5 days okinawa itinerary

Ultimate Okinawa Itinerary: 5 Days of Sun, Sea & Serendipity

If you’re searching for the perfect Okinawa itinerary, look no further—our 5-day island adventure had it all: scenic road trips, tropical beaches, quirky attractions, and unforgettable local flavors. From exploring the vibrant markets of Naha to snorkeling off the shores of Zamami Island, and from rainy-day detours to luxurious resort dining, every day offered a unique blend of culture, relaxation, and spontaneous fun. 

Touchdown at Naha Airport at 4 PM, and the vacation vibes hit instantly. After grabbing our rental car from Toyota Rent-A-Car (a must for this Okinawa itinerary!), we drove straight to Makishi Public Market. It was the perfect crash course in Okinawan culture—colorful stalls, sizzling street food, and friendly locals.


Our cozy base for the next three nights? Hotel Aqua Citta Naha, complete with a rooftop pool we vowed to dive into… later.

Naha Okinawa Airport

Naha Airport Okinawa
Naha Airport Okinawa

Schedule: 13:00 - 16:00

Travel Fare (round-trip):  ¥15,000

Three hours flight from Narita Airport in Tokyo. We landed at Naha Airport at 4 PM.

Toyota Rent a Car

Naha Okinawa Toyota car rental
Naha Okinawa Toyota car rental

Schedule: 16:00- 16:30

Travel Fare:  Free

Shuttle bus going to Toyota rental

Makishi Public Market

holding giant lobster at makishi public market
Fresh giant lobster at Makishi public market

Schedule: 17:00 -17:30

We had dinner at Makishi Public Market, where you can pick fresh seafood on the ground floor and have it cooked on the spot—delicious, affordable, and worth it!

Makishi Public Market

Fresh seafood dinner at makishi public market
Fresh seafood dinner at Makishi public market

Schedule: 18:00

Cost: ¥12,000

Festive dinner for four people.

Aqua Citta 

aqua-citta-naha-okinawa

Schedule: 20:30

3 nights : ¥ 31,000

Location:

〒900-0016 Okinawa, Naha, Maejima, 3 Chome−2−20 ホテルアクアチッタナハ 10F

Day 2: Northern Okinawa Road Trip – Rain Can’t Stop Us!

nago pineapple park
Nago Pineapple Park

Rain? No problem. Our Okinawa itinerary pressed on with a road trip to the island’s north. First stop: Nago Pineapple Park, where we rode a pineapple-themed cart and sang their catchy jingle for hours.


Next up: Churaumi Aquarium, a highlight of any Okinawa itinerary. We devoured a buffet lunch at Restaurant Ino before entering the aquarium wonderland—whale sharks, glowing jellyfish, and more.


Though the rain kept us from swimming at Emerald Beach, we found comfort back at Aqua Citta’s heated rooftop pool. Dinner? Fried chicken from Popeye’s, savored in pajamas.

Nago Pineapple Park

nago pineapple park
Nago pineapple park

Schedule: 9:00-10:00

Admission fee:¥1,200

Our first stop of the day was Nago Pineapple Park, and even though it was raining, the fun never stopped! This quirky, pineapple-themed park is perfect for families. We hopped on their self-driving pineapple cart ride, cruising past lush tropical plants—and even a few surprise dinosaurs along the way! After the ride, we sampled their refreshing pineapple juice and unique pineapple wine. Rain or shine, the whole experience was totally worth it!

Churaumi Aquarium

churaumi aquarium
Churaumi aquarium

Schedule: 12:00-14:00

Admission fee: ¥2,180

At Churaumi Aquarium, we had an absolute blast getting up close and personal with some truly gigantic sea creatures—those whale sharks are massive! While it's a total hit with families, trust us, adults will be just as amazed (we definitely were). We spent around two hours wandering through glowing jellyfish tunnels and jaw-dropping tanks. Oh, and if you're a coffee lover, don’t miss the café inside—it’s the perfect spot to sip a latte while watching giant whales glide by like underwater ballerinas!

Hotel Aqua Citta

Schedule: 17:00 -18:00

After an action-packed day at Nago Pineapple Park and the awe-inspiring Churaumi Aquarium, we headed back to our hotel for a splash of a different kind—the rooftop transparent pool! It’s free for guests until 7:00 PM, and trust us, the view from up there is jaw-dropping. Swimming over the city on a pool made of glass? Slightly terrifying, totally thrilling! I conquered my fear, kicked back in the water, and fully embraced the moment—with a pineapple cocktail in hand, of course. Cheers to floating in style!

