Enjoy Okinawa even when it rains! 8 recommended indoor spots
Many people probably think that Okinawa, with its beautiful sea and sky where you can fully enjoy the tropical atmosphere, is only worth visiting on a sunny day. In fact, there are many spots in Okinawa that you can enjoy even on a rainy day. Here are 8 tourist spots in Okinawa where you can have a great time even when it rains, from experiencing the unique history and culture unparalleled in the rest of the country to enjoying an aquarium that feels just like diving into the ocean.
1Zakimi Castle Ruins World Heritage Site Yuntanza Museum
A history and folklore museum and art museum that reopened after 43 years.
This facility reopened in June 2018 as a spot to learn about the history and culture of Okinawa. It is located near the Zakimi Castle Ruins in Yomitan Village, which is designated as a World Heritage site. As its predecessor, the Yomitan Village History and Folklore Museum, opened in 1975, this was its first renewal in 43 years.
You can enjoy both the history and folklore museum and the art museum. The history and folklore museum features various exhibits centered on the history, culture, and nature of Yomitan Village, as well as the Battle of Okinawa and Okinawan culture. Another appeal is that you can enjoy viewing a wide range of items, including valuable historical documents, videos, and models of cultural heritage sites from that time.
There are also hands-on exhibits. Experience the history of Okinawa firsthand.
The 2F exhibition room features displays on archaeology, folklore, nature, and the Battle of Okinawa. It is packed with interactive exhibits, such as a recreation of actual interactions that took place in a 'gama' (a cave used as a shelter) during the war using doll figures and audio, and a full-scale replica of a 'kameko-baka' (Okinawan tomb) that you can enter.
You can spend a profound time learning about Okinawa in detail while reflecting on the tragic war of the past and the path that the people of Okinawa have walked.
Local
Supporter
A museum that has reopened after many years. You can see paintings created by Okinawan artists, and the facility is beautiful. Please be sure to visit.
- World Heritage Zakimi Castle Ruins Yuntanza Museum
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708-6 Zakimi, Yomitan Village, Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture MAP 
Approx. 60 minutes by car from Naha Airport
9:00–18:00 (Last admission 17:30)
Wednesdays (Open if Wednesday is a public holiday, closed the following day)
Year-end and New Year holidays (December 28 – January 4)
*Temporary closures may occur for exhibit changes, fumigation, etc.
Free for infants, 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students, 500 yen for high school students and above, 400 yen for ages 65 and over
098-958-3141
Available (free)
2Blue Seal Ice Park
Enjoy ice cream in a cute space.
A spot where you can enjoy local Okinawan ice cream from various perspectives. Once you step inside, a cute space unfolds that feels just like a land of sweets. The pastel colors will lift your spirits so much that you might even forget it's raining outside.
In addition to the main ice cream bar decoration experience, you can enjoy a variety of activities, including a museum space that introduces the history of Blue Seal since its birth in Okinawa in 1948, and a minus 20-degree freezer experience. By the time you leave, any gloomy feelings from the rainy day might just have disappeared.
One of a kind in the world! Make your own original ice cream.
For the ice cream bar decoration experience, you first choose the shape of the ice cream, then select the flavor, the color of the coating chocolate, and the color of the chocolate pen for drawing. Once you have decided on the colors and shapes, you then choose 5 toppings from 12 varieties to place on your tray, and use them to design your original ice cream.
The experience takes about 45 to 60 minutes, including instructions. Participants receive an original cooler bag as a gift and can also enjoy the minus 20-degree freezer experience. After you finish making it, it would be fun to hold your creation and take a picture with the photo machine that includes original frames.
Local
Supporter
Please enjoy ice bar decoration, which both adults and children can get absorbed in. On humid, rainy days, the refreshing sweetness of Blue Seal ice cream tastes especially good.
- Blue Seal Ice Park
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- 5-5-6 Makiminato, Urasoe City, Okinawa Prefecture (Next to Blue Seal Makiminato Main Store) MAP
- Approx. 30 minutes by car from Naha Airport
- 9:00–18:00 (Last admission 17:00)
- None
- Free admission, Ice cream bar making experience 1,800 yen
- 098-988-4535
- Available (free)
3Ocean Culture Museum
Learn about the Pacific region, Okinawan maritime peoples, and life by the sea.
