19 Best Things To Do In Naha (and 1 to Skip): Complete Guide

As the monorail pulled into Naha Japan, I was so disappointed. Covered in a grey blanket of dull skies, concrete buildings, and roads surely this isn’t the capital city of Okinawa, Japan’s tropical island paradise? First impressions can be deceiving though. What Naha lacks in picturesque scenery, it makes up for in everything else. The history here is as fascinating as it is heartbreaking, the food is unlike anything you’ll find on mainland Japan, and the locals have this genuine warmth that’s hard to find anywhere else. We planned to stay one month. We ended up staying three. Now it feels like a home away from home.

Naha sits on Okinawa, an archipelago that was once the independent Ryukyu Kingdom before becoming part of Japan. The island played a devastating role in World War II, nearly everything you’ll see in Naha is a reconstruction; the Battle of Okinawa obliterated over 90% of the city. Today, it’s this unique blend of Japanese and American culture, the US military makes up about a third of the island’s population. The vibe here is way more laid back than mainland Japan. There’s even a thriving tattoo culture, which you definitely don’t see everywhere in Japan.

This Naha guide covers why you should this Okinawa city a chance.

Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you

Is Naha Okinawa Worth Visiting?

Here’s the truth: Naha won’t give you the tropical island paradise you’re probably picturing. It’s concrete-heavy, traffic-clogged, and frankly not pretty. But if you’re interested in Okinawa’s complex history, want to eat some of the best regional food in Japan, or need a base for exploring the Kerama Islands, then absolutely yes. I planned one month and ended up staying three for good reason, the city grows on you once you look past the grey exterior.

Skip Naha if: you only want beaches and resort vibes (head to Ishigaki or northern Okinawa instead).

Choose Naha if: you’re a history buff, food lover, or want easy access to island day trips while having city conveniences.

About Naha Okinawa

The Ryukyu Kingdom (1429–1879) was an independent maritime nation ruling the Ryukyu Islands for over 450 years. Its capital, Naha, was a bustling harbor where extensive trade with China, Japan, and Southeast Asia created a distinctive Okinawan culture with its own language family, music (the sanshin), cuisine, and traditions.

In 1879, Japan annexed the kingdom, renaming it Okinawa Prefecture and implementing aggressive assimilation policies that suppressed local languages and customs. Despite this, distinct Okinawan culture persists.

During WWII, the 82-day Battle of Okinawa (1945) nearly destroyed Naha and killed over 200,000 people. Okinawa was reduced to rubble but was rebuilt under US administration for 27 years until 1972, leaving lasting impacts, elderly residents remember the currency switching from dollars to yen, and cars reverting to left-hand driving in 1978.

Today, Naha has a population of over 300,000 and hosts a disproportionately large share (around 70%) of U.S. military facilities in Japan, despite being a small prefecture. The largest bases are close to Naha. There is resentment toward both the U.S. and the Japanese government that permits it. Many Okinawans refer to themselves as Uchinānchu (a term from the Okinawan language), distinguishing themselves from Yamatonchu (mainland Japanese).

Getting To Naha

Served by Naha International Airport, located just 4 km from the centre of Naha. It mostly has domestic flights but there are International routes to Taiwan, China, South Korea and Thailand. Check flights here.

From Naha Airport you can take the monorail rail directly to the city centre.

Getting Around Naha

Monorail (Yui Rail): Naha’s elevated monorail runs 17km from Naha Airport through the city center to Tedako-Uranishi Station, with 19 stops including key locations like Kokusai-dōri, Shuri Castle, and the airport. Fares range from 230–370 yen depending on distance. A 1-day pass (800 yen) or 2-day pass (1,400 yen) offers unlimited rides and is ideal for tourists. Trains run approximately every 7–12 minutes from early morning until around 11:30 PM.

Bus: there is an extensive bus network around the island of Okinawa, especially Naha. A flat fare of 240 or 260 yen is imposed around the city of Naha, once outside of Naha it’s based on the distance.

If paying by cash you must grab a paper ticket when you get on, then when getting off you hand the paper ticket and pay your fare. The fare is shown at the top of the bus on a screen, you just need to look at the bus stop number you got on.

Car: While unnecessary in Naha, renting a car is highly recommended for exploring Okinawa’s beaches, northern forests, and remote cultural sites. The freedom to stop at scenic viewpoints and hidden cafés makes driving worthwhile. However, be prepared for heavy traffic, especially around Naha and the central corridor; the island is narrow with mostly two-lane roads, so travel times can be longer than distances suggest.

Rental costs start around 3,000–5,000 yen/day; compare prices on sites like DiscoverCars.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Naha?

The ideal time to visit Naha is during spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November), when temperatures range from 20–28°C (68–82°F) with comfortable humidity and clear skies. Spring brings early cherry blossoms (late January to February), while autumn offers perfect conditions for exploring historic sites and beaches. Both seasons avoid summer crowds and offer better accommodation rates.