Day 3: Island Hopping Adventure – Zamami

Furuzamami Beach
Furuzamami Beach at Zamami Island

We boarded the Queen Zamami ferry early in the morning, bound for Zamami Island. After arriving, we hopped on a bus to the stunning Furuzamami Beach—white sand, turquoise water, and the peaceful vibe of island life. By 2 PM, we were heading back to the port to catch the Ferry Zamami.

 

Back in Naha by the afternoon, we returned to our hotel for some rooftop pool + jacuzzi time. Refreshed, we ventured out for dinner at the lively Uomaru Izakaya, where we sampled fresh seafood and even dared to try Habushu—the infamous snake sake

 

We capped the night with a stroll along Kokusai Dori, Okinawa’s bustling shopping street, and treated ourselves to Blue Seal ice cream—a local must-try.

Zamami Island

naha port
Naha Port

Schedule: 9:00-10:00

Ferry:  Queen Zamami

Ferry fare: ¥3,250

Ferry terminal:

Bus going to Furuzamami Beach

bus terminal going to Furuzamami beach
Furuzamami Beach Bus terminal

Schedule: 10:10-10:15

Bus fare: ¥300

Bus terminal: 座間味ゆくる館, 〒901-3402 Okinawa, Shimajiri District, Zamami

Furuzamami Beach

Furuzamami beach
Furuzamami beach

Schedule: 10:15- 14:00

Admission fee: Free

Umbrella and bed rentals: ¥3,000

Lunch

Furuzamami restaurant
Furuzamami restaurant

Pork spare rib rice: ¥1,300

Gapao rice: ¥1300

Zamami Island - Naha Port

zamami to naha port

Schedule: 15:00-17:00

Ferry fare: ¥2,150

Travel time: 2 hours

Hotel Aqua Citta

aqua citta rooftop pool

Schedule: 17:00 -18:00

After a sun-soaked day exploring Zamami Island, you’d think we’d be ready to crash—but nope, we had just enough energy left for one more swim!

We headed straight to our hotel’s outdoor pool and jacuzzi for a well-deserved soak under the stars. And the best part? It’s totally free for guests—because let’s be real, everything feels more fun (and relaxing) when it doesn’t cost extra!

Uomaru Izakaya

Dinner for 4 people: ¥11000

Day 4: Scenic Drives, Souvenirs & Beachside Bliss

manza beach
Manza beach

We checked out of Hotel Aqua Citta, dropped bags at Loisir Hotel, and hit the road for a final northern adventure. First stop: the breathtaking cliffs of Cape Manzamo.


A surprise gachapon score netted us Okinawa-themed tees and a luncheon meat tote—best ¥1,000 we’ve ever spent!


Next: Manza Beach, where we dipped into the chilly sea. Then it was off to Hotel Moon Beach for a luxurious buffet at All Dining Corallo.


After poolside lounging and one last drive, we returned the rental car and embraced a quiet evening. At Loisir, we caught sunset views, enjoyed a hearty meal at Ryu-Tan Garden Dining, and ended with a tranquil soak in the onsen.

Cape Manzamo

Cape manzamo

Schedule: 9:00-10:00

Admission Fee: ¥100

Manza Beach

manza beach
Manza beach

Schedule: 10:30

Admission fee: Free

Location :

Hotel Moon Beach

hotel moon beach and pool

Schedule: 12:30

Admission fee: ¥3000

Lunch Buffet - Corallo

lunch beffet at corallo hotel moonbeach

Buffet: ¥3,500

Hotel Moon beach Photo spots

hotel moon beach

Return car

Naha Okinawa Toyota car rental
Naha Okinawa Toyota car rental

Hotel Loisir

hotel loisir indoor pool and jacuzzi
Hotel Loisir indoor pool and jacuzzi

For our grand finale, we took one last dip in the hotel’s indoor swimming pool—because why not go out with a splash? It was the perfect way to unwind, float around, and soak in those final vacation vibes before saying goodbye to Okinawa. One more swim for the memory books!

Ryu-Tan Garden Dining

Buffet: ¥2,750

Location:

3 Chome-6-1 Nishi, Naha, Okinawa 900-0036

Onsen at the Hotel

Photo from Loisir Hotel
Hot spring (Onsen): free

Day 5: Sayonara, Okinawa – Ending the Itinerary on a High Note

bye okinawa- lunch at a&w
Bye Okinawa- lunch at A&W Naha Airport

We took our time on the final morning, soaking up every last island vibe. After a relaxed checkout, a quick cab to Naha Airport brought us to our farewell meal at A&W, where we toasted with root beer and shared our favorite moments.
From rainy detours to sun-drenched swims, this Okinawa itinerary was everything we dreamed of—island magic with a side of adventure.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top