Okinawa

[chemcutie]

Erm... just wanted to get some help on okinawa...
suppose to attend a wedding in Okinawa sometimes in Sep (yes, it's rather early now and it's the typhoon season then... but apparently my frens book the date as such)...

With regards to flight, Cathay seems to be running a promo now... does anyone know if a 1.5hrs transit time in HK is sufficient ? The next shortest transit time is 6.5hrs...

If I dun drive is it easy to go ard the place? The venue is aquagrace...

Am considering gg 5d4n (Thurs to Mon) with her wedding being on a Friday... is there any recommended places I shld go too? Is this enough ? Or shld I extend ?

Thanks in advance

 

[evilerniex]

is the place accessible by public transport?

it is easier to get ard using car in okinawa, coz public transport not so frequent and may not cover some places.

1.5hr transit shld be ok.. i have done it before.

5d4n is quite alright to cover okinawa. most popular attraction is the churaumi aquarium. can spend almost the whole day there if u explore the ocean expo park around it.

 

[Derlei09]

Erm... just wanted to get some help on okinawa...
suppose to attend a wedding in Okinawa sometimes in Sep (yes, it's rather early now and it's the typhoon season then... but apparently my frens book the date as such)...

With regards to flight, Cathay seems to be running a promo now... does anyone know if a 1.5hrs transit time in HK is sufficient ? The next shortest transit time is 6.5hrs...

If I dun drive is it easy to go ard the place? The venue is aquagrace...

Am considering gg 5d4n (Thurs to Mon) with her wedding being on a Friday... is there any recommended places I shld go too? Is this enough ? Or shld I extend ?

Thanks in advance

Wow, your friend is Japanese or is she marrying a Japanese?

Anyway, another attraction is the Orion Brewery if you are a fan of Japanese beers

 

[MajiMax]

Don't have to be Japanese to host wedding there.

Google Okinawa wedding chapel, see its view.

 

[kifo]

Erm... just wanted to get some help on okinawa...
suppose to attend a wedding in Okinawa sometimes in Sep (yes, it's rather early now and it's the typhoon season then... but apparently my frens book the date as such)...

With regards to flight, Cathay seems to be running a promo now... does anyone know if a 1.5hrs transit time in HK is sufficient ? The next shortest transit time is 6.5hrs...

If I dun drive is it easy to go ard the place? The venue is aquagrace...

Am considering gg 5d4n (Thurs to Mon) with her wedding being on a Friday... is there any recommended places I shld go too? Is this enough ? Or shld I extend ?

Thanks in advance

looks quite remote... you need to take a taxi if you are not driving (just be prepared to $$$)
http://en.okinawastory.jp/facility/aquagrace-chapel

 

[chemcutie]

looks quite remote... you need to take a taxi if you are not driving (just be prepared to $$$)
http://en.okinawastory.jp/facility/aquagrace-chapel

Ya I check the location it's rather off the beaten track... and there like no public transport there... will be staying near there the night before the wedding then after wedding lunch, we go stay in city le...

Stay city which hotels do u all recommend?

They are both Taiwanese but we all met when we were there for Japanese course...

Cathay now is selling @640sgd~ price seems okie I guess... the only setback is one flight per day... so if got delay and I miss flight I miss the wedding...

 

[MajiMax]

Ya I check the location it's rather off the beaten track... and there like no public transport there... will be staying near there the night before the wedding then after wedding lunch, we go stay in city le...

Stay city which hotels do u all recommend?

They are both Taiwanese but we all met when we were there for Japanese course...

Cathay now is selling @640sgd~ price seems okie I guess... the only setback is one flight per day... so if got delay and I miss flight I miss the wedding...

Can consider China Airlines (TW's airliner not PRC airliner) SGD500+ nia, touch down le can get monorail pass, for first night, it is count by 24hrs instead of calendar day.

 

[chemcutie]

Can consider China Airlines (TW's airliner not PRC airliner) SGD500+ nia, touch down le can get monorail pass, for first night, it is count by 24hrs instead of calendar day.