Summer (June to September) brings intense heat, high humidity, and typhoon season (peak August–September), which can disrupt travel. However, it’s festival season; including vibrant Eisa dance performances and the Naha Tug-of-War; and it’s ideal for swimming and diving in warm waters.

Winter (December to February) is mild (15–20°C/59–68°F) but too cool for swimming. It’s the quietest, most affordable season, perfect for cultural exploration, hiking, and whale watching (January to March), plus you can enjoy the Naha Cherry Blossom Festival and traditional New Year celebrations.

Where To Stay In Naha

Tomari Port

This is where I stayed for 3 months, it’s best place to stay in Naha for island hopping with Tomari Port just a stone’s throw away. You will be a 20 minute walk, or 5 minute bus ride to the centre of Naha for nightlife. It’s a quiet and residential area, perfect for longer stays.

I stayed in Hotel Thomas Tomari, a spacious apartment where you have the full apartment floor to yourself, it was the largest place we stayed throughout all of Japan. It had cooking amenities, 2 comfortable bedrooms, and a balcony. There are many great restaurants close by, and you’re close enough to the port to see it from your window. Plenty of great restaurants nearby, plus YAMADA COFFEE (mentioned in my cafe section) is a 5-minute walk. Book Hotel Thomas Tomari.

Budget-friendly option: Smile Hotel – traditional, cosy rooms situated in front of Tomari Port and with a bus stop on its doorstop.

Naha City

Where all the action is. This is the best place to stay in Naha for nightlife and a large variety of restaurants. It’s lively, especially at night. Senboro Yokocho, the Food Village, and most izakayas I recommend are within walking distance.

Mid-range: Hotel Gracery – located on Kokusai Dori Street, breakfast buffet featuring both Okinawan and Western meals. A nice feature is the rooms come with face masks and bath salts for the ultimate post sightseeing wind-down. Book Hotel Gracery

Upscale: Southwest Grand Hotel – featuring a rooftop pool, gym, spa and 3 on-site restaurants, this hotel has just about everything to keep you comfortable along with a drip coffee pack. Rooms are modern, spacious with some having balconies and a free mini bar. This is the perfect hotel for couples in Naha. Book Southwest Grand Hotel

Omoromachi

Naha’s retail district with shopping malls clustered together, plus Shintoshin Park nearby. Close to the Prefectural Museum and teamLab (both covered in this guide). It’s served by the YuiRail with Omoromachi Station with Naha centre just 2 stops away.

Budget-friendly: Libre Garden Hotel is a contemporary budget-friendly hotel just 15-minute walk from Kokusai Dori Street and surrounded by malls. Featuring vending machines, a coin launderette and a highly rated breakfast.

Upscale: The Naha Terrace is a 4-star hotel with an outdoor pool, gym, spa, 4 on-site restaurants and a lush garden patio. Rooms are modern and spacious, some have beautiful views over the city. It’s the best place to stay in Naha for relaxation.

Things To Do In Naha

Naha’s attractions aren’t the typical tropical paradise sights you might expect. Instead, the city’s highlights focus on Ryukyu Kingdom history, war memorials, traditional crafts, and some of the best regional food in Japan. Here are the top places to visit in Naha that are actually worth your time.

Kokusaidori Street

A colourful 2 km street lined with palm trees, shops, restaurants, street vendors and bars. Being the main street in Naha it’s quite touristy and busy, with many souvenir shops. At night it livens up even more with large neon lights flickering outside shop buildings and people spilling out of bars and restaurants.

The name Kokusaidori Street means International Street, derving from the Ernie Pyle International Theater which catered to the many U.S. military stationed there after the war.

The best time to experience Kokusaidori Street is Sunday when the street is closed to traffic. There are often performers, we saw some sumo wrestlers doing some moves one Sunday afternoon.

Along with local shops there are large international brands like Starbucks, McDonalds, A&W, Ichiran, and Shushiro. There is also a 6 floor Don Quijote, which I made sure was the first place I visited after touching down in Naha.

Branching off Kokusaidori Street are the covered shopping arcades of Heiwadori, Mutsumidori and Ichiba Hondori.

Kokusaidori Street Arcade

I’ve been to my fair share of shopping arcades in Japan, this cluster stands out for the variety of businesses. Admittedly its quite touristy at the top with souvenir shops but the further you go down the more local and authentic it gets.

The rustic covered arcade is full of small stalls, shops, izakayas, cafes, and markets you can spend a long time wandering it’s maze of eclectic offerings, it’s one of the best things to do in Naha.

In terms of where to go there is genuinely so much here that it’s best to just get a bit lost. But these are a few places that stood out to me:

Senboro Yokocho (せんべろ横丁)

What first appears as a dark and dingy alley shrouded in a haze or smoke is actually one of the best places to grab a drink in Naha. The buzz of everyone sitting out on small wooden seats under red lanterns, creates a fantastic atmosphere that makes it hard to leave.

