Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Japan – Okinawa Islands – Naha – Okuma – Kunigami – Miyakojima – Ishigaki
100% customisable for you
After lots of daydreaming, counting down the days and checking the weather forecast, your Okinawa escape officially starts today. Head to the airport, breeze through security, pick up a good read and settle into the lounge for some fizz and nibbles before boarding.
Your first flight will take you to a hub in Asia, where you’ll have a short stopover before your second overnight flight to Naha. All in all, the journey will take around 18 hours, so queue up the films, fluff up the neck pillow and try to catch some Z’s before arriving the next day.
When you touch down in Naha, you’ll be met at the airport and whisked to your hotel in the heart of the city, where you’ll check in for the night.
Keen to unwind after all that travelling? Depending on your arrival time, you could take a dip in the pool, bask in your first dose of Okinawan sunshine or simply crawl to bed and call it a day.
Rise and shine early this morning to beat the jet lag, then join your local guide for a greatest-hits tour of Naha. Duck into quirky neon-lit shops, hop between street food stalls or wander along the palm-lined waterfront with a scoop of Okinawa’s salt-speckled ice cream in tow. Between bites, learn all about everyday life in Okinawa and the traditions of locals lucky enough to call this island paradise home.
Later, pick up your hire car and hit the road for the two-hour journey north to Okuma Beach. Fancy breaking up the drive? Browse Yomitan’s pottery workshops, wander beneath the 20,000 trees lining Bise’s peaceful Fukugi Namiki-dori pathway or detour to Kourijima, the so-called ‘Island of Love’, connected to the mainland by a bridge suspended above the water.
When you arrive, check in to your beachside guesthouse, your home for the next two nights. And, after a jam-packed day, leave dinner plans up to your Concierge – just tell them what you’re craving...
Lace up your walking shoes this morning and join a private guide for a hike through the untamed landscape surrounding Okuma Beach.
Along the way, soak up the views over dense pine forests, rugged coastlines and azure waters, then slip into a kayak for a gentle glide along the coastline. Afterwards, cool off with a swim before beaching your kayak and flopping onto the sand for a well-earned breather.
Mask, snorkels and flippers on – it’s time to take the plunge. Beneath the surface lies a vibrant underwater world, where darting shoals of fish weave through the shallows, sea urchins cling to rocky outcrops and starfish rest on the seabed. Luckily, your guide knows exactly where marine life is most bountiful and will lead you straight to the hotspots.
Later, return to your villa for a heavenly out-in-the-sun-all-day nap. Refreshed and recharged, head out for an al fresco dinner and go for whatever looks good on the grill.
The next leg of your journey across Okinawa is hardly a road trip, clocking in at just ten minutes. Before you know it, you’ll be checking in for two nights in Kunigami, perfectly positioned between Yanbaru National Park and the sparkling coastline. After dropping your bags, take a moment to settle into your new surroundings with a calming cup of sanpin tea, Okinawa’s beloved jasmine-infused brew.
Later, meet a friendly local for a stroll through the sleepy villages dotted around the area. As you amble along quiet lanes, feel free to ask plenty of questions – your guide is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to Okinawan etiquette, local customs and community life.
Come evening, they can point you towards their favourite local eateries for dinner, sidestepping the usual holiday dilemma of where to go. If you’d rather enjoy a quiet night in, they can arrange for a home-cooked meal to be delivered straight to your door instead.
Wake to the aroma of a home-cooked Okinawan feast, served in the comfort of your very own villa. You’ll find a colourful assortment of smaller dishes, which might include grilled fish, seasonal vegetables and tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelette), along with the classics – rice and miso soup.
After polishing off your last sip of steaming sanpin tea, it’s time to walk off breakfast with a guided hike through Yanbaru Forest. Follow winding trails beneath tangled vines, towering trees and lush emerald canopies, keeping your eyes peeled and camera poised for exotic birds, sunbathing lizards and even the occasional snake coiled among the branches.
Come evening, sink your teeth into a barbecue dinner in your villa’s garden. With fresh vegetables from nearby gardens and locally sourced meat delivered straight to your door, all that’s left to do is fire up the grill, pour a drink and settle in for an evening beneath the stars.
Buckle up this morning for the two-hour drive back to Naha Airport. It’s an easy, breezy journey along the coast, so roll down the windows, tune into our destination-specific playlist and let the singalong commence.
