Why Honeymoon in Okinawa
Most Japan honeymoons are about temples, trains and dinners. Okinawa adds the slow part. You can spend a morning floating over coral, an afternoon asleep on a lounger and an evening eating grilled fish with your feet in the sand, all without leaving the country you came to see.
It is also a place few Americans think of. You will meet Japanese honeymooners here, since Okinawa is one of the most popular domestic wedding and honeymoon spots in Japan. Chapels with ocean views dot the coast. Resorts know exactly how to treat newlyweds.
The scenery is varied for a single island. The south has Naha's markets and war memorials. The middle holds the resort coast. The north, called Yanbaru, is subtropical forest and quiet beaches that look across to small islands.
When to Go
Okinawa's seasons run earlier than mainland Japan's. The rainy season usually starts in early or mid May and ends in late June, about a month before Tokyo's.
Late June through September is hot, humid and the best time for swimming, but it is also typhoon season. Storms are most likely from August into early October and can cancel ferries and flights for a day or two. Travel insurance is wise.
April and October are often the sweet spots: warm water, fewer crowds and lower typhoon risk than late summer. Beaches officially open for the season around April.
Winter, from December to February, is mild at around 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit but often cloudy and windy. It is too cool for most people to swim, though it is humpback whale season around the Kerama Islands.
Where to Stay
Most couples stay on the west coast of the main island, where the sunsets fall over the sea.
- Onna Village is the classic resort strip, about an hour north of the airport. Halekulani Okinawa is the polished choice here, with sea-view rooms and a long lawn running down to the water.
- Nago and the Motobu Peninsula, farther north, put you close to the aquarium and Kouri Island. The Ritz-Carlton Okinawa sits above a golf course and bay near Nago.
- Yomitan, closer to the airport, is quieter, with pottery villages and Hoshinoya Okinawa, a low-slung resort along a rocky shore.
- Naha works for one night at the start or end, with markets, bars and easy airport access.
For a more remote add-on, spend two nights on Zamami or Tokashiki in the Keramas, where small guesthouses sit steps from the beach.
As a rough guide, the big west coast resorts run about $300 to $800 a night in summer, with the top names often higher, while Kerama guesthouses can cost under $150 (approximate).
Romantic Things to Do
Take the ferry from Naha's Tomari Port to the Kerama Islands, part of a national park known for very clear water. High-speed boats take under an hour. Rent snorkel gear on Zamami and swim from Furuzamami Beach, or join a boat trip where sea turtles are common.
On the main island, drive the long bridge to Kouri Island, which glows turquoise on sunny days, then walk the sand at Tinu Beach, where two rocks form a heart shape that has become a couples' landmark.
Visit the Churaumi Aquarium in the Ocean Expo Park, where whale sharks and manta rays glide through one of the largest tanks in the world.
At sunset, walk the cliff path at Cape Manzamo. Later, find a Naha bar with live sanshin music and a list of aged awamori.
Getting There and Around
There are no nonstop flights from the mainland United States to Okinawa. Fly into Tokyo, then take a domestic flight to Naha, about two and a half to three hours. Osaka and Fukuoka also have frequent flights. Some couples connect through Seoul or Taipei instead.
Rent a car on the main island. Buses exist but are slow. The best beaches and viewpoints are spread out. Japan drives on the left. US license holders need an International Driving Permit, issued by AAA before you leave, along with your American license.
The expressway runs from Naha toward Nago and saves a lot of time over the coastal road, which clogs in summer. The Yui Rail monorail is handy within Naha, linking the airport to the city and Shuri.
Ferries to the Keramas leave from Tomari Port. Book ahead in summer.
Food and Drink
Okinawan cooking is its own cuisine. It is worth seeking out rather than eating sushi every night.
Try goya champuru, a stir fry of bitter melon, tofu, egg and pork. Order Okinawa soba, a bowl of thick wheat noodles with tender stewed pork belly. Try rafute too, pork belly braised slowly in awamori and brown sugar. Taco rice, a local fusion born near the US bases, is better than it sounds.
At the Makishi Public Market in Naha, you can choose fish downstairs and have it cooked upstairs. Snack on sata andagi, small fried doughnuts, then Blue Seal ice cream in purple sweet potato flavor.
Orion is the local beer. Awamori is the local spirit, distilled from rice and aged in clay pots. Older bottles, called kusu, are smooth and best sipped slowly with water and ice.
Honeymoon Tips
Pack reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard. The sun is strong and many beaches have jellyfish nets in summer. Swim in netted areas where they exist and avoid unguarded reef edges, where currents can be strong.
Keep a buffer day in your schedule if you travel between July and October. A typhoon can ground flights to Tokyo. You do not want to miss your international flight home.
US military bases occupy a large part of the central island. You will see American cars and English signs in places like Chatan, which can be handy, but it is not the Japan most couples came for. Stay farther north for a more local feel.
Shuri Castle burned in 2019 and has been under reconstruction for years, so check what is open before planning a visit around it.
