Okinawa Itinerary: 5 Days (With or Without Car)

When people dream of visiting an island paradise, rarely do their minds drift beyond the possibilities of the South Pacific or the Caribbean. So here's another possibility, with just as many beaches and tropical fruits, and some impressively good chocolates: the southernmost islands of Okinawa, Japan.

In Okinawa in winter, the climate is warm and temperate, and crowds are few & far between. What more could you want from an island getaway than sunny, warm weather, great food, and stunning beaches? See the 5 day Okinawa Itinerary below for more proof of the beauty.

Where Is Okinawa & When To Visit?

Let's start with the basics: Okinawa is the southernmost prefecture of Japan. Situated just a three hour flight south of Tokyo (or just over 2 hours from Seoul), Okinawa's capitol city of Naha is the place to be during Japan's hot summers.

In the winter, the Japanese tend to head east to Oahu, Hawaii, so their own island paradise approaches deserted levels of tourism (and has the prices to match!). It's hard to go wrong in such an interesting country.

But if you're looking to avoid Japan's famous crowds and still be able to enjoy the perks of an island getaway, head into Naha during January or February. Any given Okinawa winter itinerary will be very similar to what's below, as that's basically springtime weather in Japan, albeit during the dead of winter.

Okinawa's main island (also called Okinawa Island) is big, but can be super easy to navigate, especially if you download a few travel apps before arriving. Naha's downtown area is relatively quiet and has lots of bars to choose from when you're looking to go out, or markets to shop in when you're looking to ball out.

Not to turn this into just another Okinawa travel blog, but our first moments of the year were spent celebrating in an American bar on Naha's Kokusai Dori (Pub Street). Even though we were jet-lagged, we still got our party poppers!

Despite the American bars lining downtown Naha, there still aren't many non-Japanese people living on or visiting the islands, other than those in the US military (though there is a fair number of those).

So if you don't look East Asian and aren't loudly speaking English in public, then expect some strange looks during your visit (and maybe a bit of staring). It's all in plain curiosity.

But consider yourself warned: you will be an anomaly, especially if you visit at the peak of domestic Japanese tourism from June to August. Visiting southern Japan in winter is a less crowded experience overall, but can still be overwhelming.

So allow me to entice you to visit Okinawa in the winter, during off-season (between October and April) for lower prices and limited crowds, but with all the same island beauty. Below is our basic Okinawa itinerary for 5 days, as seen through the lens of my new camera.

A nice alternative to Okinawa, or even an extension of your trip, is to spend a week on Taiwan, which is just an hour's flight from Naha International Airport.

Winter Okinawa Itinerary: 5 Days

There are a few main areas on Okinawa Island (the largest landmass of Okinawa), as well as dozens of smaller islands off every coast. Spending 5 days on Okinawa, based on the mainland, is the perfect way to get a feel for the island prefecture.

If you're visiting Japan in winter, then it's also the perfect way to get a short but distinctly different perspective on the country's many micro-climates. In this 5 day Okinawa itinerary, I'll take you around three cities in the southern half of the main island, and on a day trip to one of the smaller islands off the coast.

This schedule assumes you arrive either early in the morning or late on the prior evening, and that you're trying to travel Okinawa without a car. It offers the perfect balance of tropical island life, beach time, and traditional Japanese culture.

• Okinawa Day 1: the Pineapple Park and Tropical Dream Center
• Okinawa Day 2: Churaumi Aquarium, Emerald Beach, Todoroki Waterfall
• Okinawa Day 3: Chatan American Village for chocolate, Ferris Wheel, Sunset over the Pier, Kokusai Dori
• Okinawa Day 4: Tokashiki Island day trip
• Okinawa Day 5: Shurijo Castle, First Makishi Public Market, (Mario Cart Racing,) Fukyushen Gardens and Temple

Procedure For Arrival At Naha Airport

The hub of Okinawa is in the southern city of Naha; therefore all incoming flights will initially arrive at Naha International Airport. Just fifteen to twenty minutes from downtown, Naha Airport is very easily navigable.

Busy markets and short white houses guide the vibe here, while Buddhist temples and gardens fill every space with color. The city is small, but potent (not to mention beachside). But if you'll arrive early in the morning with the intent of following this exact Okinawa itinerary, you'll be immediately leaving Naha city behind.

That is, for now. Arriving at the airport, take the bus from Kokusai Senryokaku Terminal towards the north (look for this: 那覇～名護), going 18 stops to arrive at Nago Shiyakushomae Bus Stop. This trip will take 2 hours.