Senboro means sen (one thousand) and berobero (slang work for drunk), this translates to drink for 1,000 yen or less. These joints offer both drinks and small plates of food. You receive a set that generally includes two to three drinks such as highballs, and draft beers per person, along with choice of snacks from a menu curated to fit the senbero pricing. Examples of snacks include yakitori, chicken wings or karage.

Overall for a good atmosphere with cheap drink and food you can’t go wrong here.

万部屋 is a solid choice for sushi while 那覇ゴールデン 国際通り店 has their own unique take on senboro culture called “4bero”, here you need 4 coins for 1,600 yen, 1 coin gets you a drink and a small plate. Overall it’s a great deal.

Day Trip To Kerama Islands

One thing you need to add to your Okinawa itinerary is a trip to the Kerama Islands.

The Kerama Islands are made up 36 islands, with just 4 that are inhabited: Tokashiki Island, Zamami, Aka, and Geruma. These 36 islands form the Keramashoto National Park. Naha is the perfect base to explore some of these islands, with ferries departing from Tomari Port on a daily basis. They are located approximately 36 kilometres from Okinawa.

These islands are famous for a specific vivid blue coloured ocean, called kerama blue, it’s genuinely so beautiful. The most popular island are Tokashiki and Zamami, which are also the largest. Out of all of them I strongly recommend Zamami for its cycling, crystal clear beaches and sea turtle spotting.

From late December to early April you can also whale watch from here. Humpback whales migrate here from Russia for warmer water to breed and raise their young. There are many whale watching tours during this time.

Getting To Kerama Islands From Naha

Daily ferries and speedboats go between Naha and the Kerama Islands. Click here for Naha to Tomari and Aka ferry online booking. They take an average of 1.5 – 2 hours and are dependent on weather conditions.

Makishi Market

Compact market located in the Kokusaidori Street Arcade with both meat and fish.

For me the highlight was the amount of fresh seafood including big prawns, lobsters crabs, sea urchin, coconut crab along with vibrant cuts of sashimi-grade fish.

You buy your food from the lower floor, the vendor then sends it upstairs where it can be cooked to whatever way you prefer. It’s an excellent place to try new things.

Given the location, expect prices to be about 20% higher than supermarkets.

Open 8 AM -10 PM Monday – Saturday and closed on Sunday.

Shuri Castle

The castle burned down in a tragic 2019 fire, and they’re still rebuilding, it is not scheduled to be done until 2026. Although there’s no actual castle to see, the grounds are absolutely worth exploring anyway.

Sitting on a hill overlooking the city, Shuri Castle is still Naha’s most popular attraction. This was the heart of the Ryukyu Kingdom, dating back to the 13th century. It’s been destroyed so many times, even bombed in 1945, then rebuilt in 1992, only to burn down again in 2019.

Walking through the grounds was fascinating even without the main castle. The structures here have these unique Ryukyu elements you won’t see anywhere in mainland Japan, red tile roofs and gates with stone arches topped by wooden towers.

The Kankaimon gate (meaning “welcome”) greets you at the entrance, then you reach the 7-metre red Shureimon Gate. The Kyukeimon Gate was once mainly used by women as a service entrance. There’s also an observation deck called Irinoazana with views over the city, and the tranquil Benzaiten Hall grounds where Muscovy ducks waddle around.

Entry is 400 yen per person. The grounds are fascinating on your own, but if you want the full story, the political intrigue, the architectural symbolism, the Kingdom’s relationship with China, consider this private tour with a local guide. They fill in all the context you’d otherwise miss.

Kokusai Street Food Village

Open air market with about 20 izakaya’s that spill out to crowded and compact lanes that creates an energetic and welcoming atmosphere.

Open daily from 12 PM to 12 AM, Kokusai Street Food Village is best experienced at night when chochin (paper lanterns) hang from the ceiling and the aroma of grilled meat flows through the air.

We went to 3 different izakayas here and they were all so good, so I think you’ll be good no matter where you choose. It can get very busy so the key is to not be too choosey and go wherever there is a seat.

Fukushūen Garden

From the street, Fukushūen Garden is easy to miss, but inside and you’ll find a surprisingly expansive Chinese-style garden. Opened in 1992 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Naha and Fuzhou, China. This Chinese-style garden was made to be “walkable art” apparently, and you can really feel it.

The scenery is beautiful, Chinese and Japanese architecture mixed together, oriental terraces and bridges, sculptures, ponds full of koi fish. You can buy food for the koi fish for 100 yen at the entrance.

There aren’t tons of people who visit here so you don’t have to worry about crowds.

A highlight for me was the ‘hidden’ underground cave which places you right behind a waterfall. Then you walk up to the top for views across the garden.

When we visited there was a short downpour, we sat under a terrace overlooking a koi pond, the sound of rainfall while surrounded by such beautiful landscapes was such a moment of serenity.

The entrance ticket is 200 yen before 6PM and 300 yen after 6PM. This is one of the budget-friendly things to do in Naha.

