Where to Stay in Okinawa?

Japan has a lot to offer, from huge cities to mountainous and volcanic areas. You can also visit remote islands with turquoise waters and coral reefs. A trip to Okinawa will enable you to enjoy a beach holiday in an archipelago with comfortable hotels and sunny shores. Like the landscapes of the Pacific, the Japanese islands offer superb seaside views. They stretch to the southwest of its central archipelago. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these remote beaches are difficult to access. Also, going to Okinawa is still the easiest way to enjoy this natural setting The beaches of Okinawa are superb, and a few days are enough to offer you a real rest for a lazy vacation. You can visit some islands for the day by taking the many ferries circling this vast archipelago. In addition to its seaside, Okinawa has some traditional and historical places to discover. A stay in Okinawa will allow you a few visits to enhance your stay. The island of the Ryukyu archipelago, Okinawa, is a city whose inhabitants strongly emphasize their past as an independent kingdom and their cultural difference from Japan. Rich in culture, the region is also remarkable for its beaches and the beauty of its waters.

Because of the Japanese language, it might be frightening to visit Okinawa. Still, there are lots of tourist information centers to help you. You can get help from these information centers and explore the city easily. One of the most important things is if you want to understand and digest the rich Asian culture and the region, you have to spend at least 3-4 days in Okinawa.

Places to Visit in Okinawa

With its historical and cultural richness and breathtaking nature, Okinawa has a geography where everyone can find something for themselves. There are as many places to visit as you would like to see in Okinawa. Here are the must-see places in Okinawa.

Capital City, Naha

Naha, Okinawa’s prefecture capital, is a modern and dynamic city. On a trip to Naha, you can browse the cosmopolitan area of Kokusai-Dori, then head to Makishi Market. You will enjoy strolling in the Fukushu-en garden or discovering the pottery village of Tsuboya. The last famous place, the district of Shuri, will allow you to visit a castle dating from the 14th century.

Shuri

From the 15th century, the capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom was located at Shuri on the main island of Okinawa. The medieval castle was mostly destroyed during World War II. In 1992, it was brought back to life with bright colors, and Unesco has listed its original structures. Unesco has classified three other places near Shuri Castle:

1. The Royal Shikinaen Garden, built in 1799 around a large pond and two small islets, served as a secondary residence for the Shö family of the Ryukyu kingdom.
2. The Sonohyan-utaki stone gate was built in 1519 with Chinese influences.
3. The Tamaudun mausoleum, the burial place of the second Sho dynasty, and its imaginary animals, phoenixes, and dragons that watch over the graves.

Okinawa Peace Memorial Park

Okinawa is also known for the battle that took place there during World War II. Located south of the main island, the Peace Memorial Park now pays tribute to the victims on Mabuni Hill, where there is also a memorial museum. Military history buffs can also visit the former underground headquarters of the Japanese Navy, a well-preserved bunker.

Yaeyama Archipelago

The ten Yaeyama islands, located nearly 450 kilometers south of Okinawa’s main island, provide a lush natural spectacle.  It takes about an hour from Naha to reach Ishigaki, the gateway to these islands. Be sure to go to Kabira Bay for its superb panorama of the island and the limestone cave, which has been formed for over 200,000 years.

Iriomote Island, the second largest after Okinawa Island, is easily accessible from Ishigaki. It takes 45 minutes to reach it by boat. Its main attraction is a jungle that covers it almost entirely. Among the animals that sneak in a species of endemic tom, of which only a hundred members remain, is the Iriomote wild cat. On the island of Taketomi, about ten minutes from Ishigaki by ferry remains an old hamlet with traditional houses with red roofs and stone walls. Even further at the southwestern end of Japan is the island of Yonaguni, from where you can even see the coast of Taiwan, a hundred kilometers away. It is also renowned for being home to Yonaguni-san, Japan’s giant moth.

Best Places to Stay in Okinawa🏨

Like the rest of Japan, Okinawa’s culture is also vastly different from other regions. Thanks to its diverse nature, thousands of visitors visit Okinawa. Thus, there are also lots of hotels in the region. From luxurious, paradise-like hotels to bed and breakfasts, here are the best hotels of all types to stay in on Okinawa island.

Luxurious Places to Stay in Okinawa💰💰💰

Suppose your expectations from a hotel are:

• Enormous rooms.
• A spa center.
• An indoor and outdoor swimming pool.
• A fitness center.
• A gourmet restaurant.

These are the most luxurious places to stay in Okinawa. In that case, you have specific places to look.

Hotel Monterey Okinawa Spa & Resort🔗

Suppose you are looking for an ultra-luxury hotel to stay at in Okinawa. In that case, you must have heard of the Hotel Monterey Okinawa Spa & Resort. You can enjoy the wonderful sea while staying at the hotel with a private beach on Tiger Beach. Also located right next to the PGM Golf Resort Okinawa, it is the most luxurious hotel you can stay in Okinawa. You will leave Okinawa renovated with its large rooms, two different swimming pools, and thermal baths. One of the essential features the hotel offers its visitors is seven different dining options. You can try the most delicious Asian dishes or the most important ones worldwide.  Hotel Monterey Okinawa Spa & Resort offers its visitors a dream holiday with its services. You can be sure you are in the best place in Okinawa where to stay.

