**I am working on updating this “Bucket List” to include more must-see sites/events, as well as making links for everything! For now, this is the short version… have patience while I continue to update it with more info.
Many people post “bucket lists” for living in Okinawa. But I find that many of them are not unique to living in Okinawa at all (or even unique to living in Japan for that matter). So I will break some of the must-do/see down. Some are unique to Okinawa, while some are more inclusive of Japan in general.
First, there are some of the obvious tourist attractions/activities that pretty much everybody knows about:
- Churaumi Aquarium in Motobu
- Shuri-jo
- Dive or snorkel in the Keramas
- Naha Great Tug-of-War
- Itoman Peace Park and Memorial
- UNESCO Castle Ruin Sites (Nakagusuku-jo, Zakimi-jo, Nakijin-jo, Katsuren-jo, etc.)
- Seifu Utaki (UNESCO site)
- Sakura-viewing (Hanami)
- Watch eisa (Okinawa bon dance)
- watch to haarii boat races
- Eat Okinawa soba, goya champuru, umibudou, and other local dishes
- Eat Japanese-style dishes (sushi, tempura, okonomiyaki, etc)
- Hike some of the various waterfalls
- travel to outer islands (Ishigaki, Miyako, Taketomi, Ie, etc)
- glass-blowing experience
- visit various Battle of Okinawa sites (such as the Tomori Stone Shisa)
- visit the Orion Beer factory
- Eat at Blue Seal Ice Cream and A&W “American”-style restaurants
- visit American Village
- go to Okinawa World or Ryukyu-mura (very touristy Ryukyu village recreations)
Besides these, there are many other things to see and do! Some of these are often overlooked:
- try Bukubuku cha (Ryukyu tea ceremony)
- Wear a kimono for Hatsumode (first visit to temple/shrine in the New Year)
- See the fireflies on Kume-jima or Sueyoshi park
- Participate in Setsubun (bean-scattering festival)
- Have a tsukimi party
- Wear a yukata and go to summer matsuri
- watch to Kumiodori (traditional Okinawan dance)
- watch Shishimai (lion dance)
- participate in a local tug-of-war
- have a hanami (flower-viewing) party under the sakura
- try tempura on Oujima
- drink in a local izakaya
- eat traditional Ryukyu sweets… besides chinsukou!
- bingata experience
- visit yachimun village (Tsuboya or Yomitan)
- observe the Milky Way and millions of stars from an outer island
- go to bonnenkai and/or shinnenkai (or any other nomikai, “drinking party”)
- try out a karaoke room
- learn to make muuchii and eat it on muuchii-no-bisa
- learn some Uchinaaguchi
- learn to make local shima-dofu
- go to an awamori distillery
- have a beach BBQ and play suika-wari
- weave your own Shuri-ori (Ryukyu textile)
- hiking trails in Yanbaru
- Go fukubukuro (lucky bag) shopping on New Years Day
- Learn to cook Okinawa-style foods
- go to Round1 Stadium and be a kid again
Most people seem to neglect the truly local festivals and events, and stick to the bigger ones advertised only in English. But there are so many more experiences to be had on Okinawa, and this is only the beginning of a list. Plus, there is so much more that I do not even know about!
