Naha
Okinawa's warm, busy gateway city.
Naha is Okinawa's capital and where nearly every island trip begins. Kokusai-dori is the busy main street, and the market behind it shows everyday Okinawan food. On a hill above the city, Shuri Castle was the seat of the Ryukyu kings. Its main hall, lost in a 2019 fire, has been rebuilt, and the interior opens to the public on November 23, 2026. Use a day or two here, then head out.
Best time: October to April for warm but not punishing weather. The rainy season is about May 10 to June 21; summer has typhoons.
Weather
Average temperature, °C. JMA 1991–2020 normals (Naha (JMA)).
Top 5
- Shuri CastleThe rebuilt main hall opens inside from November 23, 2026.
- Daiichi Makishi Public MarketBuy seafood downstairs and have it cooked upstairs.
- Kokusai-doriThe main shopping and food street.
- Tsuboya pottery streetStone lanes of Okinawan pottery workshops.
- Sakaemachi MarketA small, local market area for evening drinks.
A simple day
- Monorail to Shuri Castle in the morning.
- Okinawa soba lunch.
- Tsuboya pottery street.
- Makishi market for an early dinner.
- Evening on Kokusai-dori or in Sakaemachi.
Where to stay
- Kokusai-dori / MakishiCentral and lively.
- Kencho-maeQuieter, on the monorail.
- OmoromachiNewer area with shopping.
Places we’ve checked
- The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Nahastay site ↗
- DoubleTree by Hilton Nahastay site ↗
- Pacific Hotel Okinawastay site ↗
- Enagic Okinawa International Youth Hostelstay site ↗
- Daiichi Makishi Public Marketrestaurant site ↗
- Sakaemachi Marketizakaya
- Kokusai-dori Yataimuraizakaya site ↗
From the psst directory. Opening days and prices change — check the official site before you go.
Getting there
Tokyo (Haneda) → Naha: about 2h25–2h45 by air. Naha Airport → Kencho-mae or Makishi: about 10–15 min by Yui Rail monorail.
psst — skip this mistake: Staying only in Naha. The beaches and islands are the point; plan at least one trip out.