What are the fun things to do in Okinawa, Japan?

Okinawa’s original name is the Ryukyu Kingdom. It has been a vassal state of China during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Okinawa is now the southernmost prefecture in Japan, and its dimensions are similar to Fuzhou, Fujian, China.

The main island of Okinawa is a long and narrow island, mainly divided into southern, central and northern parts. It is the political and cultural center of Okinawa.

In the south, with Naha City as the center, history and culture are integrated with modern cities. ?

In the middle, there are Yomitan, where pottery flourishes, and Chatan, which has American culture. It is a fashionable gathering place for young people.

In the north, there is a rich natural environment, home to the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and the resort hotel area on the west coast, making it the best destination for leisure and vacation.

(1) How to play in the central and northern part of the main island of Okinawa

Manzamo is one of the best landscapes in Okinawa Prefecture. It means "a grassland that can accommodate ten thousand people to sit down." The majestic nature of the cliffs formed by the raised coral reefs of Elephant Head and the huge waves crashing against the rocks on the shore are all visible.

When you cross the long Kouri Bridge and land on the island

you will definitely be amazed by the beautiful scenery that appears in front of you

The refreshing and moving offshore island

< p>Stand straight sugar cane forest

Quint old Okinawa buildings

The sea with light waves under the sun

Just take a beautiful scenery photo

Many famous movies and advertisements

Kouri Island is also the first choice for shooting exterior scenes

Introducing the Kuroshio (Pacific Warm Current) water in the Ryukyu Islands

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Has many reputations

The world’s largest acrylic viewing window

It is known as the world’s largest aquarium The aquarium with the largest tonnage and the largest species of sharks in the world

The aquarium with the largest number of fish species

The world's largest fish "whale shark" swims in it

It is the star of the aquarium

In 7500 cubic meters of seawater

3 huge whale sharks over 7 meters will swim freely above your head

At first American Village

It is a commercial area designed to facilitate the lives of officers and soldiers on the US military base

It has now been transformed into one of the prosperous areas in Okinawa

The village has a number of shopping and entertainment areas Facilities

The Ferris wheel is the landmark building here

Everything is in pure American style

You will only feel that you are in the United States rather than Okinawa

< p>(2) How to play in the southern part of Okinawa Main Island

Festivals best reflect the local culture. If you can catch up with the local festivals, it will be a very good travel harvest.

(3) 6 kinds of niche outlying island games

In imagination, since it is an island, it must be a row of bars and hotels along the coast, sunshine, beach, bikini, and then night Ye Shengge~

The fact is that the Japanese have turned this island into a serious city, although you can smell the fishy and slightly salty sea breeze as soon as you get off the plane~.

Modern modern shopping malls are only one side of Okinawa. Those historical buildings from the Ryukyu period reflect another side of Japan. The main island of Okinawa and the more than 100 surrounding outlying islands are where its charming scenery lies today. !

The Pastoral Idyll of Yaeyama

The Yaeyama Islands, located at the southernmost tip of Okinawa, consist of a series of inhabited and uninhabited islands, including Hateruma Island, the southernmost island in Japan, and Yonaguni Island, the westernmost island of Japan.

It can be reached by a one-hour flight from Naha, so it also attracts many tourists who come here to enjoy the leisurely island scenery.

Ishigaki Island

Ishigaki Island is the gateway to the Yaeyama Islands. There are airports on the island leading to major cities in Japan. This island is the third largest island in the prefecture after Okinawa Main Island and Iriomote Island, with a total coastline of 140 kilometers.

Kawahira Bay, the most representative sea view of Ishigaki Island, has been included as a three-star attraction by Michelin and belongs to the "You will regret it if you don't come" series.

The "bottom beach" is one of the representative beaches of Ishigaki Island, with young sand and clear water; while the "star sand" is formed by the weathering of marine foraminifera shells on the beaches of the Yaeyama Islands. Not uncommon.

Standing at the Tamatorizaki Observation Deck, you can enjoy the landscape of the northern part of Ishigaki Island and the surrounding Coral Sea.

Taketomi Island

Starting from Ishigaki Island, you can reach Taketomi Island by boat in less than 10 minutes. This island has a circumference of only 10 kilometers and a population of less than 500 people. It seemed extremely quiet.

