5 Wonderful things to do in okinawa
An escape to a sun-soaked sub-tropical paradise is something that we all dream of, particularly when it feels like work in the city is never-ending. Okinawa, a wonderfully accessible island just off of Taiwan, was my first ever experience travelling to Japan. It gave me everything I’d hoped to experience, from amazing beaches, breathtaking views from atop capes and an indulgent few days of relaxation.
Although Okinawa is one of forty-seven of Japan’s prefectures, it is not typical of the Japan we all know and expect. It has its own history, culture, language and way of life that are entirely different than that of mainland Japan. From my three weeks on the island, I learned a few invaluable lessons that I feel are essential for those looking to make the most of their visit to Okinawa in the future. Here are 5 wonderful things you can do in Okinawa.
Cape Maeda
Cape Maeda is located near Onna Village (Coral Village), a village that sits on the northwest coast of Okinawa. The village is well known for its coral reefs and is the number one spot for both scuba divers and snorkelers.
One of the frequently mentioned things about Cape Maeda (Maeda Misaki) is that there are several vantage points to enjoy the views from; one being from the top of the cliff, formed from raised coral reefs and if you look over you’ll see an apparent hue of the cobalt blue views of the ocean. Beneath these raised coral reefs, you’ll also be able to snorkel or scuba dive through clear emerald-green waters where the coral reefs actually lie. Discovering the “Blue Cave” (Kumagaa Gama) will be the highlight.
A walk here can be enjoyed with beautiful scenery while soaking in the ocean breeze. Kayaking is also another way you can enjoy the cape where you can access the “Blue Cave” and enjoy a different scenery from the surface.
Get to Know The Ryukyu Kingdom at Shuri Castle
Before I travelled to Okinawa, I really had no idea that there was quite a significant influence of the Chinese dynasties; one being the famous Ming Dynasty we all know about in our history books (and sometimes in movies). Before there was a Ryukyu Kingdom, there was the Sanzan Period also known as the Three-Kingdom Period. Back then there was a gradual consolidation of powers under the Shō family who at the time ruled the middle kingdom, Chuzan. But Shō Hashi the last King of Chuzan in his conquest to take over the Kingdoms of Hokuzan in the north and Nanzan in the south, later unified the three kingdoms to become the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Though the kingdom was independent, the Kings of the Ryukyu Kingdom paid tributes to the rulers of China until the Satsuma domination in 1609. Many of the Ryukyuan officials are descended from Chinese immigrants, being born in China or having Chinese grandfathers. This was partly due to the Ming Dynasty having sent 68 Chinese families at the request of the Ryukyu Kingdom to manage Oceanic matters in the kingdom.
The rulers of the Ryukyu kingdom may be long gone but many of their finest works and legacy remain in splendid condition in the royal palace; Shuri Castle (首里城, Shurijō). A visit to this site should be included in your Okinawa itinerary – whether you’re into the history or not.
Want to know more about Okinawa before you visit, find out Everything You Need to Know here.
Fly through the Sky With Zip Slides
Forest Adventure Onna is located in Onna Village and it is almost in the centre of the Okinawa Prefecture. It’s also the only forest adventure in Okinawa that serves as the perfect opportunity to experience Okinawan wilderness at its fullest; while traversing from tree to tree with zip lining and bridge crossings. One of the longest zip slide course stretches 100 meters and were built overlooking the beautiful view of the turquoise ocean.
Top recommendation ~ If you are looking to explore Okinawa from up top with an eagle eye’s vantage point of the forest and the ocean, I recommend the Adventure course which includes the Jungle Trip course.
The Details
The Adventure course is the most difficult course in Forest Adventure Onna. It takes about two and a half hours, however, there are shortcuts to end the course midway to accommodate your physical strength.
There is a flat rate for adults and children; ￥3,800 per person but if you are taking the zip courses with a group of eight, it is ￥300 less.
Stroll Through a Botanical Garden
Pack your camera, because you’re going to be glad you brought it with you. The South East Botanical Gardens grow Alexander Palm trees of up to 25 meters. In mainland Japan, it can only grow in greenhouses. As you walk through the trees, the cool atmosphere will surely be felt and the sense of calmness as you breath in the air brings out your appreciation for this exotic plant. It is the perfect place to explore for nature lovers.
