Okinawa

Eco-friendly travel guide to Okinawa advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to travel in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Okinawa, Japan.

Village of Onna in Okinawa

Air quality: 4.5 / 5

Bus connections: 3.9 / 5

Train connections: 3.5 / 5

Hitchhiking: 3.4 / 5

National parks: 4.2 / 5

Outdoor activities: 4.3 / 5

Locals' English level: 4.3 / 5

Safety: 4.4 / 5

Accommodation: US$80 - $390

Budget per day: US$40- $120

Responsible Travel

Traveling is fun and adventurous but by traveling safe and taking all the necessary measures that are required to be taken in order to travel in a more sustainable and eco-friendly way. You must try to control your activities so that you don’t cause any harm to the environment and their culture.

Reduce the wastes and abide from throwing any waste materials anywhere in the city because these wastes can cause long-term damage to the environment.

Support the local economies and cultures by using the local products, booking local guesthouses and apartments, green hotels, etc.

Opting for public transport and electronic vehicles like electronic buses, metro trains, trams, cars, etc. which cause less harm to the environment and are relatively cheap.

Visit the local parks that relieve one’s stress and helps you to feel refreshed and the green spaces.

Air Quality and Pollution

The air quality in Okinawa, Japan as of the latest report of WHO World Health Organization is 40 US AQI which is considered a favorable condition. Japan ranks at #82 out of the 106 countries in the worst air quality experience list in 2020. The average of PM 2.5 2019 was 11.7 µg/m3 which is also considered good. The best time to visit Okinawa, Japan will be in the Spring or in the Autumn months which are May and September to December. Here, the rainy season is present from May to June. Although, Okinawa experiences a warm temperature throughout the year. The average temperature is 23°C and in the winters the average is 17°C. The winter season is present from December to February.

Respect the Culture

The culture and customs are held very sacred in Japan. The traditions before the Ryukyu kingdom are vast. For example, they worship their ancestors for better harvests goodwill. This custom focuses on respecting the ancestors and caring for their family which is much more important in Okinawa than in any other place in Japan. Okinawa is also known for its food culture, the people practice “Yuimaru” which means helping each other.

Top 10 Places to Visit

Okinawa is known as “Hawaii of Japan”, it has amazing beaches, hotels, guesthouses, temples, cuisines, etc.

Shurijo Castle - The Castle is located at 1-2 Kinjo-Cho, Shuri, Naha and has a total of 109 restaurants nearby and 57 other attraction sites within 0.5 km. The castle was burned down in 2019 due to some electrical malfunction and a fire destroyed the place. They are trying to rebuild the castle and will be ready very soon for the tourists. As you walk in you will be able to see the Gusuku which is called the fortress situated at the top of the hill in the main hall of the castle. You can find the emperor’s throne, the courtyard, interior event rooms, etc. The castle is worth visiting once it is rebuilt.

Yonaha Maehama Beach- The beach is close to the city center which has amazing turquoise waters and has white sands all over the beach which looks beautiful. There are lots of water sports held on the beach. It’s located at Shimijiyonaha, Miyakojima with 11 restaurants and 7 other attraction sites nearby. The place is great for weddings and photoshoots. There are many couples that get married here. The place is quite crowded and full most of the time. The beach is wide and has facilities like sun umbrellas and beds, cafés, water toys for kids, etc. The waters are not deep so you can easily swim safely.

Kabira Bay- The Kabira bay is located in Ishigaki and has approximately 18 restaurants and 5 other attraction sites nearby. This beach is famous and attracts many tourists. The view from the land is extremely beautiful. you aren’t allowed to swim in Kabira bay. The most popular activity is the glass-bottom boat rides which allow you to see the coral reefs and it has also got a nice place from where you can take pictures.

Michi-No-Eki Kyoda Yambaru Local Products Center - it’s located at 17-1 Kyoda and has 650 restaurants and 93 other attraction sites nearby. The place has also got a supermarket where people can shop for different items and souvenirs, snacks, and discounted tickets for attraction sites. This place serves as a place where you can stop and eat or drink if you’re hungry or do some shopping. If you come here for eating they are famous for their Taco rice which is also one of the most famous food in Okinawa and garlic steaks which is also famous.