Walking in the villages of Taketomi Island, you can see very traditional local houses.

The top resort hotel "Hoshinoya Resort" is hidden in the center of the island.

As a resort hotel brand under the Hoshino Resorts Group, HOSHINOYA is world-famous for its unique location, personalized decoration, and the quality of its top-notch luxury service experience.

In order to protect the original vegetation environment, almost no asphalt roads have been built on the island. Like the local villagers, you can adopt a purely primitive way of travel - take a buffalo cart and reminisce about the old days while wandering. Time, enjoy slow life.

The Freehand Life of Miyako Island

The Miyako Islands are located between the main island of Okinawa and the Yaeyama Islands. They are very close to the Yaeyama Islands, but there is no direct transportation. Miyakojima is the main island of the Miyako Islands in the Okinawa Islands Group. It is 300 kilometers away from the main island of Okinawa. Many local Japanese travelers will choose to transfer directly to Miyakojima after setting foot on the main island of Okinawa.

Compared with the Yaeyama Islands, the Miyako Islands have more complete tourism development and more complete supporting facilities, making them the best choice for vacation.

Diving is a worthwhile trip to Miyakojima. There are many kinds of fish and rich coral resources in the sea near Miyako Island. Every year, many diving enthusiasts are welcomed to get in touch with the underwater world and feel the atmosphere of the ocean.

If you are a golf enthusiast, you must come to Miyako Island in Okinawa to experience the 18-hole golf course on the island. You can see the sea from every hole, and always feel the freehand brushwork of "the sky is high and the sea is broad" Life.

The charm of Kerama

If time is limited, the best choice for a 1-2 day trip to the outlying islands is the Kerama Islands. It is only a 40-minute boat ride from Naha Port, but it is also full of sea style.

Tokashiki Island is definitely the first choice for a one-day trip to the island. The sea here is very clear, with an average depth of 5 to 30 meters. It is a famous diving site. Many spectacular canyons and caves are waiting for diving enthusiasts to explore.

Since this area has a sloping terrain with many ups and downs, it is recommended to walk, rent a car or take public transportation. Daring friends can also try the unbridled and relaxing feeling of rushing straight from the top of the slope to the sea

The healing Okinawa Islands

Kume Island

30 minutes by plane , a 3-4 hour boat ride. If you want to escape the city temporarily and return to the purity of your soul, Kume Island is a paradise for healing.

HATE Beach is the ultimate attraction on Kume Island and is known as the most beautiful beach in Japan. There is only one toilet on the island, and the other facilities are only transparent sea water and white sandy beaches. Isn’t it very pure? !

Dieshi is a rocky area naturally formed by magma from volcanic eruptions. It looks like a turtle shell or a flatbread. It is said to be a world natural heritage.

The most abundant sugarcane fields on the island are brown sugar, sea salt, and bamboo shrimp. Depending on the season, there are also activities such as watching fireflies, dragon boating on the sea, watching sea turtles, and jungle exploration...

Drinking some "Awamori" is a serious matter

In Okinawa, brewing Awamori (Awamori) ) is an ancient industry with a history of more than 600 years, and after many technical improvements, this unique local spirit has the same quality as Whisky.

The raw material used to brew awamori is "rice", and it must be high-quality Thai rice. Aspergillus niger is a species endemic to Okinawa and can convert starch in steamed Thai rice into sugar.

When the mashing is complete, the brewing preparations are complete. Yeast converts the sugar in moromi (a liquid mixed with water, yeast, and koji) into alcohol. This process usually takes 2 weeks.

Distillation is the key to increasing alcohol content. After 2-3 hours of distillation, the original awamori liquid with an alcohol content of more than 50 degrees is obtained. After a period of maturation, it becomes the common awamori wine on the market, with the alcohol content mostly around 30 degrees.

If you have something to drink, you must also have something to eat. Sea grapes are a deep-sea plant found only in Okinawa. They have a soft texture that almost melts in your mouth. It can also soften blood vessels, which may be the secret of the "Island of Longevity".

The local specialty black pork is full of meat. After simmering for a long time, the lean meat is not burnt and the fat is not greasy. Then pour some soup on the white rice. It is a simple but delicious meal.