Okinawa - vacation on the coast

Okinawa Prefecture is an archipelago of 160 islands, some of which are uninhabited. It is located at a considerable distance south of the main Japanese territories. In the past, it was the hotel kingdom of Ryukyu, which became part of Japan only 150 years ago. Therefore, the culture, mentality of the inhabitants, cuisine are significantly different from the rest of the country.

When to go

Okinawa is dominated by a tropical climate. The weather here depends on the winds that typhoons bring with them. Most of them are in August. But they happen in other seasons. For this period, beaches are closed, transport stops running, and stay on the street and in tourist places is limited. The temperature during the year ranges from +20 to +35 degrees. The coldest months are in winter, the hottest months are in the second half of summer.

You can visit the prefecture at any time of the year, if swimming in the sea is not the main purpose of the trip. It is quite comfortable to relax on the islands in early autumn. But the sea is already cold. The peak of the tourist season falls on the second half of summer. It should be borne in mind that Okinawa is becoming a tourist center not only for foreigners, but also for the Japanese. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare for the crowds of vacationers on the beaches, in museums, parks and restaurants. There may also be problems with booking hotels.

How to get there

Since the archipelago is located in the East China Sea, the main modes of transport with which you can get here are by plane or ferry. There are no direct flights to Okinawa, you will have to fly with a transfer either in Tokyo or in one of the major cities in Asia. If you plan to transfer to Tokyo, you should know that in the capital you will need to go from one airport to another, they are located in different parts of the city. International flights are accepted by the Narita air harbor, the flight to the prefectural capital is carried out by domestic airlines from Haneda Airport. The trip will take about 2 hours by express, you can take a taxi.

Passengers from Tokyo are accepted by the capital of the prefecture, the city of Naho. From here you can already get to the rest of the islands. Air travel is the most convenient means of transport. Traveling by ferry will take much longer.

Accommodation

On all the islands that receive travelers, guests are served by numerous hotels and inns, both large complexes and small family establishments. Also, locals often rent out rooms and houses. You should be prepared for the fact that prices in Japan are much higher than in many Asian countries.

If you are planning a trip at the height of the tourist season, you need to take care of booking a room or renting an apartment in advance. There may simply not be places and it will be difficult to rent something already at an inflated price.

Guests can choose between hotels with classic European interiors and service, or a traditional style hotel. It is more convenient to stay in Naho if you plan to visit several islands. There is daily transport from the local harbor or airport.

Food

Okinawa cuisine has its own differences from traditional Japanese. It is customary to cook and serve a lot of vegetables and seafood here. You can eat both in restaurants and small eateries that are located along the streets, near popular attractions. It should be borne in mind that local cuisine can sometimes be very spicy. Fast food restaurants, including global chains, are also common.

Entertainment and attractions

Most tourists come here for the sake of relaxing on the coast. Almost every island has good equipped beaches. But there are some peculiarities. Swimming is allowed only in strictly designated areas. This is caused by a large number of jellyfish and frequent typhoons.

Many of the islands are paradise for diving enthusiasts. These include the islands of Kerama, Miyako, Kume.

In addition to beach activities, it is worth paying attention to visiting the Ryukyu cultural heritage sites. Shuri-jo Castle, where the residence of the rulers of the Ryukyu state was.

Songohyan stone gate, where in the past prayers were offered for the king.

No less interesting will be a visit to the Okinawa World theme park and the Churaumi Aquarium.

It will not be superfluous to allocate a whole day for these excursions.