What’s On in Okinawa, Japan
A subtropical island chain — coral beaches, diving, distinct Ryukyu culture and a slower island pace.
92 listings
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Home to whale sharks and manta rays in a colossal tank, this is one of the world's great aquarium experiences.
Iriomote Island Mangrove Kayaking
Paddle through ancient mangrove forests and pristine jungle rivers on one of Japan's wildest and most remote islands.
Okinawa City Eisa Festival (Zenkoku Eisa Matsuri)
Okinawa's most exhilarating drum-dance festival gathers the island's top Eisa troupes for a thunderous three-day street parade and competition.
Kabira Bay & Manta Scramble Snorkelling, Ishigaki
Snorkel alongside oceanic manta rays at the world-famous Manta Scramble dive site off the emerald waters of Ishigaki Island.
Okinawa Ryukyu Mura (Ryukyu Village)
Relocated historic Ryukyuan houses and live cultural performances immerse visitors in the distinct heritage of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Zamami Island Humpback Whale Watching
Board a boat from the Kerama Islands to watch humpback whales breach and sing in the crystal-clear seas of a designated national park.
Shuri Castle (Shuri-jō), Naha
The UNESCO-listed scarlet castle of the Ryukyu Kingdom, rebuilt after wartime destruction, stands as the supreme symbol of Okinawan identity.
Yonaguni Island Hammerhead Shark Diving
Japan's westernmost island draws divers worldwide to witness schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks and the mysterious Yonaguni underwater rock monument.
Naha Ohashi Fireworks (Naha Port Festival Hanabi)
Brilliant fireworks illuminate Naha Port during the city's grand autumn festival weekend alongside the world-record tug-of-war.
Itoman Fishermen's Festival Fireworks (Itoman Uminchu Festival Hanabi)
Itoman's coastal fireworks display honours the city's deep fishing heritage with hundreds of shells bursting above the East China Sea.
Okinawa Peace Memorial Ceremony Fireworks (Itoman Mabuni Hanabi)
A solemn yet breathtaking fireworks display at the Peace Memorial Park on June 23rd, honouring those lost in the Battle of Okinawa.
Nago City Fireworks Festival (Nago Hanabi Taikai)
Nago Bay erupts in colour as hundreds of fireworks shells soar over the water in northern Okinawa's premier summer hanabi event.
Urasoe Fireworks Festival (Urasoe Hanabi Taikai)
Urasoe City's July fireworks spectacular lights up the sky above the western coastline with over 3,000 shells in a 30-minute show.
Ocean Expo Park Summer Fireworks (Kaiyō Hakurankai Kinen Kōen Hanabi)
Watch fireworks burst over the scenic Motobu Peninsula coastline from inside the Ocean Expo Park on special summer evenings.
Miyakojima Fireworks Festival (Miyakojima Hanabi Taikai)
Miyakojima's remote island fireworks festival sends shells soaring above some of Okinawa's most pristine turquoise waters.
Southern Okinawa Eisa & Fireworks Night (Nanbu Eisa Hanabi Matsuri)
Eisa drum dancing and a vivid fireworks finale combine for an unforgettable cultural summer night in southern Okinawa's Nanjō City.
Ginowan Seaside Park Fireworks (Ginowan Kaihin Kōen Hanabi)
Ginowan's seaside park hosts one of central Okinawa's most crowd-friendly fireworks evenings with easy transport links from Naha.
Koza Music Town Fireworks Night (Okinawa City Hanabi Taikai)
Okinawa City's eclectic Koza district hosts a fireworks show fusing US-influenced rock culture with traditional Okinawan festivity.
Okinawa New Year Countdown Fireworks (Naha Kaijō Shōgatsu Hanabi)
Ring in the New Year with a midnight fireworks display over Naha's harbour, one of Japan's southernmost countdown celebrations.
Okinawa Hanabi Photography Experience (Guided Fireworks Shooting Tour)
Join a professional photographer guide to capture Okinawa's summer fireworks from secret vantage points unavailable to general crowds.
Nago Cherry Blossom Festival (Nago Sakura Matsuri)
Japan's earliest major cherry blossom festival, held beneath thousands of pink Kanhizakura trees on Nago's hillside castle ruins.
Nakijin Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival (Nakijin-jō Sakura Matsuri)
Pink Kanhizakura blossoms frame the UNESCO-listed limestone walls of Nakijin Castle in one of Okinawa's most photogenic hanami settings.
Katsuren Castle Ruins Hanami
Spread a picnic blanket beneath Kanhizakura trees on the terraced hillside of another of Okinawa's World Heritage castle ruins.
Okinawa Peace Memorial Park Sakura Walk
Walk lanes of flowering Kanhizakura trees through this solemn and beautiful memorial park overlooking the southern Okinawa coastline.