Before entering the botanical gardens, it rained and I had an episode of mosquito attacks, like I always do. Ironically my friend strolled through the gardens without a single bite. So if you plan to visit, best to apply a mosquito repellent or bring along tiger balm ointment. You’ll be thankful that you did.
The botanical gardens is not just home to palm trees, but it is home to farm animals and many other amazing plants like the lotus, baobab and the dragon blood trees. We were fortunate to witness the white and pink lotuses blooming in the ponds. At night, if you’re lucky, you may enjoy the gardens when it’s lighted up. I say lucky because they only light up the place at night twice a year.
Savour the Views from Zakimi Castle
Many have fallen for the charms of Okinawa and its unique history, and all of you reading this in anticipation of visiting will eventually succumb to its allure too.
Zakimi Castle was built in the 1400s by the Chuzan Kingdom where they once ruled over central Okinawa Honto. After the Chuzan Kingdom defeated the Hokuzan Kingdom in the north, the castle served as a defence structure against the rebels from the north. Eventually, the Chuzan Kingdom united both the islands and formed the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Today, what’s left of Zakimi Castle are ruins with impressive views of the ocean, Shuri Castle and Naha Port in the distance. It’s located on a hill in central Okinawa Honto, which is not far from Cape Zampa.
You may encounter fleeting interactions with other visitors with cameras hanging over their necks and maybe even glance and nod to a couple of newlyweds. Their hired photographer snaps candid photos of them as you gaze in awe at stone wall ruins; which is one of several UNESCO sites of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
You’ll know that there truly is something special here. Travel slowly, observe the serendipitous views of the subtropical summer of Okinawa, get lost rather than ticking off a bucket list, and get curious about the castles’ past and its stories. Stay until sunset, inhale the salty air and find the magic in those short moments before the day fully retires.
Fun Facts About Okinawa
1. Okinawa was the birthplace of Karate. Remember Mr Miyagi from the 1984 movie “Karate Kid”? The character is from Okinawa.
2. Okinawa has a language of its own called the Uchinaghuchi along with another Okinawan language that was born on the islands. Uchinaghuchi is most notable Okinawan language. After World War II, Japan took over the Ryukyu Islands and Okinawans were forced to only speak Japanese, as mainland Japanese were not able to understand the language at all.
3. It’s known for its tropical climate, broad beaches, beautiful coral reef and it’s World War II sites.
4. Okinawa is the largest island in the Ryukyu chain of islands south of mainland Japan.
5. The Shisa dogs usually come in pairs. One dog has its mouth open to ward off evil spirits out of homes and business buildings. The other dog has its mouth closed to keep the good spirits in homes and in business buildings. It is a common site to see a Shisa dog statue at every house and business buildings in Okinawa.
6. Okinawan is known for its longevity myth. There have been many types of research and debates about Okinawans having the highest life expectancy. The myth, however, have yet to be proven.
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Chugging Fresh Milk In Negeri Sembilan
The Best 4 Places to Eat in Okinawa
Spend a handful of days on this tropical island and you’ll quickly be struck by how laidback the beach atmosphere is. Okinawa provides the perfect vibe for the cafe culture to bloom and in fact, there is no shortage of quaint coffee shops and seaside eateries to enjoy a relaxing day in on the island. Here are four of the best places to eat in Okinawa that I highly recommend you try.
1. Teahouse By The Beach (Hamabe no Chaya)
Looking for a relaxing evening with a sunset ocean view? Then you need to drop by ‘Hamabe No Chaya’ also known as Teahouse by the Beach in English. Hamabe No Chaya is one of my favourites and I highly recommend dropping by this cafe and sampling their menu.
Getting to Hamabe no Chaya
True to its name, it literally is a teahouse by the beach. I recall the drive to finding this cafe was a very long one and it’s only because it is located in the northern region of the island, and that it was an hour away from where I stayed (central region). Before reaching to this cafe, you would have to drive through various narrow roads, and as you drive deeper, you will pass by several small towns, where eventually you’ll arrive to a mix of winding uphill roads.
The road will then lead you into an area to which seemed like an electrical appliance waste dump which could leave you wondering if you’re going the right way, but don’t despair because just a few meters away, you’ll find the cafe entrance hidden by overgrown plants on the left side of the road. On the opposite side is the parking area.
