Okinawa & Ryukyu Islands: My Honest Island Hopping Guide from an Indian Traveller#

First thing first – if you think Japan is only Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka… bro, you’re missing a whole other universe down in the south. Okinawa and the Ryukyu islands literally feel like Japan met Goa, Andamans and a bit of Bali, sat together with some awamori and said, chalo let’s make paradise.

I did this island hopping trip recently, just before the 2026 rush everyone’s predicting, and I’m still low‑key heartbroken I had to come back. It’s that kind of place where your WhatsApp status is permanently beach + blue water + random food pics, and everyone keeps asking, “Ye kahaan hai yaar?”

Why Okinawa Ended Up on My Desi Bucket List#

For most of us in India, when we say Japan, we mean Tokyo anime, Mount Fuji wallpapers and sakura reels. Okinawa hardly comes in picture. I also used to be like that. Then one random night I was scrolling YouTube and some vlogger showed this white sand beach in Japan and I was like, wait… JAPAN has this also??

So I started digging. Found out Okinawa is basically a chain of tropical islands (Ryukyu archipelago) stretching towards Taiwan. Different history, different vibe, used to be its own Ryukyu Kingdom. People are more chill, more tanned, more island style. Food is different, music is different, even the language has its own flavour. And honestly, as an Indian, that mix of tradition + sea + slower life just felt familiar in a weird way.

Best Time to Go (and When You’ll Just Be Fighting Typhoons)#

So, weather. Don’t ignore this part like I almost did. Okinawa looks sunny all year on Insta, but reality little different, okay.

Rough guide from what I saw and what locals told me:

  • Best months: March to early June, and late September to November – warm, less rain, good water clarity for diving and snorkeling
  • Peak summer (July–Aug): super hot, humid, more crowded, but fun if you like that full on beach holiday vibe
  • Typhoon season: mostly Aug–Oct, can hit earlier or later. Ferries cancel, flights get delayed, beaches close. So keep some buffer days in your plan.

I went end of May. Perfect. Warm enough to swim, nights breezy, and not too many domestic tourists yet. If you’re planning around long weekends or cherry blossom time in main Japan, try to slide Okinawa just before or after to avoid crazy prices.

How I Did My Island Hopping Route#

Okinawa isn’t one island, that’s the first thing. It’s like Andamans – main island plus tons of smaller ones. My rough route looked like this:

  • Base: Naha (Okinawa Main Island) – 3 nights
  • Side trip: Kerama Islands (Tokashiki & Zamami) – 2 nights
  • Fly further: Ishigaki Island – 3 nights
  • Day trips from Ishigaki: Taketomi & Iriomote

You don’t have to copy this exact plan, but this kind of loop gives you city, culture, and proper tropical island vibes all together. If you have fewer days, I’d say skip Ishigaki region or do just Naha + Kerama. If you have more, add Miyakojima – I’m still salty I couldn’t fit it in, everybody kept saying its beaches are next-level even compared to Ishigaki.

Reaching Okinawa from India (and Getting Around)#

From India there’s no direct flight as of now. I flew Bengaluru → Tokyo Haneda → Naha. A lot of people also go via Osaka or Fukuoka. If you’re planning Japan trip anyway, just keep Okinawa as your last leg, so you can chill after running around cities.

Inside Okinawa:

  • Naha Airport is the main hub – flights to other islands like Ishigaki, Miyako, Kume, etc.
  • Inter‑island flights: JAL, ANA, Peach, Skymark – watch for sale fares, they do decent discounts if you book early
  • Ferries: connect main island to Kerama, Kume, and between Ishigaki–Taketomi–Iriomote. Check latest schedules because weather changes everything last minute.

Within Naha city you have monorail + buses. Once you go away from city though, buses are little slow. Many travellers rent car, and honestly if you’re comfortable driving, do it. Indian license + IDP based on 1949 convention usually works, but double check latest rules before you go. I used a mix – buses in Naha, rental scooter on one island, lots of walking and some shared taxis.

Where I Stayed & Rough Budget (In Rupees Style)#

Okinawa is not dirt cheap, but if you’re used to metro city prices in India and some Southeast Asia travel, it’s manageable with planning.