Gokoku Shrine

Originally built in 1367 for those lost in the Russo-Japanese War, it was rebuilt in 1945 and rededicated to the victims of the Battle of Okinawa, now holding over 178,000 enshrined deities; the most of any Gokoku Shrine in Japan.

Rather than personal prayers, people pray and express gratitude for the soldiers and civilians for paving the way for the Japan we know today. As you can expect, the atmosphere here is solemn.

At the entrance you will be greeted with the largest torii gate in Okinawa, which is wide enough for cars to drive through. Then there is a second smaller gate made of stone with a sacred rope hanging from it to ward off evil spirits. Finally, you will pass through a white concrete stone gate.

Although mostly a sombre affair, during the New Year there are small stalls selling street food at the entrance of the shrine.

Shikina-en Royal Gardens

Originally built in 1799 as the Ryukyu kings’ second residence, it took 20 years to restore this place after the Battle of Okinawa. It’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What struck me most was how simple the wooden Udun palace is. I expected something grand and intricate given it hosted kings and diplomatic guests, but it’s surprisingly modest. The Okinawan-style red tile roofs and spacious, airy interiors are beautiful, just not what you’d typically picture when you think “palace.”

The gardens themselves are Chinese-style with a heart-shaped pond, tall trees, and pavilions, but there’s an Okinawan twist with all the tropical plants scattered throughout. Shaded paths wind through the grounds, and at the far end there’s a pavilion with lovely views over Naha.

It’s peaceful here, a nice escape from the city bustle without going far. Entrance is a reasonable 400 yen.

Shuri Kinjo Town Stone-paved Road

This was my favourite walk in Naha, so tranquil and like stepping back in time. Although it’s not too well known I think it’s one of the best things to do in Naha.

Once a 10 km road between Shuri Castle and Madan-bashi bridge, most of the road was destroyed in 1945. Today, just a 238-metre path remains.

This is an uphill and sometimes steep limestone path with stone houses which the distinctive red roof on each side. It has an ancient atmosphere to it with portions very scenic. You get a feel for what it was like in the bygone days.

Along the path are 6 large Akagi trees, the oldest is believed to be 2,000 years old. These trees were said to grow near Shuri Castle but most were destroyed during the war. The remaining trees are said to be sacred, a symbol of power after surviving the war.

Be careful on the way down as the limestone can be slippy. It takes about 15 minutes to walk uphill but you can also visit it from Shuri Castle, which is a downhill walk.

Kinjo Dam

One of the nicest walks in Naha surrounded by nature. Built in 2000, this 19 metre tall and 120 metre long dam is made of Ryukyu limestone, modelled after the walls of Shuri Castle.

Nearby is the Hiji River Bridge, a single arch stone bridge also made of Ryukyu limestone built in the 17th century. The bridge is an extension of the stone pavement in Kinjo-cho, and it is said that messengers from China were transported over this bridge to Shikina-en Garden.

You can also get a good view of the Kinjo Dam from Amagoidake observatory.

GURUMAW (Self Stand Bar)

Native to Okinawa, Awamori is an alcohol made from rice, black koji mold and yeast. It’s one of Japan’s oldest alcohol dating back 500 years.

GURUMAW offers a unique way to try this drink in a social setting. True to Japanese culture, this bar is kitted out with vending machines, you pop a coin in and then self serve a measure of Awamori. There are many different flavours and brands to try. Prices start from 200 yen.

This drink packs a punch with the alcohol content between 20 – 40%. It tastes earthy with a slightly sweet aftertaste. I can’t say I rushed to try it again, but it’s certainly unique a unique thing to do in Naha Okinawa.

If awamori isn’t your thing, they also have beers and highballs.

Sakaemachi Arcade

Sakaemachi Arcade is a very old traditional market with many izakayas and Showa era architecture. It’s dark and looks a bit dilapidated in areas with deserted units but it’s one of the more authentic things to do in Naha, away from the polished tourist places.

In the day it’s quiet with a number of food and clothing stalls, then at night the izakayas open and it becomes a local drinking cove. It’s gritty and a bit rough around the edges, but that’s exactly the point. You won’t spend hours here, maybe 30-40 minutes wandering through, but it’s worth it for the atmosphere alone.

In terms of where to go I recommend COFFEE potohoto for incredible coffee, one of the best I had in all of Okinawa. For food, Yamana Curry Bettei is a super popular curry restaurant, there are only three flavours and you can choose the spice level. The standard is a chicken curry (A curry) while the B and C curry changes regularly. You can get a set that includes all three flavours.

Tsuboya Yachimun Street

Just a short walk from Kokusai-dori is Tsuboya Yachimun Street, a small 300 metre quaint limestone paved road winding through a small neighbourhood where pottery workshops have been handed down through generations. The road also has bits of broken pottery paved into the road.

The type of pottery made here is a traditional Okinawan yachimun, which is made with native soil. Look up at the red rooftops of the houses which are made with yachimun, along with the many shisa (lion dogs) on walls and roofs.

