The theme of this trip is "no car"! We will introduce a model itinerary for efficiently touring tourist spots in two days and one night without using a rental car.

Ai Nishimura
Administrator of the blog "My Diary," which began in 2004. A writer who has traveled to all 47 prefectures and loves local culture and history.
Author of Shimane's "Geography, Place Names, and Maps" Mysteries (Jitsugyo no Nihonsha), My Town is the "Number One in Japan" Dictionary (PHP Institute), and Prefectures Explained in Neko Neko Japanese History (Jitsugyo no Nihonsha). Official blogger for Suntory Gourmet Guide, official top user for Retty, and official platinum blogger for Excite.
A two-day, one-night trip to Okinawa
<First day>
- 6:15 Depart from Haneda Airport
- 9:10 Arrive at Naha Airport
- 10:00 Enjoy the resort atmosphere at Umikaji Terrace
- 12:30 Lunch at Udonyama
- 14:00 Observe Awamori production at Zuisen Brewery
- 15:30 Stroll along Kinjo Stone-paved Street
- 16:00 Experience the history of the Ryukyu Islands at Shuri Castle Park
- 18:00 Dinner at Naha Kokusai Street and return to the hotel
<the 2nd day>
- 7:30 Breakfast at Miso Meshiya Marutama
- 9:00 Walk through the ancient forest of Gangara Valley
- 11:00 Head to Oshiro Tempura Restaurant on Ojima Island
- 12:00 Stroll around Makishi Public Market
- 13:00 Sakaemachi Market Cooking Class Chinsuko Making Experience
- 14:30 Late lunch at Tonganashi
- 19:30 Head to Naha Airport
This trip to Okinawa took advantage of the Yui Rail and buses.
If you are traveling to Okinawa without renting a car, you can use the Yui Rail (Okinawa Urban Monorail Line) and various buses as your means of transportation. First, let's introduce each means of transportation and how to use them to your advantage.
Yui Rail (Okinawa Urban Monorail Line)
The Okinawa Urban Monorail Line "Yui Rail" that runs through the main island, mainly in Naha City, is a public transportation system used by many tourists and locals alike. Instead of inserting a ticket into the ticket gate, you enter by holding up the QR code on your ticket.
If you plan to use the Yui Rail to go sightseeing around Naha city, the free pass is a good deal. A one-day pass is 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for children, and a two-day pass is 1,400 yen for adults and 700 yen for children, and is valid for 24 or 48 hours from the time it is issued at the counter. Group free passes can also be purchased for groups of 15 or more.
bus
Various buses are also convenient for sightseeing on the main island of Okinawa. Okinawa has a very comprehensive bus system. There are four main types of buses you can use: "limousine buses" that go directly from the airport to the hotel, "shuttle buses" that go from the airport to tourist spots, "sightseeing buses" that go around popular tourist spots, and "routed buses" that cover almost the entire mainland.
When traveling by bus, it's important to choose a route that will give you the smoothest route to your destination. Some buses offer discount plans, so we recommend checking in advance.
[Limousine bus (Okinawa bus)]
【Shuttle bus】
[Regular sightseeing bus]
【scheduled bus】
For those who want to travel by local buses, the Okinawa Local Bus Tour Pass is a good deal. This tour pass allows unlimited use of all routes of Ryukyu Bus, Okinawa Bus, Naha Bus, and Toyo Bus (excluding routes 111 and 117, which use the expressway), except for limousine buses and regular sightseeing buses, and the fare for a one-day pass is 1,500 yen for adults and 1,200 yen for children. There is also a tour pass that allows unlimited use of both Okinawa local buses and Yui Rail, and it is available for 3,000 yen for adults and 1,500 yen for children.
*3-day passes available for both.
The Okinawa Route Bus Sightseeing Pass can be purchased at the Tourist Information Center at the airport, Naha Bus Terminal, and the Naha City Tourist Information Center on Kokusai Street.
Other means of transportation
There are many bicycle rental shops in Okinawa, and some shops have a wide variety of bicycles, including not only regular bicycles, but also cross bikes, road bikes, and electric bikes for long distances. Each shop has different fees and return methods, so one way to enjoy the area is to explore by bicycle while considering the distance you can travel by yourself.