Approx costs when I went (per night):

  • Hostels / guesthouses: ¥2,000–4,000 (around ₹1,200–2,400) – dorm bed, clean, often with kitchen
  • Business hotels: ¥5,000–8,000 (₹3,000–5,000) – small rooms but comfy, good for couples or if you want privacy
  • Beach resorts / fancy stays: ¥10,000+ (₹6,000 and upwards) – especially in Miyakojima, Ishigaki, Onna village

I mostly did hostels and one mid‑range hotel near Naha’s Kokusai Dori. In Ishigaki I stayed at a family‑run minshuku (like a homestay) where obaasan (grandmom) kept insisting I eat more goya champuru and asking about “Indo curry” with this super curious face. That place made my whole trip honestly.

Naha: More Than Just a Transit City#

Most people treat Naha like a landing and leaving place. But if you ignore it, you’ll miss a lot of Ryukyu history and actual local life. Also, food. So much food.

Things I’d actually recommend:

  • Kokusai Dori: Yes touristy, but fun. Evening street music, souvenir shops, izakayas. Side lanes (Heiwa Dori etc.) are where it starts feeling more real and chaotic – like a Japanese version of our old bazaars.
  • Makishi Public Market: All kinds of seafood, pork, tropical fruits. You can buy fish downstairs and get it cooked upstairs – proper coastal style. Smell is strong, just saying.
  • Shuri Castle area: Rebuilding after the fire, so do check the latest status, but the surroundings, gates, and views still give you that old Ryukyu kingdom feel.
  • Peace Memorial Park: Heavy place emotionally. Tells the story of the Battle of Okinawa. Changed how I looked at the island, honestly. Not just beaches and pretty water.

I spent one lazy evening just sitting in a small bar listening to live sanshin (traditional three‑string instrument) music. The singer was doing Okinawan folk songs, and there were Japanese families singing along and clapping. Didn’t understand a word, but you know that feeling when something just hits your chest? That.

Kerama Islands: The First Time I Actually Gasped at Water Colour#

From Naha I took a ferry to Tokashiki Island in the Kerama group. Around 50–70 minutes depending on which ferry you take. I’d booked my ticket in advance because long weekends get booked out now with domestic tourists and divers.

I’m not exaggerating – when the ferry was nearing, the sea colour changed from normal blue to this crazy Kerama‑blue. Like someone turned saturation to max. I’ve seen Andaman water before, Lakshadweep also in photos, but this… different shade only.

What I did there:

  • Aharen Beach: White sand, perfect swimming spot, rentals for snorkel gear. Lot of families, very safe vibes.
  • Snorkeling with sea turtles: This was the highlight. I booked with a small local shop (around ¥5,000–6,000 for a 2–3 hour tour). Swam above two sea turtles just casually grazing sea grass, like it’s no big deal. I was losing my mind inside the snorkel mask.
  • Zamami Island day trip: Took another ferry, rented a cycle, hopped between beaches. Furuzamami beach is stunning for snorkeling right off the shore.

If you get seasick, btw, please carry medicine. The sea can look calm but the ferry can still toss you around. I saw one poor guy just lying on the floor the entire ride.

Ishigaki & Yaeyama: Where It Starts Feeling Like Another Country#

Flying to Ishigaki from Naha felt like I was going even further away from mainland Japan. More palm trees, more island tempo, more Chinese/Taiwanese influences also because geographically it’s closer that side.

Ishigaki town itself is small but lively – port, shopping streets, izakayas, dive shops. From here you basically fan out to the other Yaeyama islands.

Stuff I really loved:

  • Kabira Bay: Iconic viewpoint. You can’t swim there but glass‑bottom boat rides show coral and fish. Early morning is best before tour buses arrive.
  • Taketomi Island: Short ferry away. Traditional Ryukyu houses, stone walls, buffalo carts (little touristy but still cute), chill beaches. I rented a cycle and basically just roamed around like a lost child, which was perfect.
  • Iriomote Island: Wild one. Mangroves, waterfalls, jungle hikes, river cruises. If you like nature more than city, keep a whole day or even a night here.

In Yaeyama, I felt food and language got even more local. Some menus only in Japanese, some aunties speaking in Okinawan dialect, but everyone tried to help when I said “Indo kara kimashita” (I came from India). One old guy started talking about Bollywood randomly, I still don’t know how we ended up there.

Food: Not Just Sushi, Thank God#

As Indians we always secretly worry – will I find veg food, will I survive without masala. Okinawa is manageable if you’re little flexible.