There are many pottery workshops you can attend, you can even design your own shisa which make for an excellent souvenir.

Aside from pottery making workshops there is a museum and a cafe. Unless you do a workshop then you will likely only spend 20 minutes here.

Although not located on Tsuboya Yachimun Street, Churami Studio is fun workshop in the Kokusaidori Street Arcade where you can paint a clay shisa.

Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters

Built in 1944 The Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters was designed to hold up to 4,000 soldiers. Japanese forces fought from inside the tunnel complex until June 13, 1945, when the final survivors either launched one last counterattack or ended their lives. The site was closed until 1970 in an effort to promote peace for future generations

A self-guided tour takes you through different areas of the site, covering both the military history and the relief efforts that followed for the residents who survived. The underground bunker itself was the command centre for the Imperial Japanese Navy, and walking through those tunnels is a sombre, you can still see grenade blast marks on the walls. The whole tunnel network was dug out by hand with basic tools, which are on display.

The museum section has a solid collection of uniforms, weapons, and other artifacts from the period, giving you a tangible sense of what the soldiers were working with. They also show a 15-minute documentary that’s in Japanese but comes with English subtitles, so it’s accessible even if you don’t speak the language. The whole experience is really well done from an educational standpoint, but it’s also heavy, you can’t walk through those tunnels without thinking about the absolute horror that unfolded there decades ago.

Although one of the top attractions in Okinawa, this underground bunker is a stark reminder of just how brutal war is, not just for the soldiers but for everyone caught in its path.

Entrance cost 600 yen. It takes 22 minutes to get here from Naha on bus 98 or 55.

Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum

Winning the Good Design Award in 2008, the Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum building was constructed largely from local Okinawan limestone and designed to resemble the island’s traditional gusuku (castles). It’s massive, spanning roughly 24,000 square meters across four levels and one basement.

The museum’s theme is “Living in the Sea and on the Islands” and explores Okinawa’s nature, history, and culture. The main exhibition follows a timeline from prehistoric times and natural history through various civilization, the WWII era, and present day.

Housing approximately 100,000 items, including the original “Bankoku Shinryo” bell that hung in front of Shuri Castle’s main building during the Ryukyu Kingdom period. There is also an art museum with paintings, sculptures, and visual arts like films and video works, exhibiting mainly modern and contemporary art from Japan and other Asian countries.

Hours are Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday 9am-6pm, Friday-Saturday 9am-8pm. The museum is closed on Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a holiday). it’s located a 10 minute walk from Omoromachi Station. Tickets cost 530 yen, and there are audioguides in various languages.

teamLab Future Park Okinawa 

Located a few minutes walk from the Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum is teamLab Future Park, one of the cool things to do in Naha. Maybe you’ve heard of the very famous teamLab Borderless and teamLab Planets in Tokyo? Although run by the same company the experience is different. teamLab Future Park is built around this idea of collaborative creativity, you’re creating art alongside everyone else there, and everything responds to how you touch it, move around it, or interact with it.

The installations are constantly changing and transforming based on what people do, so you’re always discovering something new. The highlight here is its Sketch Aquarium: Connected World. Here you colour in a fish on paper, and then it literally comes to life and swims around a large digital aquarium with everyone else’s fish. If you wear plain or white clothes you’ll actually become part of the projections, which makes for way better photos.You can even turn your works of art into actual products like badges, T-shirts, tote bags, or hand towels to take home.

Tickets are 2,000 yen for adults and you need to buy them in advance with a time slot, though sometimes you can grab same-day tickets online or at the door if they’re not sold out. One thing to know, they don’t allow high heels, hard sole shoes, or anything open-toe or open-heel. You can rent soft sole shoes at the entrance for 500 yen, but they’re limited so it’s better to just bring your own sneakers.

Gyokusendo Cave

Gyokusendo Cave is part of Okinawa World, one of the top attractions in Okinawa, which is honestly a bit of a touristy theme park about 10 kilometers south of Naha. But the cave itself? Worth the trek.

Discovered in 1967, this is Okinawa’s largest limestone cave and the second biggest in all of Japan: over 5,000 meters long with more than a million stalactites, formed over 300,000 years. Only about 890 meters is open to the public, but that’s plenty.

You walk along a metal walkway with guardrails, so it’s safe and easy, though it does get slippery in spots because of the high humidity. The cave is dimly lit, creating a moody atmosphere as you pass endless stalactites. The highlight is Ao no Izumi, an underground spring with the most vivid turquoise water.

Outside the cave, there’s Kingdom Village, a reconstructed traditional Okinawan village where you can watch craftspeople make pottery, glass, paper, and traditional instruments. It’s touristy but kind of fun.

Pro tip: Find the Lawson convenience store near the theme park entrance and buy your tickets there for about 120 yen off per person.

Attraction In Naha To Skip

Naha Beach

Naha beach is probably the strangest beach I’ve ever visited. There are two huge freeway overpasses overhead of this little cove. Not only is it incredibly loud but it’s an eyesore.