A facility located within the Ocean Expo Park, which is packed with spots rich in nature, flowers, and the sea, including the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. It opened as the Japanese government pavilion during the 1975 Okinawa International Ocean Exposition and was renovated and reopened in 2013. It preserves and introduces the history and culture of maritime peoples in the Pacific region, including Okinawa in the 1970s.
The museum houses about 750 exhibits, including real-life displays of large canoes and sabani (Okinawan fishing boats), conveying the lives of people in the Pacific. The dynamic large-scale video using a floor map of the Pacific and the walls is also a highlight.
Be soothed by a planetarium where you can gaze at Okinawa's beautiful starry sky.
Inside the building, you can also enjoy a planetarium themed around Okinawa's starry skies and folk life. You will be enchanted by the moving visual beauty of a beautiful starry sky with up to 140 million stars projected across the entire dome screen.
Seasonal programs lasting about 30 minutes are screened throughout the day, so visiting each season will allow you to feel the changing stars of Okinawa. Next to the Oceanic Culture Museum is the "Okinawa Native Village," which recreates a village from the Ryukyu Kingdom era, so after enjoying the wonderful starry sky, it is also recommended to learn about history.
Local
Supporter
You can enjoy it in various ways, such as learning about maritime culture and history, or enjoying the planetarium. Please also take a look at the impressive large canoe exhibit.
- Oceanic Culture Museum
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- 424 Ishikawa, Motobu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture MAP
- Approx. 100 minutes by car from Naha Airport
- Mar–Sep 8:30–19:00 (Last admission 18:30)
Oct–Feb 8:30–17:30 (Last admission 17:00) - The first Wednesday of December and the following day
- Adults 190 yen, Children (junior high school age and under) free, Groups of 20 or more 80 yen
*Free admission days available - 0980-48-2741 (Ocean Expo Park Management Center)
- Available (free)
4DMM Kariyushi Aquarium
A new type of aquarium that fuses digital and reality.
A new type of entertainment aquarium that makes full use of the latest visual expression and spatial production. Unlike conventional aquariums, you can enjoy the fusion of digital and reality through screenings of Okinawa's scenery on a large multi-faceted screen that you can view as soon as you enter, as well as spatial productions where creatures, visuals, and sound beautifully collaborate.
The floor is divided into the first and second floors, with the first floor themed as "a clear sea where diverse creatures live" and the second floor as "an evergreen forest woven by the subtropical climate." Let's enjoy the fascinating sea and forest in each area.
Enjoy the symphony of light, sound, and living creatures with all five senses.
An extraordinary space where you are captivated by the beautiful and mysterious expressions of light, sound, and living creatures is maintained throughout the building. For example, there are no explanatory boards for the creatures on display inside the building. Instead of boards, you can check creature explanations and floor maps from the official app you download before entering, so you can quickly check only the information you want to know on your smartphone.
Since the aquarium is located inside the large shopping center "iias Okinawa Toyosaki," it is also a nice point that you can enjoy Okinawa indoors all day long even in bad weather.
Local
Supporter
At iias Okinawa Toyosaki, the multi-story parking lot is also completely covered, so you can enjoy various things without getting wet even after fully enjoying the aquarium.
- DMM Kariyushi Aquarium
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- 3-35 Toyosaki, Tomigusuku City, Okinawa Prefecture (inside iias Okinawa Toyosaki) MAP
- Approximately 20 minutes by car from Naha Airport
- Business hours: 9:00–20:00 (Last admission 60 minutes before closing)
*Hours vary by day. Please check the business calendar on the official website for details. - Open every day (temporary closures may occur due to facility inspections, etc.)
- Adults (18 and older) 2,800 yen
Medium (13–17 years old) 2,200 yen
Children (4–12 years old) 1,700 yen
3 years old and younger free - Available (on the premises of "iias Okinawa Toyosaki")
▼iias Okinawa Toyosaki
Business Hours: Shops 10:00–21:00, Restaurants & Cafes 11:00–23:00
TEL: 098-840-6900
5Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Ocean Expo Park
One of the world's largest aquariums that you should visit at least once in your life.
