Okinawa 5 day itinerary with kids
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Okinawa prefecture’s main island, known as Okinawa is a great kid-friendly destination that includes plenty of fun attractions, cultural activities and quality beach time.
Five days is a great amount of time to settle into island life and explore the whole island.
Here are our ideas for a wonderful Okinawa five day itinerary with kids.
Okinawa map with top attractions
Day 1 of Okinawa 5 day itinerary with kids
Southeast Botanical Garden & Mihama American Village
Southeast Botanical Garden
Day 1 of your Okinawa 5 day itinerary starts at the Southeast Botanical Garden which is so much more than just a garden. It’s also part petting zoo, fishing experience and has a huge gift shop with the cutest capybara toys. It’s the perfect relaxing addition to your Okinawa itinerary with kids. Especially if you want to meet and feed capybaras!
The Southeast Botanical Gardens are located in the middle of Okinawa Island, around a 44-minute drive from Naha, the main city in Okinawa, or a little over an hour on a bus.
The gardens are expansive and boast the tallest palm trees in all of Japan at 25 metres tall, and more than 1,300 species of rare, tropical plants.
The garden is also home to four iconic species: the Alexander Palm, the baobab, from Madagascar, which all parts can be eaten; the lotus, which covers the pond from May – October and the Dragon Blood Trees which produces a dark red sap.
The park has activities throughout the day and the bird show at 11am. There is also capybara and monkey feeding weekdays from 12pm – 12:30pm and 4pm – 4:30pm. On weekends and holidays, they also add a 2pm -2:30pm feeding session.
If you arrive outside the displayed feeding times, you can also place some coins in the box and retrieve some food yourself to feed the animals. Our kids loved feeding cabbage to the capybaras using tongs, and little feed pellets to the large koi and interestingly feathered cranes.
Feed the animals
Bring lots of 100 yen coins to collect the food at different parts of the park. Feed pellet boxes cost 200 yen each.
There is also the opportunity to fish in the Meguriai Pond. We ran out of time for this, but it looked well-equipped.
In the evenings, the Garden also has spectacular illuminations fetching slightly higher prices for entry.
I highly recommend visiting this place when in Okinawa. It was such an unexpected delight! Don’t forget there are two entrances to the park, one on either side of the car park.
Hours: 9:30am – 10pm
Cost: Day tickets (9:30am – 5pm) adults ¥1,540, youth (13-17) ¥1,045 and children (4-12) ¥600. Kids under three years old are free.
You can also get night tickets only which are a little more expensive and also full-day tickets.
We used a Klook Okinawa Multi-Attraction Pass and for four activities including a day ticket for the gardens, it cost us ¥5,400 for an adult or ¥2,850 for a child (4-15 years old).
Save with the Okinawa Multi-Attraction Pass
I recommend this pass for discounts on attractions but also the ease of booking and use. We got a Super-Saver 4 Pass and visited The Southeast Botanic Gardens, Chumaumi Aquarium, Okinawa World and Nago Pineapple World. We saved ¥3,650 on all four tickets by booking through Klook.
Address: 2146 Chibana, Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture 〒904-2143
Access: By car, drive for 44 minutes from Naha. There is a large, free parking lot.
By bus, from Asahibashi/Naha Bus Terminal, take the 117 Kokuba [Kokudo 507 Go]（via Okinawa shi) to the Okinawa Kita interchange, then walk for 21 minutes or take a taxi from there.
More information: Southeast Botanical Garden website
Mihama American Village
Continue your first-day of your itinerary with some lunch or dinner and shopping at the American village. This complex contains Americana shops, restaurants, a SEGA arcade, a gachapon shop and live music venue. Unfortunately, the Ferris wheel closed down in 2022.
As there are many American military bases in the area, this is a place for Americans to feel at home, and also provides an Americana experience for locals and tourists.
The alleyways contain shops selling interesting Okinawan gifts and kitschy accessories in an atmosphere not dissimilar to Disney. It’s worth spending some time perusing these.
You can also find burger restaurants, the famous Blue Seal ice cream parlour and even a Christmas store specialising in ornaments from Germany.
We lunched at the famous Burger Bear Diner which was delicious and filling. They also had shakes in indulgent flavours such as Oreo and Snickers for a luxuriously creamy treat!
The building is interesting with an American school bus hanging from above and a Halloween theme (we visited in March, so not sure if Halloween stays there year-round).
Try out some island-themed smoothies, or lunch at one of the restaurants overlooking the ocean. And don’t forget to indulge in rainbow cotton candy.
Souvenir shopping
This is a great place to buy Okinawan souvenirs to take home, such as Awamori, the local rice liquor, shisa lion ornaments or beachy-themed decor.
Day 2 of Okinawa 5 day itinerary with kids
Motobu Peninsula – Churaumi Aquarium & Nago Pineapple World
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Day 2 of your Okinawa 5 day itinerary with kids must include the Motobu Peninsula and the Churaumi Aquarium. This aquarium is considered one of the best in the world. It contains the famous Kuroshio Tank the largest tank in the world, and holds a whale shark among many other sea creatures.
Kuroshio is named after the warm Kuroshio current which is said to be integral to the variety of Okinawa’s marine life.
Feeding time at the Kuroshio tank is 9am, 3pm and 5pm. Dolphin shows are held five times a day.
Another highlight is the Deep-Sea Experience Room which houses marine life from 200 metres deep.
The aquarium also holds some manatees and many turtles you can view in their outdoor ponds or from underwater.
The Churaumi Aquarium is part of Okinawa’s large Ocean Expo Park which also has an Okinawan village replica throughout the ages and some sandy beaches.
Where to eat at Churaumi Aquarium
The aquarium has a great buffet restaurant called Inoh showcasing Okinawan fare near the North gate or entrance to the park. For adults, it costs ¥2,000 and children ¥1,000 for all-you-can-eat taco rice, Okinawan soba noodle soup, tempura bitter melon, salad bar and much more. The restaurant also has superb views over the ocean.
You don’t need to book the restaurant, just write your name and the number of guests on the list at the front and your name will be called. There are plenty of tables so it shouldn’t take too long.
If you don’t want a complete meal at the restaurant, you can find some food trucks, outside the back of the aquarium building near the turtles and closest to the ocean. They sell shark nuggets, beef tongue skewers, and also ‘American tacos’.
Towards the dolphin show arena, you can also find another small takeout shop selling Okinawan donuts filled with blue cream filling, blue ice cream called Jinta and blue pork buns. Blue blue blue!
Rainy day activity
Okinawa is a tropical place, hence it gets a lot of rain. The aquarium is a good rainy day option as it’s mostly indoors.
Hours: 8:30am – 6:30pm
Cost: ¥2,180 per adult, ¥1,440 for high school students, ¥710 for elementary school students or you can get a Okinawa Multi-Attraction Pass for ¥5,400 yen per adult for four attractions or ¥2,850 per child.
Klook pass pick-up not at the aquarium!
If you buy your tickets via Klook, you will need to collect them at the Umikaze market which is around 5 minutes drive from the aquarium. Don’t do what we did and park at the aquarium, go to the ticket counter, then be told to drive all the way back to the market!
Address: 905-0206, 424 Ishikawa, Motobu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture
Access: It’s best to drive directly to the aquarium and it’s approximately 1 hour and 43 minutes from Naha. Otherwise it’s possible to get a bus from Naha and it will take 2 hours 43 minutes.
More information: Churaumi Aquarium official page (English option available)
Nago Pineapple Park
Nago Pineapple World is around 30 minutes drive from Churaumi Aquarium and also on the Motobu Peninsula so it makes sense to visit these two places on the same day.
This place is the epitome of cuteness. You park your car, then board the pineapple train to the front of the park.
After you listen to the ‘pa pa pa pa pa pa pineapple-ru’ song over and over in the line, you will get on a cute, self-driving pineapple car (it still has a steering wheel so kids can pretend to drive). The car then whisks through the beautiful garden passing by pineapple plants on the way. Make sure to take note of the rare pink pineapples.
After you alight the pineapple car, you wander through the ‘jungle’ spotting little pineapple friends in treehouses that mimic your voices.
Then you enter a dinosaur land with animatronic dinosaurs and plenty of photo opportunity spots.
The name pineapple came from…
looking like a pine cone but tasting sweet like an apple.
Nago Pineapple World is also a distillery of pineapple wine and you can buy a float to taste near the end of the park.
We bought a bottle of pineapple wine, which tastes just like an alcoholic version of pineapple juice. I imagine it would be wonderful in cocktails! The shop also sells the cutest pineapple souvenirs and cool t-shirts.
If you’re hungry for a snack, buy some pineapple pastries at the gift shop. The pineapple cannoli is delicious as is the pineapple pie. You can also buy pineapple fresh on a stick.
If you want something more substantial, try a pineapple pizza, or pineapple taco rice at the restaurants after the distillery.
The Motobu Peninsula also has many more touristy places to visit, such as Okinawa Fruits Land where you can feed rainbow lorikeets in a huge aviary then eat the biggest tropical fruit sundaes. There is also a Dino Park in a subtropical rainforest close by. Take your pick!
Nago Pineapple Park Hours: 10am – 6pm
Cost: ¥1,200 for adults (over 16), ¥600 for children (4-16), kids under 4 free. Nago Pineapple World is also an attraction on the Okinawa Multi-Attraction Pass.
Address: 1195 Tamemata, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture 905-0005
More information: Nago Pineapple Park official website
Day 3 of Okinawa 5 day itinerary with kids
Okinawa World and Mibaru Beach
Okinawa World
For Day 3 of your Okinawa 5 day itinerary with kids, get your culture fix at Okinawa World! This theme park has everything: cultural shows, reptiles to view, Japan’s second-longest cave, a tropical fruit orchard and numerous craft options. You could spend all day here if you wanted to partake in all the activities.
Some activities in the Kingdom Village need to be pre-booked and others you can walk up to on the day.
We chose a keychain making experience, where we packed a shell-shaped ornament with a huge array of glitter sand and tiny charms. Then the shop owner turned it into a keychain for us.
You can also try glass blowing, dress in Ryukyu traditional dress and get photographs taken, make clay shishas (traditional lion-like creature), try indigo dying and much more!
The Kingdom village is also a lovely replica of Okinawa in Ryukyu times featuring wooden buildings with red-tiled roofs iconic of Okinawa.
There is another theme park in Okinawa called Ryukyu-mura and it’s supposed to be excellent also. We chose Okinawa World instead specifically because of the Gyokusendo Cave on the grounds we wanted to explore.
The cave was not a disappointment. It’s the longest cave in Okinawa at 5 kilometres long, but also the second longest in all of Japan. Tourists can visit 850 metres of the cave. Its ceilings are also very high so there’s no feeling of claustrophobia.
We managed to find some little creatures like prawns and fish inside the water of the cave which was a surprise!
The Nanto Brewery is on site, with glass windows where you can watch the process. The gift shop sells the famous habu (the venomous Okinawa Viper) liquor and habu curry and offers tasting also.
Hours: 9am – 5:30pm (4:30pm last entry)
Cost: ¥2,000 at the gate or ¥1,900 through Klook. Okinawa World is also part of the Okinawa Multi-Attraction Pass
Address: Maekawa-1336 Tamagusuku, Nanjo, Okinawa 901-0616
Access: By car it will take around 40 minutes from Naha. By public transport, take bus number 83 from Naha Bus Center all the way to its terminal stop, Gyokusendō-mae in front of Okinawa World.
More information: Okinawa World official web page
Mibaru Beach
This gorgeous, little beach is around two kilometres long, on the southern coast of Okinawa’s main island. It’s wonderful for kids with its shallow water and calm seas. There are also plenty of hermit crabs among the rocks.
You can also take a glass bottom boat here out into the reef and see the fish below. This is a great option for kids who are not into snorkelling.
We were able to see an array of interesting fish and even a turtle and sea snake through the bottom of the boat. The kids pointed out many Nemo and Dory fish while we floated above their coral homes.
This beach also has the colourful Okinawa sign which makes a great title page to any photo book or Insta reel!
