Okinawa feels like the Hawaii of Asia! Sun soaked, laid back, and edged with that perfect shade of blue, we spent six whirlwind days with a rental car which gave us the freedom to see it all. We balanced reflection at the Okinawa Peace Memorial with the neon buzz of American Village, then slipped underwater for unforgettable SCUBA dives at Gorilla Chop and Manza with Okinawa 39ers. Between hiking to the summit of Mt. Katsuu-dake, marveling at the incredible aquarium (and its massive whale shark), and chasing views from Cape Hedo to the serene Tataki Falls, every day delivered something new. We wandered through the historic Nakijin Castle Ruins, browsed crafts in Yomitan Pottery Village, and refueled with a stop at the legendary Pizza in the Sky. Evenings brought us into the energy of Naha’s Kokusai Street, capped off with dinner at Ryukyu Chuka Waon Naha Sakurazaka (so atmospheric it felt like stepping onto a movie set). Okinawa deserves a spot on every Japan itinerary for its rare blend of island beauty, distinct culture, and experiences that feel worlds apart from the mainland.
"Statue of a Boy" bronze sculpture with the Okinawa Peace Hall in the background
Tomori Stone Lion painting by Masatoshi Omine at the Okinawa Peace Hall
Okinawa Peace Prayer Statue inside the Okinawa Peace Hall
Butterfly garden at the Peace Memorial Park
Orchids on display at the Peace Memorial Park
Heiwa no Oka (Hill of Peace) monument at the Okinawa Peace Memorial Park
The Cornerstone of Peace is a monument commemorating the Battle of Okinawa during World War II. The names of over 240,000 people who lost their lives are inscribed on the memorial
Mabuni Hill at the Okinawa Peace Memorial Park. This marks the site where the final organized resistance of the Battle of Okinawa ended in June 1945
Michinoku Tower is a memorial dedicated to the 19,847 war dead from Aomori Prefecture; Okinawa Peace Memorial Park
Bōsō Tower at the Okinawa Peace Memorial Park
Tomori Stone Lion - a historic Shisa (guardian lion-dog). The statue famously survived the intense fighting during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. Visible scars from World War II bullets can still be seen on the stone today
Evening scene at Depot Island Station, a popular shopping and dining destination in Mihama American Village
Robby in a Toy Story sculpture at the American Village
Depot Island Boardwalk at night, a popular seaside promenade lined with palm trees, shops, and restaurants; Mihama American Village
Shark sculpture at the American Village
Distinctive rock formation known as Gorilla Chop located on the beach in Motobu
SCUBA divers entering the beginner friendly, shore dive site at Gorilla Chop
Some of the marine creatures seen at Gorilla Chop
Collage of critters seen at Gorilla Chop
Sardine ball at Gorilla Chop
Thousands of sardines swimming in a defensive bait ball at Gorilla Chop
Daisuke and Robby relaxing during our surface interval at Gorilla Chop
Peacock mantis shrimp at Gorilla Chop
Sea slug seen at Gorilla Chop dive site
Leaf scorpionfish; Gorilla Chop
Juvenile highfin grouper; Gorilla Chop
A tasty bowl of Okinawan Soba with pork at a local restaurant
A line out the door at Nami Shoku in Yomitan Village
Bento box lunches for sale at Nami Shoku; Yomitan Village
Our SCUBA boat to dive at Cape Manza
Marine creatures seen at Overhang Rock; Cape Manza
Nudi seen at Overhang Rock dive site
Becky relaxing during the surface interval at Cape Manza
Our yummy bento box lunch
A box of Meiji Takenoko no Sato chocolate-covered biscuit snacks
Daisuke giving us a briefing for our second dive site at Dream Hole
Critters seen at Dream Hole dive site
"Pikachu" exit at Dream Hole dive site; Cape Manza
Nudi at Clothesline dive site
Checking out a honeycomb moray eel at Clothesline dive site
Daisuke taking a photo of us at Clothesline
Big smiles after two great days of diving with Okinawa 39ers. Thanks Daisuke!
