10 days in Okinawa Prefecture Itinerary

Ishigaki, the most populous island in the chain, features the country's southernmost city and acts as a transport hub for exploring the landmasses that surround.

Start off your visit on the 25th (Sun): take an in-depth tour of Ishigaki Yaima Village, then take a memorable tour with Prime Scuba Ishigaki Diving Center - Day Tour, and then explore the fascinating underground world of Ishigaki Island Limestone Cave.

To find traveler tips, ratings, reviews, and tourist information, refer to the Ishigaki travel route builder website.

Tokyo to Ishigaki is an approximately 4.5-hour flight. While traveling from Tokyo, expect a bit warmer days and much hotter nights in Ishigaki, ranging from highs of 26°C to lows of 20°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 25th (Sun) early enough to catch the ferry to Taketomi-jima.

A tiny island in the Yae-yama archipelago, Taketomi-jima enjoys popularity as a beach getaway, best known for its stretches of "star sand"--sand made up of tiny star-shaped exoskeletons of ancient fossils.

On the 26th (Mon), don't miss a visit to Taketomi Post Office, appreciate the extensive heritage of Island Countryside Settlement, see the interesting displays at Taketomi Folk Art Museum, examine the collection at Taketomi Yugafu-kan, then kick back and relax at Aiyaruhama Beach, and finally enjoy the sand and surf at Kondoi Beach.

To find other places to visit, where to stay, ratings, and more tourist information, go to the Taketomi-jima trip itinerary builder site.

You can ride a ferry from Ishigaki to Taketomi-jima in an hour. In December, daily temperatures in Taketomi-jima can reach 26°C, while at night they dip to 20°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 26th (Mon) to allow enough time to ride a ferry to Iriomote-jima.

Taketomicho Iriomote-Jima stands as the second largest island in Okinawa.

On the 27th (Tue), make a trip to Nakama-river Protected Region, look for all kinds of wild species at Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center, and then find your balance on the water with Iriomotejima Ken Guide.

For reviews, photos, other places to visit, and tourist information, read our Iriomote-jima trip itinerary planner.

Traveling by ferry from Taketomi-jima to Iriomote-jima takes 2 hours. In December, daytime highs in Iriomote-jima are 26°C, while nighttime lows are 20°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 27th (Tue) so you can travel to Miyakojima.

A city jurisdiction formed after the merger of several towns in 2005, Miyakojima spans six linked-up islands.

Start off your visit on the 28th (Wed): enjoy the sand and surf at Yonaha Maehama Beach, enjoy the sand and surf at Tomori Imugya Beach, then kick back and relax at Aragusuku Beach, then get outside with Sunayama Beach, and finally see some colorful creatures with Miyakojima Diving Shop Guide-Ya-San.

For traveler tips, more things to do, reviews, and other tourist information, read Miyakojima trip maker website.

You can do a combination of ferry and flight from Iriomote-jima to Miyakojima in 4 hours. In December in Miyakojima, expect temperatures between 25°C during the day and 20°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 28th (Wed) early enough to travel to Hateruma-jima.

Kick off your visit on the 29th (Thu): enjoy the sand and surf at Nishihama Beach, then make a trip to Cape Takanazaki, and then don't miss a visit to Monument of The Southernmost Part of Japan.

To find photos, ratings, and tourist information, use the Hateruma-jima itinerary maker website.

Explore your travel options from Miyakojima to Hateruma-jima with the Route module. Expect a daytime high around 26°C in December, and nighttime lows around 20°C. On the 29th (Thu), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel to Nago.

Developed as an upper-middle class tourist town in the northern part of Okinawa Island, Nago offers a wide range of leisure activities from swimming to exploration of ruins and rainforests.

Kick off your visit on the 30th (Fri): stroll around Busena Marine Park, kick back and relax at Busena Beach, head outdoors with Nago citizen Beach, then experience the excitement of Nago Pineapple Park, then don't miss a visit to Nago Himpun Banyan Tree, and finally discover the deep blue sea with a scuba or snorkeling tour.

To see traveler tips, ratings, reviews, and other tourist information, you can read our Nago visit planner.

Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from Hateruma-jima to Nago. Expect slightly colder evenings in Nago when traveling from Hateruma-jima in December, with lows around 15°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 30th (Fri) to allow enough time to drive to Motobu-cho.

Formed by the gradual merging of several old fishing villages, today the island town of Motobu-cho boasts paradisal beaches of white sand, clear waters, and a rich array of wildlife.

On the 31st (Sat), get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, see the interesting displays at Oceanic Culture Museum, take in nature's colorful creations at Tropical Dream Center, then fulfill a lifelong dream with Motobu Genki Village, and finally enjoy the sand and surf at Emerald Beach.

To find photos, other places to visit, more things to do, and other tourist information, read our Motobu-cho trip itinerary maker tool.

Motobu-cho is just a short distance from Nago. December in Motobu-cho sees daily highs of 24°C and lows of 15°C at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 31st (Sat) so you can go by car to Kadena-cho.

Kick off your visit on the 1st (Sun): discover the deep blue sea with a scuba or snorkeling tour.

To find more things to do, maps, traveler tips, and tourist information, you can read our Kadena-cho online journey planner.

Getting from Motobu-cho to Kadena-cho by car takes about 1.5 hours. In December, daily temperatures in Kadena-cho can reach 24°C, while at night they dip to 15°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 1st (Sun) to allow time for the car ride to Chatan-cho.

Known for its American military bases, Chatan-cho has lacked the tourism appeal of other towns on the island, yet offers a pleasant beach getaway.

On the 2nd (Mon), don't miss a visit to Nakamura Family Resident, admire the masterpieces at Sakima Art Museum, then enjoy the sand and surf at Araha Park (Araha Beach), and finally see majestic marine mammals with English Empire Divers.

For photos, more things to do, traveler tips, and more tourist information, use the Chatan-cho visit app.

Chatan-cho is just a short distance from Kadena-cho. In January, daily temperatures in Chatan-cho can reach 22°C, while at night they dip to 13°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 2nd (Mon) early enough to go by car to Naha.

Naha, the capital of Okinawa, has deep roots: Stone Age relics have been found in the city, and through the Middle Ages it rose in importance in the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Kick off your visit on the 3rd (Tue): get outside with Naminoue Beach, don't miss a visit to Tomari Iyumachi, browse the different shops at Aeon Naha Shopping Center, then enjoy the sand and surf at Toyosaki Kaihin Koen, then soak in some Japanese tradition at Ryujin no Yu, and finally appreciate the extensive heritage of Shurijo Castle.

To find photos, other places to visit, where to stay, and tourist information, read our Naha driving holiday planning site.

Traveling by car from Chatan-cho to Naha takes an hour. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Expect somewhat warmer evenings in Naha when traveling from Chatan-cho in January, with lows around 17°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Tue) to allow enough time to fly back home.