Travel Destination | Okinawa Japan

Scenic and Instagram-worthy from any angle, Okinawa Island is one of the most visited travel destinations in Japan and with good reason. Prepare for a thrilling adventure here as you experience a wide range of beautiful sites rich with fascinating culture. Historic castles, stunning beaches, and picturesque oceans meet in this wonderful place. Unique to Okinawa, the culture is quite differs slightly from the ways of the other Japanese islands, mainly because it was considered as a separate country until just before the beginning of the 19th century. We've done our research and are excited to share with you ingo to find out all about the very best places to see and visit when in Okinawa in the guide below. Read on to find out more about the travel destination, Okinawa, Japan.

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Travel Destination | Okinawa Japan

Setouchi City Art Museum

Located at 701-4302 4911 Ushimado, Ushimado-cho, (3rd and 4th floor, Ushimado Building, Setouchi City Hall), the Art Museum in Setouchi is a site you will want to be certain to visit. Famous for supporting local artists, you'll find a wide mix of genres and media inside of this public building, which faces out over the Ushimado sea.

In particular, Setouchi City Art Museum is well known for housing the works of local artist Toku Satake, who is known as the ‘Olive Painter', creating imaginative landscapes of olive trees in the area. 

The Underwater Mailbox at The Sunabe Seawall 

Another popular location you won't want to miss when visiting Okinawa is the whimsical underwater mailbox at the Sunabe Seawall. The Sunabe Seawall is a concrete seawall erected in the ocean to stop large waves from hitting and damaging the coastline of Sunabe. However, the wall also fulfils a second purpose as a scuba diving and snorkeling hotspot. Join in with the many people visiting this area to enjoy a dive to its underwater mailbox. Here there is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to capture pictures and videos of posting mail under the water. Another must-see travel destination is the Gorilla Chop, another very popular site along the Sunabe Seawall, especially since you can just walk in from the beach without needing to hire a boat to visit. 

Tourist and locals both enjoy the benefit of Sunabe being super easy to travel to by public transport or car. Once you arrive, aside from diving, there is plenty to do in terms of walking along the front or sampling the local cuisine in the many English-speaking restaurants along the shoreline. 

Okinawa World

So much more than a typical theme park, Okinawa World is perhaps closer to being a national park than a place to bounce about on rollercoasters. Nestled within the wonders of the park are three main attractions- 

1. Gyokusendo- Visit this 300,000 year-old, five kilometer long limestone cave filled with over 1 million stalagmites and stalactites, as well as exquisite blue pools. 

2. Habu Museum Park- Enter at your own risk! This park is famous for captivating shows featuring the habu snake, which is local to the region and highly venomous. 

3. Ryukyu Kingdom Castle- Explore this world heritage site featuring the stunning Shuri castle and the surrounding historical town. 

Southeast Botanical Gardens

Located at 2146 Chibana, Okinawa, 904-2143, Japan, the Southeast Botanical Gardens is also an attraction you won't want to miss. Annually, countless visitors venture here to find over 30,000 natural specimens, including flora and fauna, some of which can be observed nowhere else in the world. 

Entertaining and educational, taking time to meet the adorably cute capybara is a very popular habitat for visitors to the Southeast Botanical Gardens. Travel is convenient, with a bus route around the entire park, which offers an excellent way to catch a glimpse of the property without becoming too overwhelmed. Last of all, the Southeast Botanical Gardens are well known for their stunning light walk and show, which takes place once the sky begins to darken. If possible, try to schedule in a visit towards the evening to make sure you do not miss this splendid moment. 

Makishi Public Market

Also on our travel list is the must-visit location of Makishi Public Market. At this quite famous fish market, you’ll find family-run stalls curated with delicious produce, including pork and a wide array of local vegetables.

Makishi Public Market began as a black market in the post-war era, but continues today as the heart of the city for foodies. An example of this is the lifting food system, where you can buy the ingredients you select in the market. Your food is then transferred upstairs to be cooked for you to enjoy then and there.

This is a truly wonderful experience that many tourist will not have experienced before and well worth the wait! This is the perfect way to dine on fresh food that you hand pick for your meal, with an additional fee for the preparation and cooking of your food. Visit Makishi Public Market in the afternoon and evening if you want to enjoy the hustle and bustle or in the morning if you are looking for a more casual experience.

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