Special sightseeing power spots where you can enjoy yourself even on rainy days!
Sometimes your schedule can get a little messed up because of a sudden rain. The rain can dampen your enthusiasm. However, there are lots of sightseeing spots that can be enjoyed even on rainy days in Okinawa. Since Okinawa has a lot of rain, It is important to know of sightseeing and power spots that can be enjoyed even in the rain!
An Outlet mall that you can enjoy even on a rainy day!
Ashinawa na is an outlet mall located at the southernmost tip of Japan. It is approximately 15 minutes from Naha Airport. Around 100 well-known brands from around the world gather at the vast site, so you can enjoy shopping at great prices. Unlike general outlet malls, rather than a food court they have quality independent restaurants that are ideal for enjoying lunch in the middle of shopping! In addition, there are lots of nice services for families such as free coin locker, baby stroller rental, and a kid’s corner. There is no worry about walking for a long time in the scorching sun or in the rain! There is a large parking garage right next door. There are also souvenir shops where you can purchase Okinawan crafts, miscellaneous goods, and sweets, We recommend stopping by on the last day of the trip and buy all your souvenirs at once.
【Spot name】Ashibina
【Street address】1-188 Toyosaki Tomigasaki-city Okinawa
【business hours】10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
【Regular holiday】None
A power spot where you can be “touched by the sea” in the rain
Gala Aoiumi in Yomitan is a complex with various activities that you can experience, such as Ryukyu glass making, ceramics and salt making. There are also restaurants, as well as places to buy souvenirs, and salt production plants. A very popular shop is “Mr. Valley.” At this amazing shop you can transplant a piece of coral and be involved directly in raising sea life in Okinawa. There is space that you can actually touch the creatures of the sea. It is a joy to take part in this precious experience. Even in the rain this is a precious sightseeing spot where you can be touched by the sea of Okinawa.
【Spot name】Gala Aoiumi
【Street address】915 Takashiho Yomitan-son Okinawa
【business hours】Restaurant 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. ／Shop 9:00a.m. to 8:00 p.m.／ Other facilities 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
【Regular holiday】None
A sightseeing spot where you can see the bottom of the ocean even on a rainy day!
The underwater observation tower allows you to see the actual bottom of the ocean off the coast of Busanna Marine Park. From a window at a depth of 15 feet you can see fish swimming along the bottom of the ocean. This is a sightseeing spot where you can observe your favorite “Nemo” and encounter an unknown world. Because it is not affected by the weather, it is recommended for rainy days. You can enjoy sightseeing in Okinawa’s sea in a way that is different from the view at the aquarium.
【Spot name】Underwater Observatory
【Street address】1744-1 Kise Nago-city Okinawa
【business hours】 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (April – October) ／ 9:00 to 5:30 p.m. (November – March) ／ 30 minutes before the last entry time
【Regular holiday】None
Enjoy this theme park type tourist destination that offers rain-resistant shopping!
Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycon, with its huge aquarium is, largest shopping mall in the Okinawa prefecture. This space is a new generation of resort mall that is made with a wide-open feeling, it looks like a vast resort hotel. There are sofas arranged on each floor, where you can relax. Besides the Okinawa brand of fashion, there are fabric stores, a miscellaneous goods corner, and gourmet food. There is so much to see, you might not have enough time to see it all! It is a recommended spot even on rainy days.
【Spot name】Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycon
【Street address】Awasse Land Readjustment 4 areas in the project area Kitanakagusu-son Okinawa
【business hours】Aeon Mall Specialty Store Street 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
【Regular holiday】None
The Oceanic Culture Center is where you can learn about the nautical society even in the rain!
The Oceanic Culture Museum, which was renovated in October of 2013, exhibits various materials that connect people, fish and the sea on the magnificent scale of the ocean culture in the Pacific Rim region.
They have a new planetarium, that has a program that is screened 11 to 13 times a day. In particular, there is a must-see original program “Okinawa Cucus Star Series” that lets you learn about seasonal constellations in conjunction with folk tales of Okinawa. In the hall where there are various exhibits, photography is prohibited. Commemorative photography is ok only in places where “Shoot OK” is displayed! This maritime culture hall is a place where you can enjoy it even if it rains. It is a spot recommended for adults as well as children.
【Spot name】Oceanic Culture Center
【Street address】 (within Ocean Expo Park) 424 Ishikawa Motobu-cho Okinawa
【business hours】8:30 a.m. to 5:30p.m. Admission deadline 5:00 p.m. (October – February)／8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., entrance deadline 7:30 p.m. (March to September)
【Regular holiday】The first Wednesday in December and the next day
Coral dyeing experience that can be done even on rainy days
In Naha city there is sightseeing spot “Tama Ling”, where you can experience coral dying. Coral dying is dying with a coral fossil that has been cut into molds. You can choose from 5 materials to dye: T-shirt, tote bag, wrapping cloth, hand towel, or coasters. These one of a kind coral dyed objects are perfect for gifts. You can just join in if there is a free space on the day you visit. But it is recommended to reserve a spot! There is also a shop that has already made items for sale.
【Spot name】Coral Dye Experience
Choose your favorite activity from over 100 types! Many of which can be enjoyed even in the rain!
