Okinawa: The best places to stay, dine, and explore in the Japanese island

Blisteringly hot yet intrinsically chill, summer days in the southern tip of Japan can be gloriously slow or boisterously jolly as one explores the many attractions of Okinawa Island, from a funky American town to the pristine hideaways of its dreamy coastline.

Okinawa as a travel destination has been under the radar for the longest time. Once the island kingdom of Ryukyu, Okinawa is set at the farthest south of Japan’s marine expanse and is famous for its shimmering blue seas, its potent brews and its unhurried approach to life. It is in essence the most distinct existence in the country and a cherished escapade for the Japanese to forget their urban realities. Increasingly popular with regional travellers as more direct flights touch down at Naha today, the lush island is a unique and captivating destination for paradise seekers everywhere.

If you’re intending to spend a laid-back vacation in Okinawa, Japan soon, read on for our travel guide on what to see and do.

The best places and attractions to visit in Okinawa, Japan

Naha

Naha is the capital city of Okinawa prefecture and the closest city to the airport, a mere 15 minutes by car or monorail. It is a largely municipal area with the most obvious tourist attractions — Kokusai is a long street that cuts through the city with many restaurants, cafes and shops catering largely to tourists and it branches into Daiichi Makishi Public Market that presents more of a glimpse into local life. Several big shopping malls also dot the city, mostly close to the monorail stations, and are good stock-up points for visitors venturing deeper into the island.

Naha Attractions

Live Performance Restaurants

The musical diners in Naha, mostly situated along Kokusaidori, are a good initiation into the idyllic culture of the island. Performers belt out Japanese and Okinawan (a distinct tongue from Japanese) classics with live music that combines shamisen with guitars, which is really quite quaint and charming, whilst patrons feast on a variety of local cuisine, best paired with the ubiquitous and popular Orion beer.

Okinawan Cuisine

The food culture of Okinawa differs from those of the mainland because of its distinct culture and history. Due to its historical affiliation with China, the flavours here are closer to those of Chinese cuisine with stir-frys and braised dishes much appreciated by locals and visitors.

Goya (bitter gourd) is a cherished ingredient, as is spam, and the vegetable is often paired with the canned meat and egg in a dish called Chanpuru. Braised pork and soba is also a favourite not to be missed, as are tofuyo, the island’s take on fermented beancurd, and Nakami soup, essentially a hearty serving of fish broth with pig’s entrails. The fresh pineapples of Okinawa are simply the sweetest pineapples one will ever taste and are not to be missed.

Chatan

Chatan, a tiny coastal town along central Okinawa, is a burly presence on the island’s tourism landscape. The spunky settlement with a riot of colours and forms has the nearby Kadena Air Base to thank for its development; prior to arrival of the airbase, this area was largely a rice producing area. Today there are restaurants, massage parlours, specialty shops, hair salons, karaoke bars, shopping malls plus a whole lot to do and see. It is a good spot to stock up on necessities, dabble in the ‘I’ve been here’ routines around various Instagrammable spots, before venturing deeper into the island.

Where to stay

There are not too many choices for high-end stays in Chatan and the best option is to set up camp at Hilton Okinawa Chatan Resort, a sizeable property with comfortable sea facing rooms that come with balconies or terraces, several lagoon and cascading outdoor pools, a 17m indoor heated pool, a 24-hour fitness centre and two restaurants.

Next to the Hilton is the DoubleTree by Hilton Okinawa Chatan Resort, a slightly smaller property with equally comfortable sea facing rooms and similar facilities. Guests at both resorts share access to the swimming pools. 43 West is a rooftop bar that is a new addition to the resort. Raised with enviable views, it is probably the bar to best enjoy cocktails and sunsets this stretch of Chatan, and also the rapturous firework displays that the hotels put up on Saturday evenings.

Hilton Okinawa Chatan Resort, 40-1 Mihama, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0115, Japan

DoubleTree by Hilton Okinawa Chatan Resort, 43 Mihama, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0115, Japan

Onna

Onna is a sliver of land on the central west coast of Okinawa, Japan that boasts of some of the island’s best natural vistas. The greenery is lush, the corals here are thriving under the crystal clear shallows and along its coast one would find some of Okinawa’s best resorts. Peering out into the most alluring gradation of blue extending from sea to sky, these luxurious escapades are just the tickets for timely recharge from mundane existences elsewhere.

