Southern Area Overview

Foreword

The southern Okinawa area, where Naha Airport is located, serves as the gateway that marks the start and end of your trip, making it an ideal region to schedule for your first day or last day.

If you are using a rental car, it is also recommended to add a scenic drive route via 'Niraikanai Bridge' before heading to the airport. True to its name—meaning a road leading to the world of the gods—this bridge offers a memorable view.

Known as a sacred site of Ryukyu mythology, Sefa Utaki (斎場御嶽) is a place that is not easy to reach by public transportation, so if you are not traveling with a rental car,
joining a bus tour is the most efficient and convenient option.

The Center of Shopping and Food

1) Kokusai-dori

国際通り

Okinawa’s main street, perfect for shopping or easing that “last day blues” even late into the night.

Every Sunday from 12:00 to 16:00, the street is closed to most vehicles (except route buses), making it easier to enjoy Kokusai-dori on foot, and various performances are also held.

Ryubo Department Store

Okinawa’s only department store, great for shopping. It is also commonly used as a bus tour meeting point, so it is important to know its location.

Makishi Public Market

A local market that reopened after renovation in March 2023, where you can use the 'mochiage (持ち上げ)' system to have your seafood prepared.

You can choose ingredients on the 1st floor and eat them cooked on the 2nd floor, or simply order directly from the restaurants upstairs.

Paradise Street

A street whose name originates from the postwar “New Paradise Dance Hall.” It has become a popular street for young people, filled with unique select shops and cafes.

Ukishima Street

Named after 'Ukishima (浮島)', the old name of Naha. Retro buildings and modern shops coexist, letting you feel both Okinawa’s past and present.

Tsuboya Yachimun Street

A street specializing in Okinawan pottery known as 'yachimun', where you can find both traditional and modern-designed ceramics.

Yatai-mura

Meaning 'street-stall village', it operates like a food alley where you can enjoy the night late into the evening. When the weather is good, you can also drink outdoors 🍻

Norengai

A market-themed dining area centered on Okinawan cuisine and Naha’s markets, operating across six zones. Some shops are open until 4 a.m.

2) Tomari Iyumachi Fish Market

泊いゆまち

A place to enjoy fresh seafood at reasonable prices. It is also recommended to visit here instead of breakfast 🐟

It is best to visit no later than 3 p.m.

Shopping with Ocean Views

1) San-A Parco City Urasoe

サンエー 浦添西海岸パルコシティ

A large commercial complex that opened in June 2019, offering a comfortable environment for shopping.

Located about 20 minutes by car from Naha Airport, it is well-suited for a first-day or last-day itinerary. The food court with ocean views is especially memorable.

2) Minatogawa Stateside Town (Former U.S. Housing Area)

港川ステイツサイドタウン

This area is a village where single-story homes once occupied by U.S. military members and their families were renovated by locals into commercial spaces such as cafes and clothing shops.

A total of 62 single-story homes were remodeled, and each alley is named after U.S. states such as Texas and Florida. Every building has its own name and number.

Each building features a distinct interior and exterior, and the area is also popular as a retro photo spot.

A Sea-view Terrace and Hot Springs

1) Umikaji Terrace

ウミカジテラス

Well known as a photo spot, Umikaji Terrace is one of Okinawa’s representative hot places, offering a landscape reminiscent of Southern Europe.

It is located close enough to watch airplanes taking off and landing at Naha Airport, and it is a complex shopping destination where you can enjoy restaurants, cafes, and shopping along with great photo opportunities. It is also known as a favorite among locals.

2) Senagajima Onsen (Ryukyu Onsen)

瀬長島温泉

A hot spring facility located inside the Senagajima Hotel above Umikaji Terrace. It is free for hotel guests, but day-use bathing is also available.

It uses natural hot spring water drawn from 1,000m underground at 500 liters per minute, offering a special experience of soaking while looking out at the Okinawan sea.

• Admission: Junior high school age and up — weekdays 1,500 yen, weekends 1,700 yen / elementary school students 800 yen
• Hours: 06:00 ~ 24:00 (last entry 23:00)
• Closed: Open year-round

3) Ashibinaa Outlet

アウトレットモール あしびなー

Located about 15 minutes by car from Naha Airport, it is a great shopping stop before or after returning a rental car.