Sunset over American Village
"Sunset Walk" boulevard is an atmospheric place to watch sunset at the American Village in Chatan
Statue on the "Sunset Walk" pedestrian boardwalk at the American Village
Public smoking is frowned upon in many public venues around Japan
Christmas Land at the American Village is a popular shop known for its year round holiday decorations
Decorated door at Depo Island Seaside in the American Village
Robby next to a Popeye display at Okinawa Market
Becky striking a pose at a fire truck mural in the American Village
Mihama American Village in Chatan is an entertainment area known for its colorful buildings and American-themed atmosphere
Decorated manhole cover at the American Village featuring the local mascot of Chatan Town surfing
Robby on the trail leading to the summit of Mount Katsuudake
A loud cicada on the trail leading to Mt Katsuudake
View from the summit of Mt Katsuudake
Becky at the top of Mt Katsuudake
Manta ray floral display at the entrance of the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
A tropical fish (part of the Okinawa Ocean Expo Park Flower Festival) at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Entrance tickets to the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Camouflage grouper at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Splendid and spotted garden eels
A pair of seahorses at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
The main tank at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is nicknamed the "Kuroshio Sea" and it holds up to 2 million gallons of water (7.5 million liters)
A 25 foot long whale shark at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
An octopus at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Anderson's crocodile newt
Dolphin show at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Historic farmhouse at the Native Okinawan Village at Ocean Expo Park
Traditional Asian village on display at the Native Okinawan Village
Traditional residence at the Native Okinawan Village
The interior of a traditional Japanese thatched roof house at the Native Okinawan Village
Becky enjoying a pizza at Pizza in the Sky
A shisha terracotta guardian statue at Pizza in the Sky
A fat cat looking for leftover pizza at Pizza in the Sky
Entrance to the UNESCO world heritage Nakijin Castle
The Nakijin Castle Ruins (Nakijin Gusuku) is a historic fortress that was built between the 13th and 14th centuries
Bird's nest fern at the Nakijin Castle garden
Stairs leading to the ruins of Nakijin Castle (built from Ryukyu limestone)
A rainbow over the bridge leading to Kouri Island
The famous Heart Rock formations at Tinu Beach on Kouri Island
Coastal drive up to Yanbaru National Park
Coastal scenery on our drive up to the northern section of Okinawa
The Kayauchi-banta Cliff near Cape Hedo in Kunigami Village
"Monument of the Struggle for the Return of the Motherland" at Cape Hedo. This monument commemorates the efforts to reunite Okinawa with mainland Japan following the US administration post WWII
The Kariyushi Monument at Cape Hedo is a statue of a mythical creature with a bird's head and fish's body (representing friendship between Kunigami Village & Yoron Island)
Becky at Cape Hedo, the northernmost point of Okinawa Island
Cape Hedo faces the East China Sea on the west, and the Pacific Ocean on the east
Cartoon crab sign warning drivers about crabs crossing the road in this area
Panoramic view from the Ogimi Village Observation Deck (also known as Mutabaru Observatory)
Traffic warning sign alerting drivers to the potential presence of wild boars on the road
"Yuntanza Gama" is a "step kiln" shared by multiple potters to create traditional Okinawan earthenware known as "yachimun" at Yomitan Village
One of 70 pottery galleries/workshops at Yomitan Village
Robby enjoying free beer at Tokyo Inn, our hotel in Naha
Night scene on Kokusai Dori, the main shopping street in Naha
Souvenir t-shirts for sale on Kokusai Dori shopping street
Okinawa Aloha clothing stall
A fighter from Boxing Club Okinawa
Menu for Ryukyu Chuka Waon Naha Sakurazaka, a hidden Chinese izakaya (bar/tavern)
Mahjong table at Ryukyu Chuka Waon
Interior decor at Ryukyu Chuka Waon
Get here early if you want to get a seat at Ryukyu Chuka Waon Naha Sakurazaka!
A burger diner in Naha known for its American style comfort food
Okinawan restaurant's seafood tanks filled with live shellfish like turbans and clams
Bustling evening scene on Kokusai-dori shopping street. Known as "International Street," Kokusaidori is a vibrant 1.6 km long strip filled with lively shops and restaurants
Pedestrian overpass at a busy intersection in downtown Naha
Dropping off our bags at the ANA counter in Okinawa
Flying over the Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa
