5-7-1 Goya, Okinawa City
Tel: 098-933-4190
A hands-on museum located on the premises of the Okinawa Zoo & Museum with 34 fun and interesting interactive exhibits for everyone to enjoy.
1-11-34 Awase, Okinawa City
Tel: 098-938-5811
Hours: April-September 10:30-18:00; October-March 10:30-17:30
Open daily
The Payao fresh seafood retail shop in the Awase Fishing Port is said to be the liveliest fish market on Okinawa, and sometimes about 30 different types of fresh seafood are on offer. In addition, various marine products, tempura, ready-to-eat dishes and locally grown vegetables are available in the huge market. At the adjacent eatery you can enjoy Okinawa's typical seafood dishes for a reasonable price.
69 Sunabe, Chatan Town
Located in Chatan's Sunabe area, a few minutes’ walk from the popular Miyagi coast, Sunabe Baba Park boasts a variety of playground equipment designed for children of all ages. There is also a basketball court and skatepark that features a number of structures such as half-pipes and rails. Sunabe Baba Park is crowded with local and American families especially during the weekend.
Chatan, Chatan Town
Tel: 098-936-8997
Hours: 13:00-22:00 (Sat and Sun only)
The night flea market is open in Hamby every weekend. Vendors' booth rental fees start at 1,500 yen.
Kitamae/Chatan, Chatan Town
Popular with families and tourists for its park, beach, basketball court and its reconstruction of The Indian Oak, a British vessel that was shipwrecked here in 1840. The ship is constructed as a children’s adventure play area complete with slides, tubes and rigging. Out in the water you can ride a banana boat or try other marine sports, while back on land Araha Beach promises cafés, bars, and restaurants. There is also a nighttime flea market at the weekends and a large San-A supermarket selling food and clothing.
Miyagi/Sunabe, Chatan Town
Sunabe, on the Miyagi coast, is popular with divers, who can be seen out in the water most days, and surfers, who are sure to be enjoying the good waves. When the sun sinks in the sky, you'll see locals out relaxing on the seafront embankment enjoying the sunset. Dotted along the waterfront are cafés, bars, restaurants and diving shops, and local residents can be seen year-round jogging or walking their dogs. In the summertime the Sunabe area is busy from dawn 'til dusk with tourists taking advantage of diving lessons.
9-1 Mihama, Chatan Town
Tel: 098-926-3322
Hours: 11:00-23:00 (*Hours may vary by tenant.)
The shopping mall hosts more than 100 tenants, including import clothing stores, variety shops and beauty and relaxation salons as well as an art gallery and a live house. There are also a number of food and drink establishments, such as an ethnic restaurant, garden cafés, steakhouses and more. Located on the coast side of Depot Island are Vessel Hotel Campana Okinawa and a walkway, which is a great place to enjoy a relaxing stroll while taking in the beautiful sunset view over the ocean. A new complex of one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants is expected to open its doors by spring 2015.
3-1-12 Kubota, Okinawa City
Tel: 098-932-4480
Hours: 10:00-20:00 (10:30-20:30 during school summer holidays) *Each restaurant keeps different business hours.
Open daily
Parking: 650 spaces (free)
The first shopping center in Japan, Plaza House opened in 1954, when Okinawa was administered by the US. The influence of American culture still lingers at this shopping center, which has been in continuous operation for 60 years. Plaza House is a place where you can enjoy shopping for fine contemporary clothing and dining in an exotic atmosphere.
9-20 Mihama, Chatan Town
Tel: 098-926-2764
Hours: 11:00-21:00
Admission: 800 yen for adults, 500 yen for ages 7-18, free for under 6.
Akara is a shopping, dining and art complex run by Okinawa's prominent woodblock artist Bokunen Naka. With a curved, dynamic roof and a spacious design that invites seasonal breezes, the building, which features an Okinawan motif, was designed by Bokunen the prodigy. Habu Box, the long-established fashion brand specializing in T-shirts, Bokunen's art museum and gallery, and café and restaurant Janosz can be found at Akara.
4-2-1 Mashiki, Ginowan City
Tel: 098-897-2759
This is an urban-style beach with shallow water located right next to the Okinawa Convention Center. Tropical Beach is popular among locals and tourists alike, and it gets crowded with people relaxing or enjoying a BBQ on weekends. From the beach, you can take in a magnificent view of the sunset.