True to its theme of "Encounters with the Okinawan Sea," this aquarium located within Ocean Expo Park allows you to experience the Okinawan ocean, from its shallow coral reefs to the deep sea. The main highlight is the breathtaking sight of whale sharks and manta rays swimming leisurely past one of the world's largest acrylic panels. It feels as if you are looking at them from inside the ocean, and you will find yourself captivated by the graceful movements of the fish.
The aquarium is packed with highlights, such as the "Coral Sea" exhibit, which uses an open system that constantly supplies fresh seawater from the ocean right in front of the facility to enable large-scale coral cultivation, and the "Deep Sea" exhibit, which recreates the depths of the ocean around Okinawa.
See the West Indian manatee, the model for the mermaid legend!
After fully enjoying the aquarium, the "Manatee Pool" located within Ocean Expo Park is also a must-see. You can view American manatees—designated as internationally protected animals currently at risk of extinction and said to be the inspiration for mermaid legends—free of charge.
Manatees are herbivorous mammals; adults grow to about 3 to 4.5 meters in length and weigh anywhere from 300 to 1,000 kg! You are sure to be soothed by their adorable faces and leisurely swimming. Since a male manatee was born in June 2021, be sure to come and watch the parent and child living together.
Local
Supporter
This is the place when it comes to sightseeing spots in Okinawa! It is a spot that can be enjoyed regardless of the weather, so it is recommended whether it is raining or sunny.
- Ocean Expo Park (Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium)
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- 424 Ishikawa, Motobu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture, inside Ocean Expo Park (Kaiyohaku Park) MAP
- Approx. 100 minutes by car from Naha Airport
"Nago Bus Terminal" → Get off at "Okinawa Commemorative Park (Churaumi Aquarium)"- 8:30–18:30 (Last admission 17:30) *Please check the website for extended hours.
- Please check the website.
- Adults 2,180 yen, High school students 1,440 yen, Elementary/Junior high students 710 yen, Under 6 free
- 0980-48-3748
- Available (free)
6Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum (Okimyu)
A place where you can spend the whole day learning about Okinawa's history, culture, and nature.
This is a rare facility in Japan that houses both a museum and an art gallery. The building contains 100,490 museum items and 4,800 artworks (as of March 31, 2021), making it so comprehensive that it would take a full day to see all the exhibits.
The museum's permanent exhibition consists of a general exhibit that covers the history of Okinawa, along with five specialized sections (Natural History, Archaeology, Ethnology, History, and Art & Crafts). You can learn about Okinawa from various perspectives without ever getting bored, and once you visit, your curiosity may become so piqued that you won't want to leave.
Appreciate "Okinawa" as depicted and reflected by diverse artists
The art gallery's collection exhibition features oil paintings, watercolors, photographs, sculptures, and videos by artists from Okinawa or with ties to Okinawa, as well as works from other Asian countries, with the exhibits changing periodically. By viewing the art after learning about the history at the museum, you may find that your perception of the works changes as well.
Local
Supporter
There are plenty of ways to enjoy it, such as exhibitions that change with the seasons and periods, as well as regularly held workshops and backyard tours. (*Please check the website for how to participate in events.)
- Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum (Okimyu)
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- 3-1-1 Omoromachi, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture MAP
- Approximately 10 minutes on foot from Yui Rail "Omoromachi Station"
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday 9:00–18:00 (Last admission 17:30)
Friday, Saturday 9:00–20:00 (Last admission 19:30) - Monday (If Monday is a public holiday, substitute holiday, or Memorial Day, the museum will be open and closed the following weekday)
Year-end and New Year holidays, and other maintenance closures - Museum Permanent Exhibition: General 530 yen, High school/University students 270 yen, Elementary/Junior high students from outside the prefecture 150 yen
Art Museum Collection Exhibition: General 400 yen, High school/University students 220 yen, Elementary/Junior high students from outside the prefecture 100 yen
*Free for those 70 and older, elementary school students within the prefecture, and persons with a disability certificate plus one caregiver (proof required) - 098-941-8200
- Available (free)
7Gala Aoi Umi
Nature, culture, and activities. Places where you can experience the charm of Okinawa
A spot where a chalk-white building reminiscent of the Greek island of Santorini stands beautifully on a hill. The facility is designed as a "third place" where you can experience the charm of Okinawa, offering a variety of activities including a diving shop, horseback riding, pottery and glass-blowing workshops, as well as relaxation, dining, and shopping.
