Okinawa Trip Tips

[megaweb]

My family just went for 8 days Okinawa trip in June 2018. I found it too lengthy as some places are boring and tourist trap. So I decide to compile the places which are nice and worth to visit. I hope the below itinerary will be useful for those who are planning to go there.

Weather during Summer, same as Singapore.

Singapore Changi Airport to Okinawa Naha Airport - 5 hours flight

Transport : Self drive rental car

Duration : 6 days

(*) - Buy discount Couple Tickets at OTS Car Rental

Day 1
0200 - Flight to Okinawa in Singapore Time
0830 - Arrive Naha Airport
0900 - Pick up by OTS Car Rental (booked online)
1030 - Collect Rental Car
1100 - Visit Shurijo Castle Park (*)
1200 - Drive to American Village
1245 - Reach American Village and Lunch
1430 - Check in American Village Hotel
1530 - Explore American Village Town
1700 - Play at the Beach
1830 - Dinner
2000 - Back to American Village Hotel

Day 2
0800 - Breakfast
0900 - Check out Hotel
0915 - Journey to Cape Manzamo
1030 - Reach Cape Manzamo
1130 - Journey to Nago
1215 - Lunch at Nago (Nearby Neo Park)
1330 - Visit Nago Ryuku Glass Village (Glass Workshop)
1500 - Check in Nago Hotel
1800 - Dinner
1930 - Back to Nago Hotel

Day 3
0800 - Breakfast
0900 - Visit Churaumi Aquarium (*)
1100 - Dolphin Performance
1200 - Lunch at Aquarium
1330 - Visit Kouri Heart Shape Rock
1430 - Visit Kouri Ocean Tower
1530 - Visit Kouri Beach
1630 - Visit Bisesaki Beach
1830 - Dinner at Nago
1930 - Back to Nago Hotel

Day 4
0800 - Breakfast
0900 - Visit Motobu Genki Village - Feed Dolphins
1100 - Visit Motobu Genki Village - Dolphins Encounter
1230 - Lunch at Nago (nearby Neo Park)
1400 - Visit Neo Park Okinawa (Mini Zoo) (*)
1800 - Dinner at Nago
1900 - Back to Nago Hotel

Day 5
0800 - Breakfast
0900 - Visit Busena Marina Park (*) - Underwater Observation
1030 - Visit Busena Marina Park (*) - Coral adventure Cruise
1200 - Lunch at Nago (Nearby Neo Park)
1400 - Collect Items from Ryuku Glass Village
1500 - Visit Draft Beer Factory
1800 - Dinner at Nago
1900 - Back to Nago Hotel

Day 6
0600 - Breakfast
0700 - Check out Nago Hotel
0715 - Journey to Naha Airport
0930 - Return Rental Car
1000 - Check in Airport


Not Recommended Places
- Naha Underwater Cruise (depart at Naha Cruise Terminal)
- Okinawa World at Naha
- Pineapple Park at Nago
- Dino Park at Nago

 

[juxtaposition]

Agree! 1 week in Okinawa for non-divers is boring. But accommodation is cheap so can stay for longer period.

 

[Dexter71]

Many many thanks for taking the time to share.

We are going in Dec so the above is very helpful!

Might ask more questions in the coming months.

 

[evilerniex]

i feel like skipping okinawa altogether. dunno why, dun really have a good impression of it compared to the rest of Japan

i dun really like okinawa. it doesnt feel like japan.
while the beaches are nice, it is like any other tropical island. food is quite heavily influenced by chinese, so not really to my liking.

the only thing i like is the aquarium. having 3 whale sharks in a tank is really very spectacular

 

[gentoro]

Haha, on the other hand. I like Okinawa compare to Japan. Mainland tokyo and kyoto is way too overcrowded with tourist and locals. Expenditure higher in mainland also.

I love it cos cheaper in food and transport and way lesser people and Traffic when driving and exploring.

Well, to individual too. I prefer quieter, more beaches and lesser traffic jams... more relaxing... That's what a vacation should be (IMHO)

Btw, I going for 10days in Dec 2018...hehe...

