Okinawa attractions

While far enough away to feel remote, Okinawa’s Zamami is one of those rare tropical islands that’s accessible enough for an easy visit. The second-largest island in the Kerama chain is just a ferry hop from the Okinawan capital of Naha, enticing travelers with a slower pace and welcoming atmosphere, as well as coral beaches, sea turtles, and other marine life.

Learn about World War II’s Battle of Okinawa in the place where it came to a brutal end. The military site, where thousands of Japanese soldiers died by suicide or were killed, was reopened by the Okinawans to show the futility of war and to promote peace. Visitors can walk through some of the pickaxe-dug tunnels, and learn about the site’s history through museum exhibits.

A sprawling seaside park on the coast of north Okinawa’s Motobu Peninsula, the Ocean Expo Park is a legacy site from the Expo ’75 World’s Fair. In keeping with the ocean theme of the fair, the park is best known for its marine attractions such as the Churaumi Aquarium, which for many is the star sight.

Nothing says tropical paradise quite like this tiny, secluded island in Okinawa, located just north of Iriomote. It’s just over a ½ mile (1 kilometer) wide, meaning the area can be explored in about an hour. Gentle, turquoise waves lap white-sand beaches, famous for their abundant coral life and shore snorkeling. The island is only home to about 60 residents and simple guesthouses for anyone seeking a few days of peace and quiet.

The impressive architectural highlight, Irabu Ohashi Bridge, is Japan’s longest toll-free bridge that connects two gorgeous islands, Miyako-jima and Irabu-jima. Its undulating shape is likened to a sea dragon floating over the turquoise water below, and the shape adds to the scenery instead of taking anything away from it. Photographers love to capture the unique combination of nature and manmade beauty.

The largest of the Yaeyama Island group in the East China Sea, Iriomote Island (Iriomote-jima appeals to visitors with its lush jungle and mangrove forest, the home of the rare Iriomote wildcat. The whole island is a designated national park and offers opportunities for kayaking and trekking through its unspoiled landscape.

Only about a mile (1.5 kilometers) in size, this tiny Okinawan island sits off the coast of the much bigger island of Iriomote (Okinawa’s second-largest). It’s a lush botanical strip of coastline, famed for its colorful year-round bougainvilleas and butterfly garden. But the biggest attraction is the unique way visitors arrive in Yubu: pulled from Iriomote through shallow water by rustic buffalo-drawn carts.

Transport yourself back to prehistoric Okinawa on a walk through this subtropical forest with limestone caves. Due to ongoing excavations at the Valley of Gangala, the only way to visit is via an official guided tour. These cover a stop at the valley’s century-old banyan tree, and teach about the traces of Okinawa’s prehistoric Minatogawa people that have been found at the site.

Considered one of the most stunning beaches in the Yaeyama Islands of Okinawa (and that’s saying something—competition here is stiff), Kondoi Beach is famed for its sugar-white sands and shallow, crystal-clear turquoise waters. It’s located on the western coast of Taketomi Island, which is easily reachable by a 15-minute ferry from Ishigaki. It’s an excellent spot for swimming and snorkeling, although there’s no reef here, only soft sands.

Give your kids a taste of the tropics in Okinawa, at this small theme park where fruit trees, birds, and butterflies await. Ideal for families with younger children, the mostly covered site offers a route themed around an adventure story, with stamp rewards for correct answers to riddles and mysteries along the way.

One for the plane spotters, tiny Senaga Island is so close to Naha Airport that its aircraft views have become its biggest draw. Visitors with time to kill before a flight can reach it quickly via a causeway from Naha, and indulge in eating, drinking, shopping, and checking out the planes from Umikaji Terrace—an oceanfront leisure complex with a Mediterranean vibe.

Curving stone walls and foundations make up the remains of this ancient UNESCO-listed Ryukyu castle, one of Okinawa's oldest historic sites. Climb the steep hill, read information plaques for the lowdown on Lord Amawari and the castle, and soak up fine ocean views all around.

Also known as the Kakazu Takadai Park or Peace Park, this park in Ginowan marks the site of Kakazu Ridge, in memory of one of the bloodiest sieges of the Battle of Okinawa during World War II. Visitors today will find a peaceful park and picnic spot, with views of the nearby airbase from an observatory on the hill.

Located in Okinawa, a semi-tropical island off the coast of Japan, Yara Castle was built between the 13th and 15th centuries. The former estate is a remnant from the days of the Ryukyu, a powerful kingdom that once ruled over an independent Okinawa. Today, this rugged park features castle ruins, gravesites of Ryukyuan royals, and hiking trails along the Hija River.