Why You NEED to Visit OKINAWA (9 Day Island Hopping Itinerary)

Why You NEED to Visit OKINAWA (9 Day Island Hopping Itinerary)

Hey! This is Joshua and welcome to the  channel. I’m beyond excited to bring you   along on my Okinawa adventure. Together  with my wife, Elise, and my in-laws,   we’ve mapped out a 9-day journey to uncover  the true essence of the Okinawa islands. Now,  

Here’s a little confession: in 2019, Elise and  I visited Okinawa for the first time, and, well,   let’s just say my planning skills weren’t  exactly the best. Due to sea conditions,   our ferry got canceled, leaving us stranded  on the main island throughout the entire trip. Bummer 🙁 ikr

Now, fast forward to 2023 – yours truly is back,  4 years wiser and more determined than ever. This   time, we’re diving deep into the Okinawa gems  with a killer itinerary – not one, not two,   but four islands on our checklist! If you’re ready  to break away from the typical vacation routine or  

Just looking for travel inspiration, this video  is for you. Oh, and fun fact – this might be our   last trip in Asia for a while, but I’ll save the  details for future videos. So don’t forget to like   this video, hit subscribe and the notification  bell. Without further ado, let’s dive in!

The day started at 4am. With a looming typhoon  in Hong Kong, we made sure to beat the weather   and catch our 7am flight. Thankfully, no  delays, and we landed safely at Naha airport. Our stomachs were growling. So we made a quick  pit stop at the Lawson in the airport. The  

Food here is so cheap and delicious. You  just don’t get that in Hong Kong. Then,   we went to the monorail station  and bought full-day tickets,   which cost 800 yen for each person. Getting  around in Naha using the monorail is a great  

Way to explore the city. Anywhere outside of  Naha though, you’re better off renting a car. Our hotel was conveniently  located near Kokusaidori Street,   so we quickly dropped our bags  and headed out to explore. It just so happened that our first day lined up  with the 3rd day of the Naha Tug-of-War Festival.  

The highlight, a giant 100-meter rope-pull by  two groups of people, went down on the festival’s   second day. Unfortunately, we missed that by a  day. But we’re not letting the 3rd day slip by   our fingers, because, guess what, I’m a sucker  for a good firework show.

So, the fireworks were about to begin,  and it’s one monorail stop away,   in the Ounoyama Park. We were in a  bit of a rush. When we got there,   it was already bustling with people. We had  no idea where the fireworks would shoot out,  

So we picked a random spot to sit  down. Luckily, we are just in time! Since island-hopping is pretty  much the theme of our trip here,   we’re wasting no time catching a  flight from the Okinawa main island   to the legendary Ishigaki Island –  famous for corals and marine life,  

At least according to our good friend Google  Maps. Now, let’s see if it lives up to the hype! We settled into the super cool hotel which  features a minimalistic vibe. And the breakfast   here is hands down THE BEST breakfast I’ve  ever had in any hotel. But more on that later.

The sky decided to be a bit moody, so we ditched  the snorkeling plans for a pitstop at the Ishigaki   City Public Market. We settled in the bustling  food court, treating ourselves to sashimi,   a refreshing pineapple smoothie, and a  sweet potato that looks very vibrant.

Time for some firework shopping! Yeah, in  Japan, handheld fireworks are perfectly legal,   and you can actually buy them in Don Quijote. We  missed this back in 2019, so we weren’t letting   it slip through our fingers again. So, here we  are, grabbing all kinds of explosive goodies.

Ok, so let’s break down what we got.  There’s the sparkler “Senko Hanabi”,   it will drop when it’s finished.  There’s the pampas grass type,   which keeps changing colors until  it runs out. We also got ourselves   this type which shoots up like a geyser. But  unfortunately, it was the most short lived.

We spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out  which side is the burning side, cuz for obvious   reasons you wouldn’t want to catch the wrong end  of the stick. And because safety is our priority,   we went to the coast to ensure no one  else was around. We got ourselves some  

Water to douse the used fireworks, and,  of course, we cleaned up after the fun. Today’s weather cut us some slack, so finally  we got to do some snorkeling. We hurried to   Yonehara Beach, which according to Google  Maps it’s a great place for snorkeling. Now,  

Here’s one thing about filming underwater: it was  hard. I was trying to make sure the fish was in   frame the whole time while trying to stabilize  myself against the current and avoiding bumping   into corals. But, I did manage to film the two  adorable fishies who were very curious about us.

