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DEC 5 2019

You can enjoy Okinawa without renting a car. Recommended itinerary for a 2-day, 1-night weekend trip to Okinawa

Okinawa is a popular domestic destination, with its warm climate allowing you to experience a resort atmosphere. There are many things to see, including the beautiful sea and scenery, as well as the unique Ryukyu culture that is still passed down today.
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.
画像1: 沖縄はレンタカーなしでも楽しめる。1泊2日、週末沖縄旅のおすすめコース

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

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!

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

Hammock Cafe "La Isla" HAMMOCK CAFE LA ISLA
addressUmikaji Terrace Building 27, 174-6 Senaga, Tomigusuku City, Okinawa Prefecture
phone098-894-6888
business hours10:00~22:00(LO21:30)
Closed DayNone (Open all year round)
webhttps://www.cafe-isla.com

Teshigoto

Canvas bag "Teshigoto"
addressUmikaji Terrace 17, 174-6 Senaga, Tomigusuku City, Okinawa Prefecture
phone098-996-5393
business hours10:00~20:00
Closed DayIrregular holidays
webhttps://teshigoto.okinawa/

Shuri Soap

"SuiSavon - Shuri Soap" Umikaji Gallery Shop
address174-6 Senaga, Tomigusuku City, Okinawa Prefecture
phone0800-000-3777 (Customer Center)
business hours10:00~20:00
Closed DayIrregular holidays
webhttps://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.

Udonyama
address1-121-2 Shuri Ishiminecho, Naha City
phone098-885-5498
business hours11:30-16:00 (last orders 15:30)
Closed DayEvery Monday (open on public holidays)
webhttp://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"
address1-132-5 Shuri Ishiminecho, Naha City
phone098-887-5509
business hours10:00〜18:00
Closed DaySunday
webhttp://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.

Zuisen Sake Brewery
address1-35 Shuri Sakiyamacho, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
phone098-884-1968
business hours9:00~18:00
* Reception hours: until 17:00
Closed DayYear-end and New Year holidays, etc.
webhttps://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.

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.

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.

Shuri Castle Park
address1-2 Kinjocho, Shuri, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
phone098-886-2020
webhttp://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.

Tomiya
address1-5-12 Izumizaki, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
phone098-886-2020
business hours18:00~24:00
Closed DaySunday

The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.

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Translated by AI