Neo Park Okinawa - The park is located at 4607-41 Nago which is also the #1 place to visit out of 63 other attractions in Nago. The place has nearly 87 restaurants and 4 other attraction sites with a radius of 1 km. The Neo park has a vast area and has lovely birds which are absolutely beautiful. Besides the train rides are also amazing and you can see several types of animals. The place is highly recommended for tourists that have children, they should visit the place at least once if they are here. The place can be a bit expensive for the general public. The employees are friendly and sweet.

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium - The aquarium is located at 424 Ishikawa Okinawa Memorial Park Ocean Expo, Motobu-Cho, Kunigami-gun. And has 18 restaurants and 15 other attraction sites within 0.5 km. The aquarium is very large and they do a lot of conservation. The place is usually very crowded even if you try to reach very early you can’t beat the crowd. The place offers free parking which has plenty of space and from there it’s a short walk to the aquarium. The price is quite reasonable for an aquarium such as this size, but they don’t have as many tanks as others. they do a lot of conservation for marine life. The main attraction is the whale and sharks which are pretty impressive and humongous animals. They have a lot of impressive and interesting exhibits throughout the place. Most of the displays are in English so it will be easy for the common language speakers.

Busena Beach - It’s located at Kise, Nago and has 60 restaurants and 7 other attraction sites nearby. The entry fee is 2000 yen per person and is open for absolutely anyone which will include your chairs and parasol. The beach is amazing and well maintained, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the green waters and clear blue sky. The place is peaceful and not very crowded. There are absolutely all the other amenities and activities that one would expect at a great beach. It’s one of the most amazing beaches on the island.

Blue Cave - The place is considered the #1 site in the Onna-san it’s located at the cape Maeda, Onna-san, and has 10 restaurants within a 0.5 km radius of the place. It’s a beautiful place and costs 5000 yen. It takes 15-20 minutes to the reef by the boat and in about 20-30 minutes you will be able to complete the whole tour. The waters are clean and you can find fishes in here. The tour is recommended to be taken after breakfast and with kids. The place is also said to be great for snorkeling. The guided tours are excellent and not best for scuba diving. The center is clean and has quite reasonable parking rates. 200 yen is charged for showers which can be reasonable. Rentals are also available for a good price. You would need adequate footwear in order to enter as the rocks inside are pretty pointed, pitted, and sharp.

Busena Marine Park - The park is located at Kise, Nago which has 60 restaurants and 7 other attraction sites within 1 km. The two most popular activities are taking the glass-bottom boat and climbing down the water tower. Looking down in the sea and sailing down the sea is quite lovely. There aren’t many fishes and the coral reefs aren’t that colorful. You will be able to spot much more fishes around the water tower swimming around it. Besides these activities, the surrounding of the park is also amazing which has beautiful seaside under the clear blue sky. The Busena Marine Park is a great experience for the kids.

Southeast Botanical Gardens - The Botanical garden is the #1 place to visit in Okinawa city. It’s located at Chibana, Okinawa City with more than 900 restaurants and 58 other attractions within a 10 km radius. The gardens are laid out beautifully There are two parts of the garden, one other botanical garden is across the parking lot. The main gardens are amazing and have many big animals in there. For 100-yen coins, you can feed the birds, tortoises, capybara, goats, rabbits, etc. The gardens are very interactive and appealing. The plants are gorgeous and the presentation is also great.

Shurijo Castle

Explore

The island is one of the most attractive tourist side in Japan. It has a vast history, culture, and indefinite beauty. it is the smallest island in Japan and is the least populated out of the other 5 main islands. The island has been under the U.S. since the Battle of Okinawa and World War II’s ending.

City Parks

Akemichi Park- Akemichi Park is located at 1-13 Akemichi, Okinawa City, and has a total of 932 restaurants and 48 other attraction sites within a 5 miles radius. It is a park built in the mountains of Akemichi, Okinawa City. Parking lots are scattered in several places. Playsets are installed, which is good for letting small children play. There is an observatory on the top of the mountain, overlooking Okinawa City and Uruma City.

Yaeshima Park- This park is located at 1-1 Yaejima, Okinawa City, and has nearly 160 restaurants and 26 other attraction sites within 0.75 miles. It is a park next to the Okinawa City Civic Center. Unfortunately, the nearly vertical slide "Double Decker", which was a specialty of the park is now been removed. The park is fully equipped with parking lots and has a lot of playsets, so I think it's good for children to play. From Kadena Air Base Gate 2, take Prefectural Route 85 (Yamanaka-Dori) toward Ikento, and you will see the Okinawa City Civic Center on your right. It is a park adjacent to the building. On holidays, brass band students practice hard, middle-aged and older people walk along the promenade, and children play with playsets.

