10 Things to do in Naha That You Shouldn't Miss

December 19, 2021 Lashaunda Abraham

Go from the 13th century to the 21st in one day in Naha. Its ancient Ryukyu Kingdom centerpiece, Shuri Castle, has been restored and is the city's top tourist attraction. Meanwhile, on Kokusai-dori (International Boulevard), the pace never lets up as locals and tourists hop from restaurants to bars to nightclubs.
Restaurants in Naha

1. Makishi Public Market

2-7-10 Matsuo, Naha 900-0014 Okinawa Prefecture +81 98-867-6560 https://kosetsu-ichiba.com/transfer
Excellent
23%
Good
45%
Satisfactory
25%
Poor
5%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 2,306 reviews

Makishi Public Market

Closed due to renovation. Public Market plans to open for business at a temporary building, from July 1, 2019 to March 31, 2022.

Reviewed By calittski - Singapore, Singapore

We had the best sashimi EVER! Super fresh, cut in front of your eyes, for a mere 1,000¥ The sellers are adorable, they will have you taste preserves and smile, even if you don’t speak English. If you’re famished, go upstairs for the Japanese food court.

2. Fukushu-en Garden

2-29-19 Kume, Naha 900-0033 Okinawa Prefecture +81 98-869-5384 http://www.facebook.com/nahafukushuen
Excellent
35%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
22%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 447 reviews

Fukushu-en Garden

Fukushu En Park was built as the tenth anniversary of our friendship with Fuzhou City of China and the seventieth anniversary commemorative project of Naha municipal city government. It was completed in September 1992 and is 8,500 square meters in area. It represents the great trade era of Ryukyu and its Chinese architectural style has enormous impact on the Okinawan culture. Uizan,Uzan,Hakuto,Binko imaging Fuzhou's seenic beauties are placed in the park. The pond,the artificial hill,waterfall,plantings and sculptures that feature the magnificent nature often make visitors forget the location of Fukushu En Park-the heart of Naha.

Reviewed By BorneoMel - Minato, Japan

A feast for the eyes and senses. A great place to wander, meditate, read, or think. I felt really lucky to have it almost to myself on the rainy day when I visited.

3. Kokusaidori

Matsuo Around Makishi, Naha 900-0014 Okinawa Prefecture +81 98-917-6350 http://naha-kokusaidori.okinawa/
Excellent
22%
Good
45%
Satisfactory
29%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 2,719 reviews

Kokusaidori

Reviewed By hweeying - Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Easily to come here by Yui rail. We came here several time for shopping and food. It is a famous attraction in Naha city. So packed and crowded during night time. Visited on June 2019.

4. Naminoue-gu Shrine

1-25-11 Wakasa, Naha 900-0031 Okinawa Prefecture +81 98-868-3697 http://naminouegu.jp/
Excellent
29%
Good
46%
Satisfactory
24%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 774 reviews

Naminoue-gu Shrine

Reviewed By CaptainJWCourtney - Severn, United States

I first visited the Shrine back in 1966 and was taken by the simple, honesty in the Shinto religion practiced at this shrine. I had a favorite place nearby that I would go to watch the Okinawan dancers and listen to the native music. I returned in 1983 and saw how many improvements that had been made to the Shrine and It showed me the pride in the people that worshiped here. It was better painted, much wood work had been done and it was a secial place for me to visit when I was in the area and had time to stop and visit. I returned to Okinawa in 2001 and visited it only twice before I left with my wife in 2003. Once again it has changed a lot more but is still a beautiful, insprational place to visit. (The shrine is located at the top of a steep hill so please keep this in mind if visiting with elderly people or anyone with physical challenges like my wife and her breathing problems.) The shrine is has become a very beautiful shrine after all those years and continues to offer the usual charms to protect you and your driving and talismans for health, love, wealth harmony etc. I usually spend about 20 to 50 minutes here to walk around, let the memories come back, reabsorb the Okinawan culture and uniquely Okinawan architecture. I studied the Okinawan culture under Dr. Barbra Golden at the Maryland University in the mid 1980's and lived in Kosa (Okinawa City) at the time, shopped locally and went to all the old places that I used to go to back in the 1960's. Oh, and one more thing, this place has gotten much busier than it used to be, so go early to avoid the huge crowds of tourists from Mainland Japan and from China!!

