Shuri Castle, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Photo: Hiroki_Hieda via FIND/47 · CC BY 4.0
沖縄KYŪSHŪ / OKINAWA
KYŪSHŪ / OKINAWA · 沖縄県 · Japan

Okinawa

Subtropical islands and distinct Ryukyu culture.

Subtropical islands and distinct Ryukyu culture.

Where it isOkinawa, KYŪSHŪ / OKINAWA
Sefa-Utaki, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Sefa-Utaki
Yachimun no Sato pottery village, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Yachimun no Sato pottery village
Nakijin Castle Ruins, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Nakijin Castle Ruins

Photos: Sefa-Utaki — Hyougushi via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Yachimun no Sato pottery village — morishi via FIND/47, CC BY 4.0 · Nakijin Castle Ruins — MaedaAkihiko via Wikimedia Commons, CC0

01

Getting there

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02

What to see

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Top pick

Shuri Castle (Shurijo) / 首里城

UNESCO World Heritage seat of the Ryukyu Kingdom in Naha. The main hall (Seiden) burned in 2019; reconstruction is underway with completion planned for autumn…

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Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium / 沖縄美ら海水族館

One of the world's largest aquariums, anchored by the giant Kuroshio Sea tank where whale sharks and manta rays swim. A flagship Motobu Peninsula attraction.

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Sefa-Utaki / 斎場御嶽

The most sacred utaki (prayer site) of the Ryukyu Kingdom, said to be its place of origin; part of the UNESCO Gusuku Sites listing.

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03

What to eat

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Goya champuru, Okinawa Prefecture, JapanMust-eat

Goya champuru (ゴーヤーチャンプルー)

Okinawa's signature stir-fry of bitter melon, tofu, egg and pork. 'Champuru' means 'something mixed' in the Okinawan dialect; featured by JNTO as a must-try…

Must-eat

Okinawa soba / Soki soba (沖縄そば・ソーキそば)

Despite the name, made from wheat (not buckwheat) so closer to udon; served in a savory pork-bonito broth. The 'soki' version is topped with tender braised…

Rafute, Okinawa Prefecture, JapanMust-eat

Rafute (ラフテー)

Braised pork belly slow-simmered in soy sauce, brown sugar and awamori (local rice spirit) until melt-in-your-mouth tender. A classic of Ryukyu court cuisine.

04

Okinawa at a glance

Food Culture Nature City Access how we rank all 47 →
Sefa-Utaki, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

Sleep in Okinawa

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07

Next door

FukuokaKyūshū's gateway city, famous for tonkotsu ramen and street-food stalls.SagaJapan's porcelain heartland and a vivid autumn balloon festival.NagasakiA port city of cross-cultural history, hillside views, and a peace park.Play the 47-prefecture mapUnlock Okinawa in the RPG-style explorer.

Links marked PR are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Photos: Shuri Castle — Hiroki_Hieda via FIND/47, CC BY 4.0 · Sefa-Utaki — Hyougushi via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Yachimun no Sato pottery village — morishi via FIND/47, CC BY 4.0 · Nakijin Castle Ruins — MaedaAkihiko via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 · Goya champuru — _Yuki_K_ via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 · Rafute — David Iwaoka via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Map: Geolonia (MIT).