6:15 Departing from Haneda Airport before dawn! Heading for warm Okinawa
I headed to Haneda Airport to catch the first flight of the morning. I took off into the sky watching the beautiful sunrise.
I boarded the first flight of the morning, JAL901. The morning glow was beautiful. The sun was not yet high at 6:25 in winter. Morning came slowly. It's not so bad to get up early if you can see a view like this.
Approximately 3 hours by plane
9:10 Arrive at Naha Airport. Use the Yui Rail one-day ticket to go to Akamine Station.
After arriving at Naha Airport, head straight to the Yui Rail (monorail) station, which is directly connected to the airport.
Since I was planning to use the Yui Rail many times that day, I bought a one-day monorail ticket!
This ticket is, in other words, a 24-hour ticket. It is a convenient ticket that is valid for 24 hours from the time of purchase, even if the day changes. It is fun to get a panoramic view of the city from the Yui Rail, and if the weather is good, you can see the spectacular view all the way to the sea.
The first place you'll head to on the Yui Rail is Akamine Station, next to the airport station. Naha Airport Station is the westernmost station in Japan, and Akamine Station, one stop away, is the southernmost station in Japan!
Tickets can be purchased from the ticket machine. Two-day tickets are also available.
At Akamine Station, we visited the monument on our way to our next destination.
Yui Rail "Naha Airport" → "Akamine Station" approx. 5 minutes
Shuttle bus "Akamine Station" → "Senagajima Hotel" approx. 20 minutes
10:00 Enjoy the resort atmosphere at Umikaji Terrace
Our first stop was Umikaji Terrace, which is close to the airport. It is a commercial facility on Senaga Island where you can see white buildings, blue skies, and planes passing overhead.
There are lots of photogenic spots, and even just walking around the facility will make you feel like you're in an extraordinary place. There are also so many shops that half a day is not enough. There is also a beach, so it's the perfect place to relax.
From restaurants to souvenir shops, and even a hot spring foot bath spot that's rare in Okinawa. If you want to see everything, you'll need plenty of time.
Umikaji Terrace is sometimes introduced as a stopover spot on the way back to the airport, but there is only one road to the island, so there is a risk of getting caught in traffic and being late for your flight.
It’s important to make sure you have plenty of time to stop by.
The building is chalk white and stands out against the blue sky and sea.
3 must-visit shops at Umikaji Terrace
La Isla
If you get tired from shopping, drop by the cafe "La Isla." The popular menu item is the fresh juice "Dragon Mango Flamingo" made from dragon fruit and mango.
Swing in a hammock from a higher spot and look out at the ocean. A spot where you can feel the pleasant breeze!
The view was amazing. The ocean in front of us was also very beautiful.
Hammock Cafe "La Isla" HAMMOCK CAFE LA ISLA | ||
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address | : | Umikaji Terrace Building 27, 174-6 Senaga, Tomigusuku City, Okinawa Prefecture |
phone | : | 098-894-6888 |
business hours | : | 10:00~22:00(LO21:30) |
Closed Day | : | None (Open all year round) |
web | : | https://www.cafe-isla.com |
Teshigoto
We went to "Teshigoto," a specialty store for canvas bags.
There are lots of bags that look easy to use. They seem to be unisex.
It is made of lightweight fabric, but has the durability of canvas. The handle is made of natural-colored tanned leather. You can enjoy watching it gradually turn amber color over time.
The store also doubles as a workshop, so you can see the production process on-site. There are also some easy-to-buy items, such as key chains and accessories.
Canvas bag "Teshigoto" | ||
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address | : | Umikaji Terrace 17, 174-6 Senaga, Tomigusuku City, Okinawa Prefecture |
phone | : | 098-996-5393 |
business hours | : | 10:00~20:00 |
Closed Day | : | Irregular holidays |
web | : | https://teshigoto.okinawa/ |
Shuri Soap
Shuri Soap is the perfect souvenir for friends. This cosmetics shop is committed to using as many natural ingredients as possible. Umikaji Terrace is a branch of the Shuri main store.
They are made from herbal essential oils and plant and fruit extracts. You can also mix and match what you like. The box of two is a good size for taking home.
The most popular product is hand cream, which is light and spreads easily.