National Parks

Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park - This park was designated in the year 1972. The most attractive feature of the park is the primeval mangrove trees forests and the beautiful coral reefs. The park stretches to the Nakama River and iriomotejima. The park is famous for the migrating birds and the palm trees also which are very tall and huge, these species of it are found on the Ishigakijima and the Iriomotejima. The deep blue ocean is considered to be Japan’s largest area that consists coral reefs called Sekiseisho lagoon, which is also known as a snorkeling paradise. The animals found here are Iriomote cats and crested serpent eagle. The tourists can also take a nice trip on the water buffalo cart.

Keramashoto National Park- The name of this island is derived from the Okinawan word Kurama which means a beautiful and glittery place. The ocean appears deep blueish in color which is also referred to as “Kerama Blue”, it is a breeding place for humpback whales. If you’re a whale admirer you should visit the place. The island was also a trading junction between the Ryuku Kingdom and the Qing Dynasty.

Yanbaru National Park - Yanbaru means mountain and fields and is in the north of the main islands of Okinawa. Yanbaru has some very beautiful mountains and is known as the largest subtropical evergreen forest in Japan. The trees are in 80% of the forest which creates a splendid view of the landscape and has the richness of flowers and animals all over. Around half of the birds, species can be found here like Okinawa rails and woodpeckers. This is the most popular tourism spot out of the other national parks in Okinawa. The place is great for strolling around the Kunigami Forest Park The hiking trips are also a popular activity for the visitors along the Tataki waterfall and kayaking through the Gesashi River. People can encounter the people worshipping their sea gods, the festival is called the Unigami in Shioya bay, they pray to them for good harvest and prevention of diseases and disasters.

Yanbaru National Park

Beaches

Manza Beach - Manza beach is the most popular beach is all of Okinawa which is located in the ANA Intercontinental Manza Beach Resort. The beach is popular for the clear blue sea. You can do activities like diving, and parasailing, etc. The beach has many visitors because of it being famous. The beach is located at the Kunigami, Onna-son, Serakaki. The beach is accessible from the Naha Airport which would take approximately 80 minutes by car and is 100 minutes through the airport limousine bus which will cost 1700 yen in total.

Emerald Beach - The beach is located at Kaiyohaku Park which is next to a popular place known as Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. The emerald beach has beautiful white sands and the color of the sea appears emerald green just like the beach’s name itself. They offer parasols and life preservers on rent to people. The showers can be used free of cost. People often visit this place after the aquarium.

Okuma Beach - This beach has white sand which is incredibly beautiful and stretches to a kilometer. People often visit this beach with friends or family and they spend the whole day playing and then adore the beautiful sunset later in the evening. It’s located at Motobu, Kunimura. It’s easily accessible from the Naha Airport, the highway bus, or cars. The bus is bound to the Nago Bus terminal. it’s a three-hour ride from the Okinawa Bus which is bound to the Hentona Line for the Hentona Bus Terminal.

Zanpa Beach - The beach is near the Zanpa Cave which is a 30-meter steep cliff. The sea appears to be cobalt blue in color which looks very impressive. You can enjoy activities like riding water scooters and other marine sports. The beach is located at the Nakagami, Yomitanson, Uza 1933. It’s accessible through the Naha Bus terminal, take the Yomitan Bus Terminal, from there you can reach your destination in about 90 minutes and charges 1080 yen for the ride, and it takes 30 minutes from Yomitan Bus Terminal by walk.

Moon Beach - The beach has got the name from its shape which looks like a bow which in turn looks like the crescent moon. The beach has approx. 350 palm trees and has natural white sands which gives a tropical feeling to the visitors. One can also reserve the place for picnics. You can snorkel and swim and also relax by swaying hammocks.

Manza Beach

Landmarks

Nakagusuku Castle Ruins - This castle is the most popular and well-preserved castle ruin in Okinawa. This castle was built during the Ryukyu Kingdom and is an important historical landmark. The castle was also served as the home of Lord Gosamaru who was a popular Ryukyu Lord.

Nakamura Family Residence- The residence is a great historical place which is also a traditional house of Okinawa that is of the 18th century. The family that used to live there were very wealthy farmers. This landmark is a property of the Japanese government now.

Urasoe Castle Ruins - This castle was also a part of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The castle overlooks the Ginowan and Naha city and is an amazing place for sightseeing.