We found the staff at Okinawa airport to be very friendly, so just ask around If you can't find the bus stop. Japanese for bus is "buh-seo," and they'll recognize the bus name indicated above (or know someone else who recognizes it).

If you arrive really late at night, I'd advise spending the night near Naha Airport first, and taking this trip first thing in the morning.

Okinawa Itinerary: 2 Days in Nago

Nago Travel Highlights: Emerald Beach, Nago Pineapple Park, and the Tropical Dream Center Gardens.

Just like with any other new city, the first thing you should do is check into your guesthouse in downtown Nago. If you're not doing an Okinawa self drive (as we did on our first visit), then make sure you choose a spot near the bus terminal so that it's easy to get around the entire island.

Nago is most famous for its pineapples and the massive Churaumi Aquarium. Stay in central Nago if you don't have a car, or on the west coast of the city if you do.

Nago itself doesn't have a large downtown area, but it does have decent public transportation and a large selection of restaurants. Once you arrive, walk around the area where you're staying and get acquainted with the quaintness.

Itinerary Okinawa Day 1 (Nago Pineapple Park & Gardens)

Though the beach is so very blue, in the dead of winter in Okinawa it's still too cold to swim. There is still scuba diving in the area, but it's a bit too cold for stand up paddle boarding or snorkeling without a wet suit.

So the Pineapple Park would be my first stop on a free afternoon, with its child-sized self-driving pineapples, orchids everywhere, and a bevy of delicious samples.

We bought lots of full-sized sweets, and enjoyed all the beautiful orchids blooming everywhere. A good alternative in pineapple off-season (wintertime) is Fruits Land; it's right next to Pineapple Park. Either way, don't miss the delicious pineapple jam and pineapple soft serve ice cream!

Once you've had your fill of the fruits, head over to the Tropical Dream Center Gardens for a look at all of the beautiful and useful plants they can & do grow on the islands. It's open every day until 7pm, and after watching sunset from the top of the tower, you can head back to your hotel and grab dinner. 

During low season you'll want to eat earlier rather than later, as many restaurants are closed all winter. I'd recommend heading to dinner before 7pm, or you may find yourself without an evening meal!

Itinerary Okinawa Day 2 (Aquarium, Waterfall, Castle)

Visiting Churaumi Aquarium was one of the highlights of our trip to Okinawa, especially since I hadn't been to an aquarium since I was a kid. The biggest tip I have is to arrive at 8:15am before it opens and walk in right at 8:30am with your ticket in hand.

This is how we were able to see all the attractions with maybe a dozen other people, and snag a table next to the whale shark tank for optimal selfies. And these crowds were during our first Okinawa trip, in the winter (low season by far).

Kids were oohing and ahhhing all over the place, and sometimes we felt like we were getting just ahead of the proper tours. We always saw massive crowds entering when we left an exhibit, managing to hit anywhere between 30 and 5 minutes before the crowd at each exhibit and the beach.

Sometimes it felt like we were inadvertently leading an Asian tour group on a lag. This is an exceedingly kid-friendly attraction.

From Churaumi, walk down the beach and soak in some rays before grabbing lunch. The most fun exhibits for us were the whale sharks, bioluminescent jelly fish, and the dolphin show. The weather was stunning during our whole trip, and I hope you have the same experience.

While it's still daytime, take the bus from Churaumi after lunch, heading directly towards Todoroki Waterfall. This gorgeous natural body of water is the perfect spot to cool off during the Okinawan summer, and a lovely place to enjoy Okinawan nature outside of the beaches.

Head back downtown once you've gotten your fill of water activities, and watch sunset from the park. Since it's such a popular spot, you're sure to find a restaurant open nearby for dinner. You'll spend tonight in Nago, but be ready to head back south first thing in the morning!

Itinerary Okinawa Day 3 (American Village + Heading to Naha)

After leaving your accommodations the next morning, you'll grab a bus heading towards Chatan American Village (continued below).

Okinawa Itinerary: 3 Days in Naha

Naha Travel Highlights: Makishi Market, Shuri Castle, and Fukyushu-en Gardens.

Busy markets and short white houses guide the vibe in Naha, while Buddhist temples and gardens fill every space with color. But since Nago and Naha are a solid 2 hours apart, on the way back down to Okinawa's capitol city I recommend stopping in Chatan for the afternoon.

This small outpost is well-known by American expats since it's extremely close to the American military base in Okinawa. Forced to merely pass through American Village after thinking that it was a massive community of Americans largely ignoring Japanese culture, we instantly regretted it.

During January, the coastal town of Chatan is like the US's Cape Cod area in the springtime, but the heat hits hard in the summer months.

