Author's Note
Note

PART 1 Okinawa at a glance

Okinawa at a glance
Okinawa Basic Information
Okinawa by keyword
Okinawa Travel Calendar
Top 10 Okinawa Travel Destinations
Top 6 Okinawa Experiences
Okinawa's history
Recommended travel course
Course 1: Okinawa Tasting 2 Nights, 3 Days
Course 2 Family Trip 3 Nights 4 Days
Course 3: 4 nights and 5 days including the Kerama Islands
Course 4: 3 nights and 4 days with accommodation in the northern part
Course 5: 3 nights and 4 days for couples staying at American Village

PART 2: One Step Further: Enjoying Okinawa with a Theme

Theme 1.
Beaches and resorts by region
Theme 2.
Snorkeling Beach
Theme 3.
Okinawa driving tour
Theme 4.
Restaurants and cafes with great views
Theme 5. NEW Okinawa, Dark Tourism
Theme 6.
Okinawa Gourmet Tour
Theme 7.
Recommended! Okinawa Beer & Drink List
Theme 8.
Recommended! Okinawa Exclusive Food List
Theme 9.
Recommended! Okinawa Souvenir List
Theme 10.
Recommended! Okinawa Mart Shopping List
Theme 11.
Recommended! Okinawa Drugstore Shopping List

PART 3: Time to experience the real Okinawa

Naha, the lost capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom
AREA 1: Around Kokusai Street, the number one destination for Okinawa travel
AREA2: Around Omoromachi, Naha's bustling downtown area
AREA3: The Burned Ruins of the Lost Kingdom, Around Shuri Castle

The most sacred area in Okinawa, the southern part
AREA1 Tomigusuku, where the sky is filled with airplanes
AREA2 Nanjo, the land where Okinawa's birth story is told
AREA3 Itoman, where people who dream of peace gather

A feast of dramatic coastlines, Central
AREA1: Satellite cities packed with rich content: Urasoe, Ginowan, and Chatan
AREA2 Yomitan, Kadena, and Okinawa: A glimpse into Okinawa's diversity
AREA 3: Okinawa's endlessly expanding seas: Onna and Uruma

The northern part, where whale sharks swim
AREA1 Nago, the largest city in the north
AREA2 Motobu, right where the Churaumi Aquarium is located
AREA3 Nakijin, a hidden gem on the Motobu Peninsula
AREA 4: The unexpectedly beautiful Kunigami/Higashi area at the end of the main island
REAL PLUS Ie Island is quite a large island for a remote island.

PART 4: Time to discover Okinawa's hidden islands

The cleanest sea in the main island, Kerama Islands
AREA1 Tokashiki Island, where the story of Grandma Bae Bong-gi is told
AREA2 Zamami Island, a small fishing village filled with starlight
AREA3 Aka Island, a remote island in the lonely sea

Miyako Islands, Japan's small Maldives
AREA 1: Miyako Island, the center of Miyako Island travel? Ikema Island? Kurima Island
AREA 2: Irabu Island, a blue beyond Miyako Blue? Shimoji Island

PART 5: Practical Travel Preparation

Okinawa Travel Preparation at a Glance
Buy cheap flights to Okinawa
How to book accommodations in Okinawa
Where should I stay in Okinawa?
Departure and entry
Okinawa Main Island City Transportation
Everything you need to know about driving a rental car
Q&A for practical driving in Okinawa
Smartphone apps that make travel more convenient
Using the Internet
How to deal with incidents and accidents on site
Search

Okinawa travel information has been further enriched with the addition of the Miyako Islands.

The biggest news for Okinawa travel in 2024 is the launch of direct flights to the Miyako Islands.
The Miyako Islands, nicknamed the "Maldives of Japan" for their beautiful ocean colors, are renowned as one of Japan's best resort destinations, but they are not very popular in Korea because they are not easy to get to.
But now that the skyway has opened, it has become easier to travel at any time, and the number of travelers is rapidly increasing.
So, seeing the potential for future growth, the writer, who has exceptional reporting skills, quickly reported for the readers and added a variety of content such as how to get there, transportation, recommended courses, must-visit destinations, and hot places to this revised edition.
In particular, to help novice travelers plan their itinerary as easily as possible, the Miyako Islands are divided into two regions and introduced, and convenient information is provided to easily find famous attractions and restaurants.
Of course, we filter out unverified information on the Internet and only introduce 'real information' obtained through direct experience in the field, so you can trust and follow it.