Katsuren Castle Ruins - This site is also in the Ryukyu Kingdom which makes it an important part of the history and an important landmark, it’s also a place that offers some very beautiful views from the edge of the hill. This castle was the home of Lord Amawari.

Minatogawa Stateside Town - This place isn’t just one spot but is a whole town that has major historical significance. This place serves as a housing town for the US military before it was reclaimed by the Okinawan people. The houses are being converted into recreational buildings and cafeterias. It provides a glimpse into the history of Okinawa and is a nice place to visit and check out some items to shop.

Katsuren Castle Ruins

Museums

Himeyuri Peace Museum - The museum is located at 67-1 Ihara, Itoman, and has 751 restaurants and some 129 other attractions within a 10 km radius. The museum offers cultural tours, walking tours, biking tours, etc. It is a place where you can clearly see that the Japanese government heading for the Pacific War used Okinawan citizens as a shield at the end of the Pacific War and the treatment that could be said to be strong discrimination against Okinawa. We must pass on to the younger generation that hundreds of thousands of Okinawans have disappeared due to the selfishness of the Japanese government. You should visit this place at least once.

Okinawa Prefectural Museum And Art Museum- This place is located at the 3-1-1 Omoromachi and has a total of 286 restaurants and 24 other attractions within a 0.5 km radius. This museum is unusual as it contains history, science, culture, and art which not many museums have. The museum contains information about the fields of biology, geology, history, anthropology, folklore, arts and crafts, archaeology, and various other pertinent events. Explore the museum and get enlightened about the relevant events which took place.

Bokunen Museum- This museum is located at the 9-20 Mihama museum Bldg. 2F, Chatan-Cho and has 210 restaurants and 15 other attractions within a 0.5 km radius. The place charges 800 yens for adults. It’s an art museum where works by Naka Bokunen are exhibited. There are many prints based on Okinawan folk tales. It has a unique style and is fun to watch. The shape of the building is also unique. There was an irresistible picture for hibiscus lovers. There is nothing extra, but it is very three-dimensional. The staffs are also very kind. The museum is worth visiting.

Nago Museum- It’s located at 1-8-11 Agarie and has 158 restaurants and 17 other attractions within 0.5 km. On the first floor, there are many items such as daily necessities, farming, and weaving that you can see how you lived in the past. On the second floor, there were specimens of Yanbaru creatures and whale bones, which were very powerful. A facility where you can learn about life, culture, and history. The entry is free and there is no parking lot.

Himeyuri Peace Museum

Eat

The cuisine of Okinawa is also called Ryukyuan cuisine, the cuisine is different from the mainland cuisine of Japan. There are cuisines of Japan, China, Western Korea, and local Okinawa available. The Okinawan cuisine contains salt, bonito flakes, miso, etc. The island is surrounded by sea but the people here still eat very less seafood as compared to other cultures. The main preparation of fishes is the salt also known as shio-zuke, grilled, dried, and soy sauce. A popular dish is Sashimi but it can’t be retained for a longer period due to the warm temperature on the island. The people of Okinawa make delicious salads, soup, seaweeds like hijiki and mozuku, etc. the cuisine mostly uses kombu or kelp in making soup stocks and stir dishes, braised dishes, etc. People of Okinawa consume kombu’s in a large number in Japan.

Drink

The legal age of purchasing alcohol is 18 years. The alcohol industry is very thriving. The traditional drink of Okinawa or also known as the Ryukyu Kingdom is called awamori but also has more contemporary drinks such as microbrewery beers and also fruit-flavored wines. The number one beer brand is the Orion draft which has both international and local people following it. The Awamori is a distilled liquor that has a long history and is very popular among the people. There are also drinks like sugarcane rum and wines which are made from the local fruits which are also very new, creative, and innovative products. There are drinks like Okinawa’s premium beers, Nanto Brewery (Nihede beer or Weizen beer), Helios Distillery Co. Ltd., Okinawan Fruit Wine, Okinawan rum, and many more creative and enjoyable options.

Tap-water

The tap water in Okinawa is safe for drinking but it’s hard and smells like chlorine which most people hate. But, you can always find mineral waters at every corner here including all the major brands that are imported which can be purchased at any supermarket or from convenience stores. The water infrastructure is reliable and the purification facility is very well maintained so the tap water is of good quality and is drinkable. The country that has the cleanest tap water facility in Switzerland.

