Need to know the absolute essentials before you travel to Okinawa? This handy cheat sheet has got you covered.

Top Sights in Okinawa

Cape Manzamo located near the Onna village has been a long-time favourite of both Japanese and international travellers while Kerama Island offers world-class diving and top-class visibility waters that are within reach of Okinawa’s mainland.

The History and Heritage of Okinawa

Rope in the open ocean, which also means Okinawa in Japanese. It’s referred to a chain along the China Sea from Kagoshima to Taiwan which forms the entire island.

Okinawa is now firmly established as Asia’s best alternative island paradise, but there is an interesting order of succession between eras. First, the Sanzan Era, which lasted from the 13th to the 15th century, The Great Trading Era of the Ryukyu Kingdom, World War Two and present-day Okinawa.

The Sanzan Era is known as the era that developed three major political spheres; the Northern Kingdom of Hokuzan, centrally located Chuzan, and Nanzan in the south. All three had a hand in trading with China’s Ming Dynasty where eventually, some elements of the culture were adopted.

In 1429, the king of Chuzan, Sho Hashi united all three kingdoms that became the Ryukyu Kingdom which then lasted for more than 400 years. Like many kingdoms in history, it eventually fell under the control of mainland Japan in 1606, when the forces of Satsuma (present-day Kagoshima Prefecture) invaded the Kingdom in 1591. In the advent of the Meiji Era from 1868 – 1912, the Ryukyu Kingdom was abolished along with its culture and language and was officially designated the Okinawa Prefecture in 1879. Today the Gusuku sites and the properties related to the Ryukyu Kingdom including the Shurijo Castle have earned UNESCO World Heritage status.

In the final stages of WWII in 1945, Okinawa was a fierce battleground and many lives were lost. When the war ended, Okinawa was placed under the control of the US until it was returned back to Japan in 1972.

What is the Life Expectancy in Okinawa?

Believe it or not, for every 100,000 inhabitants, Okinawa has 68 centenarians and by Japanese standards, Okinawans are extraordinary. They have an astounding 40% chance of living up to 100 years old than most Japanese people. Scientists have recently discovered that the Okinawan food ratio is 10:1 carbohydrate to protein, which is quite the opposite of various popular diets that advocate high protein and low carb.

Main Language Spoken

For modern-day Okinawans, Japanese is the main language they speak, however, it isn’t a native language for their grandparents. Older Okinawans continue to speak five different languages with distinct dialects that are based on the island and the insular regions, that collectively make up the Ryukyuan language; Amami, Okinawan, Miyako, Yaeyama, Yonaguni. Though these languages are on the verge of extinction, their presence and cultural importance live on and can be seen in signages, in music, in the name of a place and even in the names of Okinawans themselves.

However, it is not uncommon to meet people who speak English, especially in hotels, and tourist facilities.

Useful Words to Use in Okinawa

Hello: Haisai / Haitai. はいさい / はいたい

Good Day: Chuu Wuganabira. ちゅーをぅがなびら

Goodbye: Guburii Sabira. ぐぶりーさびら

Sorry: Wassaibiin. わっさいびーん

Thank you: Nifee Deebiru. 御拝（にふぇー）でーびる

Yes: Uu. うう

No: Wouwou. をぅーをぅー

Said before you start eating: Kwatchiisabira. くゎっちーさびら

Cheers! (when drinking): Karii! 嘉例（かりー）

Currency and Exchange Rate

The official currency used in Okinawa is the Japanese Yen. However many shops and restaurants in central Okinawa near US military bases except US Dollar, though it is not recommended as the currency rate is not favourable.

RM 1 = ￥31.69

Must Try Food and Drinks in Okinawa

• Kamaboko (seafood) – made by grinding, kneading and steaming white fish. Unlike how it is served in other areas, in Okinawa it is served fried with additional ingredients such as burdock root and carrot. Can be eaten as a side dish and as an ingredient in miso soups or as part of other dishes.
• Okinawa Soba (non-Halal) – also known as Okinawa Ramen, consists of thick noodles like udon but slightly twisted.
• Rafute (non-halal) – braised pork cubes, made with skin-on pork belly stewed in soy sauce and brown sugar.
• Goya Chanpuru (non-halal) – ‘goya’ Okinawan Bitter Melon also known as the ‘king of summer vegetables. It’s a special dish served with stir-fry bitter gourd slices, with pork and tofu.
• Umibudo (seafood) – meaning ‘sea grapes’ in Japanese. Sometimes called green caviar due to its shape, is typically eaten raw dipped in soy sauce and vinegar as the sauce. When you eat it, you’ll experience puchi puchi, a popping sensation, similar to ikura (salmon roe). Can also be eaten as a garnish for sashimi or with a bowl of rice and sanbaizu vinegar.
• Sata Andagi (sweet snack) – also known as Okinawan doughnuts is a type of deep-fried sweet. The spherical-shaped doughnut is made of sweet batter and is typically considered a good luck snack at weddings and other celebrations. The air bubbles in the crumb and the density of the dough make for a yummy filling with a crunchy surface.
• Okinawa Zenzai (dessert) – in mainland Japan, zenzai or oshiruko are made using red beans, rice cakes and shiratama rice flour dumplings in bean paste. The Okinawa Zenzai uses kintoki beans are boiled with sugar and brown sugar followed by the shiratama dumplings and shaved ice as the topping to complete the dessert.
• Hyouka/ Pineapple Ice Cream – Okinawa is popular for pineapples and especially in the summer the pineapple-flavoured ice cream is a go-to thirst quencher.

If you’re ever in Okinawa and would like to sample some of Okinawa’s cafe scene, try Hamabe No Chaya!

Transport Options

Navigating Okinawa is fairly easy. Although I mainly moved around by car, the public transportation such as the Yui Rail, busses and taxis are all well connected, especially in mainland Okinawa. You’ll find that it is indeed convenient to get around between destinations. However, rental bicycles, cars and motorcycles are the better alternatives for trips off the beaten paths and remote beaches in Okinawa.

Can I see it in a month?

Although, I stayed in Okinawa for three weeks, most of Okinawa can be covered in ten to fourteen days. It took me three full days to get a feel of the prefecture and it was one of my best trips. Read more about my Okinawa trip here.

Can I drink the tap water?

Yes, drinking from the tap water in Okinawa is safe, however it is hard water, which means for those who don’t like the smell of the chlorine, best to avoid it and get a bottled water instead.

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