However, it’s the only beach where you can swim in Naha, with both lifeguards and jellyfish nets. And if you can block out the bridge, then the sand is white and the water is clear.

There are two sides to this beach Naha Beach and then the Naminoue Beach under the Naminoue Beach shrine which has fewer people.

Skip it unless: you desperately need a swim and can’t leave Naha. The beach has white sand and clear water with lifeguards and jellyfish nets, but two massive freeway overpasses sit directly overhead, making it incredibly loud and frankly ugly. If you have any other beach option in Okinawa, choose that instead.

If you walk onto the expressway, you can get a good view of the Naminoue Shrine too.

What To Eat In Naha

Onigiri Pork Tomaga In Naha

Did you know that Okinawa has its own style of onigiri? On top of the usual slice of egg (tomago) on rice wrapped in seaweed is a thick, juicy slice of spam. I know, SPAM in JAPAN? As incredulous as it sounds there is a reason.

Introduced by US serviceman, SPAM became a staple in Okinawa, fatty, calorie dense with a long shelf life, it became a favourite among the locals.

I was sceptical at first, SPAM was something we had in our Irish cupboards growing up and I hated it. However these are delicious, the pork fat melts into the rice and it’s delectable. You can also find ones with goya (bitter melon), a bitter Okinawan vegetable, it wasn’t my favourite but was cool to try.

These were some of my favourite Onigiri Pork Tomaga spots:

Taco Rice

As random as it may seem, taco rice is an Okinawan speciality. It was created in 1984 by chef Matsuzo Gibo for the troops of Camp Hansan.

It’s a tex-mex concoction, beef mince is cooked in taco seasoning, served on top of rice and then topped with grated cheese, shredded cabbage, tomato and a tomato sauce. It’s pretty simple, but tastes good and is something you have to eat in Okinawa.

Taco Rice In Naha

Okinawan Soba In Naha

There are many dishes with the name soba, it generally refers to soba noodle. These noodles are made from buckwheat flour. They are thick and chewy, unlike regular noodles you would find in ramen. However soba noodles in Okinawa are made from wheat flour, and do not contain any buckwheat.

Okinawan soba contains soba noodles in a umami broth. It’s served with a thick slice of braised pork belly and fish cake slices (kamaboko). It’s a light broth and pairs excellently with the heavy noodles. It became my comfort dish, surprisingly overtaking my beloved ramen.

Best Soba In Okinawa

Blue Seal

One thing you have to try in Okinawa is Blue Seal ice cream, seriously no trip is complete without it. Originally created post World War II by the US military for their servicemen in Okinawa to give them a taste of familiarity, it only started selling to the wider Okinawan public in 1963.

Today, Blue Seal is now an Okinawan company that sells mostly local flavours like Okinawan salt cookies, sweet potato and Ryukyu Royal Milk Tea.

The flavours are very different to the what I am used to, but they were lovely and not too sweet. My combo was always Okinawan Salt Cookies and Mint Chocolate – ah take me back.

Beni Imo (Purple Sweet Potato)

Beni imo is a staple in Okinawan people’s diets, they are believed to be a component as to why Okinawans have a high lifespan. Rice does not tend to grow in Okinawa, instead the vibrant beni-imo flourishes in the warm climate.

It has a very sweet taste so is often used in desserts, but it’s also delicious paired with anything savoury or with a small bit of butter melted on top.

KOHAKUIMO specialises in beni imo with many parfaits along with regular sweet potato. Average price is 800 yen.

Okashigoten sell small beni imo tarts, you can get one freshly baked or a multi pack in boxes which are a great souvenir. One beni imo tart cost 200 yen. The potato part is like a mousse and not too sweet but pairs well with the flaky crust.

Restaurants In Naha

Ryuya Honten

When it comes to the best ramen in Naha, I give my award to Ryuya Honten. Their speciality is burnt garlic ramen so I had to order that. I could smell the rich broth before it was even infront of me. The dark black soup base is creamy with a strong taste of roasted garlic, but it’s not over powering, it’s well balanced. The noodles were chewy and easy to slurp. Other flavours include a spicy miso, and tonkatsu made with agu pork

The shop front is also eye catching, it looks like it’s being swallowed by a tree.

Location: 1 Chome-6-8 Matsuo, Naha, Okinawa 900-0014
Price: 980 yen for a standard bowl of ramen

Miyako Soba SAIGA Naha Tsuboya

This tiny little soba shop feels as though you are sitting in someones home kitchen, with a TV in the corner and friendly owners, you are made to feel at home.

Ordering the Miyako style soba, the braised pork belly was so tender it melted in my mouth, and the fishcakes were some of the best I’ve had, light and not too fishy. The wheat noodles had perfect bite, while the light bonito and kelp broth let the tender braised pork belly shine. This is one of the best restaurants in Naha for soba.