Spot curation that satisfies everyone

"Real Okinawa" is the perfect companion for both first-time visitors to Okinawa and repeat visitors.
The author, who loves Okinawa, visits the area two to three times a year to report on the area, so many of the spots included in the book reflect the latest trends.
In addition, there are many must-see Okinawa destinations such as Kokusai Dori, Omoromachi, Shuri Castle, and Churaumi Aquarium, as well as local favorites such as Kinjocho Field Road, Okinawa's most attractive walking course, Shikina-en, and Senaga Island, where you can take the airplane shot of your life, so everyone can enjoy a satisfying trip.
As it covers a wide area from the central city of Naha to the southern, central, and northern regions, it is the result of a lot of time spent on spot curation to ensure that it is neither too much nor too little.
It is filled with fun content, including practical travel tips and stories related to history and culture, making it even more enjoyable to read.


Optimal course composition for traveler convenience

Okinawa offers countless attractions, including beautiful natural scenery, ancient ruins and cultural assets, charming alleyways, and unique streets where American and Japanese cultures seamlessly blend.
However, it is impossible to visit all of those tourist destinations within a set schedule.
"Real Okinawa" provides essential information for travelers who are wondering where to start and how to travel on a short trip, and which travel destination is right for them, in an easy-to-understand and friendly manner.
And to help you explore Okinawa most efficiently, we've created an optimal course by connecting the must-see tourist spots in each region with an ideal route.
In addition, we provide detailed, themed itineraries for couples, friends, and families, taking into account the most popular transportation and accommodation locations.

Information on finding your way without getting lost anywhere

One of the biggest attractions of "Real Okinawa" is that it includes various location information to help you find your way around while traveling.
First, the detailed map in the text has a QR code linked to Google Maps, so you can check the spots in the area right away with your smartphone.
As long as you have an internet connection, you can check your location and the location of the spot you want to go to in real time from anywhere, and easily find directions to get there, so you can enjoy your trip without getting lost.
Additionally, each spot information includes a Korean search term, so you can easily find the location anytime, anywhere on Google Maps even without a QR code.

Okinawan restaurants that will broaden your palate

There is a prejudice that Okinawan cuisine is simply healthy and not tasty, but this is not because Okinawan cuisine is tasteless, but because it pursues a different direction from mainland Japanese cuisine, which focuses on the deep flavor of the ingredients.
In particular, the experience of tasting foods that are hard to find in other regions, such as chanpuru, a representative Okinawan dish and side dish, Okinawa soba with unique wheat flour noodles and pork belly, jimmami tofu made by mixing peanuts and sweet potato starch, and agu, a native Okinawan pork famous for its mild flavor, is the essence of a culinary journey that cannot be found anywhere else.
So the author put the most effort into selecting the restaurant.
From famous restaurants that are easily recognized by name to hidden gems tucked away in every nook and cranny, we personally visited and ate at all of them, and selected them again and again, taking into consideration the tastes of Korean travelers.
These are 128 restaurants that were selected in this way, so you can trust them and go there.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Okinawa Public Transportation

Unlike other cities in Japan, Okinawa does not have a well-developed public transportation system.
There are monorails, buses, and taxis, but the monorail is limited to Naha City, and buses run throughout the entire area, but they are slow, have long intervals, and are expensive because they are distance-based.
Therefore, to enjoy a comfortable trip, you need to use transportation efficiently according to your specific travel schedule and route, such as the duration of your trip, location of your accommodations, where you plan to travel, and how much time you want to spend.

Therefore, in the travel preparation section of 『Real Okinawa』, we provide detailed information on public transportation to ensure that you do not experience difficulties using transportation.
It covers boarding and disembarking information, fares, and pass information for monorails, city (intercity) buses, and tour buses in detail, so even beginners can easily understand it.
Additionally, we did not neglect information for rental car travelers.
We provide you with all the essential information you need to know when driving in Japan, including things to watch out for, information on major rental car companies, and how to make reservations online.