Top 10 places to go in Tokyo

Visiting Okinawa for the first time and are looking things to do in Okinawa Japan?

The Okinawa Islands are without a doubt, one of the top 10 tourist attractions in Japan. The islands include over one hundred islands such as Okinawa Island, Iriomote Island and Ishigaki Island which are three of the largest Okinawa islands.


The smaller islands of Okinawa are great exploring by foot and diving. Popular smaller Okinawa islands include Miyako Island and Yonaguni Island which is just fifty miles away from Taipei Taiwan.

Popular Beaches

Visiting the beaches is one of the number things to do in Okinawa Japan. Okinawa is home to many public beaches where you can enjoy fun water activities, snorkeling and camping:

Emerald Beach

Emerald Beach, located at Okinawa Ocean Expo Park, is a public beach with showers that features a shallow lagoon ideal for families with small kids.

Ginowan Tropical Beach

Ginowan Tropical Beach is slightly bigger than Emerald Beach and has showers and picnic tables with designated barbecue areas.

Inbu Beach

Inbu Beach is popular for travelers looking to camp out by the beach. It has many other facilities such as showers, picnic areas and tour operators where you can book tours such as a glass-bottomed boat trip.

Sun Coast Resort

If you’re looking to do water sports such as jet-skiing and windsurfing, Sun Coast Resort is a great beach spot with many water rentals available for hire.

Places of Interest

Apart from water activities and spending time on the beach, another of the things to do in Okinawa Japan is to explore cultural attractions such as museums and cool places to visit where you can have a great day out:

Shuri Castle

Shuri Castle is Japan’s most famous landmark and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, as it features many interesting ancient landmarks such as a 16th century royal mausoleum, a limestone gate erected in 1510 and a replica of the ‘Bridge of Nations’ bell.

Pineapple Park & Museum

Visiting is one of the top things to do in Okinawa Japan also. Pineapple Park is located in the town of Nago, and it is one of the best attractions in Okinawa where adults and kids alike can have a fun time!.

At the park, visitors can enjoy a trolley tour through the pineapple fields, and learn how pineapple is made through interactive exhibits at the museum.

Manzamo Cliff

Manzamo Cliff is one of the top natural attractions in Okinawa, popular for its picnicking opportunities and great views of the East China Sea.

Okinawa Aquarium

If you’re taking one of the diving or boating tours in Okinawa, the Okinawa Aquarium is another place where you can marvel at Okinawa marine life such as manta and whale sharks.

Okinawa Peace Memorial Park & Museum

The Okinawa Peace Memorial Park is one of the most important landmarks in Okinawa, as it marks the spot of the Okinawa Battle.

History buffs will enjoy the museum as it tells the story of the Okinawa Battle in detail with interesting videos.

Okinawa World

Visiting the Okinawa World is, undoubtedly, one of the most popular things to do in Okinawa Japan.

Okinawa World is a fun and educational park where you can explore the famed Gyokusendo Cave, which is Japan’s second longest cave system.

Apart from the cave, there is a snake museum that displays daily live snake shows, and an arts and crafts village where visitors can enjoy hands on activities.

Okinawa Karate Museum

If you are a martial arts enthusiast, you’ll be glad to know that Okinawa was the birthplace of Karate. At the museum, you can learn more about the history of Karate while marveling at some cool old Karate weapons.

Popular Tours

Snorkeling and Diving Tour

Snorkeling or diving in the islands is truly one of the best things to do in Okinawa Japan. The crystal clear waters of Okinawa are filled with hundreds of fascinating marine species such as turtles, reef sharks and reef fish.

Once in Okinawa, you’ll be able to book from many snorkeling and diving companies who will take you out to the best diving sites such as the popular Kerama Islands

Boat Tour

One of the best ways to explore the Okinawa islands is on a boat. For instance, you could book a fishing charter which can include a captain and crew, if you’re not an experienced boater, and enjoy some fishing and snorkeling while exploring some of the tiny islands of Okinawa.

Whale Watching Tour

If you travel to Okinawa between January and March, you can enjoy a whale watching tour around the Kerama Islands shores, which become the feeding grounds for the majestic Humpback whales.

Shopping

A trip here wouldn't be complete without exploring the shopping scene, which is another of the top things to do in Okinawa Japan.

Heiwa Dori street and Kokusai Dori street are two of the best places in Okinawa for finding many shopping opportunities at bargain prices.

Kokusai Dori street is a little more touristy than Heiwa Dori street, which has many Japanese-style stores where you can get some great items such as Japanese souvenirs and electronics.

Nightlife & Entertainment

Exploring the nightlife is another of the fun things to do in Okinawa Japan. Okinawa Island is perhaps one of the best places in the Okinawa Prefecture where you can find a mix of lively and relaxed nightlife.

For instance, Gate 2 District, located near the Kadena US Air Base, is one of the most well known nightlife spots in Okinawa and one of the liveliest places in Okinawa. Here, you’ll find a variety of bars, discos and karaoke bars.

The town of Naha is another popular place for finding nightlife and it is a popular spot amongst international travelers as Naha is home to many English pubs and American type bars.

