Okinawa 5 Days Itinerary-A

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A free shuttle bus will take you from Naha Airport to the car rental agency. The itinerary here is based on the assumption that you can leave the rental car store at 12:00 pm.

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The first destination is the symbol of Okinawa, Shuri Castle. The main hall was destroyed by fire in 2019, but the Syureimon Gate and other remains can still be enjoyed as before.
An unknown royal tomb called Tamadung is located across from the main gate of Shurijo Castle and can be reached in 2min on foot.

After that, take the expressway (E58) to the north.

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“Kaichu Road” means road on the sea. As the name implies, the road runs over the sea and you can drive comfortably while feeling the sea breeze.
Let’s cross the sea and have lunch at Miyagi Island or Hamahika Island.

After returning to the main island, you will soon reach the World Heritage Site of Katsurenjo Castle Ruin. The stairs are tough, but the view after the climb is spectacular.

The famous gelato right next to the ruins of Katsuren Castle ruin is a great place to take a break.

The day ends with a visit to Cape Zampa. Enjoy watching the sunset over the ocean.

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The driving distance is very short, about 50 km, so you can travel at a relaxing pace. If you stay at a beach resort, it is also recommended to do marine activities at the accommodation in the morning and depart in the afternoon.

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The first recommendation is “Bios Hill”. Visitors can enjoy various activities such as buffalo carts and jungle cruises while feeling the charm of Okinawa differently from the beaches.

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Heading north along the seaside road, you will arrive at “Seaside Drive-in”, a historic drive-in established in 1967. It has a nice retro atmosphere and is ideal for a rest.

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Further north, you will arrive at one of the highlights of the day, Cape Manzamo.
It is a beautiful cape famous for its resemblance to an elephant’s nose.

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After driving 13 km from Cape Manzamo, you will reach Busena Marine Park. Visitors can enjoy playing on the white beach, and at the end of the cape, there is an underwater observatory and a glass boat, so even those who cannot go into the ocean can see beautiful coral and fish.

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The last spot of the day and one of the biggest highlights in Okinawa, you will drive over the Kouri Ohashi Bridge to the Kouri Ocean Tower on Kouri Island. The drive on the bridge over the blue ocean is like flying over the sea.

It is recommended to go via “Roadside Station Haneji” and you can drive on a more scenic road. Please refer to the Driving Map.

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It is recommended to leave at about 9:00 a.m. as the driving distance is longer than on other days.

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After departing Motobu, head north along the coast on Route 58, which the locals call “Goppachi”.
On the way, “Roadside Station Ogimi” is perfect for a rest stop. Parlor Kugani in the roadside station is famous for its Shequasar (Okinawa lime) burger! Shequasar soft ice cream is also recommended.

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Traveling north on Route 58, you will arrive at Cape Hendo, the northernmost point of the main island of Okinawa. The beautiful sea scenery of cliffs carved by the sea and coral reefs is magnificent.

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2km south of Cape Hedo is another highlight of the northern part of the island, Yanbaru National Park’s “Daisekirinzan”.
There are several trekking courses lasting from 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on your preference.

Afterward, you will have lunch when you return south the way you came.

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“Ogimi Sky terrace” is a restaurant with a spectacular view overlooking Shioya Bay. You can enjoy pasta and hamburgers made with locally produced and consumed ingredients while overlooking the blue ocean.

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It is fine to depart late, but if you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy the Bise Fukugi Tree Road and Churaumi Aquarium, it is recommended to wake up early and go. The Churaumi Aquarium opens at 8:30 a.m.

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The first stop on this day should be the “Bise Fukugi tree road” (a row of fukugi trees).
You can stroll through the green tunnel of Fukugi trees that line a 1km stretch of the village where traditional houses stand side by side.
It takes about 30 minutes to walk or about an hour at a relaxing pace. It is recommended to visit before going to Churaumi Aquarium because it is less crowded and easy to park in the free parking lot.

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After that, it is time for one of the biggest highlights of Okinawa, the Churaumi Aquarium!
The Aquarium is actually a facility within a national park called Ocean Expo Park. In addition to the aquarium, the park has a number of other facilities, including the Oki-chan Theater, where dolphin shows are held, the Manatee Pavilion, and the Dolphin Lagoon.

It starts to get crowded around 10:00 a.m, so it is recommended to enter the park as soon as it opens, if possible.
It takes about one and a half hours for a quick look around for adults and about three hours if you want to see the surrounding facilities and shows.

For lunch, we recommend having lunch in Ocean Park at a yakiniku restaurant or Okinawan soba restaurant in Motobu. Please refer driving map.

After enjoying lunch, let’s move on to Naha at once. It is a one-and-a-half-hour drive on the E58 expressway.

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After getting off the highway, stop by Minatogawa Stateside Town, located just before Naha. There are many cute stores renovated from buildings that were originally housing foreigners who worked at the U.S. military base.

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Once you arrive in Naha city, the last thing to do is to enjoy a stroll along Kokusai-dori Street and Makishi Market.
Kokusai street is very congested and one-way traffic at certain times of the day makes it inconvenient to travel by car. We strongly recommend that you book a hotel as close to Kokusai street as possible and walk to Kokusai street.

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If you are staying in Naha on this day continuously, it is okay to depart slowly.
If you are flying on this day, we recommend that you depart as early as possible since time is quite limited.

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You will arrive at Niraikanai Bridge! The view from the observatory is nice, and the drive-through is exhilarating.

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After passing Niraikanai Bridge, you will soon arrive at “Seifa Utaki”. This is a sacred place that was considered the highest sanctuary of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The mysterious rock formations, which are hard to believe to have been formed naturally, create a tunnel and a mysterious atmosphere.

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If you drive south along the coast, you will find Cafe Yabusachi with a spectacular view. You can have lunch while enjoying the ocean view from the hill. There are many other cafes along the seaside and in the forest in this area, so please check the driving map and visit your favorite cafes.

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“Okinawa World” is a theme park where you can enjoy the Okinawan culture. Visitors can enjoy traditional handicrafts and an “Eisa”, Okinawan folk dance, show three times a day.
Visitors can also enjoy an 890-meter underground expedition in Gyokusendo, one of the largest limestone caves in Japan.

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If you still have time, we recommend visiting Umikazi Terrace on Senagashima Island, 10 minutes from the airport.
The white-washed stores facing the sea are lined up like terraces, creating a wonderful atmosphere. The airplanes passing by the terrace are very impressive since it is located near the airport. You can also watch the sunset from the free footbath.