Okinawa Whale Watching Tour (Departure from Naha/Chatan Port)

4.4 / 5
837 reviews
30K+ booked
Kerama Islands National Park
Due to the larger waves in the winter, it is recommended that travelers take motion sickness medication before boarding the ship to alleviate motion sickness discomfort and ensure a more comfortable and enjoyable journey.
  • Get up close and personal with the humpback whales of Okinawa on a transparent whale watching cruise!
  • Watch whales swim, sing, jump, and learn about their environment.
  • Free shuttle service is available from designated locations in Naha for travelers departing from Naha!

What to expect

Join a winter whale watching tour departing from Naha or Chatan to observe the unforgettable giant baby humpback whales off the coast of Okinawa up close! You can spend up to three pleasant hours at sea watching humpback whales and their babies swim and jump. Learn about whales and the latest news through multilingual online explanations provided by the boat (English, Mandarin, Japanese and Korean). Based on the captain's many years of experience, humpback whales appear on our trips in most cases. However, during the four-month whale watching season, there are still a few days when we cannot encounter whales, which is not directly related to the month or time of day. This is an experience completely dominated by nature, perfect for the whole family to witness beautiful moments at sea together and learn about the whales' ecological environment!

Mother and calf whales swim together in the Okinawa sea.
Mother and calf whales swim together in the Okinawa sea.
Come and say Hi to us
Come and say Hi to us
Whales will sometimes lift their tail flukes high in the air and swing them downward to create a large noise and splash of water.
Whales will sometimes lift their tail flukes high in the air and swing them downward to create a large noise and splash of water.
Dive into the deep sea and explore with whales.
Dive into the deep sea and explore with whales.

Reviews

4.4 / 5
Great
837 reviews
Services offered
4.5
Value for money
4.3
Quality of facility
4.4
Safety measures
4.6
Reviews summary
From real reviews, powered by AI
Overall impression
Successful whale sightings offer magnificent, memorable, and exciting experiences. Guests enjoy close encounters with whales and multiple sightings, creating a highly satisfying and unforgettable journey.
Services offered
Efficient pickup services, timely communication, clear guidance, and knowledgeable, friendly staff enhance the experience. Multilingual support and professional follow-ups for cancellations are consistently appreciated.
Value for money
Seeing whales often justifies the cost, with many guests finding the experience worth the price. The provision of videos/photos for no-sighting trips adds value.
Quality of facility
Clean vessels and experienced captains skillfully locate whales, often maneuvering for optimal viewing. Well-organized arrangements support a smooth operational flow and comfortable experience.
Safety measures
Staff prioritize safety with diligent attention, providing clear instructions and ensuring passenger well-being. Motion sickness remedies are offered, and children's safety is considered with dedicated life jackets.
Traveler reviews
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All With photos English only
Review for: Departure from Chatan (Japanese/English correspondence)

The highlight of our Okinawan trip; the staff are very kind and stayed back some time for us to watch and film the whales although they said they would go straight back once a whale was spotted. An awesome experience with both the weather and whales cooperating. Was not too rocky but we ate very lightly and took our own seasick medicine half hour before boarding the boat so it was an enjoyable experience for us. Can’t believe we saw the whales so close; it was magic 😍

Helpful
Review for: [Need pick-up/drop-off/Offer seasickness medicine] Departing from Naha in the morning, Chinese correspondence

December isn't the most active time for whales, so seeing them isn't guaranteed every day. We were lucky to see them, but you'll mostly just see the whales fluke, spout, and fins. You can see them much more clearly at an aquarium. It's very cold, windy, and intermittently rainy at sea in winter, and you're out at sea for a long time, so be sure to wear enough clothing. Also, the waves are sometimes quite big, so be sure to take motion sickness medicine.

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Review for: [Self-arranged transportation/Complimentary motion sickness pills] Departure from Naha, available in Chinese/English/Jap

crew was very experienced in spotting whales. we were out in the sea for an hour but didn’t see alot, most of the ones we spotted were whale spouting and fluking only. sea sickness pill helped as none of our family experienced nauseousness.

Helpful
Review for: [Need pick-up/drop-off/Offer seasickness medicine] Departing from Naha in the morning, Chinese correspondence

Its a one life time experience to see the humpback whales only during winters when visiting Okinawa.We had three encounters and saw few whales.It was magical to see them come up for fresh air.

Helpful
Review for: [Self-arranged transportation/Complimentary motion sickness pills] Departure from Naha, available in Chinese/English/Jap

A great whale watching tour! The whole family was happy and we successfully saw whales! Although I got seasick and felt unwell, the staff were very attentive and took good care of me. Overall, it was a very good experience. Highly recommended.

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Helpful
Review for: [Demand Pickup & Dropoff] Departure from Naha in the Afternoon, Support for Chinese/English/Japanese

I went to Okinawa and specially arranged a day to buy a whale watching package from Klook. I was really satisfied with the special car pick-up. I also saw a lot of whales. I had a lot of fun and felt it was worth it and cost-effective. 👍

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Helpful
Review for: [Need pick-up/drop-off/Offer seasickness medicine] Departing from Naha in the morning, Chinese correspondence

The local travel agency sent a letter the day before to remind you of the precautions and boarding location, which was very considerate. The staff on that day were also very friendly! This time we were lucky enough to see whales coming out of the water many times, it was a worthwhile trip

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Helpful
Review for: [Self-arranged transportation/Complimentary motion sickness pills] Departure from Naha, available in Chinese/English/Jap

Definitely worth going! Although the itinerary changed, I'm very grateful for the help from Azure Travel Agency! So happy to have seen whales 🐳

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Helpful
Review for: [Need pick-up/drop-off/Offer seasickness medicine] Departing from Naha in the morning, Chinese correspondence

We set out for whale watching early in the morning. We first went to the meeting point for roll call and then boarded the boat. The sea was rough, so we had to wear a windbreaker and take seasickness pills. Fortunately, we saw a whale.

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Review for: [Need pick-up/drop-off/Offer seasickness medicine] Departing from Naha in the morning, Chinese correspondence

The sea was rough with large waves on the day of our trip. Unfortunately, the boat couldn't get nearer to the whales, so we could only catch a glimpse of a few blow spouts from far. It might not have been the best day for whale watching. It seems there’s a high chance of not seeing much or not at all, so it’s important to keep your expectations low. On a positive note, the hotel pick-up service was excellent, explanations were clear, they managed the group well. Do prepare seasickness medication for the trip, as quite a few in my group got nauseous and threw out. Was given a free bottle of anti seasickness drink for my booking though I brought my own patch too.

Helpful

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