Ocean Expo Park Sakura Viewing (Motobu)
Combine hanami with ocean breezes and marine exhibits at this expansive seaside park adjacent to the famous Churaumi Aquarium grounds.
Urasoe Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival
Central Okinawa's most accessible urban hanami event, set among the historic Urasoe Castle ruins with food stalls and cultural entertainment.
Yomitan Village Kanhizakura Hanami
Discover low-key hanami among local Okinawans in the pottery-village lanes and parks of laid-back Yomitan, sprinkled with Kanhizakura blooms.
Naminoue Shrine & Park Sakura Viewing
Okinawa's most revered Shinto shrine perches above a coral cliff with cherry blossoms nodding in the sea breeze over Naha's urban coastline.
Ie Island Cherry Blossom Cycling Tour
Cycle past wild Kanhizakura trees on traffic-light-free Ie Island, with iconic Iegusuiku rock and turquoise seas as your backdrop.
Okinawan Hanami Bento Cooking Class
Prepare a traditional Okinawan hanami bento with a local chef, then carry your feast to a nearby cherry blossom park for an authentic picnic.
Nago Cherry Blossom Marathon (Nago Sakura Marathon)
Run or cheer beneath a canopy of Kanhizakura blossoms at this beloved annual road race through the pink-lined streets of Nago City.
North Okinawa Cherry Blossom Photography Tour
Join a guided photography tour visiting Nago, Nakijin Castle, and hidden Kanhizakura spots across the Motobu Peninsula at golden hour.
備瀬のフクギ並木 Bise Fukugi Tree Avenue Autumn Walk
Stroll a centuries-old tunnel of golden fukugi trees in the village of Bise as their canopy glows in late-year light.
名護中央公園 紅葉 Nago Central Park Koyo Stroll
Nago Central Park's mix of subtropical and temperate trees offers a rare patch of genuine colour change in northern Okinawa.
やんばる国立公園 秋の森トレッキング Yanbaru National Park Autumn Forest Trekking
Trek through UNESCO-listed Yanbaru forest as subtropical deciduous trees shed leaves in the cool northern hills of Okinawa.
中村家住宅 秋の庭園 Nakamura House Historic Garden in Autumn
Explore a designated Important Cultural Property farmhouse whose traditional Ryukyuan garden takes on warm seasonal tones in autumn.
おきなわワールド 秋の収穫祭 Okinawa World Harvest & Autumn Festival
Okinawa World's annual autumn harvest festival blends Ryukyuan dance, sugarcane cutting, and seasonal tropical garden colour.
平和祈念公園 秋の散策 Peace Memorial Park Autumn Reflection Walk
Walk the coastal bluff memorial park as its flowering trees and seasonal shrubs soften in autumn hues above the serene East China Sea.
喜如嘉の芭蕉布 秋の工房見学 Kijoka Bashofu Village Autumn Textile Workshop Tour
Visit Kijoka village as banana-fibre weavers work amid autumn-tinted plantain groves in this UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage community.
比地大滝 秋のトレッキング Hiji Waterfall Autumn Nature Walk
Hike a lush subtropical river trail to Okinawa's tallest waterfall as overhanging deciduous trees blush in late-year colour.
伊江島 城山（タッチュー）秋の登山 Ie Island Gusukuyama (Tacchu) Autumn Summit Hike
Scale Ie Island's iconic flat-topped 172-metre pinnacle for sweeping autumn views over the island's fields and surrounding coral sea.
北部沖縄 秋の紅葉フォトツアー North Okinawa Autumn Foliage Photography Tour
A guided photography tour of northern Okinawa's most photogenic autumn spots, led by a professional landscape photographer.
中城城跡 秋の夕暮れ見学 Nakagusuku Castle Ruins Autumn Sunset Visit
The UNESCO-listed dry-stone ramparts of Nakagusuku glow amber at sunset as surrounding subtropical trees deepen in autumn colour.
琉球料理 秋の食材料理教室 Ryukyuan Cuisine Autumn Harvest Cooking Class
Learn to cook traditional Ryukyuan dishes using autumn-season island ingredients like goya, purple-yam, and freshly harvested sea vegetables.
Naha Haaryuu (Dragon Boat Race Festival)
Ancient Ryukyuan dragon boat races thunder across Naha Port during Golden Week in a 600-year-old maritime tradition.
Itoman Hare Uu (Itoman Dragon Boat Festival)
Itoman's legendary fishing community stages the island's most fiercely contested dragon boat races on the lunar calendar.
Koza (Okinawa City) Eisa Parade — Koza Music Town
Hundreds of Eisa dancers wind through the streets of Koza in a neighbourhood parade that predates the famous national festival.