When you arrive, return your hire car and board your one-hour flight to Miyakojima, the largest of the Miyako Islands.
When you touch down, pick up the keys to your new hire car and embark on the journey to your guesthouse, where you’ll check in for the next two nights. Then, do as the islanders do and take things slow, with the evening free to unwind and settle into Miyakojima’s blissfully laid-back way of life.
Craving a beach day? You’re in for a treat. Today, jump in your hire car and explore Miyakojima at your own pace, winding past sugarcane fields and orchards in search of white sands, turquoise waters and the perfect spot to lay your towel.
Perhaps that’ll be Yonaha Maehama Beach, where powder-soft shores meet sparkling seas, or Aragusuku Beach, a favourite for snorkelling among tropical fish. For a change of scenery, make your way to the Hennasaki Lighthouse, perched on the island’s easternmost tip, which offers sweeping views across the Pacific.
Fancy venturing further afield? Embark on the 20-minute drive to Toguchi-no-hama Beach, considered one of the finest in the country. Once there, claim your patch of paradise and spend a few lazy hours immersed in a good book, soaking up that oh-so-glorious Okinawan sunshine.
Finish the day sun-kissed, salt-speckled and satisfied with a seafood dinner on the beach, watching the sky glow golden over the ocean – pure bliss.
Another day, another island. This morning, make the short drive to the airport, where you’ll return your hire car and board the 30-minute flight to Ishigaki Island, nabbing a window seat for views over emerald islets, coral-fringed coastlines and glittering waters.
When you arrive, pick up your next hire car and make the ten-minute journey to your beachfront guesthouse, your home away from home for the next three nights. Once checked in, slip straight into sandals and take your pick between a lounger in a sun-drenched spot or a palm-shaded patch of sand – perhaps with a cocktail to celebrate your arrival?
Pack the sunscreen and charge the camera: it’s another day of island exploring. Back behind the wheel of your hire car, set off towards Kabira Bay, one of Ishigaki’s most iconic shorelines. Take a wander along the coast, watch the boats drift across the water and keep an eye out for the black pearl farms scattered throughout the bay.
Continue north to Hirakubo, the island’s northernmost tip, where a solitary lighthouse watches over the coastline. Make sure to snap plenty of photos while you’re here – these views are prime material for the holiday album.
Once you’ve been suitably wowed, seek out a quiet spot for a cooling swim, challenge your travel companion to a game of beach volleyball and treat yourself to a bowl of kakigori, Japan’s famously fluffy shaved ice (and a welcome antidote to the Okinawan heat).
With one full day left in Ishigaki, today is yours to spend as you please. If you’re after total R&R, simply relax at your hotel, but if you’d like to add another island to your Okinawan collection, a trip to Taketomi makes for a wonderful adventure.
From the port of Ishigaki, hop aboard a 15-minute ferry to this idyllic little island, where traditional red-tiled Ryukyu houses, quiet sandy lanes and a glimpse into old Okinawa await. Spend the day exploring on foot or by bicycle and browsing local pottery workshops in search of a handcrafted keepsake to remember your time in Japan.
Then, make a beeline for Kondoi Beach, where coral confetti shores and shallow waters set the scene for an afternoon of sunshine, sea views and topping up the tan. Feeling thirsty? Crack into a coconut – likely chopped down from that very shoreline.
Back in Ishigaki, leave dinner plans in the hands of your Concierge, who’ll know just the spot for a celebratory final meal.
After your final beachfront breakfast, wave goodbye to Okinawa and gear up for one last drive to the airport, around 15 minutes away. Return your trusty hire car and board the three-hour flight to Tokyo.
When you arrive, you’ll be transferred to your airport hotel, where you’ll be stopping over for the night. Spend the evening relaxing in your room or venture out into Tokyo’s maze of neon lights, dizzying streets and hidden ramen joints for a final taste of Japan before you fly home tomorrow.
Time flies when you’re having fun and, sadly, your Okinawan escape has come to an end. This morning, head to the airport, stock up on your favourite Japanese snacks and settle in for the direct flight home.
You’ll spend around 14 hours in the air – plenty of time to flick through your holiday photos and start dreaming up your next island getaway.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire now
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