Location: 1 Chome-6-15 Tsuboya, Naha, Okinawa 902-0065
Price: 980 yen for Miyako soba,

Ramen Koryu Naha Matsuyama

Located away from downtown Naha, close to Fukushūen Gardens is one of the best ramen joints in Okinawa. Ramen Koryu Naha Matsuyama was a total surprise, like all best restaurants in Japan, the more unassuming the exterior, the better the food is.

You order through a vending machine, I chose their Jibun Jitate ramen which is highly customisable. Once seated I was handed a slip of paper to preference spice, richness and ramen texture.

Scattered across the top were shitake mushrooms, seaweed, garlic crisps, sesame seeds, a dash of spice, and a thick slice of pork. The broth was unique, like no other I tried before which I assume was the sesame.

Location: 1 Chome-8-6 Matsuyama, Naha, Okinawa 900-0032
Price: 850 yen for a standard bowl of ramen

Vietnamese Pho Shop (ベトナム料理•ベトー那覇ショップ)

Any one who has visited Vietnam will know just how difficult it is to find authentic pho outside of there. I did not expect to find it in Okinawa, but I did.

Located on Heiwa Dori, part of the Kokusaidori Street Arcade, this Vietnamese restaurant is a must-visit. The menus features different phos including beef, chicken and bun bo (spicy), pork, pate, and chicken banh mi’s, and the unbeatable Vietnames coffee. I was in heaven.

We ordered beef pho, bun bo hue, and grilled pork banh mi. The beef pho was rich, served with herbs and bean sprouts with all tables having spicy Vietnamese sauce. The banh mi was fresh, crispy and transported me back to the little red seats in Hanoi. Washed all down with a strong condensed milk coffee.

On the second floor is a small Vietnamese shop, so great if you’re staying in Naha long term.

Location: 3 Chome-2 Heiwa Dori, Okinawa 900-0013
Price: 798 – 940 yen for pho, 700 – 800 yen for banh mi

Tsubame Ochaya Goden

Tucked away down a residential street on the outskirts of the Naha, Tsubame Ochaya Goden is an experience. The ingredients are sourced from Sakamachi Market where the owner grew up, the pork is marinate in awamori, and everything is served with Ryukyu pottery. It’s a truly Okinawan experience.

It atmospheric restaurant has a wonderful calm atmosphere, with traditional tatami mats to dine on the floor along with chairs and tables.

The menu is limited, it’s mostly soba. I ordered the Tsubame Gozen sanmai pork soba! The soba soup is made with pork, bonito and kelp, it’s quite mild but it works well. It was served as a set with rice, seaweed, and peanut tofu.

Location: 3 Chome-2-5 Asato, Naha, Okinawa 902-0067
Price: 1,300 yen for a soba set

Best Cafes In Naha

Naha’s specialty coffee scene genuinely impressed me. After months of mediocre coffee elsewhere in Japan, discovering these independent roasters felt like finding hidden gems.

Inshallah

Around since 1974, it’s one of the oldest cafes in Okinawa. As soon as you walk through the doors and downstairs, you’re hit with an old world feel, the decor has remained the same since its opening. With dim lighting, dark wooden furnishings and small enclaves to sit in, there is a cosy ambiance.

As the name implies, this is a Middle Eastern cafe, serving Arabic and Turkish coffee along with the classics and even a Vienna wiener coffee.

The menu has colourful hand drawn illustrations, it’s so cute. I highly recommend the blueberry cheesecake which just melts in your mouth.

YAMADA COFFEE OKINAWA chapteR

Located a 5 minutes walk from Port Tomari, off the main road, I was lucky enough to stay close by and frequently came to YAMADA COFFEE. Also a roaster, the aroma of beans as you walk through the door is the first thing that hits you. There is a large roaster in the middle of the room

They take their coffee very seriously, and meticulous prepare each cup. They have a variety of beans for hand drip, macchiato, cappuccino along with a coffee jelly float with is made with coffee jelly and topped with ice cream. You can also get oat milk which is was hard to come by in Okinawa.

I always ordered the cappuccino which was consistently velvety smooth and not bitter, I could taste chocolate and hazelnuts.

Seating is limited, but the vibe is relaxed. The workers are also incredibly friendly, always made me and my awful Japanese feel very welcome.

Location: 2 Chome−１５−6, Tomari, 900-0012
Price: 300 yen espresso, 600 yen drip, 650 yen cappuccino, 690 yen coffee float

Once a Week Coffee Stand

Cosy roadside nook with only 5 seats inside.Offering an aromatic home roasted coffee that is on the dark side which is served as a latte or americano. Simple menu but certainly not a simple taste, it’s full bodied with no acidity.

Fresh cinnamon rolls, amazing, they are made with a local cinnamon leaf that has a herby taste to it but works very well with the pastry. They serve them warmed up, oh my goodness amazing.

