10 Best Family Things to Do in Okinawa
What to Do for Fun in Okinawa with Your Kids?
Okinawa is a hugely popular vacation destination for families. There are plenty of ways to experience the great outdoors in Okinawa, from kayaking through the mangrove jungle to snorkeling on beaches visited by sea turtles. For lunch, enjoy a picnic at Alaha Beach, with its distinctively American ambience. In the afternoon, you can take a walk in a cart pulled by water buffalo or board a glass-bottomed boat and take a peek into the crystal-clear sea.
Other options include the thrilling experience of gliding on the sea with a zipper wire, and a zoo where you can enjoy up-close interaction with animals from all over the world. In wintertime, there’s whale watching on Zamami Island, and in summer, you can even camp on an uninhabited island! Here we introduce some of the highlights that families can enjoy in the endlessly fascinating islands of Okinawa.
1. Higashi-son Fureai Hirugi Park
Kayaking through serene mangroves
Good for: Families, Adventure
In the northern part of the main island of Okinawa, you’ll find Higashi-son Fureai Hirugi Park, a vast site that’s been designated as a national natural monument. The stage for the kayak tour is the Kesaji River, which is about a 2-hour drive north of Naha and has some of the largest mangroves on Okinawa Island.
The tour begins with a talk explaining how to kayak, so even beginners and young children will be able to enjoy this experience safely. When you’re ready, simply paddle out to explore to the wonders of Higashi-son Fureai Hirugi Park. Along the way, take a closer look at the thick mangroves and observe the creatures that live by the waterside.
Location: 54-1 Gesashi, Higashi, Okinawa 905-1205, Japan
Higashi-son Fureai Hirugi Park
2. Ikei Island
Tranquil beaches and serene landscapes on a remote island
Good for: Families, Adventure
Ikei Island offers a unique experience with its serene landscapes and beautiful beaches. Accessible by car from the main island via a bridge, it combines convenience with a sense of remoteness. The island features peaceful sugarcane fields and excellent beaches such as Ikei Beach and Oodomari Beach.
Ikei Beach is bustling with various activities, while Oodomari Beach boasts 600 meters of pristine sand and clear blue waters. Visitors can enjoy the tranquil environment and explore the stunning coastline that the island has to offer.
Ikei Island
3. Bios Hill
Good for: Families, Adventure
Bios Hill in Uruma City is a park where children and grown-ups alike can play and learn in the subtropical forest. It’s about a 90-minute drive from Naha Airport. The highlight here is the experience of touring the inside of the park on a swaying water buffalo cart. Children under the age of 4 can ride for free.
This is a great way for whole families to enjoy looking at the seasonal flowers and ferns together. Kids who are into vehicles will love the experience of visiting the farm on a bright red road train. You can also collect stamps and answer quiz questions on a walk, ride on the extra-large swings installed in 5 locations throughout the park, and climb a huge climbing frame made of natural wood.
Location: 961-30 Ishikawa Kadekaru, Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture 904-1114, Japan
Open: Daily from 9 am to 6 pm (last admission is at 5 pm)
Bios Hill
4. Araha Beach
International vibes and beachside fun near American Village
Good for: Families, Budget
A 5-minute drive from American Village, Araha Beach in Chatan offers convenient facilities like showers and toilets. The beach boasts an international and inclusive atmosphere, with nearby cafes and eateries providing options for sandwiches, burgers, tacos, and more, perfect for a simple beach picnic. If you’re in a group of 15 or more, you can even book a barbecue.
The 600-meter-long white sand beach is perfect for volleyball, bathing with floats, or simply setting up a parasol and taking a nap in the shade. All the equipment you could possibly want can be rented. Parents and children can also enjoy jet skiing and various tube-based marine activities.
Location: 8Q35+MC, 2 Chome-16-2 Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0116, Japan
Open: Hours vary by season
Araha Beach
5. PANZA Okinawa Zipline
Thrilling zipline rides with stunning ocean views
Good for: Adventure, Couples, Families
PANZA Okinawa Zipline at Sun Marina Beach in Onna Village offers an extraordinary thrill with its 250-meter-long zipline over Okinawa’s stunning blue sea. Simply put on a harness and helmet, and glide down the line, enjoying the sea breeze and panoramic views of the ocean and sandy beach.
Suitable for children and adults weighing 25 kg or more, this adventure is ideal for all thrill-seekers. For those feeling extra adventurous, try the “Go Fall” experience, a 13-meter drop available as a set with the zipline.