Activities

There are a number of activities that you can do in Okinawa among these are:

Okinawa Zoo And Museum- The place guarantees the lowest price to the people. The park has a lot of greenery in the form of Zoos and Wonder museums which is for the children and has a vast space. The zoo is located to the south of Japan which is known as “Nature Land”. They have animals like elephants, hippopotamus, giraffes, etc. These animals are used from the Tanegashima island and the Yonaguni island which is also called the Ryukyu range. The zoo is a popular spot among the people. It’s recommended that you visit the zoo on weekdays. The place is a great attraction for the tourists which allows you to see Okinawa’s animals. There are wheelchairs, strollers, a public transport facility nearby, etc.

Group Chartered Eco Tour- It takes approximately 7 hours to the place, you are offered pickups, you can also enter with a virtual ticket. It’s a historical place which has caves, mangrove trees, etc. The interpreters introduce you to the history and cultures of the Miyakojima where you can get to know about the nature of the place and the tour is great for the families and the other group of travelers. People with problems of serious heart conditions or any other medical conditions are required to not to take the trip, wheelchairs are not available, the travelers must have moderate in physical fitness section, the children must be present with an adult, minimum two people can book it and a maximum of six people. clothes that are easily washable and easily moved are only allowed such as T-shirts and shorts, they lend sandals for free and you should abide from wearing sandals with clog thongs if the trip gets canceled due to bad weather it is guaranteed that you will get back your money, the tour is a private tour or activity and only your group of friends or family participates.

Iriomote Kayaking And Trekking Day Tour To Sangara Falls From Ishigaki - They offer pickups and mobile tickets are also available. Tourists can hike and kayak with a guide who should be there with you for an enhanced experience. The kayak route is through the Nishida River. Tourists can stop and trek to the Sangara Falls. This is a tour for a small group with a limit of a maximum of 10 people. Tourists enjoy their day without any hassle because of the prearranged transport options such as the ferries and buses from Ishigaki Island. The minimum age of entry should be 6 years, bring your bathing suit with you and sunscreens, spare clothes and a minimum of 2 people are required per booking.

Accommodation

Okinawa can offer a range of quality and cheap accommodation options so that you can find your perfect place to live in Okinawa. There are a number of hostels, guesthouses, apartments, etc. It’s guaranteed that you will get the best prices and great customer service. Some of the best accommodation here are:

Crown Hotel Okinawa

Okinawa Grand Mar Resort

Sunrise Kanko Hotel

Hotel Koza

Green Hotels

Some of the major Green hotels in Okinawa are:

Miyahira Hotel

Air Hotel Ishigakijima

Renaissance Okinawa Resort

Hostels and Guest Houses

The hostels and guesthouses in Okinawa charge very reasonable prices and are of great quality and allows great relaxation and peace to the people staying in there. Some of the major hostels in Okinawa are:

Hostel Sun Terrace Ishigaki

Hostel Mosura No Tamago

The Lanai Hostel

And the major guesthouses in Okinawa are:

Santiago Guesthouse Naha

Guesthouse Chura Cucule

Taketomijima Guesthouse And Je Taime

Apartments

Apartments are for the tourists who require a personal space at the end of the day, and an apartment or a flat would be a perfect place and lets you feel like you never left your own house because of the peacefulness and the personal space these places provide. These are available for both the short-term and long-term. Some of the most booked apartments in Okinawa are:

Villa Coast Nishimachi'

Take Hotel In Okinawa

Ten Point Hotel

Ukishima Inn

Coldio Joint Home Naha

M’s Stay Okinawa

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is a travel community with millions of members worldwide and is the best way to experience Okinawa as a local. Reach out to the hosts in Okinawa to discover unique places to stay and locals to stay. Use Couchsurfing to find accommodation in Okinawa, meet up with locals and travelers, and more. The couch surfers are a large community of people who share their homes and lives with other people to make their traveling experience more enjoyable and can socialize with people worldwide.