Naha Tug-of-War Festival (Naha Ōzunahiki Matsuri)
The world's largest tug-of-war — a Guinness record holder — pits east against west Naha along Kokusai-dori on a 200-metre rope.
Shuri Castle Festival (Shuri-jō Matsuri)
Ryukyuan royal court culture is revived at Shuri Castle with elaborate processions, ancient music, and traditional performing arts.
Ryukyu Lantern Festival (Okinawa World Gyokusendo Cave Illumination)
Thousands of hand-painted lanterns illuminate the stalactites of Gyokusendo Cave in a magical winter festival of light.
Motobu Ocean Festival (Umi no Hi Matsuri)
Marine Day celebrations at Motobu bring outrigger canoe races, sea blessing rituals, and vibrant beach festivals to the Okinawa coast.
Yachimun no Sato Pottery Festival (Yomitan)
Okinawa's premier pottery village opens its kilns for a beloved annual market selling authentic Yachimun ceramics direct from the kiln.
Ie Island Lily Festival (Ie-jima Yuri Matsuri)
Ie Island's hillsides blaze white as thousands of Easter lilies bloom, celebrated with island folk performances and farm-fresh food.
Cape Zanpa Eisa Night Festival (Zanpa-misaki Eisa Matsuri)
Eisa drum troupes perform by torchlight on the dramatic cliffs of Cape Zanpa, blending ancestral spirit-sending rituals with the roar of the sea.
Naha Festival (Naha Matsuri) — Kokusai-dori Street Parade
Naha's famous 1.6-km Kokusai-dori transforms into a pedestrian festival boulevard for three days of Ryukyuan parades and street performances.
Okinawa Haisai Festival (Naha Shintoshin Haisai Matsuri)
Okinawa's spring welcome festival fills Naha's Shintoshin district with sanshin concerts, Eisa, and a mass open-air sanshin session.
Tomigusuku City Fireworks Festival (Tomigusuku Hanabi Taikai)
Thousands gather on Tomigusuku's southern shoreline as vivid shells burst over the East China Sea on a warm summer night.
Chatan Town Fireworks Festival (Chatan Hanabi Taikai)
Starbursts of colour explode above the American Village seaside at Chatan's beloved summer fireworks show on the central Okinawa coast.
Naha Port Festival Fireworks (Minato Matsuri Hanabi)
One of Naha's most spectacular harbour fireworks, launched from barges as reflections shimmer across the calm waters of Naha Port.
Okinawa City Summer Fireworks (Koza Hanabi Taikai)
Central Okinawa's urban fireworks spectacular launches thousands of shells above Koza's famous music-and-culture district under the August sky.
Kin Town Fireworks Festival (Kin-chō Hanabi Taikai)
A warm community fireworks night in rural Kin Town, where shells arc over the quiet bay and surrounding green hills of central Okinawa.
Yomitan Village Summer Fireworks (Yomitan Hanabi Taikai)
Colourful shells burst above Yomitan's scenic coast, silhouetting the historic Zakimi Castle ruins against the glowing summer sky.
Ishigaki Island Fireworks Festival (Ishigaki-jima Hanabi Taikai)
Dazzling fireworks light up the tropical night sky over Ishigaki Port, reflected in the turquoise waters of the Yaeyama Islands.
Naha New Urban Centre Fireworks (Shintoshin Hanabi)
A sleek autumn fireworks spectacle above Naha's modern Shintoshin district, framing shells against contemporary high-rises and city lights.
Motobu Port Fireworks (Motobu-kō Hanabi)
Shells burst over the calm waters of Motobu Port with the lush green profile of Ie Island visible on the horizon in northern Okinawa.
Nanjo City Fireworks Festival (Nanjō Hanabi Taikai)
Southern Okinawa's Nanjo City lights up the summer sky with fireworks above the scenic Okinawa World theme park coastline.
Uruma City Kaichu Road Fireworks (Uruma Kaichu-dōro Hanabi)
Fireworks explode above the sea-crossing Kaichu Road causeway linking Uruma's offshore islands, creating a panoramic island-hopping light show.
Itoman Summer Sea Fireworks (Itoman Natsu no Umi Hanabi)
Itoman's fishing community celebrates summer with spectacular sea-launched fireworks off the southern tip of Okinawa's main island.
Nakagusuku Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Viewing
UNESCO-listed Nakagusuku Castle ruins draped in vivid pink kanhizakura blossoms against ancient Ryukyuan stone walls.
Shikinaen Royal Garden Cherry Blossom Stroll
Stroll through a UNESCO-listed Ryukyuan royal garden adorned with kanhizakura blossoms reflected in its tranquil pond.
