1
Reefers "Whale Watching Tour

Whale watching, a winter tradition in Okinawa, is a moving experience.

From Miegusuku Port in Naha City, take a dedicated large cruiser, the "Reefers," and head west for approximately one hour. You will see the Kerama Islands, which have become a world-famous diving site. The sea around the islands is called "Kerama Blue" and is famous as a spot where humpback whales can be seen up close in the winter.
You will sit in a chair until you see a whale, but once you do, be sure to go up to the bow or the second deck. From the second floor, you can see the whales in their entirety.

Easy Direction boarding location from Naha Airport

The Reefers embarkation point is located approximately 8 minutes by car from Naha Airport. It is also close to Naha City, so you can easily join the tour on your departure or arrival day. It is also easy for tourists to incorporate it into their sightseeing plans.
The captain of the boat is a veteran with more than 10 years of experience, and with his intuition and experience, he can find whales in as little as 10 minutes. The encounter rate is 97% (actual results from December 2022 to April 2023). This is a recommended Activity when visiting Okinawa in winter.

Reefers

• 1-21-6 Nishi, Naha City, Okinawa MAP
• Approximately 8 minutes drive from Naha Airport
• Open 9:00-19:00
• No holidays
• Whale watching Adults 6,000 yen, Children (up to 11 years old) 5,500 yen
• 098-862-3496
• Yes (500 yen per day)
• Whale watching is usually available from late December to early April.

2
DMM Kariyushi Aquarium

Entertainment aquarium with new video production

DMM Kariyushi Aquarium, which opened in May 2020, is located in the "EAS Okinawa Toyosaki" shopping mall. It is an entertainment aquarium that allows visitors to experience the beauty of living creatures and the nature of the subtropical climate through a variety of visual expressions and spatial performances.
The Theater Room is located just inside the entrance gate on the second floor. Visitors can enjoy the sea of Okinawa, which shows various expressions depending on the time of day, regardless of the weather. The images and sound provide an extraordinary view that can only be enjoyed in an indoor Property.

Use the official app to further enhance your stay at the aquarium

The official application of the aquarium is equipped with recommended contents such as a floor map and an illustrated book of living creatures. When you hold your smartphone over the touch points in the aquarium, you can view the "Animals Book" and "Collect Animals".
Furthermore, in November 2021, a new feature, "Voice Guide," was released. This guide features popular voice actors and famous TV personalities who provide explanations of the Property in the four regional languages. The comical dialogue between a navigator dressed as a doctor and his assistant will make your stay at the aquarium even more enjoyable.

DMM Kariyushi Aquarium

• 3-35 Toyosaki, Toyomigusuku City, Okinawa MAP
• 20 min. by car from Naha Airport
• Hours: 9:00 - 20:00 (last entry 60 minutes before closing time)
  *Varies depending on the day. Please check the business calendar on the official website for details.
• Open every day (with temporary closures due to Property inspections, etc.)
• Adults (18 years and older) 2,800 yen
  Middle-aged people (13-17 years old) 2,200 yen
  Child (4-12 years old) 1,700 yen
  Free for children under 3 years old
• Yes (on the premises of "EAS Okinawa Toyosaki")
• EAS Okinawa Toyosaki
  Business hours: Shop 10:00-21:00, Restaurant & Cafe 11:00-23:00
  Tel: 098-840-6900

3
Island attire.STORE

A store that offers items to make you feel Okinawa in your daily life

A grocery store opened in Toyosaki, Tomigusuku City in November 2021. Produced by Okinawa's leading editor, Sesoko Masayuki, the items in the store have been selected by Sesoko and other Staff/staff members for use in their daily lives.
The store also carries works by artists from Okinawa's main island as well as remote islands such as Ishigaki and Miyako, so you can get popular products without having to go to the islands. This is a spot where you can feel close to Okinawa not only as a tourist spot but also as a place for daily life.

Specialty takeout menus are also recommended

The store also sells take-out drinks and cream puffs. The menu includes popular items from famous stores such as home-roasted coffee from "Moja's Bakery," a popular store in Miyakojima where customers wait in line, and herb tea from "Shirahoie Cafe," which is made in their own vegetable garden in Ishigakijima. It is already the store's signature menu item.
The shop also regularly invites artists from Okinawa to hold pop-ups and workshops, so you can always encounter something new about Okinawa whenever you visit.

Island attire STORE

• 1-329 Toyosaki, Tomigushiro City, Okinawa MAP
• 14 min. drive from Naha Airport
• 10:30-18:30
• 1st and 3rd Thursdays
• 098-987-1593
• Free of charge

4
IKUTOEN "Tsuboya-yaki Yachimun Dojo

Experience traditional skills while having fun

Yachimun" is an Okinawan word meaning "pottery. Ikuto-en is a yachimun studio in Tsuboya, Naha, with a history of about 300 years. The workshop offers hands-on experience in making shisa and vessels using Okinawan clay and handmade glazes.
Instructors will provide you with support, so beginners don't need to worry. Even in a short time, you can create authentic works of art. After firing in the kiln, the finished product will be delivered to you up to two and a half months later. The joy of having a work of art that you have created yourself is something to be treasured.