The beach has some basic toilets and a foot wash area next to the car park. Car parking costs ¥500 and only has a capacity for around 15 cars, but we found it quite secluded and it was easy to park when we visited (March), maybe it will be busier in summer.
There is also a desk on the beach offering other activities such as snorkel tours, banana boat excursions and more. This is where you can purchase glass-bottom boat tickets. The boat is available all year round except in Typhoon weather.
Dining near Mibaru Beach
Mibrau Beach does not have any dining options so it’s best to bring a picnic. There are Lawson convenience stores nearby so bring a meal with you.
A 5 minute drive from the beach, you will find Cafe Yabusachi, which has incredible views over Hyakuna Beach (next to Mibaru Beach). Stop by for a Japanese-style lunch or a pork, egg and spam sandwich. Spam is a thing in Okinawa!
Glass bottom boat cost: ¥1,500 per adult, ¥800 per child
Mibaru Beach address: 1599-6 Hyakuna, Tamagusuku, Nanjo City
Access: By car, drive around 40 minutes from Naha. By public transport, take a bus for about 45 minutes from Naha, stop at ‘Mibaru Beach Iriguchi’ then walk 3 minutes.
Day 4 of Okinawa 5 day itinerary with kids
Shuri Castle (Shurijo) & Kokusai Dori
Shuri Castle
On Day 4 of your Okinawa 5 day itinerary with kids, visit Shuri Castle. It was originally built in the late 1300s and became the royal residence of the Ryukyu king and his family between 1428 and 1879. It also functioned as the centre of Government, religion and culture.
Shuri Castle has a devastating history. It unfortunately burned down five times and was rebuilt four times in 1453, 1660, 1709, 1945 and most recently in 2019. It is currently under construction again from its latest devastation, and expected completion is 2026.
You can however visit the site where the castle is being rebuilt and witness the ancient gates, fortifications and moat while enjoying the view out over the city towards the ocean.
There is a wonderful stamp experience for kids, where they collect different coloured stamps along the way overlapping to create a final scene of the colourful red castle as it was.
There are also some gift shops and a Blue Seal ice cream vendor of course! Try the Shuri Castle ice cream which combines three flavours of soft serve in one cone.
Hours: 8:30am – 6:00pm
Cost: ¥400
Address: 1 Chome-2 Shurikinjocho, Naha, Okinawa 903-0815
Access: By car, Shuri Castle is 10 minutes from Naha central. By public transport, take bus number 14 directly to Shuri Castle from downtown Naha (Kokusaidori).
More information: Shurijo Official Website (including live car park updates, English available)
Kokusai Dori (main restaurant & shopping strip)
Kokusai Dori translates to International Street. It is a palm-tree lined boulevard approximately 2 kilometres long filled with eateries, bars, souvenir shops and hotels.
It’s a great place to try out local food with live Okinawan music playing while you eat. Just wander the street until you find something that entices you!
There is also a Blue Seal ice cream of course with little tables looking out onto the street for people watching.
If it’s raining, or you want to escape the touristy-ness of Kokusai Dori, venture into the covered shopping strips adjacent to Kokusai Dori called Heiwadori, Mutsumidori and Ichiba Hondori. They have smaller stores that are less touristy.
Here you can buy the essential Blue Seal ice cream or Spam T-shirts you will see all the tourists wearing!
Hours: 10am – 9pm or 10pm on weekends
Address: Kokusai-Dori, Naha, Okinawa
Access: By car, there are parking options close to the main street, just look for parking signs. By public transport, it is very close to the monorail’s Kencho-mae and Miebashi stations.
Day 5 of Okinawa 5 day itinerary with kids
Okinawa Battlefield tour or visit historic sites
Okinawa was integral to the story of World War II and if you’re a history buff, an Okinawa Battlefield Tour may be something you can’t pass up while visiting the area.
For the last day of your Okinawa 5 day itinerary with kids, visit some of the historical sites as a family such as the Peace Memorial Park, otherwise put your kids in a kids’ club and do a guided adult tour.
We highly recommend contacting Kumiko-san at Tours by Locals for a truly comprehensive Okinawan Battle Tour. Kumiko-san is so incredibly knowledgeable about local history, you will learn so much you can’t find in history books.
