Free Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
Free Cancellation
February 05100% refund
February 06No refund
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Minivan (Up to 4 Pax)
2 Adults x $568.60
$1,137.20
Approx Total
$1,137.20
Minivan (Up to 4 Pax) Pickup included
Van (Up to 7 Pax)
2 Adults x $584.18
$1,168.36
Approx Total
$1,168.36
Van (Up to 7 Pax) Pickup included
Regular Car (Up to 2 pax)
2 Adults x $467.34
$934.68
Approx Total
$934.68
Regular Car (Up to 2 Pax) Pickup included
Inclusions / Exclusions
Mobile ticket
Offered in: Japanese, English
Private vehicle
Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from 'What to expect' list
Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.
Overview
This tour is designed for the travelers who visit Okinawa by cruise ship. We will pick you up at Naha Port or hotels near the port.
Okinawa offers a unique experience of your stay in Japan due to its relatively distant location from the main island of Honshu and the consequential subtropical to tropical climate. Your private guide can fill you in on the details and much more on this full-day tour of Okinawa, the capital city of Naha in particular.
Start your day with a morning pickup at your hotel, let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a six-hour tour that's best for you!
Note*1: Please select 3-4 your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary.
Note*2: National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
APA Hotel Naha Matsuyama1-4-16 Matsuyama, , Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, JP, 900-0032
This private tour is a guided tour with a private vehicle designed for travelers coming to Naha by cruise ships. Your guide and taxi will pick you up and drop you off at Naha
Port or hotels near the port. ...Read more ▼
Itinerary
Shurijō Castle
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
The main buildings of Shuri Castle were destroyed by fire in the night of October 31, 2019. The city hopes to rebuild the main building by 2022, the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's reversion to Japan.
A city district of Naha today, Shuri is the name of the former capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Shuri Castle (首里城, Shurijō) served as the administrative center and residence of the Ryukyu kings for several centuries until Okinawa became a Japanese prefecture in 1879. The castle is included as one of the UNESCO World Heritage designated Castles of the Ryukyu Kingdom sites.
Shuri Castle was originally built in the late 1300s, and played an integral role in the political unification of the island. Wars and fires destroyed the castle multiple times over the centuries, most recently in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. The current buildings are beautiful reconstructions dating from 1992. The approach to the castle's central buildings leads through multiple gates, including the well known Shureimon Gate. The castle's hilltop location allows for nice views over Naha along the way.
30 minutes
Kokusaidori
Naha’s International Street was known post-WW II as the miracle mile for its almost-instantaneous reconstruction. With rows of souvenirs and restaurants, it is a staple sightseeing spot for visitors to Okinawa.
Popular spots to visit include the central Makishi Public Market, dining establishments and the Don Quijote, Japan’s largest discount store.
If you’re going for a stroll at night, there are izakaya where you can listen to performances of traditional Okinawa folk music and shamisen players.
30 minutes
Himeyuri Peace Museum
Near the end of World War Two, Okinawa Honto became the site of one of the war's bloodiest battles, when the US forces invaded and occupied the island. An estimated 200,000 people, including more than 100,000 civilians and 12,500 Americans were killed in the battle, which lasted from April to June 1945.
The devastating effects of the war had a profound impact on the Okinawans, and there are a number of monuments and museums relating to the period throughout Okinawa Honto. The worst fighting of the battle took place in the south, and that is where some of the larger monuments have been constructed.
30 minutes
Peace Memorial Park
Near the end of World War Two, Okinawa Honto became the site of one of the war's bloodiest battles, when the US forces invaded and occupied the island. An estimated 200,000 people, including more than 100,000 civilians and 12,500 Americans were killed in the battle, which lasted from April to June 1945.
The devastating effects of the war had a profound impact on the Okinawans, and there are a number of monuments and museums relating to the period throughout Okinawa Honto. The worst fighting of the battle took place in the south, and that is where some of the larger monuments have been constructed.
30 minutes
Sefa Utaki
Sefa Utaki (斎場御嶽) is an important sacred site of the indigenous Okinawan religion, which, similar to Shinto, places emphasis on the worship of nature. The site is located on a densely forested hillside along the ocean and features several rock formations, which are connected with each other by walking trails. Sefa Utaki is included as one of Okinawa's World Heritage sites.
Although regarded as a powerful spiritual site beforehand, it was in the early 16th century that Sefa Utaki came into prominence. During this period the Okinawan religion underwent reorganization and centralization under the royal government, and Sefa Utaki became one of the main locations for religious ceremonies and rituals. Reflecting the strong connection between the royal family and the religion, the sites for prayers at Sefa Utaki were named after important places in Shuri Castle.
30 minutes
Shikinaen Garden
Shikinaen (識名園) was constructed in the end of the 18th century as the second residence of the Ryukyu kings. It features beautiful, relatively simple, wooden palace buildings with Okinawan style, red tile roofs and a spacious Japanese style landscape garden with a central pond. While the garden is designed in a style seen elsewhere in Japan, the architecture and flora give Shikinaen a uniquely Okinawan flavor.
Shikinaen was completely destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa of 1945, but has been neatly restored in the postwar years. In 2000, Shikinaen was among the sites added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the title Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.
30 minutes
Nakamura Residence
Nakamurake (中村家) is a traditional Okinawan style house, dating from the 18th century, when it served as the residence of the Nakamura family. Nakamurake has been designated a major cultural asset by the Japanese government and is open to the public.
