo spot, you can just walk past if you're in a hurry.
This is a famous Instagrammable wall in Okinawa.
The location is right next to the main road leading to the aquarium, so it's quite busy with traffic.
We didn't stop to take pictures that day because we were rushing to get into the aquarium by 4:00 PM.
Must-see attractions in Okinawa | Attractions and side trips in the central part of the city
Must-visit in Okinawa | American Village 👉 It has a better atmosphere at night than during the day, so it's best to visit in the late afternoon.
The atmosphere in American Village is better in the evening.
Photo caption: Must-visit in Okinawa | American Village
Must-visit in Okinawa | Blue Seal Handmade Ice Cream Shop 👉 Reservation required, book your time in advance if you want to visit.
You can make your own unique ice cream.
If time permits, it's best to make an appointment online beforehand.
👉 Further Reading: [Must-Try in Okinawa] Blue Seal Ice Cream! Extravagant American Ice Cream!
Must-visit in Okinawa | Minatogawa Foreigner Housing Area 👉 Photogenic Spots, Add to Your Wishlist This Time
This area used to be a residential area for US military personnel.
This is a great place to take some nice cover photos.
Unfortunately, I didn't have time to go this time, so I'll just have to add it to my wishlist for now 😁
Must-see in Okinawa | Southern Cultural Attractions and City Itinerary
Must-see in Okinawa | Gyokusendo Cave and Kingdom Village 👉 The caves are spectacular; combine them with cultural experiences.
Yuquan Cave is truly vast and magnificent, a masterpiece of nature.
The air inside is a bit humid, so it can feel a little stuffy when you walk around.
Photo caption: Must-see in Okinawa | Gyokusendo Cave
Kingdom Village has many local Okinawan specialties.
You can also experience various hands-on activities, making the visit quite interesting.
Photo caption: Must-visit in Okinawa | Kingdom Village - Hands-on Experience Instructions
Photo caption: Must-see in Okinawa | Kingdom Village - Taiko Drum Performance
Must-see in Okinawa | Dinosaur Park 👉 Surprisingly realistic, easy-to-walk fun attraction
The dinosaurs inside are incredibly realistic!
The people of Okinawa are so creative! You can't help but find them adorable.
Photo caption: Must-see in Okinawa | Dinosaur Park
A must-visit in Okinawa | Cape Chinen Park 👉 A great spot for ocean views and picnics, perfect for a break in your itinerary.
This is a great place to enjoy the sea view and have a picnic.
There aren't many facilities; it's just a place to sit and watch the sea 😁
Photo caption: Must-see in Okinawa | Chinen Cape Park
Must-see in Okinawa | Naminoue Shrine 👉 Less crowded in the afternoon, conveniently located in the city.
This is a very famous shrine in Okinawa.
We arrived around 4 PM, and there were far fewer people there.
Photo caption: Must-visit spots in Okinawa | Naminoue Shrine
Must-see in Okinawa | Shuri Castle 👉 Don't miss the stamp collection activity and explore the historical route of Ryukyu.
The former site of the Ryukyu Kingdom
Photo caption: Must-see in Okinawa | Shuri Castle
Inside you can see facilities such as chairs used by the king in the past.
Taking your time to stroll around can actually be quite enjoyable.
Get a stamped paper from the service desk at the entrance.
Once you've collected them all, you can exchange them for a small souvenir!
Photo caption: Must-see in Okinawa | Shuri Castle - Stamp Collection Event
A friendly reminder: Shuri Castle is currently under reconstruction.
It is expected to reopen in the fall of 2026, so you can keep an eye out for that when making your plans.
Must-see in Okinawa | Kokusai Street 👉 A hub for souvenirs, best visited towards the end of your trip.
You can basically buy all your souvenirs here.
Photo caption: Must-see destinations in Okinawa | Kokusai-dori
The hall of Jing'an was almost entirely filled with Taiwanese people; it was truly packed.
The shelves displaying best-selling items were either emptied or ransacked.
The whole scene looked a bit over-the-top 😅
Photo caption: Must-see in Okinawa | Kokusai-dori - Amazing Palaces
Must-visit in Okinawa | Okinawa Outlet 👉 Get a coupon first, then decide whether to shop.
Photo Caption: Must-Visit Spots in Okinawa | Okinawa Outlet
Must-visit in Okinawa | Senaga Island 👉 Weather greatly affects the experience; rainy days will lower your expectations.
Lai Chang Island looks less beautiful when it rains.
Photo caption: Must-visit spots in Okinawa | Senaga Island
Must-visit in Okinawa | Urasoe Grand Park 👉 There are many park options; just choose one that's conveniently located based on the photos.
Okinawa actually has many unique parks.
You can search for "Okinawa Parks" on Google Maps and a whole bunch of results will appear.
I will open and look at the photos one by one.
If you think something is easy to photograph or looks fun, mark it as a potential candidate.
I didn't actually go there this time, but you can still use it as a reference.
Must-see in Okinawa | Travel notes after the trip
During this trip to Okinawa, I didn't get to visit every single attraction.
There were some places where I really stopped to take my time to look around, some where I took photos and then continued on my way, and a few places that I really wanted to visit but ended up putting them on the back burner due to time constraints or the route.
However, it is precisely because of this that it becomes clearer which attractions are worth making a special trip for and which can be visited along the way. Consider this a guide to must-see places in Okinawa compiled after actually visiting the area; you don't need to follow it all, just choose according to your own itinerary pace.
There are still many places in Okinawa that I haven't visited yet. Next time I come, there will probably be more places on the list.
Creator Profile | Lea Leiya ( leas_wonderland )
Content themes: Primarily documenting food, travel, and lifestyle experiences.
Highlights: One of only three travel creators from Taiwan invited to Google headquarters in the United States.
Original source: leas's Wonderland blog
This article is compiled and quoted from the travel and lifestyle records of media creator Leia (leas_wonderland); all the pictures attached to the article are used with the permission of the original author.