However, given the Okinawa Campaign marked some of the most desperate and horrific fighting towards the close of the Second World War, it’s not necessarily suitable for young kids.
Kumiko’s tour will take you to Hacksaw Ridge, known locally as the Maeda Escarpment, in the ruins of Urasoe Castle. The Battle of Hacksaw Ridge was captured in the eponymous Mel Gibson-directed film of the same name.
United States Private First Class Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector from Virginia, was awarded the US Medal of Honor for rescuing 75 of his fallen comrades under sustained fire despite himself being severely wounded, while serving as a medic. Standing on the ridge gives the visitor a unique perspective of the horror of the battle that simply can’t be conveyed in film.
The tour also takes you to the Japanese Navy underground headquarters, where you can walk through the extensive underground tunnels, and visualise the final days and hours of the campaign, with the commander’s quarters preserved with his final message in the moments before his death still inscribed on the wall almost eighty years later.
The Okinawa Prefecture Peace Memorial Park offers a poignant view over the ocean and is the final resting place of both Japanese and Allied troops who gave their lives during the Okinawa Campaign.
Finally, the tour will take you to the Himeyuri Monument and Peace Museum, which was by far the most emotional part of the day. The museum tells the story of 222 young girls and their teachers from the Okinawa Women’s Normal School, who were ordered to join the Haebaru Army Field Hospital in the waning days of the campaign. They died together in a cave which now forms part of the memorial.
The museum is a touching tribute, incorporating audio-visual stories from surviving schoolgirls, many of whom until recent years would attend the museum regularly to talk to the visitors and share their first-hand experiences of the horrors of war.
Kumiko-san will also take you to a delicious lunch of traditional Okinawan cuisine at a traditional local restaurant that has been preserved for hundreds of years.
Cost: The whole-day tour with Kumiko-san costs around ¥34,800 yen per person.
How to book: Book directly through Tours by Locals
Where to stay in Okinawa
There are many accommodation options in Okinawa, so you can really find something to suit your taste and needs.
An important factor is whether you have a car or not, and what activities you plan on doing.
We hired a car so we could be flexible with the location. We decided to stay on the south of the island, close to Mibaru Beach and within 30 minutes of Naha. However, we drove every day so it wouldn’t have really mattered which location we were in.
Hiring a car in Okinawa
We recommend hiring a car in Okinawa to easily get around and see all the sights spread out across the island. Please check requirements for your country such as an international driver’s licence. Also, the car rental is not directly at Naha Airport, you must get a free shuttle to the car rental company of your choice from the airport.
Glory Island Okinawa Yabusachi
We stayed at Glory Island Okinawa Yabusachi and it was great for a family. We had incredible views over Okinawa’s southern coast, with a bedroom, living room and small kitchenette. Our favourite part, was the private balcony with outdoor bath and hammock.
The hotel is made up of tastefully converted shipping containers that provide space for a family but also privacy. On site, there is a small pool (unfenced) with a great view and a cafe.
You must have a car to stay here however, it’s not easy to get to by public transport or on foot.
Address: Hyakuna-650-1 Tamagusuku, Nanjo, Okinawa 901-0603, Japan
Access: If you stay here, rent a car. They have free parking at the front of the hotel and it’s around 40 mins drive from Naha airport.
Pools and hotels
If staying in a hotel with a pool is an important factor for your family, check the fine print. Often hotels in Japan close pools outside of summer (even indoor ones).
Hilton Okinawa Chatan
The Hilton Okinawa Chatan is located right in the middle of the American village with easy access to shopping, restaurants and the ocean. They also have an airport shuttle for easy access.
This hotel has three pools, kids’ programs for smaller children and offers fishing and diving activities.
Okuma Private Beach Resort
Okuma Private Beach Resort is located a little further north on the Okinawan island features its very own private beach and extensive grounds. We almost stayed here except we read their pools were closed in March. That would have been cruel for the kids!
The resort features kids’ activities, day trips and that beach. Oh the beach!
Sheraton Okinawa Sunmarina Resort
The Sheraton Okinawa Sunmarina Resort has everything! It is mid-way up the western coast of Okinawa in Onna, one hour’s drive from Naha airport. They offer an airport limousine service for an extra fee.