See.Tourist attractions in Kyoto Japan
Top Sites to See in Japan
Places to visit in Jakarta Indonesia
Places to Visit in Taiwan
Top 10 must see places in Beijing
Top 10 places to see in Hong Kong
Interesting places to visit in South Korea

Top 10 places to go in Tokyo

Looking for fun things to do in Japan?

If you are planning to travel to Japan for the first time and are wondering what Japan has to offer, you'll be glad to know that Japan boast many fun attractions and events that you can attend such as a sumo tournament (pictured).

If you're looking for attractions by the bucket loads and shopping opportunities, Tokyo is one of the best places to go in Japan since there are so many museums such as the world-class Tokyo National Museum, and shopping areas such as the Shibuya district.

If your idea of fun is spending time by the beach and enjoying water activities, there is no better place to go in Japan than the Okinawa Islands.

Japan is definitely one place where the word boredom does not apply, especially when you see one of the stunning Imperial Palaces and temples in Kyoto. No matter where you go or stay, you'll have a fun and enjoyable time. Find below more ideas and suggestions on fun things to do in Japan:

Outdoor Activities

Day Trips

Taking a day trip is one of the most popular fun things to do in Japan, especially if you are in the country for the first time. If you are staying in Tokyo, two popular day trips that you can take are day trips to Mt. Fuji and Kamakura.

Mt. Fuji is also nearby Hakone, which is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, where you can also enjoy one of the popular hot spring baths; while on a day trip to Kamakura, you'll get to see the massive statue of Great Buddha and the Kencho-ji temple.

Nature Parks/ Vantage Points

A popular fun thing to do in Japan is to visit the popular Tokyo Tower which is an excellent vantage point where you can enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the city.

If you are traveling with kids, the nature reserve of Banna Park is another great place where you can enjoy fun outdoor activities since the park boasts a children’s square with playgrounds and climbing areas for the kids, as well as trails where you can bike or hike along.

Cultural Attractions

Exploring cultural attractions is definitely one of the fun things to do in Japan. When it comes to cultural attractions, Japan is home to a wealth of fascinating and interesting museums where you can learn about Japanese, Asian culture and technology. Some of the top places to visit include:

* Tokyo National Museum - home to permanent displays of Asian art, cultural exhibits, and archeological artifacts.

* Edo Tokyo Museum - a popular museum in Japan where you can learn about Japanese culture, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the live of a samurai.

* The TEPCO Electric Energy Museum - a free museum home to interactive exhibits on energy and electricity where visitors can learn about different ways to use energy and take part in the experiments.

Festivals

Japan also boast many festivals and events that you can attend all year around so be sure you add one to your list of fun things to do in Japan. Three of the most popular Japanese festivals are street parades featuring amazing costumes and gigantic floats:

* The Gion Festival, held in mid-July in Kyoto, is a popular street parade where you can see the amazing Hoko floats.

* The Aoi Festival, held in mid-May, is another impressive parade where participants are dressed up in period costumes.

* The Jidai Festival, held in late October, is also a parade where the participants wear traditional garbs to celebrate Kyoto's inception as Japan's capital in 794.

Nightlife and Entertainment

Exploring the nightlife is also one of the fun things to do in Japan, especially visiting a Karaoke bar and attending a Karaoke event. If you are traveling to Japan for the first time, the Ropponggi district in Tokyo is where most tourists hang out and where you’ll also find many pubs, jazz bars, karaoke bars and night clubs.

If you prefer to hang out where the locals do, head to Shibuya district where you'll find many more clubs such as Ultra Club, Velour club and La Fabrique.

Shopping

If you're a shopping enthusiast, be sure to also add shopping to your list of fun things to do in Japan. The Shibuya district in Tokyo is one of the most popular and trendiest places in Japan where you can buy all kind of gadgets and designer clothes.

In the Shibuya district, you can also find the famed statue of Hachiko and the 109 Department store and Tower Records, which is the biggest record store in the world.

Sports

Attending a sumo tournament is, hands down, one of the most popular fun things to do in Japan whether you're a sports fan or not. Attending a sumo tournament is also another way to soak in Japanese culture and mingle with the locals.

If you are planning a trip to Japan, there are three annual grand sumo tournaments held in Tokyo at the Kokugikan sumo arena. The dates for the tournament do change every year, but the grand sumo tournaments in Tokyo are usually held in the months of January, May and September.

Also, what makes attending a sumo tournament one of the top fun things to do in Japan is that you can get cheap tickets for around $40.

See.Top 10 tourist attractions in Japan
Sights to See in Yokohama
Beautiful Places in Asia to visit on vacation
Places to see Cherry Blossoms in the US
Visiting Okinawa for the first time
Top Sites to See in Japan
Top 10 Places To Go In Southeast Asia
Tourist attractions in Kyoto Japan
Top things to do in Chiang Mai
Places to visit in Jakarta Indonesia
Places in Singapore to visit
10 must see places in Bangkok
Top 10 must see places in Beijing
Top 10 places to see in Hong Kong