 

[evilerniex]

Haha, on the other hand. I like Okinawa compare to Japan. Mainland tokyo and kyoto is way too overcrowded with tourist and locals. Expenditure higher in mainland also.

I love it cos cheaper in food and transport and way lesser people and Traffic when driving and exploring.

Well, to individual too. I prefer quieter, more beaches and lesser traffic jams... more relaxing... That's what a vacation should be (IMHO)

Btw, I going for 10days in Dec 2018...hehe...

i dislike crowded places also, so i really didnt enjoy kyoto. for me, tokyo and osaka are just stopover places for shopping at the end of the trip.

so far the places that i really enjoyed are kumano region and ibaraki. almost no international tourists, mainly just domestic tourist, and occasionally some taiwanese.

 

[juxtaposition]

Was tidying up the google map list. I will revisit soon.
Wait for the right price.

 

[Wilberttt]

Some places to see:
Cape Hedo
Cape Zanpa
Yohena Hydrangea Garden
Nakijin Castle
Kokusai Street

 

[gentoro]

Some places to see:
Cape Hedo
Cape Zanpa
Yohena Hydrangea Garden
Nakijin Castle
Kokusai Street

Thanks for recommendation

 

[ralliart_ray]

just booked my flight, hope to catch the sakuras at Okinawa next year

 

[JAPDestiny]

Can share how much to budget for 6 days trip for couple?
Jpn is expensive, so need to plan with budget.
Thinking to either go Okinawa or Taiwan in Sep.

 

[gentoro]

My last trip in okinawa was 6 days. I will cover the cost of meals and transport as I did drive for the 3 days - MPV but for your case just need a small swift or note to get around.

In SGD -
Transport:
1) 3 days small car - $60 x 3 days rentals and petrol ($50 for 3 days)
2) Monorail - $10 per pax for 3 days
3) Taxi to Airport - $10 to $15

Meals:
1) Budget BF at $2 to $4 per pax
2) Budget lunch at $5 to $8 per pax
3) Budget dinner at $5 to $8 per pax
Avg: $20 per day per pax sufficient to eat till you drop.

You also must account for places you go which need entry fee. Duno what you will going so have to search on that.

 

[JAPDestiny]

any hotel recommendation or area to zoom in while doing hotel booking?
I hv booked my flight for Sep

 

[juxtaposition]

I purposely stay in nago so I can explore that area. $40+/night so cheap

Upon collecting my car at airport, I chiong straight towards Nago, toll was 640yen.

any hotel recommendation or area to zoom in while doing hotel booking?
I hv booked my flight for Sep

 

[JAPDestiny]

I purposely stay in nago so I can explore that area. $40+/night so cheap
Upon collecting my car at airport, I chiong straight towards Nago, toll was 640yen.

What hotel is this?
As the flight fr SG lands 8am, was thinking 1st day to take monorail to somewhere in Naha and roam by foot and rent car the next day to drive further

 

[gentoro]

What hotel is this?
As the flight fr SG lands 8am, we plan to stay a nite at Nago first before driving further. Was thinking 1st day to take monorail to Nago and roam by foot and rent car the next day.

Monorail to Nago? U sure monorail got go that far?

 

[JAPDestiny]

heehee, sorry I meant Naha (city?) - edited my post.

Hmm So I can also consider to get rental car fr airport and go Nago directly..

 

[juxtaposition]

Yes. My last 2 days I stayed Naha so I can return the car in Naha and next day take taxi for early scoot flight.

heehee, sorry I meant Naha (city?) - edited my post.

Hmm So I can also consider to get rental car fr airport and go Nago directly..

 

[JAPDestiny]

Yes. My last 2 days I stayed Naha so I can return the car in Naha and next day take taxi for early scoot flight.

Thk you! Can you share what is the Nago hotel name that you've stayed, the one you posted $40+ per nite.

 

[manics]

is there a direct flight from singapore to okinawa?