It is also suitable for buying essentials on your first day, and you can receive discount and benefit coupons at the information center.

On weekends and public holidays (including 1/1–1/3), a shuttle bus runs between Iias Toyosaki and the outlet.

• Hours: 10:00–20:00 (varies by store; may close due to typhoons)

4) Iias Toyosaki Shopping Mall

イーアス沖縄豊崎

A shopping mall located about 800m from Ashibinaa Outlet, with a well-equipped indoor shopping environment. A newer mall with a comfortable indoor experience.

• Hours: 10:00–21:00 (varies by store; may close due to typhoons)

5) DMM Kariyushi Aquarium

DMM かりゆし水族館

A new type of aquarium that combines the latest video production and technology, unlike traditional aquariums.

Rather than being a simple exhibit space, it provides an immersive experience through projection mapping and sound effects, and it can also serve as a good alternative for travelers who cannot visit Churaumi Aquarium.

• Admission
  • Ages 18+: 2,400 yen
  • Ages 13–17: 2,000 yen
  • Ages 4–12: 1,500 yen
• Hours: 09:00 ~ 20:00 (last entry 19:00)
• Closed: Open year-round
  • Check the official opening hours before visiting

A Road Toward the World of the Gods

1) Okinawa World

おきなわワールド

Okinawa’s largest theme park, where you can enjoy a total of seven sights or hands-on experiences.

It features Gyokusendo Cave (玉泉洞), a limestone cave formed over 300,000 years, as well as programs best visited according to show times.

1. Gyokusendo Cave: 5 km in length, one million stalactites
2. Traditional Old House: a red-tiled home guarded by shisa statues
3. Eisa performance: 10:30 / 12:30 / 14:30 (about 30 minutes)
4. Fruits Garden: subtropical fruit experience
5. Glass crafts experience
6. Habu–mongoose show: 11:30 / 13:30 / 15:30 (about 20 minutes) ※ Video recording prohibited
7. Habu Museum

• Admission
  • Adults 2,000 yen
  • Ages 4–14: 1,000 yen (hands-on fees separate)
• Hours: 09:00 ~ 17:30 (last entry 16:00)
• Closed: Open year-round (may close during typhoons)

2) Niraikanai Bridge

ニライカナイ橋

A spectacular drive route over the Nanjo area, famous for its impressive scene of driving while looking out toward the distant horizon.

'Niraikanai' means 'the world of the gods' in Okinawan dialect, and this place is regarded as a symbolic spot that feels like a road leading to that world.

3) Sefa Utaki

斎場御嶽

A sacred site of Ryukyu mythology, and a holy ruin that only priestesses were once allowed to enter.

'Utaki' refers to a 'place where gods descend', and it is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

A legend says even the king visited in women’s clothing to pray, and you can strongly feel the site’s mythic atmosphere.

Kudaka Island worship viewpoint

A place where people pray toward Kudaka Island, said to be the first island created by the goddess Amamikyo.

Ufugui (大庫理)

The first worship site at Sefa Utaki

Yunichi (奇満)

The second worship site, where offerings were kept.

The two jars

It is said that drops of water falling into these jars were used by Ryukyu’s highest priestess, 'Kikoe-ookimi', for divination.

Sangui (三庫理)

The highlight of Sefa Utaki. A sacred triangular rock space where ancient magatama beads were discovered.

• Admission
  • Adults 300 yen, middle/high school students 150 yen, under 6 free
  • Tickets are sold only at the Nanjo City Local Products Center
• Hours
  • Mar–Oct: 09:00 ~ 18:00 (last entry 17:15)
  • Nov–Feb: 09:00 ~ 17:30 (last entry 16:45)
• Closed days
  • Lunar calendar 5/1–5/3, 10/1–10/3
  • 2024: 6/6–6/8, 11/1–11/3
  • 2025: 5/27–5/29, 11/20–11/22
  • 2026: 6/15–6/17, 11/9–11/11

4) Chinen Misaki Park

知念岬公園

A wide-open park with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, also famous as a sunrise and stargazing spot.