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.

On the 25th (Fri), get engrossed in the history at Ishigaki Yaima Village, head into the lower depths with Prime Scuba Ishigaki Diving Center - Day Tour, and then explore the fascinating underground world of Ishigaki Island Limestone Cave.

To see other places to visit, where to stay, ratings, and tourist information, refer to the Ishigaki online trip builder.

Tokyo to Ishigaki is an approximately 4.5-hour flight. Expect a bit warmer weather when traveling from Tokyo in December: highs in Ishigaki hover around 26°C, while lows dip to 20°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 25th (Fri) to allow enough time to ride a 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.

Kick off your visit on the 26th (Sat): make a trip to Taketomi Post Office, appreciate the extensive heritage of Island Countryside Settlement, see the interesting displays at Taketomi Folk Art Museum, see the interesting displays at Taketomi Yugafu-kan, then kick back and relax at Aiyaruhama Beach, and finally get outside with Kondoi Beach.

Plan trip to Taketomi-jima with our itinerary maker to find out where to go and what to do.

You can ride a ferry from Ishigaki to Taketomi-jima in an hour. Expect a daytime high around 26°C in December, and nighttime lows around 20°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 26th (Sat) so you can catch the ferry to Iriomote-jima.

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

On the 27th (Sun), identify plant and animal life at Nakama-river Protected Region, identify plant and animal life at Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center, and then glide peacefully along the water with Iriomotejima Ken Guide.

To see more things to do, maps, ratings, and other tourist information, refer to the Iriomote-jima visit planner.

You can ride a ferry from Taketomi-jima to Iriomote-jima in 2 hours. In December in Iriomote-jima, expect temperatures between 26°C during the day and 20°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 27th (Sun) to allow enough time to travel to Miyakojima.

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

On the 28th (Mon), kick back and relax at Yonaha Maehama Beach, kick back and relax at Tomori Imugya Beach, then enjoy the sand and surf at Aragusuku Beach, then head outdoors with Sunayama Beach, and finally discover the deep blue sea with Miyakojima Diving Shop Guide-Ya-San.

For other places to visit, maps, traveler tips, and other tourist information, use the Miyakojima trip maker app.

Getting from Iriomote-jima to Miyakojima by combination of ferry and flight takes about 4 hours. In December, plan for daily highs up to 25°C, and evening lows to 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 28th (Mon) early enough to travel to Hateruma-jima.

Kick off your visit on the 29th (Tue): kick back and relax at Nishihama Beach, don't miss a visit to Cape Takanazaki, and then pause for some photo ops at Monument of The Southernmost Part of Japan.

For maps, other places to visit, and other tourist information, read Hateruma-jima online trip itinerary builder.

Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from Miyakojima to Hateruma-jima. December in Hateruma-jima sees daily highs of 26°C and lows of 20°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 29th (Tue) to allow time for 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.

Start off your visit on the 30th (Wed): stroll around Busena Marine Park, enjoy the sand and surf at Busena Beach, head outdoors with Nago citizen Beach, then experience the excitement of Nago Pineapple Park, then make a trip to Nago Himpun Banyan Tree, and finally discover the deep blue sea with a scuba or snorkeling tour.

To find more things to do, maps, other places to visit, and other tourist information, read Nago online travel route 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. Cap off your sightseeing on the 30th (Wed) early enough to go by car 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.

Start off your visit on the 31st (Thu): get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, examine the collection 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 kick back and relax at Emerald Beach.

To find maps, where to stay, photos, and tourist information, go to the Motobu-cho online travel planner.

Motobu-cho is very close to Nago. December in Motobu-cho sees daily highs of 24°C and lows of 15°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 31st (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Kadena-cho.

Kick off your visit on the 1st (Fri): identify plant and animal life at Wildlife Areas.

For maps, ratings, and other tourist information, use the Kadena-cho attractions planner.

Drive from Motobu-cho to Kadena-cho in 1.5 hours. Expect a daytime high around 24°C in December, and nighttime lows around 15°C. On the 1st (Fri), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can drive 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.

Kick off your visit on the 2nd (Sat): make a trip to Nakamura Family Resident, then admire the masterpieces at Sakima Art Museum, then enjoy the sand and surf at Araha Park (Araha Beach), and finally get up close to creatures of the deep with English Empire Divers.

To find traveler tips, other places to visit, more things to do, and other tourist information, refer to the Chatan-cho online day trip planner.

Chatan-cho is very close to Kadena-cho. In January, plan for daily highs up to 22°C, and evening lows to 13°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 2nd (Sat) 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.

Start off your visit on the 3rd (Sun): enjoy the sand and surf at Naminoue Beach, make a trip to Tomari Iyumachi, browse the different shops at Aeon Naha Shopping Center, enjoy the sand and surf at Toyosaki Kaihin Koen, then test the waters at Ryujin no Yu, and finally explore the historical opulence of Shurijo Castle.

To see other places to visit, where to stay, photos, and tourist information, go to the Naha trip itinerary maker tool.

Drive from Chatan-cho to Naha in an hour. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Plan for somewhat warmer nights when traveling from Chatan-cho in January since evenings lows in Naha dip to 17°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Sun) so you can fly back home.