Location: Okinawa Sheraton Okinawa Sunmarina Resort, 66 Fuchaku, Onna, Kunigami District, Okinawa 904-0413, Japan
Open: Hours vary by season
PANZA Okinawa Zipline
6. Busena Marine Park Underwater Observatory
Panoramic marine views and glass-bottom boat adventures
Good for: Families, Photo, Unusual
At Busena Marine Park Underwater Observatory, located in the middle of the main island of Okinawa, you can experience the world under the sea without getting wet. The only underwater observatory on Okinawa Island, this is the place to be if you want a 360-degree view (from 24 windows of various heights) of the emerald green sea.
This is a good way of enjoying the sea even on rainy days. And when the weather’s nice, you can board a unique whale-shaped glass-bottomed boat and head offshore. The sea is bright and clearly visible through the glass bottom. There’s also a guide who gives helpful explanations of the tropical fish on view, which include clownfish, ornate butterflyfish, and Moorish idols.
Location: Kise, Nago, Okinawa 905-0026, Japan
Open: Hours vary by season
Phone: +81 (0)98-052-3379
Busena Marine Park Underwater Observatory
7. Nagannu Island
Island solitude with starlit skies and tranquil camping adventures
Good for: Couples, Families, Unusual
Nagannu Island, about 20 minutes by boat from Tomari Port in Naha City, offers a serene escape in Okinawa. This small coral sand island is bustling with daytime visitors enjoying marine activities, but transforms into a tranquil retreat at night once the last boat departs.
Rent a tent for an overnight stay, enjoy a barbecue dinner, and experience the magic of a starry, pitch-black sky. This uninhabited island provides a unique opportunity to truly disconnect and relax in nature’s beauty.
Location: Maeshima, Okinawa 901-3500, Japan
Nagannu Island
8. Neo Park Okinawa
Good for: Families, Group
No doubt that if you’re traveling with children, at some point they’ll want a bit of animal fun. At Neo Park Okinawa, an animal theme park in Nago City, children (and parents, of course) can get a close-up view of the actions of creatures from all over the world by going into spaces where the animals are free to move around. One highlight is the “Flamingo Lake” where you’ll find the yellow-billed stork, with its charming yellow beak and red face, a rare bird that can only be found here in the whole of Japan. In the “Oceania’s Flowers and Birds” area, there are Parma wallabies jumping around and colorful cassowaries running here and there. Go through the tunnel-shaped aquarium with its pirarucu, a giant fish from the Amazon River, and you’ll arrive at “Fureai Square”. Here you can interact with the world’s largest tortoise, the Aldabra giant tortoise, and the world’s largest rodent, the capybara.
Location: 4607-41 Nago, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture 905-0012, Japan
Open: Daily from 9 am to 5.30 pm
Neo Park Okinawa
9. Nago Pineapple Park
Pineapple paradise with sweet treats and tropical adventures
Good for: Families, Food
Nago Pineapple Park is all about enjoying, learning about, and tasting that most delicious of tropical fruits: the pineapple. Ride the pineapple train through the pineapple fields and head for the park gate. The large garden is full of tropical plants reaching up to the first floor, creating a jungle-like atmosphere. If you want to take it easy, hop on the pineapple cart to travel through the park.
The park boasts about 200 kinds of pineapples. Of course pineapples aren’t just for looking at: they’re also yummy to eat. Don’t miss the 37-cm-tall Big Pineapple Parfait, a delicious treat perfect for sharing. Enjoy this refreshing fruit, rich in vitamins and citric acid, to beat summer heat fatigue.
Location: 1195 Biimata, Nago, Okinawa 905-0005, Japan
Open: Daily from 10 am to 6 pm
Phone: +81 (0)98-053-3659
Nago Pineapple Park
10. Whale watching at Zamami Island
Good for: Families, Photo
For a whale encounter, head to Zamami Island. From January to the end of March, humpback whales return to Zamami Island (which is about an hour by high-speed boat from the main island of Okinawa) to breed. An unforgettable experience awaits as you see the elegant mother with her baby whales, and the squirting and impressive jumps of the male whales. On whale watching tours, staff look for whales from the observation deck on the island and guide the boat wirelessly, so there’s a very high chance of actually seeing whales here. By carefully observing the rules, such as not getting too close to the whales and not chasing them, the whales seem to recognize the boats as offering protection in these waters to which they migrate every year.
Location: Zamami, Zamami Village, Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture 901-3402, Japan
Open: Hours vary by tour company
Whale watching at Zamami Island
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