Location: 1 Chome−8−1 1F, Tomari, Naha, 900-0012
Price: 450 yen americano, 500 yen latte, 500 yen cinnamon roll

The Corner

A hidden gem in the Naha coffee scene, The Corner is a cute and laid back cafe in Naha to get your coffee fix. Inside is cosy with just a few seats, while outside has a row or chairs where you can watch some street activity.

The menu has the usuals like americano and lattes while also offering tea, smoothies and acai bowls. They also have a small number of desserts.

The cappuccino I ordered was a perfect balance between the bold espresso and creamy milk, with a slight sweetness from the foam.

Location: 900-0032 Okinawa, Naha, Matsuyama, 1 Chome−14−13 １F
Price: 400 yen espresso, 550 yen latte, 600 yen cappuccino, 600 yen matcha latte

COFFEE potohoto

Located in the Sakaemache Arcade is one of Naha’s best cafes, and a must-visit for coffee lovers. Rustic and sophisticated, coffee is taken seriously in this snug cafe. There are not many seats inside but in my experience, it is generally not too busy.

Coffee is roasted in-house at either dark or medium, with the beans ranging from Taiwanese to Ethiopian and Costa Rica which are all lined up on the counter.

The menu includes French pressed, brown sugar condensed milk latte, oat milk latte. I ordered the iced cappuccino

Location: 388-1 Asato, Naha, Okinawa 902-0067
Price: 450 yen French press, 450 yen cappuccino, 500 yen brown sugar latte

Ryu Haku Cafe

Bright and spacious cafe in the arcade. It’s a relaxing and quiet spot to bring your laptop for a short while, with comfortable seating and a calm atmosphere that’s perfect for getting some work done or just unwinding with a coffee. The sign is made of coffee beans,

The sign outside is made entirely of coffee beans, which immediately caught my eye. The coffee cups and plates are gorgeous; each one handmade in a pottery studio directly across the way. They’re all available for purchase at the shop opposite the cafe, making them a beautiful and very practical memento of Okinawa. I loved the idea of drinking from something that was made just meters away.

Menu includes alternative milk lattes, fresh juices, and some delicious desserts. The cappuccino was excellent. One of those cafes you could easily lose track of time in.

Location: 3 Chome-2-42 Makishi, Naha, Okinawa 900-0013
Price: 400 espresso, 530 yen latte, 580 yen matcha latte

Thank you for reading this best things to do in Naha Okinawa post. Keep reading for some FAQ’s.

Naha FAQ

Is Naha safe?

Naha is exceptionally safe, with a very low crime rate of 5.88. I would still take the normal precautions of not walking alone at night and not leaving your drink unattended, but overall it’s one of the safest places in Japan.

Is Naha boring?

I have heard it’s a boring place, people advising to stay elsewhere. I think it’s a good base to explore the islands as well as the southern part of Okinawa but it doesn’t feel tropical at all, and is very grey. However, there is a lot to do (as you can see from this post), but if you’re expecting beach huts and island vibes you wont get it in Naha.

Is Okinawa friendly to tourists?

The locals share Okinawan with a large number of Americans, they also get plenty of tourism, I found everyone I encountered to be friendly and patience. Over my 3 months here I never felt unwelcome.

How many days do you need in Naha?

3 days is plenty of time to see Naha and take a 1 day trip to the Kerema islands. With 3 days you can enjoy the city centre tasting all the best food spots, visiting a few izakayas ad markets and also historic attractions like Shuri Castle, the Navy Underground Headquarters, and Shikina-en Royal Gardens.

Is Naha expensive?

I found Naha to be reasonable, it’s more expensive on Kokusaidori Street but as soon as you leave that area the prices tend to be 10-20% less. Average meals per person was 1,000 – 1,300 yen. Accommodation options can be expensive during peak season but there are many budget options, and don’t forget to check condos over hotels.

Do I need a car in Naha?

You don’t need a car in Naha, you can see most of it by walking and for longer distance the monorail and bus is excellent. The traffic around the island is pretty brutal, but if you want to explore the northern half of the island then a car is great choice. You will have more freedom and can reach to quaint natural spots that give make Okinawa so beautiful.

Related Posts

3 Day Tokyo Itinerary
How To Spend The Perfect Day In Tokyo
Where To Stay In Tokyo For First-Timers
1 Perfect Day In Kyoto
31 Best Things To Do In Osaka
2 Day Osaka Itinerary
23 Ways To Save Money In Japan
Hiking Fushimi Inari-Taisha | 2025 Guide
Minoh Park | Off The Beaten Path In Osaka

You might also like

10 Best Things to Do in Jiufen Old Street
Things To Do In Cijin Island Kaohsiung: Day Trip Guide + Photos (2025)
Visiting Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum | Guide, Photos + My Experience (2025)
Things To Do In Kaohsiung: Itinerary (2025)
Ultimate 4 Day Taipei Itinerary For First-Timers
10 Day Seoul Itinerary
31 Best Attractions in Busan: Complete Guide + Map (2025)
28 Fun Things To Do In Haeundae