"SuiSavon - Shuri Soap" Umikaji Gallery Shop | ||
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address | : | 174-6 Senaga, Tomigusuku City, Okinawa Prefecture |
phone | : | 0800-000-3777 (Customer Center) |
business hours | : | 10:00~20:00 |
Closed Day | : | Irregular holidays |
web | : | https://www.suisavon.jp |
Shuttle bus "Senagajima Hotel" → "Akamine Station" approx. 10 minutes
Yui Rail "Akamine Station" → "Shuri Station" approx. 25 minutes
About 15 minutes walk from Shuri Station
12:30 Lunch break at Udonyama. Eat Okinawa soba in a breezy old house.
We took the Yui Rail to Shuri Station, and then started walking around the town.
The weather was great! It was so warm that it was hard to believe it was winter. Apparently, it had been very cold in Okinawa until just a few days ago, and even a light snowfall made the news. Apparently, it had been a clear day for the first time in a while (the weather turned bad the next day).
We arrived at "Udonyama".
It is located on a hilltop, and you can dine in an old house and its garden.
We secured a seat in the shade of a tree and ordered the "Daily Gozen" (currently no longer available), a set that included Okinawa soba noodles made with noodles kneaded with sorghum and juicy (Okinawan seasoned rice).
Okinawa soba has a clear yet rich soup, and is filled with tender meat, Okinawan kamaboko fish cake, and green onions.
The atmosphere inside the store is very cozy.
Okinawa soba. The wheat germ noodles look grainy, but have a smooth texture.
Udonyama | ||
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address | : | 1-121-2 Shuri Ishiminecho, Naha City |
phone | : | 098-885-5498 |
business hours | : | 11:30-16:00 (last orders 15:30) |
Closed Day | : | Every Monday (open on public holidays) |
web | : | http://udunyama.com/ |
Find souvenirs at a sata andagi specialty store
After leaving Gotenyama, we were attracted by a sign and decided to drop in to a sata andagi (fried doughnut) specialty store.
The retro packaging is cute. Amuro is a poultry (egg) store. They make sata andagi in the back.
I was surprised when I tried the sample. It completely changed my perception of it. It was crispy like a cookie, moist on the inside, and not greasy. It's definitely worth a try.
The bag of small sata andagi also came in brown sugar flavor.
"Amuro Poultry Farm Ishimine Branch" | ||
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address | : | 1-132-5 Shuri Ishiminecho, Naha City |
phone | : | 098-887-5509 |
business hours | : | 10:00〜18:00 |
Closed Day | : | Sunday |
web | : | http://udunyama.com/ |
About 30 minutes on foot
14:00 Visit Zuisen Brewery to see how Awamori is made. Learn about the history of Awamori!
From here, we walked slowly to our destination, the Awamori brewery. In Okinawa, when we say "alcohol," we mean Orion Beer or Awamori. I have toured sake breweries and helped with sake brewing in various parts of Japan, but this was my first time visiting an Awamori brewery.
Zuisen Brewery accepts reservations for tours and offers tastings. There is a wide selection of alcohol that can only be purchased locally, so if you're a fan of alcohol, this is a must-visit place.
From Gotenyama, we head off, stopping off at a shop selling sata andagi and other traditional sweets.
The road in front of Zuisen Sake Brewery was very beautiful.
On the way to Zuisen Sake Brewery, in Shuri Sakiyamacho, a quiet town surrounded by tropical vegetation.
The entrance to Zuisen Sake Brewery. The stonework is beautiful. This area has been permitted for sake brewing since the Ryukyu Dynasty.
Awamori is made from Thai rice and black koji. It is believed that this liquor was brought over from Thailand (there are various theories), and the recipe has been preserved since then. There is also the "Shochu via Okinawa theory" that says that the recipe was brought over from Okinawa to the Satsuma Domain, which is how shochu was born.
The "distillation" process of Awamori. The Awamori currently being produced uses almost the same rice and black koji, so the taste varies greatly from brand to brand depending on the process and distillation method. After three years of aging, it becomes known as 'Kusu' (aged sake), and is further aged by adding new sake to it in a process called 'Shitsugi', which is done by adding more sake to it in proportion to the amount drunk.
You can also sample sake at Zuisen Sake Brewery! Try different varieties and compare them. The popular carbonated type "Regale" has a low alcohol content and is easy to drink.