Camping

During the summer months, a lot of people set off to go camping. Tastes vary considerably from the very primitive to the highly comfortable. In terms of weather though, most people want the same: dry, sunny and warm weather with not too much wind. In extreme weather conditions, there is a much greater chance of damaging your caravan or tent. Some of the famous campsites in Okinawa are:

Kukuru Camping

Yanbaru Bbq Campsite

Okinawa Snow Peak Camp Site

Regions

Okinawa consists of 160 islands in total and is scattered all through the 350-mile extended area. The main regions in Okinawa are the Okinawa Honto which is also the main island of Okinawa, Kumejima also known as Kumejima island, Kerama Shoto also known as the Kerama Island, Yaeyama Shoto, and the Miyako Shoto. Its population is about 1-4 million and stretches 466 square miles of land-living. The average temperature in these regions is 73.4°F and rain lasts from the starting of May to the ending of June. The people like to take a swim in the daytime on sunny beaches and their cuisines are delicious.

Cities

There are several other cities in Okinawa and also many towns and villages. This Chinese prefecture consists of a population of about 5000 according to a census of 2015. There is a total of 26 cities which also include towns and villages in this region.

NAHA

URUMA

URASOE

GINOWAN

NAGO

TOMIGUSUKU

ITOMAN

MIYAKOJIMA

ISHIGAKI

NANJO

Getting There and Moving Around

Most people prefer traveling to Okinawa by air. Okinawa’s main airport is situated on the main island of Okinawa itself which is Naha’s airport or the Okinawa Honto. The flight may take approx. 3-2 hours from the Narita Airport. From Tokyo, you can fly to Okinawa for only $220 USD. There are also some ferries that take almost 26 hours also the boats that charge an amount of 15000 yen and with accommodation arrangements to 37000 yen that will be for a more advance arrangement. You will have to carry your tourist card and always carry your passports anywhere you go in the world.

Moving around in Okinawa is pretty easy, you can rent boats, ferries, buses, taxis or cabs, planes, subways, etc. Unlike some cities, Okinawa has a large variety of transportation facilities that are convenient to the people. you can also rent motorbikes and bicycles. It’s an archipelago which is formed by several islands like the Okinawa Honto, Iheya-Izena Island, Kume Island, Kerama Island, le Island, Aguni Island, Yotashu Island, and Sesoko Island.

Air

The only ways to get to Okinawa are the airplanes and the ferries. The terminals are situated in Naha which is the capital city, and it’s in the southwest. The Naha airport is also called the Okinawa airport, it’s the one and only airport that allows you to travel to the other islands in the Prefecture as it’s the main hub of Okinawa. The prefecture includes places like Miyako Island, Kume Island, Ishigaki Island, and Irimote Island. In Japan, this airport is the fifth largest and has flights incoming from around 20 other cities from all over in the country. Some of the main airports of Okinawa are:

Haneda Airport(Tokyo)

Kansai Airport(Osaka)

Narita Airport(Chiba)

Itami Airport(Osaka)

Kobe Airport

Fukuoka Airport

The International Terminals have flights from places like Seoul, Shanghai, and Taipei. Also, there are charter flights amid Okinawa and Hong Kong from June and September and also during some of the major holidays.

Bus

There are several buses that will take you to any place you want to visit in Okinawa. Some of which are:

Airport Limousine Bus - There are limousine buses that have no fixed routes. They provide rides from the airports to the respective hotels and also serve as the tour buses that will take you to the top attractions of the island.

Express Shuttle Bus - These buses help you enjoy your stay in Okinawa. These buses eliminate the hassle of driving and are very convenient.

Fixed-Schedule Tourist Bus- There are two fixed schedule buses in Okinawa that are: Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and the Nakijin Castle Course, the Shuri Castle Historical Site.

Fixed-Route Buses- The fixed-route buses accept payment in cash or from OKICA IC cards like PASMO, SUICA and others. The 5000-yen and the 10000-yen bills are not to be exchanged on the bus you will need to carry change with yourself. You can buy the 1-day unlimited pass for sight-seeing in Naha for 660-yen. If you buy an Okinawa Bus Pass you can get a ride on the buses and monorails for unlimited time. The buses are also an amazing way to enjoy the trip.

Train

Okinawa has the monorails which are the only rail transport here. It used to have trams and horse-drawn cars before. The monorails opened in the year 2003, it was used to overcome the serious congestion of people on the island. The construction started in the year 1996 and is now extending to the city of Naha which is 13 km. there are a total of fifteen stations.

Hitchhiking

The people often say that if you want to see the real Japan you should hitchhike through the city you go to. Although it can be tough to hitchhike in Japan these days as the practice is almost non-existent and the people who get ready to take you to ask for the normal fee that the passengers pay normally to the taxis and cabs. You will have to look out for the places that the drivers are going and seeing that they are going your way then only you can access the hitchhiking facility. The service areas are vast and have better parking areas, almost everyone in Okinawa is familiar with the service areas so that won’t be worrying you. Hitchhiking in Japan can be very easy and enjoyable.