If you rent a car as we did during our first trip to Okinawa, be sure to stop in at Timeless Chocolate, the island's first bean-to-bar chocolate maker. Grab a coffee or hot chocolate while looking right out over the ocean. We managed to pass through the area both on our way up the coast, and on our way back down.

Depending on how early you arrive & depart, be sure to check out Timeless Chocolate Maker, the ferris wheel, and try to catch sunset over the pier.

Checking into your hotel in Naha, drop your bags and head straight for the downtown stretch. Look for a guesthouse as close to the city center as possible, as the downtown area is very navigable by foot, but still rather large.

Our favorite market area in downtown Naha is along Kokusai Dori (Pub Street), and it's hard to miss!

Itinerary Okinawa Day 4 (Day Trip Off The Coast)

Most people never make it off the main island of Okinawa, but there are a number of tiny islands just off the coast. The most popular island to visit from Naha city is Tokashiki Island, which is just a one hour ferry ride from the city's main port.

Tokashiki Island is famous for its scuba diving sites, but it's also popular with snorkelers, and anyone who loves a flawless white sand beach. If you're interested in visiting one of the islands closer to Nago, simply make this day trip on day 2 of the itinerary rather than on day 4.

Some readers who took longer trips have also noted loving Taketomi Island, just off the coast of Ishigaki Island. The two isles are part of the Yaeyama Islands, known as the remotest part of Japan from the main islands, and containing Japan's most southern inhabited island (Hateruma Island).

Itinerary Okinawa Day 5 (Naha's Main Attractions)

Assuming you're leaving late at night on day 5 or early the next morning, we'll stay in town on your last of these 5 days in Okinawa. Today you'll start at Shurijo Castle, a historic park just a 20 minute metro ride from downtown Naha.

After making your way back from the grounds of Shurijo Castle, your next stop is back in downtown Naha, at First Makishi Public Market. This is a great spot to grab lunch and then walk around looking at all of the local seafood options and local Okinawan foods.

Unlike most of the markets in Naha, this one isn't focused only on souvenirs!

But if food markets aren't your thing, just walking around Naha city is still a beautiful sight. Very few buildings are much taller than 5 stories (unlike in bustling but beautiful Tokyo), making it quite the unique place in Japan.

One day while walking from our hotel to the downtown area to catch the metro, we got a big surprise— check out these real-life Mario Cart racing! The catch is, you need an international drivers' licence before you can go out on the open road in these babies. Also, keep in mind that they drive on the left in Japan.

After leaving behind those speed racers in the downtown area, make your way over to the Fukyushen Gardens and Temple. Ahhh, bliss. This is a serene spot off the main drag, featuring fish ponds and a traditional Buddhist Temple. Tip: go at sunset, after most everyone has left; they're open 'til 6pm.

After walking around Fukyushen for a bit, head back to the main strip and grab dinner before heading to the airport or back to your hotel to prepare for departure.

Okinawa Itinerary: Practical Info

Best Time to Visit Okinawa

In terms of weather, there is no bad time to visit Okinawa (unless you hate humidity). There are, however, better seasons to visit Okinawa in terms of number of other visitors and seasonal attractions.

The shoulder seasons of September/October & April/May (aside from Golden Week starting at the end of April) are the best times to visit Okinawa for fewer tourists & longer hours of operation for the most popular attractions.

If you visit Okinawa in summertime (June-August), you'll find very high prices and lots of people on tours, but the weather will also be very hot, and all of the Okinawa main attractions will be open. It's also peak pineapple season!

Visiting from November to March is also quite nice weather-wise, but it is off-season for most fruits and some hotels & restaurants will be completely closed at this time. Some attractions will also have limited hours of operation.

Okinawa Safety Level: 9/10

Just like mainland Japan, Okinawa is an extremely safe place to travel to. But in the high season, it's still important to keep an eye on your belongings, as the sheer volume of other visitors can be overwhelming in the summertime.

Okinawa 5 Days Travel Budget

Japan is not a cheap place to travel. I'd recommend budgeting at least $100USD per day to travel Okinawa, and a little more if you're traveling during high season. Traveling Okinawa solo will run you even a little more, unless you're willing to stay in hostels.

Note that the current exchange rate is roughly ¥129 per $1USD, and the Okinawa budget below is for one person traveling in a couple.

-Lodging: $250USD
-Transport: $60USD (assuming you're only using public transportation; flights are so varied in cost that those are not included in this budget)
-Activities: $140USD (including day trip off the coast)
-Food: $100USD
Total: $550USD

FAQ About Okinawa Travel