Major shoutout to my wife for being an  advocate for the reef-safe sunscreen,   Blue Lizard, which we bought from Amazon.  They’re doing great things for marine life,   so, Blue Lizard, if you’re listening, a  little sponsorship wouldn’t hurt, right? There are a number of spots on the  island that are perfect for catching  

Sunsets. We dashed to the Oganzaki  Lighthouse with our wind-proof   jackets on, and we felt like we’re in  a typhoon! But guess what, we made it. After sunset, we went back to  the city center. And we found   ourselves in a local restaurant with  tatami-style seating. In Ishigaki,  

Many restaurants need reservations, but  you usually can’t book them online. So what   we did is that we visited in person  one day before to make the booking. I was very excited about day 4 because  we finally got to visit Iriomote Island,  

A neighboring island famous for the Iriomote  cats that are exclusive to this island. But the   real reason we’re going there was a full-day trip  that involves kayaking, trekking, and snorkeling. But, as with any adventure, surprises  are part of the package. Unfortunately,  

Snorkeling had to be canceled due to weather  conditions. And our ferry also got canceled,   and we had to take another ferry that instead  of dropping us off in the north of the island as   planned, took us south of the island. Luckily,  the tour operator booked us bus tickets so we  

Could take a 50-minute ride from the south to the  north of the island. Never a dull moment, right? Our adventure would lead us deep  into the heart of the jungle,   reaching the base of the tallest waterfall in  the entire Okinawa Prefecture. To get there,  

We had to kayak and trek our way through the  jungle. Our guide met us at the designated spot,   ushering us to the base camp where we suited  up in life jackets and trekking boots,   grabbed our paddles, and hopped onto our  kayaks. It was our first time kayaking,  

So there was a bit of a learning curve,  but soon it felt completely natural. Then, we trekked through the jungle and  reached the bottom of the Pinaisara Falls.   With a bit of encouragement from our guide,  we all took a refreshing plunge into the  

Cold water. After chilling there for a bit,  we retraced our steps through the jungle,   back to the base. It was time to get some  lunch, however, most places were closed,   but our guide went the extra mile and drove  us around, until we found a simple and rustic  

Dining place serving authentic home-cooked  soba, the traditional Okinawan noodle. Huge thanks to Hirata Tourism  for organizing the trip,   and heartfelt thanks to the guide for  going above and beyond to take care of   us. I highly recommend booking your tour  through them because their service can  

Be highly personalized and allows you to  explore Iriomote Island at your own pace. Day 5 was a bit of a chill day, because we’ll  be heading back to the Okinawa main island.   The first order of business was of course  the breakfast buffet. And let me tell you,  

It was outstanding. For $2,000 yen per person,  you can enjoy a diverse range of dishes crafted   from local ingredients, and to top it off, the  Blue Seal ice cream that changes flavor every   day. I’m pretty sure this buffet will remain one  of the best that I’ve tried in a very long time.

If you’re wondering if three days are enough  for Ishigaki? Well, it depends. If you’re a   nature lover, this island is for you. There are  many viewpoints and beaches to explore. If you   like snorkeling, it’s a paradise – even beginners  can see a variety of fishes and corals near the  

Shore. However, if shopping is your priority,  Ishigaki might not be the best fit for you.   Picture it as a laid-back version of the Okinawa  main island. Here, you can enjoy authentic food   and experience life like a local. But here’s a  caveat: If you’re visiting in October, expect  

The place to be super quiet. But it’s a great  place to unwind and enjoy some peaceful time.It was time to get some  lunch, however, most places were closed,   Today’s adventure brought us to the northern side  of the island, with two main stops in mind. First  

Up was the Kouri Ocean Tower on Kouri Island. This  island is linked to the main one by a bridge over   the shallow sea. The view was so aesthetic that  everyone driving across slowed down to take it in.

