Okinawa itineraries

Shuri to Kokusai-dori

A Naha day on the monorail alone, no car needed. Shuri's stone walls in the morning, soba for lunch, the market and back alleys after, and the Naminoue cliff at sunset. Built for anyone with a single free day on a stopover.

South Coast, Central Sea

A rental-car weekend: the sacred sites and caves south of the airport on day one, the Blue Cave and west-coast cliffs on day two. Base yourself at Chatan's American Village, a minute's walk from the sunset beach and the night strip.

Two Nights in Motobu

Skip Naha and base yourself up north. Sleep next to the aquarium and you have the whale sharks nearly to yourself at the 8:30 opening. Kouri Bridge, Nakijin Castle and the Fukugi tree lane are all within half an hour's drive.

Festivals & seasons

• 1 — Japan's earliest cherry blossoms
• 1 — Humpback whale season
• 3 — Spring and beach opening
• 5 — Naha Hari dragon boat races
• 5 — Rainy season
• 8 — 10,000 Eisa Dance Parade
• 9 — Okinawa Zento Eisa Festival
• 9 — Typhoon season
• 10 — Naha Great Tug-of-War
• 10 — Shuri Castle Festival
• 11 — Shuri Castle main hall reopens
• 12 — Naha Marathon

Souvenirs

• Beni-imo purple sweet potato tarts
• Chinsuko shortbread and Yukishio (snow salt) chinsuko
• Awamori (Zanpa White or Black)
• Yachimun pottery and a pair of shisa
• Ryukyu glass
• Shikuwasa juice and black sugar
• Yukishio snow salt from Miyako Island