It’s located right on the beach and offers kids’ club, babysitting service, kids’ activities including their own zip line! Each room has a balcony and you can even enjoy sunset views from the restaurant.
What is Okinawa famous for?
Shisa lion-dogs
The Shisa also known as shi-shi in the local language are guardians of Okinawa. They are part-lion, part-dog and come in pairs to offer protection. A female shisa has her mouth closed to keep in good spirits while the male shisa with his mouth open scares away the bad spirits.
Everywhere you go in Okinawa, you will see these creatures adorning houses, fences, public buildings and also as figurines you can buy and take home.
Legend has it, a Chinese emissary gave a small shisa to the king after a voyage to Shuri. The king wore it as a necklace around his neck. When a sea dragon attacked villagers, the king held out his shisa necklace and a huge boulder fell from the sky and crushed the sea dragon.
Moulding your own shisa in clay is a popular craft activity in Okinawa. Hotels sometimes offer this activity, or you can book to do this at Okinawa World or through a single experience via Klook for ¥1,600 yen per person.
Red roof tiles (Aka-gawara)
The traditional style of roof in Okinawa is made from red curved roof tiles and you can find these all over the island. Locals receive subsidies to maintain their red roofs or replace their current roof tiles with the traditional aka-gawara.
The tiles are made from ‘kucha’ a mudstone unique to Okinawa which sedimented from 2 to 10 million years ago. The kucha is grey, but turns red when heated as the iron reacts to fire.
Today, red roof tile makers in Okinawa use around 20 per cent kucha and supplement the rest with red soil to make the tiles much stronger.
Okinawan food
Okinawan food is also known as Ryūkyūan cuisine referencing the Ryukyu Kingdom it was before Okinawa became a part of Japan.
With Okinawa’s long history of sea trade, the island’s food has influences from China and south-east Asia.
Okinawan food is also believed to be the healthiest food on Earth as Okinawans live the longest out of all humans. With all these delicious options, you can eat like a Ryukyu king for your Okinawa 5 day itinerary with kids!
Sea Grapes (umibudo)
Umibudo are tiny, seaweed balls of salty sweetness that are quite yummy and even the kids liked/tolerated them. They’re found in the shallow waters of Okinawa and are loved just as much for their texture as well as their flavour.
They have become so popular, sea grape farms have now popped up in Okinawan waters which are the perfect temperature to grow this type of seaweed. If you’re lucky you can sometimes find them in Tokyo, I’ve seen them at Costco on several occasions, near the seafood section!
As the umibudo has a short shelf-life, they can often be bought dehydrated and you just add fresh water to hydrate them again and eat as if they were fresh. The health benefits are also as expected, full of minerals beneficial to skin health including hyaluronic acid as well as iron, magnesium, calcium and iodine.
Umibudo should be eaten raw and is often dipped in a ponzu (citrusy) sauce. It is also sometimes added to raw fish. Order them as a side dish or snack with your meal in Okinawa. They are often referred to as sea caviar because… well look at them!
Okinawa donuts (Sata Andagi)
These deep-fried, hole-less dough balls originated in China and made their way to Okinawa. They are made from flour, eggs and sugar.
We ate these from a road stop, cold and they were a bit plain and doughy. I wish I had tried them hot or with a filling like we saw at the aquarium, I bet they would be much nicer.
Okinawan pork
Pork is the main protein eaten in Okinawa, in fact it is said Okinawans eat every part of the pig except its squeal!
Okinawans also believe pork is an important factor contributing to their overall healthiness as its high in vitamin B1, which is effective in relieving fatigue.
In Okinawa, native pigs are called Agu pork. Okinawans believe it’s healthier than regular pork. It is often eaten as shabu-shabu (like a hot pot) or yakiniku (on a grill).
The agu pork is raised in Okinawa rather than being caught in the wild to maintain the highest quality.
Beni-imo
trying a beni-imo tart!
The humble local purple sweet potato (not a taro) has become a staple in Okinawa. It is usually used in desserts as it has wonderful nutty sweetness.
The beni-imo comes from the village of Yomitan on the western coast of the island.
