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Before you go
Your trip to Naha.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Naha – Okinawa Destination Okinawa (Japan) — Naha; Onna; Motobu Capital
How to get there
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Aeroporto de Naha (OKA) 4 km
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Porto de Tomari (Tomarin) 2 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
Naha Airport (OKA) is about 4 km from downtown and is connected by the Yui Rail monorail. Flights arrive from Tokyo in about 2h30–3h and from other cities in Japan and Asia. Ferries connect Naha Port with the Kerama Islands.
How many days
Two days: one for Shuri, Tamaudun and Shikinaen, another for Sefa-utaki and the island’s south, with Kokusai Street for the evenings.
When to go
Year-round. From October to April temperatures are milder and walking tours are more comfortable. May and June bring the rainy season; from August to October typhoons are more frequent.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
No, within Naha: the monorail links the airport, downtown and Shuri. To reach Sefa-utaki and the south you need a car, bus or an organized tour.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Naha
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Morning
Shuri Castle and Tamaudun
Take the monorail to Shuri, enter through the Shureimon gate and tour the castle. On exit, walk a few minutes to the royal mausoleum Tamaudun.
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Afternoon
Shikinaen
Take a taxi or bus to Shikinaen Garden, the former royal family’s retreat, and walk around the pond.
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Evening
Kokusai Street and market
Head down to Kokusai Street, dine on the second floor of Makishi Public Market where fish bought on the ground floor are prepared, and listen to live sanshin music in the street’s bars.
2 days in Naha
Day 1
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Morning
Shuri Castle
Arrive at opening time and allow time for the halls and the Iri-no-Azana viewpoint overlooking the city.
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Afternoon
Tamaudun and Kinjo stone lane
Visit the royal mausoleum Tamaudun and descend Kinjo stone lane, an old slope from the kingdom era, down to the residential neighborhood.
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Evening
Kokusai Street
Eat Okinawan dishes such as goya champuru and soki soba from the stalls along Kokusai Street.
Day 2
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Morning
Sefa-utaki
Go by car, bus or tour to the Sefa-utaki shrine in the island’s south and walk to the rock fissure with a view of Kudaka Island.
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Afternoon
Shikinaen
On the return, stop at Shikinaen Garden, in southern Naha, for a walk around the pond.
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Evening
Port and Naminoue
End the trip at Naminoue Shrine, on the seaside rock, and dine near the port.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
How to get from Naha Airport to downtown?
By the Yui Rail monorail, which departs the airport and reaches the Kokusai Street stations in about 15 minutes and Shuri in about 30. Taxis and buses also run the route.
What to eat in Naha?
Soki soba, wheat noodles in broth with pork rib; goya champuru, bitter melon stir-fry with tofu and egg; rafute, simmered pork belly; and tropical fruits. Makishi Public Market prepares fish bought on the ground floor.
Which are the UNESCO sites in Naha?
Shuri Castle, the Tamaudun mausoleum, Shikinaen Garden and the Sonohyan-utaki stone gate, all part of the Sites of the Ryukyu Kingdom inscribed in 2000. Sefa-utaki, in the island’s south, is also part of the same group.
Is Naha a good base to explore Okinawa?
For non-drivers, yes, because it concentrates transport and the historic sites. For beachgoers and those heading north, consider also staying on the west coast or in Motobu.
Beyond the guide