5. Shurijo Castle

1-2 Kinjo-cho, Shuri, Naha 903-0815 Okinawa Prefecture +81 98-886-2020 http://oki-park.jp/shurijo/en/
Excellent
34%
Good
47%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 5,164 reviews

Shurijo Castle

Reviewed By BYamamoto - Kapaa, United States

It is well worth your time to visit Shuri castle again even if you have visited before on previous trips. I travel to Okinawa annually and fins something new at the castle complex each year. This year a new pathway through the Japanese portion of the casle takes you outside onto the castle wall back of the main building for a large panoramic view of the city. There is also new history an area will be planted in chrysanthemums as was in the past. There are new exhibits and performances and you should check on the events calendar because there are night visitation of the area lite in candle light.

6. Shrikinjocho Stone-Path Road

Shurikinjocho, Naha 903-0815 Okinawa Prefecture +81 98-862-1442 http://www.naha-navi.or.jp/spot/2705/
Excellent
31%
Good
51%
Satisfactory
16%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 665 reviews

Shrikinjocho Stone-Path Road

7. Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum

3-1-1 Omoromachi, Naha 900-0006 Okinawa Prefecture +81 98-941-8200 http://okimu.jp/
Excellent
38%
Good
47%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 703 reviews

Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum

It is unusual to find a facility that contains both a museum of culture, history, and science (hereinafter referred to as “museum”) and an art museum. A facility which contains a “museum” (hakubutsukan) and an “art museum” (bijutsukan) is rare. One of its predecessors was the Higashi Onna Museum , established in 1946 immediately following the Battle of Okinawa, and therefore, 2016 marked the facility’s 70th anniversary. The museum exhibits materials and information related to the fields of geology, biology, anthropology, archeology, history, folklore, and arts and crafts, and it holds various relevant events. The art museum shows mainly, but is not limited to, modern and contemporary works of art that were nurtured by Okinawan culture, including oil and watercolor paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs, and videos. Take your time exploring the nature, history, culture, and art of Okinawa at both museums.

Reviewed By Konrad_444 - Ustka, Poland

I loved the animal and nature part of the exhibition. The staff is really helpful and friendly, althought they miss some of English descriptions about the exhibits. I fancied some parts of the art exhibition but most of them I found quite cheap.

8. Yachimun Street

Naha Okinawa Prefecture http://www.tsuboya-yachimundori.com/
Excellent
26%
Good
53%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 822 reviews

Yachimun Street

Reviewed By BZimm08 - Iwakuni, Japan

My wife and I have wanted to buy a pair of Shisha's since moving to Okinawa and by doing our research we wanted to buy them here on Yachimun Street. We browsed every shop and they were all kind of the same. Although we found a nice pair at a shop which I can't recall the name. Expect most shops to sell similar items with the same price tags. The street was cute though, it was a cobblestone road lined with cute shops and beautiful plants! There is a free museum here where you can see a kiln and other structures from one of the families that resided here. I guarantee after strolling around this street that you will buy something. It is a lovely and quiet street that is well worth visiting.

9. Tomari Iyumachi

1-1-18 Minatomachi, Naha 900-0001 Okinawa Prefecture +81 98-868-1096 http://www.tomariiyumachi.com/
Excellent
34%
Good
49%
Satisfactory
15%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 215 reviews

Tomari Iyumachi

Reviewed By hongz561 - Singapore, Singapore

Tried the sashimi, grilled lobsters at the Tomari Iyumachi market. Comparing to Makiahi First Market, i personally will be more incline for seafood here for the cheaper pricing

10. San-A Naha Main Place

4-4-9 Omoromachi, Naha 900-0006 Okinawa Prefecture +81 98-951-3300 http://www.san-a.co.jp/nahamainplace/
Excellent
29%
Good
52%
Satisfactory
19%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 250 reviews

San-A Naha Main Place

Close to Omoromachi Station, this large mall caters mostly to locals and is quieter than other malls. Visit over 60 shops featuring Japanese fashions from brands like Lowry's Farm and Opaque Clip.

Reviewed By HappyTravelerSarah - Singapore, Singapore

During this trip, we went to 5 or 6 shopping malls, mostly Aeons which is the biggest shopping mall in Japan. However, we like the San-A Naha main place the best. It was huge, had many retail clothing brands not found in the other malls and many restaurants and nice cafe where we had a sumptuous lunch. Can spend a whole afternoon here. Also great if you have time to kill before heading to the airport as its near to the yu rail station. We stumbled upon this place after passing by DFS and was looking for a place for lunch. I bought sports shoes and clothes and some stuff at Daiso too. Highly recommended mall. Have fun shopping!

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