Others

The main ports of Okinawa are the Tomarin Wharf Passenger Terminal in Naha city, Naha-futon Wharf in Naha city, Heshikiya Port in Uruma city, Azama Port in the Nanjo city, Motobu Port in the town of Motobu, Toguchi Port in the Motobu town, and the United Port in the Nakijin village and so on. The tokashiki port has two types of ferries which are regular and express, while the express ferries take up to 35 minutes the regulars take 1 hour and 10 minutes. The Zamami Port’s express ferries take 50 minutes, the regulars take 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. The Aka Port’s express ferries take up to 50 minutes and the regulars take 1 hour and 30 minutes. There are many ferries that will take you to your desired destination in very little time as compared to the other countries.

You can enjoy the boat rides in Okinawa at several places like the Honu Honu Divers, Joy Create Okinawa Tea-da, Marine Product, Marine House Seasir Naha, Reefers, Blue Magic Scuba Diving Services in Naha, Coconut Okinawa Paradise Club, Marin Chu Parasailing Specialty Store, and many more.

Sustainable Shopping

Japan is a very important trade and investment partner to the United States. The exports include civilian aircraft and other parts, natural gas, industrial machines, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. The major exports of Japan are vehicles, manufactured goods, and the types of machinery. The major dimensions of export in 2015 were the US which was 20.2 %. Japan is the top exporter of cars, integrated circuits or micro assemblies, automobile parts or accessories, machines for making semi-conductors, etc.

Recycling

There was a movement which was known as the Okinawa Citizens’ Recycling Movement in the year 1983 by a non-profit organization. The theme was garbage, environmental education, recycling, and civic action. Another movement was the Eco-Vision Okinawa which was established in 2000 by OCRM. The EVO has only one purpose which is environmental education, support of civic groups which in term will help in achieving ecologic society. It's very important that we keep our surroundings neat and clean and recycling helps to reduce the wastes which in turn helps the environment to minimize the wastes.

Waste

The total number of wastes in the year 2015 was 448000 tons out of that 100000 tons were left out for prefectural capital. A large number of wastes were left in Naha which led the authorities to distribute flyers requesting the restaurants and hotels to reduce the wastage of food. The authorities of Japan have a system where they collect the wastes and transport them to further process it through incineration and several other methods and further dispose of the wastes in the landfills in a very hygienic manner to prevent environmental pollution. Some of the recycling companies are:

Fukuyamashoji Kensetsuodei Recycling

Apple Recycling

Biomass Recycling Center Co. Ltd.

Work and Study Abroad

You can find several universities which would be best for you if you’re planning to study abroad and are looking for the best universities. The Ryukyus universities were established in the year 1950 at the place where there was once a castle named Shuri which was burnt badly in the Battle of Okinawa. Their main campus is on Japan’s island in the southwest. The university is settled in the urban centers and in Naha city. The city consists of young Japanese travelers, Asians, and a number of foreign tourists. The university is also connected with the monorails which make getting around easy.

Exchange Student

The University of Ryukyu offers Student exchange programs, it’s an amazing education program for foreign students. The Youth for Understanding Programs offer student exchange programs which in turn offers a great learning experience to the students from abroad. These are homestays where you will get to live with a host family who would agree. There are several other universities like Okinawa International University that offer programs like Direct Enrollment & Exchange and programs like Abroad 101.

Au Pair

An au pair is a helper from a foreign country working for, and living as part of, a host family. Typically, au pairs take on a share of the family's responsibility for childcare and some housework and receive a monetary allowance for personal use. A large number of opportunities are available for Au pair in Okinawa. Au pairs help people and give utmost care to their to the work that has been given to them. You can get part-time au pairs, live-outs, and also full-time or live-in’s. There is a site that helps people find great au pairs that are great in their work and are highly efficient, the site is called Great Au Pair.

Volunteering

Volunteering means a person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to launch a service. Volunteers are given Friendly International Guesthouses for 20 hours per week, cleaning services, housekeeping, shared dorms are available for at least 3 weeks. There are several programs that don't even require any fee and you should keep in mind the location of the place where you are needed for volunteering work as the vehicles charge are going to be from your side. It's important how you organize the trip to keep the cost as low as possible.