Where to stay

The Japanese extension of the famed Halekulani Hotel in Hawaii, Halekulani Okinawa is the island’s hospitality landmark with the most impressive fixtures that keep it packed with returning visitors. The property comprises two wings featuring bright and cheerfully decked rooms and suites and cavernous villas all encapsulated by lush landscapes and pointing toward the blue horizon before it. Amply sized, accommodations here begin at 50sqm that are a palpable release from the constraints of jam packed Japan elsewhere.

Inspiring cuisines are presented at four restaurants, all installed with views. House Without A Key serves Okinawan and regional casual dining, Kingdom specialises in steaks and wines, Aomi presents a variety of delectable Japanese classics from sushi to kaiseki and Shiroux is the gourmet hotspot tagged to the creativity of supervising chef Hiroyasu Kawate of two-Michelin-starred Floritege in Tokyo.

Recreational options are plentiful too, from diving and snorkelling at the house reef to luxuriating around the hotel’s five swimming pools with a pina colada or a mai tai. Spa Halekulan, raised with a natural hot spring drawn from the thermal wells under the resort’s ground, is quite a splendid establishment in Okinawa. Finally, nights capped off with deliciously potent concoctions infused with local spirits and ingredients at Spectra sum up the principle allures of this magnificent resort.

Across from Halekulani is the Hyatt Regency Seragaki Okinawa, a sizeable resort of 343 keys raised on Seragaki island overlooking the mesmerising deep blues. The topography of this tiny island is tropical and alluring — expect swaying palms, rugged shores and a sandy beach amidst shimmering clear shallows.

And with six restaurants offering Japanese and Italian cuisines day and night, the island is a self-contained summer hotspot. The robata dining experience at Shirakachi is as splendid as they come, as is the premium beef served at Serale.

The wonderful reef and the clarity of the surrounding seas come with plenty of marine activities one can book through the hotel but one does not need to venture into the sea to get a taste of seawater bathing here; the Lagoon Pool is fed by seawater and is just metres away from the azure realm. The Regency Club Lounge, tied to the excellence Hyatt hotel lounges are known to deliver, is also a veritable attraction of the hotel.

Halekulani Okinawa, 1967-1 Nakama, Onna, Kunigami District, Okinawa 904-0401, Japan

Hyatt Regency Seragaki Island, Okinawa, 1108 Seragaki Onnason, Okinawa, 904-0404, Japan

Motobu

Motobu comprises the northern region of Okinawa Island. Several small islands can be accessed from Motobu, most popular of them are Sesoko, Ie and Minna-jima. Sesoko is just 500m off the west coast of Okinawa and is linked to the main island via a bridge. The tiny island is just 8km in circumference but boasts of the area’s best natural beaches. Sesoko Beach stretches some 800m with alluring fine grain sand and gently lapping waves and is one of Okinawa’s most popular beaches.

The islands of Motobu are also famous for its underwater caves and crevasses which are marine hotspots for diving enthusiasts. Other well-known sites here are the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and the remains of Nakijin Castle.

Where to Stay

The only international brand and the largest resort on Sesoko island, Hilton Okinawa Sesoko Resort is the perfect base to enjoy the allures of the island and explore the attractions of Motobu. All the rooms and suites of this hotel face the sea and come with balconies or terraces for a bit of outdoor air.

There are five dining outlets here offering a plethora of cuisines that match the holiday mood — premium seafood and grills at Sisuco, fabulous Italian at Semare (the best minestrone in Okinawa) and even the buffet restaurant Amahaji has a menu that puts one in a happy mood (we are particularly in love with the wild fried chicken).

The concierge here can arrange for an assortment of island and marine activities and we would like to suggest a pottery lesson with the ceramics experts at Sesokojima Pottery. Over the weekends, the outdoor facilities here are injected with a party vibe with a DJ spinning top 50 hits every Saturday afternoon which culminates with a spectacular firework display that usually has guests in raptures.

Hilton Okinawa Sesoko Resort, 905-0227, Okinawa, 5750 Sesoko Motobu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Japan

(Main image: Hilton Okinawa Sesoko Resort; Featured image: Halekulani Okinawa)

This story first appeared here.