Built as an open set for the drama “Ryukyu no Kaze”, the Kingdom of Murasaki Mura is a sightseeing spot where you can experience Okinawa-like atmosphere. On the premises, you can experience a spaces reproducing the Ryukyu Kingdom era with its red-colored buildings and old Ryukyu red tile houses. There are more than 100 kinds of activities you can experience here, including plaster Seisa painting and brown sugar making. For most activities there will be room for you to participate if you just show up! But for some activities such as marine sports and martial arts in Okinawa marine sports and martial arts in Okinawa, advanced reservation is recommended. There are also public baths with hotels, and places to enjoy Okinawa soba and other Okinawan cuisine. Western-style taco rice is also available! This is a place you can definitely enjoy even in the rain.
【Spot name】Taiken Ohkoku Murasakimura
【Street address】1020-1 Takashiho Yomitan-son Okinawa
【business hours】9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
【Regular holiday】None
No problems with rain! Let’s make original Ryukyu glass!
Ryukyu Glass Village is a sightseeing spot that tells the history of Ryukyu glass. It is located in Itoman City in the southern part of Okinawa’s Main Island. It is a shop demonstrating Okinawa’s traditional craft “Ryukyu glass.” They have about 30 craftsmen’s working there. You can experience making “original glass” here. It is an affordable experience that only takes about 15 minutes. Because there is such a good support staff, you can feel confident you will succeed in this sometimes difficult process. So stop in and you can make original glass which will become a memorable Okinawan souvenir. It is an experience not affected by the weather, so you can enjoy it even on rainy days!
【Spot name】Experience the Ryukyu glass
Tour the process of making Awamori, a special product of Okinawa!
Awamori is one of the specialty products of the prefecture of Okinawa. Originally it was a liquor that was made as an expensive offering of the Ryukyu Kingdom era. The Sakiyama brewery is located in Kincho-cho town in the northern part of Okinawa. It was an Awamori liquor store founded in the town Shuri-Akita, which was called Awamori Village. In this sake brewery, you can observe the process of making awamori just beside the craftworkers actually working. Matsufuji, which is synonymous with of Sakiyama Brewery Plant, is a popular awamori that is often gifted to couples becoming engaged and is used as an anniversary gift. In addition, they make tankan plum wine, moromi vinegar, medicinal sauce miso and five other kinds of side dish miso. These products can all be sampled after visiting sake brewery and then you can purchase what you like best! This is a tour you can enjoy even if it is raining!
【Spot name】Sake tour
A popular tourist area that can be enjoyed by both adults and children even in the rain!
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is a popular tourist destination that gets more than 3 million visitors per year. It has about 740 species and 21,000 sea creatures exhibited, mainly in its largest tank “Kuroshio No Umi”. In addition to the whale sharks they have on display many colorful tropical fish. There are “touch pools,” where you can directly touch sea cucumbers and starfish. They are living in hidden spots of the “sea of coral” which you can see from the top of the pool! In the cafe next to the “Kuroshio Sea” you can also enjoy viewing their huge aquarium while enjoying drinks and snacks. This facility that you can enjoy even on rainy days is recommended for both adults and children.
【Spot name】Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
【Street address】 (Ocean Expo Park) 424 Ishikawa Motobu-cho Okinawa
【business hours】8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Admission deadline 5:30 p.m. (October – February) ／ 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., admission deadline 7:00 p.m. (March to September)
【Regular holiday】The first Wednesday of December and the next day
Experience the charm of the Ryukyus era at an old private house designated as a tangible cultural property!
Ryukyu village in Onna village in the northern part of Okinawa is a theme park where you can experience plenty of the Ryukyu spirit. In an old private house designated as a tangible cultural property, you can experience more than 70 kinds of activities, such as a shamisen musical experience, indigo dye painting, making fabrics, and Andagi desert making. You can make your own souvenir of handmade goods of Okinawa. Afterwards just relax at this nostalgic and cozy old folk house. In the garden, you can experience the dance performance of the Acer, or watch the Okinawa-style parade “Road Genee” with Ryukyu performing arts that is held every day. The performance times are published in the pamphlet of Ryukyu village, so please check in advance!
【Spot name】Ryukyu Village
【Street address】1130 Yamada Onna-son Okinawa
【business hours】8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (From July to September from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
※ 30 minutes before the last reception
【Regular holiday】None
This Okinawan treasured tourist destination can be enjoyed on your own!
Gangalla Valley is known as a power spot, and is a treasured tourist destination in Okinawa for both adults and children. A special guide will guide you around the premises, so you can walk with confidence even if alone. There are places that are uneven at your feet, so be sure to have good walking shoes. Guided tours are run through a reservation system, so check on their homepage for times and reservation procedures. It is recommended that you spend time at the Cave Cafe in the limestone cave before and after the tour.
【Spot name】Valley of Gangalla
【Street address】202 Maekawa Tamagusuku Nanjo City Okinawa
【business hours】9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (reservation reception)
【Regular holiday】None
This Theme Park has many Highlight, including Super Acer dancing!
Okinawa World is a theme park where you can experience the history, culture and nature of Okinawa all in one place! There are many sights in the facility such as “Ryukyu Kingdom Castle Town,” which is designated as a tangible cultural property. There is also the largest limestone cave in Japan and the Super Aces dancing which is held four times a day. It is a performance that is unique to Okinawa. Originally it was a dance that was only seen on special occasions as a dedication to the ancestors, but now you can see it performed every day. Another pleasure to experience here, is drinking the local beer of Okinawa and specialty habu sake liquor.
【Spot name】Okinawa World
【Street address】1336 Tamagusuku Maegawa Nanjo-City Okinawa
【business hours】9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (last reception at 5:00 p.m.)
【Regular holiday】None