Nakamurake displays many typical characteristics of a wealthy Okinawan farmer's residence, such as a red tiled roof with statues of shisa, lion like creatures that ward off evil spirits and are omnipresent in Okinawa, and a stone wall and high trees for protection against the frequent typhoons. It is recommended to combine a visit to Nakamurake with a visit to the nearby Nakagusuku Castle Ruins.
30 minutes
Tamaudun
A couple of things to be aware of are that this area is currently undergoing renovations so there is a bit of building work still going on at Shuri-jo and Enkakuji – and that the small museum accompanying the mausoleum is not particularly informative unless you can read Japanese.
30 minutes
Fukushu-en Garden
The Ryukyu kingdom was strongly influenced by Chinese culture, and this ornamental garden was built in 1992 to celebrate links between Okinawa and China. Entrance is free, and it provides a picturesque corner to get away from the city. Naha also boasts the larger Shikina-en Royal gardens, and whilst these are also worth a visit, they are somewhat inconveniently located 2.5km from Shuri monorail station. Fukushu-en on the other hand is easily reached on foot from the centre of Naha.
30 minutes
Tsuboya Pottery Museum
A short walk from Naha’s central Kokusai-dori street is the Tsuboya Pottery District, which takes you away from the bustle of the city and into some really lovely, leafy backstreets. The atmosphere here is much more peaceful, and you can stop to have a coffee in a pottery shop or pick up traditional Ryukyu ceramics and (of course) more Okinawan shisa.
30 minutes
Makishi Public Market
Okinawa's kitchen, the Makishi Public Market, is a very famous tourist destination. The Makishi Public Market, established in 1972, is a very busy and popular market known as the kitchen of the people of Naha in Okinawa. There are more than 150 stores that sell Okinawan products like seafood, vegetables, fruits, meat, processed food, condiments, and souvenirs. Many people visit this place, including both locals and tourists, as the market is close to Kokusai Street in the center of Naha. The 1st floor is mainly for shopping, and Okinawan cuisine can be enjoyed on the 2nd floor.
30 minutes
Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters
This park is located south-west of Naha City in the Tomigusuku uplands and offers a view on the East China Sea, the southern metropolitan area all the way to Shuri Castle. During the time of the Shuri Dynasty period, it was a place where there was located “Hibanmui”, a beacon fire that would announce the arrival of ships from China and Satsuma.
During the last stage of World War II, the Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters was established there, thus it became an extreme battleground site. Today, it has been remodeled as a former battlefield park that sends messages of peace to the world from Okinawa, a place for exchanges and relaxation that is widely appreciated by tourists and citizens alike.
30 minutes
Sample Menu
Additional Info
Specialized infant seats are available
Service animals allowed
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Only one reservation per group allowed. You cannot combine multiple reservations into one group.
There are only a limited number of car seats and booster seats. Rear-facing car seats are not available. You must contact us directly if you need them.
Free Cancellation
February 05100% refund
February 06No refund
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
8 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her
Reviews by TravelOne travelers
Showing 1-5 of 7 reviews with 5 stars
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Perfect quick day in Naha!
Published on Nov, 2024
Kumiko was awesome. She made a custom trip for us to see my childhood apartment, go to Hacksaw Ridge, Japanese underground Naval headquarters, and then took us to Pottery Street and to find Ryukyu glass.
She was very knowledgeable about the Battle of Okinawa and knew the market like the back of her hand!
The taxi she arranged for the private tour was perfect. He was patient, flexible, and very friendly.
Okinawa 5h military history and shopping day!!
Published on Nov, 2024
Kumiko was awesome! She made a very customized tour for my husband and I, including a swing by my childhood apartment from when my family was stationed in Okinawa. She taught us a lot about the Battle of Okinawa and its importance in WWII.
I will tell anyone wanting to see Hacksaw Ridge, that the stairs and hills are fairly strenuous. We made it, but as a middle-aged couple that is not as fit as we once were....lol....it was a workout! But Kumiko was patient and even had us bypass to grab some extra water.
She had a taxi arranged to take us around, and Ohama san was very accommodating and flexible.
If you are looking for a half day tour in Okinawa, this is the one to take! Request Kumiko!
shore excursion
Published on Oct, 2024
Hyde was a fantastic tour guide. We visited the caves, saw a ritual dance, visited sights reference the Okinawa war including the underground HQ and the memorial. We we a group of seven on a cruise port stop
Wonderful day learning about Okinawa culture and history
Published on Apr, 2024
Wonderful day learning about Okinawa culture and history. Especially enjoyed the walk through the seafood market off Kokusai Street and then the lunch on the second floor. Our guide, Hiromi, was well-prepared and organized. She (and the driver) were so courteous and accommodating … and Hiromi’s English was clear and easy to understand (much better than our Japanese!). Would highly recommend Hiromi as a guide.
Enjoyable Tour
Published on Mar, 2024
Besides the five places on our itinerary that we visited, Our guide, Hide, took us to a kimono material store/factory and a lacquerware store that were near our stops. Hide is very knowledgeable about Okinawa’s history. He shared some of his personal history, it was very fascinating. With our private driver, it was door to door drop offs and pick ups throughout.
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Free Cancellation
