Okinawa, Japan

Okinawa is Japan’s southernmost prefecture, is the portal between Japan and the tropics. Okinawa’s climate is subtropical, with temperatures around 15 degrees in winter. The beaches, the seas, are just amazingly beautiful!

Travel type: Couple
When: 2017, April 1-9
Weather: Though sunny, it was cold with strong wind blowing occasionally
Flight: Peach (Hong Kong > Okinawa, 2h 45m)

Day 1: Hong Kong > Okinawa

Naha Airport LCC Terminal
Reached Naha Airport Low Cost Carrier (LCC) Terminal in the evening. Passengers arriving at this terminal have to take a free shuttle bus to the domestic terminal. There’s no other way to leave other than the shuttle.

Car Rental with Paradise
Some car rental company have their own shuttle bus, which will take you to their office. Our car rental was with Paradise, which doesn’t have a counter at LCC Terminal, so we proceeded to their counter at the domestic terminal. It was about 10 minutes for another bus ride from Naha Airport to Paradise office.

It was about an hour drive to our hotel, so we stopped by for dinner at Yamashirotei (山城亭).

Day 2

Sunmarina Beach
We spent the morning enjoying the beautiful beach attached to the resort. It was pretty sunny and windy on that day, but how can we not love the crystal clear sea water and beautiful blue sky!

Onna No Eki Market (Farmer’s Market)
There are lot of food stalls selling different food and a market, also selling souvenir. We had some snacks but did not really enjoy due to the crowds.

Cape Manzamo

Dinner at Sakurana
Expensive, not up to our expectations :-|. The beef was too chewy. Would not recommend this place.

Day 3

Snorkelling with Seven Ocean’s Club
First activity of the day! We initially booked the Blue Cave snorkel but due to strong waves on that morning, we had to settle for another snorkel, somewhere in the sea, I guess.

Lunch at Okinawan Hamburg Steak and Curry
English speaking staff and the food was nice.

Dinner at Hamanoya (浜の家)
Very popular among Hong Kong tourist. The food was ok la~

Day 4

Sheraton Okinawa Sunmarina Resort
Another morning just relaxing at the resort.

Mega Zip & Go Fall:
Mega Zip: 250 meters zipline across the ocean (Hotel guests: ¥1,200, Visitors: ¥1,500)
Go Fall: Kinda like bungee jump, but slower (Hotel guests: ¥800, Visitors: ¥1,000)
Both rides can be purchased in a set for ¥1,500 for hotel guests and ¥2,000 for visitors.

Lunch at Nakamura Soba
A nice ramen restaurant facing the sea. Order you ramen from the machine.

Motobu District
Checked in into another hotel for 2 nights where Churaumi Aquarium is located.

Dinner at Yakiniku Motobu Bokujo
We liked our grilled beef dinner. Quite a queue though.

Day 5

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Admission fee: ￥1,850 (MYR70)

Okinawa Park & Village

Day 6

Emerald Beach

American Village

Naha
Returned our car at Naha and keep exploring Okinawa by the rail, Yui Rail.

Source: Yui Rail website

Day 7

Shurijo Castle
Admission fee: ￥820 (MYR31)
Get a free gift after completing the stamp rally. Some of the questions are quite tough though. But I don’t think they really check it.