{"id":1255,"date":"2026-10-13T00:16:33","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T00:16:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/?page_id=1255"},"modified":"2026-10-13T16:05:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T16:05:23","slug":"destinations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/destinations\/","title":{"rendered":"Okinawa Destinations: Islands and Regions Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Okinawa Prefecture is a chain of subtropical islands stretching from near Kyushu almost to Taiwan. Each island group has its own character: city life and history on the Main Island, crystal-clear water in the Kerama Islands, long white beaches on Miyako, and jungle, reefs, and traditional villages in the Yaeyama Islands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use this guide to <strong>Okinawa destinations<\/strong> to decide where to go, then dive into each region for things to do, where to stay, and sample plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>.oki-card{border:1px solid #dcdcdc;border-radius:10px;padding:1em 1.25em;margin:0 0 1em;background:#fafafa}.oki-card h3{margin-top:0}.oki-card p:last-child{margin-bottom:0}<\/style>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Okinawa Main Island<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cape-manzamo-okinawa-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"Cape Manzamo cliffs in Onna on Okinawa Main Island\" class=\"wp-image-1346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cape-manzamo-okinawa-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cape-manzamo-okinawa-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cape-manzamo-okinawa-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cape-manzamo-okinawa-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cape-manzamo-okinawa.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Onna_Okinawa_Japan_Cape-Manzamo-01.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">CEphoto, Uwe Aranas<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most visitors start on the Main Island, home to Naha Airport, the capital, and the widest choice of sights and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group oki-card\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/okinawa-main-island\/\">Okinawa Main Island<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An overview of the island and how to split your time between the city, the resort coast, the forested north, and the historic south.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/okinawa-main-island\/\">Read the guide \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group oki-card\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/okinawa-main-island\/naha\/\">Naha<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Okinawa&#8217;s lively capital: Kokusai Street, markets, Shuri Castle, and easy monorail travel. The natural base for a first trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/okinawa-main-island\/naha\/\">Read the guide \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group oki-card\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/okinawa-main-island\/central-okinawa\/\">Central Okinawa<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chatan&#8217;s American Village, the Onna resort coast, Cape Manzamo, UNESCO castle ruins, and the island-hopping sea road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/okinawa-main-island\/central-okinawa\/\">Read the guide \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group oki-card\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/okinawa-main-island\/northern-okinawa\/\">Northern Okinawa (Yanbaru)<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Churaumi Aquarium, Kouri Island, Nakijin Castle, and the protected Yanbaru forest, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/okinawa-main-island\/northern-okinawa\/\">Read the guide \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group oki-card\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/okinawa-main-island\/southern-okinawa\/\">Southern Okinawa<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sefa-utaki, Kudaka Island, sea-view caf\u00e9s, caves, and the memorials of the Battle of Okinawa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/okinawa-main-island\/southern-okinawa\/\">Read the guide \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Outer Islands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group oki-card\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/kerama-islands\/\">Kerama Islands<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Zamami, Aka, and Tokashiki, a short ferry ride from Naha, with famously clear &#8220;Kerama blue&#8221; water and sea turtles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/kerama-islands\/\">Read the guide \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group oki-card\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/miyako-islands\/\">Miyako Islands<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/yonaha-maehama-beach-miyako-okinawa-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"Yonaha Maehama Beach on Miyako Island\" class=\"wp-image-1347\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/yonaha-maehama-beach-miyako-okinawa-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/yonaha-maehama-beach-miyako-okinawa-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/yonaha-maehama-beach-miyako-okinawa-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/yonaha-maehama-beach-miyako-okinawa-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/yonaha-maehama-beach-miyako-okinawa.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Yonahamaehama_Miyakojima_Okinawa_Japan02bs3s4592.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">663highland<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.5\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.5<\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yonaha Maehama and other dazzling beaches, plus long bridges linking Miyako to Irabu, Ikema, and Kurima.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/miyako-islands\/\">Read the guide \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group oki-card\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/yaeyama-islands\/\">Yaeyama Islands<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Okinawa&#8217;s southernmost island group, with Ishigaki as the hub for ferries to Iriomote, Taketomi, and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/yaeyama-islands\/\">Read the guide \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group oki-card\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/yaeyama-islands\/ishigaki\/\">Ishigaki<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kabira Bay, manta rays, Ishigaki beef, and the ferry terminal for island hopping in Yaeyama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/yaeyama-islands\/ishigaki\/\">Read the guide \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group oki-card\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/yaeyama-islands\/iriomote\/\">Iriomote<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A jungle island of mangroves, rivers, and waterfalls, home to the rare Iriomote wildcat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/yaeyama-islands\/iriomote\/\">Read the guide \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group oki-card\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/yaeyama-islands\/taketomi\/\">Taketomi<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A tiny island of red-tiled houses, coral-stone walls, sandy lanes, and the shallow turquoise water of Kondoi Beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/blog\/destinations\/yaeyama-islands\/taketomi\/\">Read the guide \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Choose<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>If you want\u2026<\/th><th>Go to<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>An easy first trip without a car<\/td><td>Naha, plus a day trip to the Kerama Islands<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Resort beaches and family fun<\/td><td>The Onna coast in central Okinawa, or Motobu in the north<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>History and culture<\/td><td>Naha (Shuri), southern Okinawa, and the central castle ruins<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Nature and forests<\/td><td>Yanbaru in the north, or Iriomote<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>The clearest water<\/td><td>The Kerama Islands or Miyako<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Island hopping<\/td><td>Ishigaki and the Yaeyama Islands<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li><strong>Don&#8217;t try to see everything.<\/strong> On a first trip, one or two island groups is plenty.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Fly between island groups.<\/strong> There are no regular passenger ferries from the Main Island to Miyako or Ishigaki.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Rent a car<\/strong> for most of the Main Island, Miyako, and Ishigaki. Naha, the Kerama Islands, and Taketomi are easy without one.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Allow for weather.<\/strong> Ferries and flights can be cancelled in strong winds and typhoons, especially to small islands.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Planning the details? See <a href=\"\/blog\/plan\/getting-around\/\">getting around Okinawa<\/a>, <a href=\"\/blog\/plan\/where-to-stay\/\">where to stay<\/a>, and our <a href=\"\/blog\/itineraries\/\">sample itineraries<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which Okinawa island is best for a first visit?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Main Island, starting in Naha. It has the most to see and do and the best transport links. Add the Kerama Islands for a taste of the outer islands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I visit several island groups in one trip?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, with a week or more. Fly from Naha to Miyako or Ishigaki, and take ferries to the smaller islands from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which islands are best for beaches?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Kerama Islands, Miyako, and the Yaeyama Islands all have outstanding beaches. See our <a href=\"\/blog\/things-to-do\/beaches\/\">beach guide<\/a> for favorites.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore Okinawa destinations: Naha and the Main Island, the Kerama Islands, Miyako, and the Yaeyama Islands of Ishigaki, Iriomote, and Taketomi.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":284,"featured_media":1345,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1255","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/284"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1255"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1255\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1348,"href":"https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1255\/revisions\/1348"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.okinawa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}