We got tickets for ¥1,000 per person and hopped  on a self-driving golf cart that took us up the   hill to the main building. The first stop was  a shell museum on the ground floor, displaying   a fascinating collection of shells. But the real  showstopper? Was on the upper deck – a panoramic  

Sea view that was absolutely breathtaking.  Next up, we visited the famous Okinawa  Churaumi Aquarium. The tickets were at   2,180 yen per person. Considering the number of  exhibits available, it was a fantastic value.   You can see all kinds of marine creatures such as  sharks, tortoises, some really cute sea snakes,  

And even deep sea creatures But of course, the  highlight of the visit was the iconic whale shark. To avenge our unfortunate past experience  of a ferry canceling on me, I’ve booked   a snorkeling day trip through GetYourGuide to  hopefully be able to explore the Kerama Islands,  

Which are an island group southwest of Okinawa  main Island that consist of Tokashiki Island,   Zamami Island, Aka Island and Geruma  Island. If you’re wondering if we manage   to avenge our past? The answer is:  Before boarding the ferry, we geared up in the  wetsuits provided by the tour operator, popped our  

Seasickness meds, and embarked on an hour-long,  super bumpy ride to the coast of Aka Island. Unfortunately, we didn’t spot any sea turtles.  And the sun appeared for a brief moment only,   but we made the most of it, enjoying  the underwater scenery. Meanwhile,   please marvel at the free  diving skills of our coach.

The team of coaches spoke multiple languages,  so communication wasn’t an issue. However,   I did have to say that we’re a bit  let down by the fact that the tour   was marketed as being 9 hours long  but turns out the whole thing lasted  

For about 6 hours. So for this reason,  I don’t recommend booking this tour. We made a stop at Manga Souko in Naha, which  is like the Walmart of thrift stores. You can   basically get anything there, toys, action  figures, trading cards, clothes, even music  

Instruments. And like any other department stores  in Japan, it’s a sensory overload experience. The trip wouldn’t be complete  without a visit to this cat cafe,   which is in the American Village.  26 cats call this place home. Here,   you can interact with them, buy treats  for them or just chill out with them.  

Some of them are really curious about your  bags, so make sure you watch them closely. It’s important to note that  unlike many other cat cafes,   this one only serves drinks. You can choose to  stay for 10 minutes, an hour, or the whole day.

We grabbed lunch at Hama Sushi, a sushi-go-round  spot. The prices here are unbeatable compared to   what we have in Hong Kong! Each sushi  plate costs between 100 to 200 yen,   and guess what? They taste pretty darn good too!

Afternoon brought us to the beach just outside  our hotel. While the conditions were not ideal,   just meters off the shore, you’d be able to  see literally a school of fish surrounding you. The time had come to bid farewell to  the wonderful island. With hearts full  

Of memories, we made our way to the  airport and flew back to Hong Kong,   our minds already dancing with  anticipation for the next trip. Sure, not every expectation aligned perfectly on  this trip. Plans went awry, and there’re things  

That we could have done differently. Reality  is always a mixed bag. Yet, in its own way,   this journey surpassed expectations.  Whether it was watching sunsets with family,   connecting with nature or learning new skills  – it delivered more than anticipated. At the  

End of the day, traveling is not  about checking items off a list.   It’s about embracing life’s spontaneity  and relishing every unexpected twist. Looking back at our Okinawa adventure,  the stunning landscapes, affordable food,   and diverse activities make them a traveler’s  dream. Despite our amazing nine-day experience,  

It barely scratched the surface of Okinawa’s  treasures. There are countless other islands   waiting to be explored beyond the main one. If  you’re considering a trip, Okinawa has so much   more to offer than we could capture in just nine  days. A return visit is definitely on our radar.

A massive shoutout to my in-laws for trusting  me to sign them up for the activities that   are quite adventurous for their age. Their  spirit added a special touch to our journey. Before you go, make sure to follow my Instagram  for more travel content; the link is in the  

Description below. And feel free to let me  know what kind of videos you would like to   see next in the comments below, and if you  enjoyed this video, don’t forget to hit   like and subscribe to this channel if you  haven’t already. See you in the next one!

Unlock the Ultimate Okinawa Experience! Wondering how many days to spend in Okinawa? Planning an island-hopping trip? From must-try activities to hidden gems in the outlying islands, this detailed itinerary will help you get the most out of this 🇯🇵 island paradise.

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/JoshuaNgTravels
Hirata Tourism / https://hirata-group.co.jp/english

All copyright free music used in this video comes from here:
https://share.epidemicsound.com/b1as4s

#visitokinawa #okinawa #ishigaki #iriomote #japantravel #japantraveltips #traveltips #沖縄旅行 #沖縄観光 #沖縄 #石垣 #マンガ倉庫 #西表島