Nago Central Park Cherry Blossom Walk
Wander under hundreds of kanhizakura trees lining the hillside paths of Nago Central Park, the heart of Okinawa's cherry blossom season.
North Okinawa Kanhizakura Motorcycle Tour
Ride through northern Okinawa's cherry blossom corridor from Nago to Nakijin on a guided motorcycle tour past pink-lined roadsides.
Cape Hedo Sakura Sunrise Hike
Hike to Okinawa's northernmost cape at dawn and watch the sun rise over the East China Sea framed by wild kanhizakura blossoms.
Yanbaru Forest Cherry Blossom & Birdwatching Tour
Spot Okinawa Rail and Ryukyu robins feeding in kanhizakura trees on a guided birding walk through UNESCO-listed Yanbaru forest.
Nakijin Castle Sakura Tea Ceremony Experience
Participate in an open-air tea ceremony beside the cherry blossom-laden walls of UNESCO World Heritage Nakijin Castle.
Motobu Peninsula Cherry Blossom Sea Kayak Tour
Paddle crystal-clear waters along the Motobu coastline beneath hillsides ablaze with pink kanhizakura cherry blossoms.
Nago Sakura Season Okinawa Soba Cooking Class
Learn to hand-pull Okinawa soba noodles and craft a cherry blossom–themed lunch with a local chef during hanami season in Nago.
Nago Castle Park Sakura Night Illumination
Experience Okinawa's iconic cherry blossom illumination as thousands of kanhizakura trees on Nago Castle hill glow softly after dark.
Southern Okinawa Kanhizakura Village Cycling Tour
Cycle quiet backroads through southern Okinawa's farming villages past roadside kanhizakura trees and sugarcane fields in full bloom.
Naha Sakura Season Awamori Distillery Tasting Tour
Tour a historic Naha awamori distillery and taste seasonal cherry blossom–infused spirits paired with Ryukyuan small plates.
今帰仁城跡 秋の紅葉 Nakijin Castle Ruins Autumn Foliage
Wander the UNESCO-listed Nakijin Castle ruins as subtropical foliage turns amber against ancient stone walls.
やんばるクイナの里 秋の野鳥観察 Yanbaru Kuina Village Autumn Birdwatching
Spot the endangered Okinawa Rail and migratory birds amid Yanbaru's lush subtropical canopy turning seasonal hues.
名護城公園 秋のひんぷんガジュマル Nago Castle Park Autumn Banyan & Foliage Walk
Explore Nago Castle Park's ancient banyan trees and hillside woodland as autumn softens the tropical greenery.
玉泉洞 秋の鍾乳洞探検 Gyokusendo Cave Autumn Underground Exploration
Descend into one of Japan's longest stalactite caves at Okinawa World, a cool autumnal refuge of natural wonder.
竹富島 秋の島サイクリング Taketomi Island Autumn Village Cycling
Cycle the white coral roads of Taketomi Island past red-tiled Ryukyuan houses framed by bougainvillea in softer autumn light.
糸満 秋の島野菜収穫＆沖縄そば体験 Itoman Autumn Island Vegetable Harvest & Okinawa Soba Experience
Harvest seasonal Okinawan island vegetables at an Itoman farm then hand-make authentic Okinawa soba from scratch.
辺戸岬 秋の断崖トレッキング Cape Hedo Autumn Clifftop Trekking
Trek the dramatic sea-cliffs of Cape Hedo, Okinawa's northernmost tip, under crisp autumn skies with views to Yoron Island.
古宇利島 秋の絶景橋ウォーク Kouri Island Autumn Scenic Bridge Walk
Walk the 1.9 km Kouri Bridge above turquoise shallows as autumn light bathes Okinawa's legendary 'love island' in gold.
識名園 秋の琉球庭園散策 Shikinaen Royal Garden Autumn Ryukyuan Garden Stroll
Stroll the UNESCO-listed Shikinaen Royal Garden as its Ryukyuan-Chinese landscape softens into subtle autumnal colours.
読谷 残波岬 秋の夕暮れウォーク Yomitan Cape Zanpa Autumn Sunset Clifftop Walk
Watch the East China Sea turn crimson from Cape Zanpa's white lighthouse as Okinawa's finest autumn sunsets unfold.
那覇 国際通り 秋の琉球工芸めぐり Naha Kokusai-dori Autumn Ryukyuan Craft Discovery Tour
Explore Naha's vibrant Kokusai-dori and Tsuboya pottery street as cooler autumn days invite deeper dives into Ryukyuan craft culture.
西表島 秋のマングローブカヤックツアー Iriomote Island Autumn Mangrove Kayak Tour
Paddle through Japan's largest mangrove forest on Iriomote Island as autumn calm transforms the Urauchi River into a mirror.