Some local dishes you should try:

  • Okinawa soba: Not like typical Japanese soba. Thick wheat noodles in pork or fish broth. Comfort food vibes, like our simple bowl of maggi but more soulful.
  • Goya champuru: Stir‑fried bitter gourd with egg, tofu, pork sometimes. As Indians we’re like, haa karela, we know this pain already. I actually loved it.
  • Rafute: Braised pork belly, melts in your mouth. Not for vegetarians, obviously.
  • Taco rice: Okinawa’s American influence – taco fillings on rice. Weird on paper, addictive in real life.
  • Blue Seal ice cream: Local ice cream brand. Flavours like beniimo (purple sweet potato), salt cookies, etc. I may or may not have had it daily.

Vegetarian / vegan travellers – you won’t get variety like in Thailand, but you won’t starve. Look for:

  • Onigiri (rice balls) with ume or kombu fillings from convenience stores
  • Set meals with tofu, seaweed, vegetables – ask them to skip meat/dashi if possible
  • Italian places doing simple margarita pizza, pasta in tomato or aglio e olio

Google Maps reviews are a life saver, but also just ask – people are getting more used to dietary requests these days, especially in popular areas.

Latest Vibe Check: Safety, Trends & Practical Stuff#

Okinawa right now is quite tourist friendly but also going through some changes. There’s been a steady increase in both domestic and international visitors, especially divers and people chasing less crowded beaches compared to Southeast Asia. So what does that mean for us?

Quick practical notes from what I saw and what locals mentioned:

  • Safety: Honestly one of the safest places I’ve been. People leave phones on tables, bags open. Still, basic common sense yaar – don’t be that overconfident person.
  • Health & sea conditions: Always check beach flags and local warnings. Some spots have strong currents, jellyfish seasons, or restricted coral areas. Lifeguards are present in major beaches but not everywhere.
  • Environment: There’s a big push now about protecting coral and not stepping on reefs. Use reef‑safe sunscreen if you can, don’t stand on coral for selfies, don’t touch turtles and all.
  • Cash vs card: Cards widely accepted in cities and bigger shops, but remote islands and small eateries still like cash. 7‑Eleven/FamilyMart ATMs were my regular stop.
  • Connectivity: Wi‑Fi decent in town, weaker in remote areas. I used an eSIM and it worked fine most places except dense jungle parts of Iriomote.

One thing I really liked – even though tourism is rising, Okinawa doesn’t feel like it’s turned into full commercial circus. People still live their normal life, school kids in uniforms, old uncles doing evening walks, small family shops. You’re sort of fitting into their world instead of them performing a show for you.

Couple of Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before#

– Island time is real. Ferries aren’t always on time, and sometimes they just cancel because wind said so. Don’t plan super tight connections.

– Sun is brutal. I underestimated it badly the first day, ended up walking around like a roasted tandoori paneer. Cap, sunscreen, and water bottle are non‑negotiable.

– Driving at night on smaller islands can be slightly spooky. Very dark, hardly any street lights, random cats jumping out. Go slow.

– Learn few words: “Haisai” (hi in Okinawan dialect) and “Nifee deebiru” (thank you) made locals smile instantly. My pronunciation was horrible but effort counts, na.

Would I Go Back to the Ryukyu Islands?#

100%. No doubt. I barely scratched Miyako side, didn’t do enough diving, and there are so many smaller islands that most of us haven’t even heard of yet. Also, island places have this funny effect – when you come back home and you’re stuck in traffic and noise, your brain keeps replaying that one evening where you were just sitting on a beach doing absolutely nothing, listening to waves and some random sanshin music from a distance. And you think… why do we live like this again?

If you’re planning a Japan itinerary and you want something beyond the normal temple–city–shopping loop, seriously consider adding Okinawa and a bit of Ryukyu island hopping. It’s more planning, little more cost, but the experience is so different that it feels like bonus country inside your Japan trip.

I’ll probably do a detailed breakdown later – exact costs, what I spent where, and maybe a sample 7‑day island hopping plan – I’ve been jotting notes anyway. Till then, if you want more real‑people travel stories and not just brochure type stuff, I keep sharing my finds and guides over on AllBlogs.in, so you can always check there when you start plotting your own Okinawa escape.