Things to do in Okinawa Prefecture

Ms. Qian, the tour guide, led us through a pleasant day! This trip didn't involve self-driving, so we joined a day tour. The northern attractions were very appealing and were some of the most worthwhile places to visit in Okinawa. The tour members were all punctual in arriving at the departure time. Although the drive was long, the tour guide enlivened the atmosphere and carefully introduced the history, precautions, etc. of each location. The amount of time spent at each attraction was sufficient to see the entire site. However, at the end, in American Village, we chose to return on our own because we felt that the original 40 minutes was not enough. The tour guide also told us that we could choose a bus back to Naha for the return trip. The whole experience was very enjoyable, and with the tour guide's introduction, it is highly recommended. The early bird discount is also much cheaper!

We were traveling as a couple, and although we saw many tour buses at the meeting point in the morning, it was very clear which bus was ours. We were very satisfied with the itinerary, and we are also very grateful to our tour guide, Lulu. Her explanations about the attractions and history were very clear and interesting, and she also shared stories about her life in Okinawa based on her own experiences. She was also very thoughtful and gentle, reminding us to wear more clothes! Our first stop was Manza Cape, and 30 minutes was a very appropriate and comfortable amount of time. The second stop was Kouri Island, and the ice cream at the milk shop recommended by the tour guide was delicious! Three hours at the aquarium was also just right, with plenty of time to relax and see the dolphin show, gift shop, and large aquarium! Finally, on the way to American Village, the journey was extended due to traffic, but we were able to see American Village at night, which had a great atmosphere! Even though it was January, we could still see a lot of Christmas decorations! Overall, we were very happy with the itinerary and the tour guide we booked this time. It was great value for money!!

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.

This aquarium indeed does not disappoint. We spent at least 3 hours indoors going through 3 levels, and then went outdoor to feed sea turtles, watched the dolphin show and fed the dolphins. The dolphin feeding experience was very popular though, and it’s limited to 25 ‘groups’ of participants for each time slot, so will need to queue up really quickly. Both feeding programs are separately payable. ¥500 per bucket of food.

There weren't many reviews and a lot of them were negative, so I was very worried while planning my trip, but our family of four, including two middle and high school daughters who are far from dinosaurs, had a very satisfying experience. ^^ The reasons for some of the negative reviews were "hot" and "long wait times," but...the weather in Okinawa in mid-February was perfect for traveling, so that wasn't a problem. Even though we went on a Saturday, it wasn't crowded, so the longest we waited was about 30 minutes. We got the Dinosaur Safari Premium Pass. But the wait time was only 20 minutes, so we didn't really need it, but we bought it as a package deal on Klook that included the Dinosaur Pass and VIP lounge for the price of one admission ticket, so we were very satisfied. We waited in line for Buggy Voltage for 20 minutes with the open run, and we were able to wear Crocs. They asked if I could drive and I said okay, but they didn't check my license. It was worth waiting an hour for. The game with the guns has timed entry, and we got in right away. Crocs aren't allowed here, and they didn't rent shoes. Instead, they sold black sneakers that looked like they were from the Chinese Shaolin Temple for 1200 yen, which I bought, wore, and threw away. If you don't have sneakers, it might be a good idea to just go and buy shoes and throw them away for attractions with shoe restrictions. We went to the Splash Festival and danced and had a great time, and we went to the Dinosaur show on time, and it was fun as it's known to be. I highly recommend Buggy Voltage and the Dinosaur show. The right-hand course (swing, jump, trekking, etc.) is applied for through the app, but I'm sad that I couldn't ride it because I kept getting rejected, but overall I had a good time. For reference, we arrived around 9:30 am and there was a line for foreigners, so we were the first to enter, but I think the wait would have been similar even if we had gone at 10 am. Finally, there was a Korean staff member who told us everything we were curious about and the route in detail before we entered. Every time we ran into each other, she kindly told us things and checked the festival time for us. Oh, and the VIP lounge is located in the basement of the Bird's Nest Restaurant near the entrance. There were no reviews about this, so we went and asked the Korean staff member~ There are so few reviews, so I left a long one~

Buy the 5-in-1 Fun Pass including the Churaumi Aquarium; if you want to re-enter the Churaumi Aquarium on the same day, you can directly scan the QR code for entry without queuing to buy tickets. The owner of the shrimp rice restaurant on Kouri Island, where you redeem the pass, has a bit of a poker face and looks a little fierce; the taste is average, and I wouldn't choose to redeem it there again. However, Okinawa World and DMM are both very worthwhile. There's also a paid pearl digging experience at the entrance of DMM, so you don't have to rush to the crowded small shop inside Okinawa World. Additionally, the three-choice set meal at a restaurant near the beach in American Village is also very good, and it comes with pumpkin soup, a drink, fried chicken rice with lettuce, and scrambled eggs. There's a Times parking lot nearby, and the first two hours are free, making parking super convenient.

It was a very nice experience. the cave is obviously the main attraction. it is very humid down there and severel stairs which are slippery. Hole yourself on the rail just incase. And one advice: After purchasing the ticket do not open the voucher until you are in front a ticketing agent at the entrance. otherwise your ticket might become invalid/used. Other than that you a snake museum and a little zoo with animals, some snack stations and shops and a restaurant. At station number 5 you can check out one of the two alternating live shows each hour. All in All you can spend around 2-3 hours here and attach a visit to the nearby mibaru beach.

Experience: The electronic tickets are very convenient, just scan them for admission. Unfortunately, they open at 9:00 AM, and the popular pet feeding tickets are sold out by 9:30 AM, so I recommend arriving before opening if you want to feed the animals. Facilities: The environment is clean and the space is pretty good, but some pet areas inside are a bit stuffy. This is probably to accommodate the pets' needs, so it's understandable.

It was so amazing to see whales passing under the boat, spouting water, and even jumping right in front of us! We visited for our baby's first birthday and our older child's 11th birthday, and it was safe and great! There was a Korean staff member who could explain safety precautions and provide necessary information, which was 👍👍. The boat was clean, and the large parking lot right in front made it easy to park our rental car! Boat condition: Great! Guide: Very friendly and we were able to have a safe trip! Schedule: We participated in the afternoon schedule and were happy to see so many whales! Seasickness medicine is a must as the waves are strong!