Okinawa Harborview Hotel🔗

Another preferred luxury hotel in the region is the Okinawa Harborview Hotel. It is possible to reach many places on foot from the hotel in the city center of the capital, Naha. The hotel also offers services such as an outdoor pool, fitness center, and pool bar, which are open during the summer. Suppose you are curious about the nightlife in Naha. In that case, you can visit the bars and nightclubs in the surrounding area by taking advantage of the hotel’s location.

Hewitt Resort Naha🔗

Located in the city center of Naha, you can walk to many places you might want to visit from Hewitt Resort Naha. Moreover, the Hewitt privilege you are used to does not leave you alone in Okinawa. After a day of exploring, unwinding at the hotel’s spa center and resting in its large beds will be among the best things to do on vacation. Warm colors used in rooms with modern furniture make guests feel right at home right away.

Budget-Friendly Places to Stay in Okinawa💰💰

You don’t just have to stay in luxury hotels to explore Okinawa’s historical texture or witness its unique nature. You can even extend your vacation for a few days in budget-friendly hotels. Moreover, there are many options in Okinawa where you can do this. These are the most budget-friendly places where to stay in Okinawa, Japan.

Hotel Aqua Citta Naha🔗

A hotel where you can have the most delicious breakfasts from Italian and Mediterranean cuisine in Far East Asia may sound like something other than a budget-friendly hotel, but there is such a place.  Hotel Aqua Citta Naha is one of the best hotels you can stay on Okinawa. You can reach many important places with a short walk to explore the surroundings from the hotel in the city center. If you want to leave a hectic day behind you, there is an endless pool on the hotel’s terrace. Hotel Aqua Citta Naha is a surprising place where to stay in Okinawa.

Palm Royal Naha Kokusai Street🔗

Located on Kokusai Street, the hotel first attracts attention with its spacious rooms, comfortable beds, and large outdoor pool. You can have a great start to the day in well-lit rooms. Another advantage of the hotel’s spacious rooms is that they are suitable for families with children. Suppose you are a family enjoying Okinawa with their children. In that case, you can stay at Palm Royal Naha Kokusai Street, which is budget-friendly but also has a wealth of services. The fact that the hotel is in the city center is also an essential plus for visiting the city and exploring the surroundings.

Ishigaki Seaside Hotel🔗

Although Naha is the capital of Okinawa, there are other places to stay. If you want to spend a holiday with the deep blue sea on one side of the endless white sands and the lush green trees on the other, then you should try Ishigaki Seaside Hotel. Moreover, the hotel offers its visitors fun activities such as jet skiing or scuba diving. Located on Sukuji Beach, you can enjoy a sunny Okinawa day in the outdoor pool if you don’t want to swim in the hotel. Although a budget-friendly hotel with ocean-view rooms may sound complicated, it is possible at the Ishigaki Seaside Hotel. It is easily among the best places to stay in Okinawa, Japan.

Cheap Hotels to Stay in Okinawa

Let’s say you only have a small amount of money for your vacation, or you only plan to spend a small amount on lodging.  In that case, you can find cheap hotels that are just right for you. Even though these hotels are on the cheaper side, they might surprise you with what they have to offer.

Y’s Cabin & Hotel Naha Kokusai Street🔗

If you are looking for a cheap place to stay in the capital’s center, Y’s Cabin & Hotel is your address. One of the most prominent features of this hotel is its minimal design, which is known and loved by almost the whole world. It is possible to stay in rooms with minimal design at a very affordable price.The hotel only offers bunk bed rentals if you are just looking for a place to stay. Suppose you are looking for a where to stay in Okinawa without a car; Y’s Cabin & Hotel Naha Kokusai Street is the best option.

Guest House Umikaji🔗

Japan’s notorious minimal design approach is also evident here. When you enter Guest House Umikaji, your first thought is how many things look neat. Located in the city center of Naha, the hotel is one of the ideal places for those looking for more than just a place to stay. Moreover, it is possible to keep a bunk bed in a large room instead of a room in the hotel. If being with others and socializing is something you enjoy, then you can also take advantage of bunk beds. However, it would be best to consider that it also has its negatives. One of the things you should know before going to Guest House Umikaji is that there is a shared bathroom area.

Mr. Kinjo in Gusuku🔗

Don’t be confused by the super-luxurious Ferrari that welcomes you in the hotel’s window. Mr. Kinjo in Gusuku is one of the most affordable places to stay in Naha, the capital of Okinawa. Even though it’s not too expensive, each room has things like a flat-screen TV, a hair dryer, a kettle, a refrigerator, and a microwave oven that are must-haves. Being close to some nightclubs where you can spend the evening in the city is a sufficient criterion for many people. If you expect nothing more than a sleeping place, Mr. Kinjo in Gusunu is the best place to stay in Okinawa.