Recommended sightseeing spots and souvenirs for your first trip to Okinawa (Okinawa)　★★☆

About Okinawa travel

This time, we will introduce recommended sightseeing spots and souvenirs for those who are traveling to Okinawa for the first time.

For many people, traveling to Okinawa will take time and money, soLet's prepare well so that we can enjoy it 100%.

Then, I will introduce about 5 recommended sightseeing spots.

Churaumi Aquarium and Tropical Dream Center

↓ "Churaumi Aquarium" and "Tropical Dream Center" have become longer, so I wrote them in a separate article.

World Heritage Nakijin Castle Ruins

Okinawa was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2001 by "Gusuku Sites and Related Heritage Sites in the Kingdom of Ryukyu".

One of the World Heritage Sites is the site of Nakijin Castle.

It is about 20 minutes by car from Churaumi Aquarium.

By the way, in Okinawa, the castle is called "Gusuku".
("Castle" appears as a conversion candidate for "Gusuku"!)

Impregnable castle

It is a castle of the time when Okinawa was divided into three countries and fought around the 14th century.

It was impregnable with a stone wall that was made by winding so that there would be no blind spots, but it will fall due to the betrayal inside.

Now that only stone walls are left, it may be a little difficult to feel something without commentary.

If you want to know more, let's learn the history at "Nakijin Village Gusk Exchange Center" on the same site.

Admission fee and time required

The entrance fee is 400 yen and it takes about 30 minutes.

If you also want to see the Nakijin Village Gusk Exchange Center, it takes about 10 to 20 minutes.

Usage guide: Official website

Gyokusendo (in Okinawa World)

Next is a sightseeing spot on the south side of Okinawa.

It is a limestone cave called "Gyokusendo" in the theme park "Okinawa World" packed with the charm of Okinawa.

I visited without knowing that there was a limestone cave in the first place, but I was surprised that the scale was larger than I expected.

It is a limestone cave that is usually spectacular.

Personally, I think it is at a level comparable to Japan's three major limestone caves. (The three major limestone caves in Japan are Akiyoshido, Ryusendo, and Ryuga Cave)

Blue fountain

It is a fountain illuminated in blue.

Originally, even if a white light is applied, it looks blue due to the transparency of the water, but it is illuminated with a slightly blue light to emphasize the color.

The lights have been completely renewed in July 2020, and it seems that there are more attractions along the way, so I would like to visit again.

Hub Museum Park

You can see the confrontation between Habu and Mongoose at the attached "Hub Hakubutsu Park".

In the past, it seems that they were really fighting for death, but now it is a swimming showdown from the viewpoint of animal protection.

Admission fee and time required

The admission fee is 1700 yen for adults with a set of "Okinawa World", "Gyokusendo" and "Hub Hakubutsu Park".

I think it will take about 120 minutes to go around.

If you look at the Super Eisa show at "Okinawa World", it's about +30 minutes.

Recommended for night sightseeing "Yoshimoto Okinawa Kazuki"

There aren't many places to go sightseeing at night in Okinawa.
There are events like going out to the forest at night, but for those who hate insects, it is a suicide act.

Therefore, we recommend "Yoshimoto Okinawa Kazuki".

There are many entertainers from Okinawa, and there are plenty of local stories, so you can enjoy the uniqueness of Okinawa unexpectedly.
There are night performances, and above all, it's cheap. (From 500 yen to 1500 yen at the highest)

It is recommended when you think "I will never do it at night".

Other tourist destinations

↓ If you like gardens, we also recommend "Fukushuen". (Separate article)

Here are just some photos of other sightseeing spots I visited.
If you are interested, let's go.

Shikinaen

Shikina-en is the largest villa in the Ryukyu Kingdom.

It was once used for entertaining foreign dignitaries.

Former Navy Headquarters

The moat dug by the former Japanese Navy remains as it was at that time.

There is also a memorial tower.

Sefa Utaki

It is the highest sacred place in the Ryukyu Kingdom, which is said to have been created by the creator of Ryukyu.

Tamaudon

Tamaudun is a tomb where successive kings of the "Second Sho Dynasty", the last dynasty of Ryukyu, are buried.

Okinawa Prefectural Museum / Museum

It is a facility that combines a museum and an art museum, featuring unusual buildings.

Recommended souvenirs

Here are some sweets you should eat when you go to Okinawa.

Sweets palaceIt is a sweet potato using red potato and sweet potato sold by.

Speaking of Okashi Goten, "Red Imo Tart" is famous, but I personally preferred Kochi.

They are sold at most souvenir shops.

It's expensive, but you can buy it online.

See "Red Envelope Okashi Goten" at Rakuten Ichiba
(Amazon was omitted because there were only strange vendors)

Nampo TradingIt is "Shiochinsuko Chatan with salt" sold by.

Chinsuko comes from various manufacturers, but this one has a perfect balance of sweetness and saltiness, and I liked it the most.

They are sold at most souvenir shops.

See "Shiochinsuko Chatan with salt" at Rakuten Ichiba

AyumiIt is a sata andagi sold by.

The expiration date is about 10 days and it is a product for souvenirs, but if you are not good at it, it will be more delicious than freshly baked.

The drawback is that it's hard to sell unless you go to the store, and it can be sold out before noon at the earliest.
(I went to 10:00 in the morning. The store is near Kokusai-dorihere）

If you don't have the time, it may be safer to buy it online.

See "Sata Andagi Ayumi" at Rakuten Ichiba

Precautions for traveling to Okinawa

Finally, I will explain the points to note when traveling to Okinawa.

How many days do you need?

I want at least 2 nights and 3 days.

If I can do it for 3 nights and 4 days, I think it will be a comfortable schedule.

What is the recommended travel time?

Summer is recommended, but typhoons are the number one enemy of Okinawa travel.
No matter how much you plan, when he comes, everything will be over.

Statistically speaking, the incidence of typhoons is high from August to September, but at the stage of booking an airplane, we do not know when the typhoon will come.

As a preventive measure (?), Let's go by ANA or JAL plane.
I understand that the price will be higher, but the strength of the extra flight with spare equipment is outstanding.

In terms of experience, I have the image that JAL will stick to the last minute, such as "weather surveying". (Once announcing "cancellation", it will not fly even if the weather is okay)

Watch out for squalls (heavy rain)

Since Okinawa is a tropical country, it suddenly rains like a bucket.

It takes about 20 minutes, so you don't have to worry about it, but it's important if your shoes get wet.
Bring a pair of shoes that you can get wet, such as sandals.

Actually, there are few sunny days in the first place, and except for snowy countries, it has the lowest sunny weather rate in Japan.

Access

There are monorails and buses on the south side near Naha Airport, so it's not a problem to move around.

The problem is the north side, where transportation is limited.

If you do not rent a car, we recommend that you take a local bus tour to Churaumi Aquarium.

Bus Tour Details: Naha Bus Reservation Site

There are several tour companies, but I liked the Naha Bus tour the most.
(This is the only place where you can go to the aquarium and Gusuku)

Finally

The above is my conclusion that I went around the famous sightseeing spots in Okinawa.

Traveling to Okinawa costs money and time, so don't waste them.Let's make a plan and enjoy Okinawa 100%.