The beni-imo is also referred to as a superfood in Okinawa. It contains the same molecule that gives the violet colour to blueberries and also red cabbage.
One potato contains four times the daily dose of vitamin A for an adult and half the daily vitamin C requirement. This is probably yet another reason Okinawans are so healthy. Even their sweets are healthy!
Try a beni-imo tart which has piped purple swirls in a boat-shaped tart. It’s seriously oishi (yummy).
The best place to try beni-imo in all its forms is at Okashi Goten in Onna. This store is located right on the ocean with incredible views from the souvenir shop.
This coastal gift shop is also a restaurant and beni-imo (sweet potato tart) workshop. It’s full of charm and has so much on offer, it’s impossible to choose.
You can try beni-imo tarts, beni-imo chou crème, beni-imo cakes and more. Don’t forget to get a family picture in the beni-imo photo booth!
Blue Seal ice cream
Blue Seal ice cream is everywhere you look in Okinawa. It first began on US military bases in the 1950s and the first store opened outside a US base in 1970. Now it’s spread over the entire island and made its way to mainland Japan too.
Blue Seal has typical American flavours but also specialises in Okinawan flavours also such as beni-imo (purple sweet potato), brown sugar, Okinawan salt cookie and Okinawan cheesecake.
Spam
Spam is popular in Okinawa with locals consuming 7.2 million cans of Spam annually, more than one can per week for every person.
Spam was introduced to Okinawans after World War II when American soldiers received Spam in their ration packs. They started giving it out to locals to win trust and build relationships after the war.
Okinawans cook the canned pork and add it to well-known dishes such as the pork and egg sandwich and local dish goya chanpuru (bittermelon stir fry).
Now you will understand when you see Spam souvenir shirts everywhere in Okinawa!
Orion Beer
Orion Beer was established in 1957 in Okinawa to boost the manufacturing industry and bring jobs to the island post-war. It is now a highly successful brand of beer found everywhere in the Okinawan islands, and throughout Japan.
Orion refers to a constellation found in the southern sky and matches the image of the Okinawan islands. The name was the result of a public naming contest with 2500 entries. This is why the brand’s logo has three stars which are also synonymous with dreams and aspirations.
Like all things in Japan, the Orion logo is brimming with meaning. The Os are incomplete circles as they strive to be better every day and to complete the circle. The colours blue and red represent the Okinawan ocean and the red burning sun, which also represents energy and solidarity.
In terms of taste, the beer is light and refreshing, perfect for an island summer al fresco drink.
Awamori
Awamori is a very strong liquor native to Okinawa made from Thai rice and has a process of distillation more like shochu than the brewing process of sake (nihonshu).
The local awamori is typically 60-86 proof (30-43% alcohol) but some versions such as hanazake are 120 proof (60%) alcohol and highly flammable. Outside of Okinawa, they made a lower alcohol version for ‘export’.
Awamori is usually served with water and ice, but can also be sipped straight or in cocktails. Whatever way you wish to try it, be careful!
A&W Burgers
A&W Burgers is an Amerian-style diner with a cute bear mascot and delicious burgers, cheesy fries and freshly made root beer floats.
It was first created in 1963 when Okinawa was still under American Government control. Now A&W has restaurants in 26 locations in Okinawa frequented by loyal locals and tourists craving a good American-style fast food meal complete with 1960s brown and orange colours and diner decor.
They even sell A&W merchandise on-site if you want to take a cute A&W bear shirt or cup home with you.
Round up of Okinawa 5-day itinerary with kids
Okinawa is such a great, kid-friendly destination with many activities in addition to quality beach time. For your Okinawa 5 day itinerary with kids, there are days you can fill with sightseeing and activities.
The abundance of local and American food makes feeding kids easy and the size of the island means it’s easy to navigate, especially if you rent a car for your trip. (Remember to check your home country’s agreement with Japan for rules, for example, Aussies and US visitors need an international driver’s licence).
If you want to enjoy some of the outer Okinawan islands we recommend a trip to the tranquil, gorgeous, relaxed Miyako Island. It’s a short 45-minute flight from Naha, or you can fly direct from Tokyo.