I dun really like china airlines (paiseh) and Eva timing not good... actually both flights from Taipei reach rather late leh... which is why I am considering Cathay... since touch down le I need to go hotel near the chapel... and I still dunno how to go... read got bus to hotel beside it... http://en.okinawastory.jp/access/transportation_in_okinawa/bus/ area B should be talking this...

din wanna go for budget cos tt time is typhoon time and I dun wan the hassle of not being able to fly there or back... (read the 'horror' stories of the scoot Sapporo thing, so I wanna play safe since I gg alone) and the cost actually not much diff...

Yup I will be buying the 24hrs pass to explore the Naha after the wedding has taken place... the monorail goes to the airport too right ? Is it convenient to take with luggages ?

 

[evilerniex]

I dun really like china airlines (paiseh) and Eva timing not good... actually both flights from Taipei reach rather late leh... which is why I am considering Cathay... since touch down le I need to go hotel near the chapel... and I still dunno how to go... read got bus to hotel beside it... http://en.okinawastory.jp/access/transportation_in_okinawa/bus/ area B should be talking this...

din wanna go for budget cos tt time is typhoon time and I dun wan the hassle of not being able to fly there or back... (read the 'horror' stories of the scoot Sapporo thing, so I wanna play safe since I gg alone) and the cost actually not much diff...

Yup I will be buying the 24hrs pass to explore the Naha after the wedding has taken place... the monorail goes to the airport too right ? Is it convenient to take with luggages ?

yup, the monorail goes to the airport. no problem with luggage. unfortunately, the monorail only serves naha city and most of the attractions in okinawa is outside of naha, so u will be relying more on the buses most of the time.

strongly suggest u drive if u have a licence. except for naha city, the traffic outside of naha is very light, so it is a breeze to drive. are there are many coastal roads and scenic bridges to drive on

 

[Derlei09]

I remember so time back, probably a few years ago, there were direct flights from Changi airport to Okinawa.

What happened?

Anyways, if I read and seen articles about okinawa and most of them say that the other islands are more beautiful than the main island due to the beautiful beaches, scenic coasts and no pollution

 

[Quasar]

I remember so time back, probably a few years ago, there were direct flights from Changi airport to Okinawa.

What happened?

Anyways, if I read and seen articles about okinawa and most of them say that the other islands are more beautiful than the main island due to the beautiful beaches, scenic coasts and no pollution

The direct flights were chartered silkair if I recall correctly for Tour agencies to sell as packaged tours.

As for TS, if you buy in a single ticket from Cathay website, they will usually delay the OKA flight if your incoming flight is delayed for any reason because otherwise they have to accommodate you or transfer you to another airliner since don't think they fly daily to OKA.

You can try booking multiple leg on Cathay and choose an earlier flight if you are worried about the connection time, but 1.5hrs is generally sufficient as you don't go through immigration at HKG and if the connection is very tight due to late arrival they will have ground staff there to guide you. (Ground staff there are very experienced at this due to frequent delays from PRC connections)

 

[chemcutie]

Thanks all for ur advice... I will take Cathay de 7hrs layover then... go shopping at airport... since my main intention is the wedding... so I guess better to be safe then sorry...

As for where to go, the beach near the chapel I will be staying there for one night... and I intend to go the aquarium too... others I haven really plan yet... so many once I get down to things will get more advice de...

At least I settle tic first I scare later go up 1k+...

 

[Deathskull88]

lol, Naha for the Taiwanese is like Penang to us here, quite convenient for them to go there. Been to Cape Zanpa before, is pretty nice place, can see why they want to hold their wedding near there.

Relish the chance to explore Okinawa, fly domestic to the outlying islands, do some driving, diving, swimming, tanning, cycling, stargazing, paragliding. Could easily spend 2 weeks there if enough budget lol

 

[chemcutie]

lol, Naha for the Taiwanese is like Penang to us here, quite convenient for them to go there. Been to Cape Zanpa before, is pretty nice place, can see why they want to hold their wedding near there.

Relish the chance to explore Okinawa, fly domestic to the outlying islands, do some driving, diving, swimming, tanning, cycling, stargazing, paragliding. Could easily spend 2 weeks there if enough budget lol

Ya I saw the pics too... really looks nice the place... u stay near that area?