You can walk between the various shops without worry even when it rains, as they are covered by roofs. The exterior walls are decorated with the unique character of each shop, allowing you to feel the excitement of an exotic atmosphere just by walking around.
Boasting a wide selection of Yachimun pottery and numerous hands-on experiences
Beyond experiences and gourmet food, it is also a perfect place for shopping for "yachimun" (the Okinawan dialect for "pottery"). The "Okinawa Art Shop Yuntan" located inside the facility boasts one of the best selections in Okinawa Prefecture, as it hosts a large-scale yachimun market once a year. After becoming interested in the colorful pottery, you can also visit the workshops on-site to try it out for yourself.
If you get hungry after your experience, there is delicious food available, and you might find yourself staying all day. Since it is just a short drive from HOSHINOYA Okinawa, why not spend a full day here on a rainy day?
Local
Supporter
About a 5-minute drive from HOSHINOYA Okinawa! "Gala Aoi Umi" is known for its ocean view, but in fact, the facility is so well-equipped that it can be enjoyed even on rainy days.
- Gala Aoi Umi
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- 915字 Kashiho, Yomitan Village, Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture MAP
- Approx. 60 minutes by car from Naha Airport
- Please check the official website for the business hours of each tenant.
- Open every day (some shops have regular holidays)
- Admission is free. Prices for activities and food/drink vary by shop.
- 098-958-3940
- Available (free)
8Shuri Ryusen
A coral dyeing experience you can only have here!
Located a 5-minute walk from Shuri Castle, this dyeing workshop was built on the site of the Nakayama Gate, which served as the entrance to the Ryukyu Kingdom during the Ryukyu Dynasty era. Since its founding in 1973 by a leading Japanese dyer, it has been passed down as a place for the protection and inheritance of Bingata dyeing culture.
You can enjoy a one-of-a-kind dyeing experience with the "Coral Dyeing" workshop (reservation required), which uses a dyeing technique that combines designs with various sizes of coral fossils and colorful dyes. The technique is trademarked and design-registered, so it can only be experienced and purchased here.
The only Bingata workshop in Okinawa open for tourists to visit
The Shuri Ryusen building has three floors: the first floor is for exhibitions and sales, the second floor is for coral dyeing experiences, and the third floor is a dyeing workshop. It is also known as the only Bingata workshop in Okinawa that is open for tourists to visit.
On the third floor workshop, dyeing is performed using the traditional gassho-zukuri roof structure. You can see a sophisticated scene with rows of dyed goods that artisans have spent time creating. If you are lucky, you might even see them at work. Products made on the third floor can be purchased at the shop on the first floor, making it perfect for choosing a souvenir for yourself.
Local
Supporter
A dyeing workshop that both adults and children can enjoy. The coral dyeing experience is recommended because you can easily have a one-of-a-kind dyeing experience.
- Shuri Ryusen
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- 1-54 Shuri Yamakawa-cho, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture MAP
- Approximately 20 minutes by car from Naha Airport
- 9:00–18:00
- Open every day
- [Coral Dyeing Experience] Adults 3,300 yen, Children 2,750 yen
- 098-886-1131
- Available (free)
MAP
- Nearby Hoshino Resorts facilities
Local supporter in charge of this article
- Ayano InamineOkinawan staff
HOSHINOYA Okinawa
Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture
A luxury resort along one of Okinawa's finest coastlines. From every oceanfront room, you can enjoy an exclusive, breathtaking view that stretches all the way to the horizon.
Access About 1 hour by taxi from Naha Airport
- Accommodation rate example
- Per person per night From ¥27,324
OMO5 Okinawa Naha
Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
Conveniently located within walking distance of Kokusai-dori. You can fully enjoy the tropical atmosphere of Naha city.
Access About a 6-minute walk from Kencho-mae Station on the Yui Rail
- Accommodation rate example
- Per person per night From ¥6,000
BEB5Okinawa Seragaki
Onna Village, Okinawa Prefecture
Relax in comfort with an open-air pool and guest rooms equipped with kitchens and balconies.
Access About 70 minutes by highway bus from Naha Airport
- Accommodation rate example
- Per person per night From ¥5,175