Kokusai Street — International Street — in Naha is Okinawa's main tourist and shopping thoroughfare, a 1.6-kilometre strip of souvenir shops, restaurants, craft beer bars, and Okinawan speciality food stalls selling beni imo tarts, Orion beer, Awamori rice wine, and the distinctive Ryukyuan crafts of textile, pottery, and glassware. The side streets of Heiwa Dori and Ichiba Hondori host the covered markets where local residents shop and the fresh seafood counters serve extraordinary subtropical Pacific catches. Hotels near Kokusai Street in central Naha are in the most convenient location for exploring Okinawa's unique hybrid Japanese-Ryukyuan culture.
Our Picks — Okinawa
Nago — Busena Cape
Often cited as the finest resort in Okinawa, Busena Terrace occupies a dramatic headland in central Okinawa with two-sided sea views, a sprawling pool complex, and direct access to one of the island's best beaches. The level of Japanese hospitality — omotenashi at its most refined — combined with the tropical setting makes it a benchmark experience.
Nakagusuku Bay — Yomitan
Transported from its famous Hawaii home to the shores of Nakagusuku Bay, Halekulani Okinawa delivers the original's legendary hospitality in a setting of rice paddies, ancient Ryukyuan gusuku castle ruins, and a seven-pool aqua terrace descending to the sea. The restaurant offers the most accomplished fusion of Ryukyuan and Continental cuisine on the island.
Manza — Onna Village
Occupying the Manza headland, one of Okinawa's most scenic promontories, this resort offers water sports, glass-bottom boat tours of the coral reef just offshore, and rooms that look out across the East China Sea toward an unbroken horizon. The traditional Okinawan cuisine in the evenings is excellent.
Tancha Bay — Onna
A family-friendly resort on the beautiful Tancha Bay with an extensive water park, multiple pools, and one of the island's longest private beach stretches. The resort runs Okinawan cultural programmes — traditional dance, dyeing, and awamori tasting — making it an educational as well as recreational destination.
Naha — Makishi
The top urban hotel in Naha, the Hyatt Regency puts guests within walking distance of Kokusai Street, the Makishi public market, and Shuri Castle. The rooftop pool with city and harbor views is one of the best in the capital, and the restaurant serves a spectacular Okinawan set menu that covers the full breadth of the archipelago's ingredients.
Chatan — American Village
Located in the lively American Village district of Chatan, Vessel Hotel offers a unique Okinawa experience where the island's complex American military legacy is expressed in eclectic retail, restaurants, and nightlife on its doorstep. The ocean-facing rooms are particularly good, and the rooftop pool is open late.
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