Normally budget can try to accommodate de, but it's the leaves that is the issue... I just change jobs so only 15days and I am taking 7days in feb to go Sapporo le... so I left with 8 days... dun intend to use it all for Okinawa... one year two trips a bit too little... HahHa

 

[Deathskull88]

Ah ok, I feel ya, lack of leave is a total bummer.

Nah, I did not stay near there, I stayed pretty near Churaumi, 15mins drive away.
Like some of us mentioned, best if you drive, public transport there has either limited reach or takes up time.

You could also try to go to the Kerama Islands, a ferry ride away from Naha.

 

[gundam9]

1. 5 hrs enough for transit


If slightly delayed the next aircraft will wait for u

If v delayed CX will put u on the next flight

No pt waiting for 7 hrs

Okinawa get a car. Lot more convenient

One thing i dont like abt Okinawa is the food

Not the usual Japanese fare so its sad......

But orion beer is good!

Sent from Motorola MOTO G (4) using GAGT

 

[evilerniex]

1. 5 hrs enough for transit


If slightly delayed the next aircraft will wait for u

If v delayed CX will put u on the next flight

No pt waiting for 7 hrs

Okinawa get a car. Lot more convenient

One thing i dont like abt Okinawa is the food

Not the usual Japanese fare so its sad......

But orion beer is good!

Sent from Motorola MOTO G (4) using GAGT

i also didnt like the okinawa food. especially all the pig parts.. very chinese

 

[Quasar]

1. 5 hrs enough for transit


If slightly delayed the next aircraft will wait for u

If v delayed CX will put u on the next flight

No pt waiting for 7 hrs

Okinawa get a car. Lot more convenient

One thing i dont like abt Okinawa is the food

Not the usual Japanese fare so its sad......

But orion beer is good!

Sent from Motorola MOTO G (4) using GAGT

I believe Cathay/Dragon only has 1 flight on alternate days to Okinawa. OP is there to attend a wedding, if there were a rare mis-connection, OP will have to wait 2 days for the next flight by CX.

Given the occasion I think it's understandable to do a longer layover to be on the safe side.

To OP: If you've already booked your tickets it pays to check your reservations a month or so before departure since its 9 months to go. Flight timings may change and you can always call Cathay to rebook if they change dates or timings and the flights become unsuitable.

I'm surprised the food is not well received. I haven't been to Okinawa myself but I frequent the Okinawa restaurant at the basement of Liang Court. I rather like the food there. Is it authentic or has it been localised? I think the food in Okinawa is a fusion of everything in the region given the geopolitical history of the islands.

 

[chemcutie]

I believe Cathay/Dragon only has 1 flight on alternate days to Okinawa. OP is there to attend a wedding, if there were a rare mis-connection, OP will have to wait 2 days for the next flight by CX.

Given the occasion I think it's understandable to do a longer layover to be on the safe side.

To OP: If you've already booked your tickets it pays to check your reservations a month or so before departure since its 9 months to go. Flight timings may change and you can always call Cathay to rebook if they change dates or timings and the flights become unsuitable.

I'm surprised the food is not well received. I haven't been to Okinawa myself but I frequent the Okinawa restaurant at the basement of Liang Court. I rather like the food there. Is it authentic or has it been localised? I think the food in Okinawa is a fusion of everything in the region given the geopolitical history of the islands.

In the end I book 20th sep cx flight to go... taking the 1.5hr transit option... due to the one day buffer and shorter transit time... when I did the booking it seems they have flights everyday to okinawa from HK... u mean they will change this? I hope not...

So tentatively I will spend the
1st day (20th) at Naha city... shld be walking ard Kokusai Dori...
2nd day (21st) go the beach hotel near Aquagrace to nua
3rd day (22nd) wedding lunch, after tt go nearby Churaumi Aquarium and. Stay there
4th day (23rd) back to Naha Shuri castle ???
5th day (24th) last min shopping, mid day flight back

 

[Quasar]

Oh, maybe it's a seasonal thing. For Winter/Spring 2017 their scheduled flights are 4x weekly on Wed, Thur, Sat, Sun. HKG-OKA

They may change their schedules as and when they like, just unlike budget they are obliged to accommodate you when it's their fault. They may change planes around and all that, 9 months is plenty of time for schedule changes, sometimes it's just 1/2 hour earlier etc so nothing to worry about.