Zuisen Sake Brewery | ||
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address | : | 1-35 Shuri Sakiyamacho, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture |
phone | : | 098-884-1968 |
business hours | : | 9:00~18:00 * Reception hours: until 17:00 |
Closed Day | : | Year-end and New Year holidays, etc. |
web | : | https://www.zuisen.co.jp/ |
*Free tours of the brewery are available. Reservations must be made by phone.
About 15 minutes on foot
15:30 Stroll along Kinjo Stone-paved Street and head to Shuri Castle
Kinjo Stone-paved Street is a place in Naha City where the scenery of old Okinawa still remains. It has been selected as one of the "100 Best Roads in Japan" and is a very quiet place.
Savoring the lush atmosphere and feeling the rough stones under our feet, we head towards Shuri Castle.
Leaving Zuisen Brewery, we head towards the stone-paved road in Kinjo-cho, Shuri. On the way, we see lots of shisa lions!
There's also a Shisa on the roof...
There's a Shisa here too...
A little pop Shisa...
Shhh… meow…
We walked down the stone-paved road in Kinjo-cho, Shuri. It was strange to see the modern city in the distance. Old Okinawan houses lined the road. We could hear normal conversations coming from the houses, and it felt like we had blended into a moment of everyday Okinawan life.
We walked down the stone-paved road of Kinjo-cho, Shuri. It was a strange feeling to see the modern city in the distance.
The side streets have their own atmosphere too. It's fun to take a detour and look around.
Halfway down the trail, there is a banyan tree. There is a free rest area next to it.
Once you reach the top, you'll realize you're at a high place. Shuri Castle is right there. Castles really are located at high places!
About 15 minutes on foot
16:00 Experience the history of the Ryukyu Islands at Shuri Castle Park
Unlike the surrounding roads, Shuri Castle was very crowded with tourists, especially from overseas, and many different languages were spoken.
First, we visited Shureimon Gate. Yes, it is famous for the design on the 2,000 yen bill.
Actually, there are still a lot of 2,000 yen bills in circulation in Okinawa, and I was surprised to see them coming out of the ticket vending machine as change. I don't want to waste them, so I haven't used them yet (lol).
The red tiles at Shureimon Gate are also noteworthy. The red color of these tiles is the color of iron, just like red tiles in other regions, and the gaps between the tiles are filled with plaster, creating a contrast between the red and white, giving the gate a unique look.
The Shuri area is providing subsidies for red roofing tiles and stonework to help maintain the landscape.
It takes a lot of time to explore Shuri Castle. This time, I only saw what I wanted to see and then headed back. First, Shureimon Gate. When I was staring at the red tiles, a security guard gave me detailed information. The red color is the color of iron oxide. Apparently, they are manufactured around Yonabaru.
This is what I wanted to see: Zuisenmon Gate. This is the gate that gave the Zuisen Sake Brewery its name.
This is the clear water "Ryuhi" that springs up next to it. It was very beautiful, but the water was not drinkable. Since there is a castle here, there must have been an abundance of spring water in this area.
Shuri Castle Park | ||
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address | : | 1-2 Kinjocho, Shuri, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture |
phone | : | 098-886-2020 |
web | : | http://oki-park.jp/shurijo/ |
*The park is temporarily closed due to the effects of the fire. Please check the website for details.
Yui Rail "Shuri Station" → "Kencho-mae" Approx. 10 minutes
18:00 Dinner near Naha Kokusai Street.
That night, I went to Tomiya, a bar recommended by locals, where I came across Okinawa-style ketchup fried noodles.
We were recommended "Tomiya" at a bar, and visited this local izakaya, a place that tourists rarely visit.
It's very cheap. I'll have my first Orion beer on this trip. The man at the bar and the customers are old friends. We all drank together.
And this is the fried noodle version of Okinawa soba! This is what I wanted to eat.
Chewy noodles with ketchup. It reminded me of Neapolitan and also of yakisoba. It was a night where we talked a lot about local things.
Tomiya | ||
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address | : | 1-5-12 Izumizaki, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture |
phone | : | 098-886-2020 |
business hours | : | 18:00~24:00 |
Closed Day | : | Sunday |
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.