As you walk down the steps, the cafe sits under the trees on strong stacks of rustic stones and further down, are paved stone steps which were engraved on dried coral reef leading down to the beach. Guests usually hang around and take pictures there while waiting for their seats. Reservations are not available here, so my friend and I had to write our names on a board hanging by the entrance door of the cafe and wait for our turn to be seated.
On the drinks menu, you are spoiled for choice of hand-dripped coffee, Okinawa herbal tea, pineapple juice, passion fruit juice and much more. The cafe serves brunch sets too, like a grilled sandwich, scone set, and buttered toasts. They even have vegetarian pizza. If you fancy some sweets, they serve tofu gelato, handmade scones, chocolate cake, baked cheesecake and lots more.
Price ranges from 300 yen to 1,000 yen.
Get Directions to Hamabe No Chaya
2. A fusion of Thai – Vietnamese cuisine at Saai Roang, Yomitan
If you’ve had your fair share of tasting Okinawan speciality dishes and are looking to sample something different, Saai Roang is a place you might want to check out. This cosy and cute restaurant offers a fusion of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine with some of the best-recommended dishes being the pad thai, coconut milk pudding, coconut milk pudding with mango sauce, and spicy green papaya salad.
If you fancy something more filling, they serve fried rice with spicy fried chicken together with cashew nuts. I ordered rice and chicken with tom yum gravy and a hot Vietnamese coffee.
What I love about this restaurant is that all dishes are freshly cooked and served by the restaurant owner himself, which makes indulging in the meals even more special and knowing that they were made with care and passion.
When // Opens 6 days a week from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm except for Sundays. It’s easy to plan your day including Saai Roang as your lunch stop after a nice visit to major attractions in Yomitan such as the Zakimi Castle Ruin. Although Saai Roang is only about a one-minute drive from the park, best to reserve a seat at Saai Roang in advance so you can be sure to grab lunch here after you’re done visiting all the attractions.
Get Directions to Saai Roang, Yomitan
Know // While this post is about my most highly recommended eateries in Okinawa, I’ve shared recommendations on 5 wonderful things to do in Okinawa.
3. Savor Authentic Italian Food at Mintama
Mintama is an Italian restaurant that welcomes customers in a traditional-styled Japanese building located on a side street alley, which looks like a cosy home. As you walk to the entrance, a “target” sign hangs on a tree and invites you through wooden sliding glass doors where you’ll see wooden panel ceilings and wooden tables and chairs. It is the perfect place for dinner with the family, girlfriend’s night out or date nights. This is another restaurant in Yomitan-Son that I love and would recommend you to try.
Image credit: Hotomi and Love Satoyoma
Straight out of the menu, I ordered Balsamic Glazed Mahi. I loved that they made sure the fish was cooked to perfection. It was easy in the mouth, soft and large tomatoes drizzled with balsamic glazed was placed on top of the fish. Mintama served pastas, salads and other traditional Okinawan dish too.
How to Get to Mintama Ristorante, Okinawa
Use the Google Maps below to get directions to Mintama.
4. Have Tea at Suien Bakery
A reason to linger for longer in Okinawa is to have a casual evening tea, coffee and bread at cute eateries like Bakery Suien. Tucked in the back of a residential area and with the tomb and Zakimi Castle ruins just slightly beyond, this bakery is famed for its soft vegan bread and lunch set which includes salad, soup and a yummy sandwich. All breads and pastries are freshly baked and prepared upon placing an order.
The menu only offers two vegan lunch sets and after stealing glances at what was already on other guest’s plates, I decided to settle with soft bread, red pepper soup and tea. The only difficulty here is choosing the right time to drop by. It seems operational hours change frequently at Bakery Suein; according to several Tripadvisor reviewers. My experience was different from the reviewer’s in that, I was able to grab a seat when I arrived.
However, I must note that other seats quickly filled up as soon as my order arrived. Totalling out at 1,200¥ per set, the bakery proved to be one of my favourite eateries for a casual evening with the perfect setting.
Get Directions to Suien Bakery
Planning a trip to Okinawa soon? Find out everything you need to know before visiting Okinawa!
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