Recommended Experience menu is Shisa making

One of the most popular experiences is "Shisa-making. You can choose from either a "standing Shisa (with base)" or a "masked Shisa (hanging on the wall). The authentic Okinawan clay and handmade glaze make the shisa a perfect souvenir or memento of your trip.
Children are welcome to participate, but preschoolers must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, or Staff/staff members will assist them. After the Experience is over, a stroll along Yachimun Street, located right in front of the workshop, is another way to enjoy the experience.

Iku Toen "Tsuboya Yaki-Yachimun Dojo

• 1-22-33 Tsuboya, Naha City, Okinawa MAP
• 20 min. by car from Naha Airport
• 10:00-13:00, 14:00-17:30
• January 1 and 2
• Rokuro: from 4,950 yen, painted: from 3,850 yen, standing Shisa and masked Shisa: from 4,400 yen
• 098-863-8611
• No parking (coin-operated parking available nearby)

5
Chura Palm Park Okinawa, Southeast Botanical Garden

One of the largest outdoor botanical gardens in Japan with approximately 1,300 varieties of plants

This is one of the largest outdoor botanical gardens in Japan, where you can come into contact with nature, plants, and animals unique to Okinawa. There are approximately 1,300 species of plants to view, and the garden is divided into two areas: the Suijo-Rakuen area and the Botanical Garden area.
Many of the plants are at their best in autumn and winter, making it a popular spot that can be enjoyed any time of year. In the fall, bougainvillea, oriental skunk-cabbage, Formosan lentil, and hibiscus are at their best, and in the winter, oriental skunk-cabbage, oshirogokan, and other plants are at their best.

Illumination utilizing subtropical plants is also a highlight.

The highlight of autumn and winter in Southeast Botanical Garden is the illumination, which won second place at the International Illumination Awards in 2023 and 2024. The tropical mood of the illumination, including decorations in the shape of palm trees, is unique to Okinawa.

Okinawa Tropical Illumination 2025-2026
URL: https: //www.southeast-botanical.jp/illumination/
Date: October 24, 2025 - May 24, 2026
17:00-22:00 (last admission at 21:30)
Fee: Evening admission: Adults 2,500 yen, children 900 yen, children under 3 free
*1DAY fee is applicable on some days.
Venue：Suijo Paradise Area

Chura Palm Park Okinawa, Southeast Botanical Garden

• 2146 Chihana, Okinawa City, Okinawa MAP
• 5 minutes drive from Okinawa North Interchange
• 9:30-22:00 *Last admission at 21:30 (varies according to the season)
• Inquiry required
• Daytime admission (9:30-17:00): Adults (15 and older): 2,000 yen, Children (4-14): 800 yen
  1DAY Pass: Adults 2,850 yen, Children 1,200 yen
  Free for children under 3 years old
• 098-939-2555
• Free of charge

6
Experience Kingdom Murasakimura

Experience Property boasting Okinawa's top number of Activities

This Experience-type Property, built on the site of the open studio for NHK's 1993 historical drama "Winds of the Ryukyus," allows visitors to experience the kukuru (spirit) of Okinawa. The number of Experience activities is one of the best in Okinawa. The facility offers a wide variety of activities, including glass blowing, eisa (Okinawan folk dance), Okinawan karate, making Okinawan soba (buckwheat noodles), and sea kayaking.
One of the most popular is the Bingata Experience, a traditional Okinawan craft. Visitors can easily experience Bingata dyeing without reservations, and can make coasters, table centers, and other items.

The Lantern Festival is a major winter event

The Ryukyu Lantern Festival is held every year from December to March of the following year. This is part of the "Yomitan Night Light Project," a major winter event and tradition in Yomitan Village, and Experience Kingdom Murasakimura is the main venue for the event.
The sight of more than 3,000 lanterns, mainly Chinese lanterns, Ryukyu glass, Japanese paper lanterns, and Yachimun lanterns, lighting up the area is fantastic. Projection mapping, stage shows, and other events are also held to enliven the winter season in Okinawa.

▼ Ryukyu Lantern Festival 2025-2026
URL: https: //lantan.ryukyu/
Date: Monday, December 1, 2025 - Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 17:30-22:00 (last admission 21:30)
Fee: Adults 1,800 yen, junior high and high school students 700 yen, elementary school students 600 yen, free for infants
Venue: Experience Kingdom Murasakimura

Experience Kingdom Murasakimura

• 1020-1 Aza Takashiho, Yomitan-mura, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa MAP
• Approx. 63 min. from Naha Airport by Car
• 9:00-17:30
  Restaurant Taiki: Lunch buffet 11:00-15:00, Dinner buffet 18:00-22:00
• None
• Adults 1,000 yen, junior high and high school students 500 yen, elementary school students 400 yen, free for infants
• 098-958-1111
• Free of charge