5 days and 4 nights in Okinawa

Day 1:

Today's the day we're off to Okinawa! We hopped on the metro and then caught a train to get to Kansai Airport in Osaka. Our flight was scheduled for 11:50 a.m., and after a little wait, we were up in the air. Luckily, our flight took off on time, and after a two-hour journey, we landed in Okinawa!

We couldn't wait to dive into the beautiful blue waters and explore the island, but to our disappointment, it was pouring rain. It was storming outside, and we got completely soaked. What a pity! We're staying in the capital city, Naha, and it turns out that everything we wanted to do is pretty far away. The transportation here is unlike what we're used to. It's all part of that island life vibe. But hey, we decided to end the day on a positive note at an Izakaya restaurant.

In case you're not familiar what an Izakaya restaurant is, an Izakaya restaurant is like a laid-back Japanese pub where they serve drinks and snacks. It's the perfect spot for some casual post work relaxation, and it sure cheered us up. So, even though our Okinawa adventure had a bit of a rocky start, we know that good food and good vibes always has our backs. Tomorrow is a new day, and who knows what it has in store for us!

Izakaya restaurant, Okinawa, 2023

Day 2:

The day got off to a fantastic start. A good morning and a decent night of sleep. At least, that's what I thought at first. See, I had this grand idea of winging it in Okinawa, just going with the flow and embracing the whole "you only live once" philosophy. Turns out, that plan was a total flop haha. Everything seemed to be going south, especially when Robin realized he'd forgotten the two most important items for our trip: his international driver's license and his snorkeling gear. That meant no motorcycle rentals and no self snorkeling adventures, which was a real heartbreaker because all we wanted was a good swim. We were silently crying inside for the lost opportunities.

So, we decided to explore Naha on foot, hoping to save the rest of the day. We stumbled upon a travel agency near our hotel. To be honest, I didn't even recognize it as a travel agency at first. I was too busy looking at Pikachu and some other Pokémon on the window! It was only when I really looked that I thought, "Oh, this must be a travel agency." It was called LeaLea. So, we went inside, and naturally, everything was in Japanese. Talk about needing some help! Haha. Thankfully, the lady at the agency was incredibly helpful, and we ended up booking two different tours. It's not like we had any other plans anyway, right? These tours brought new life into our Okinawa trip, and our excitement started to return.

After sorting out our tours, we figured we might as well hit up the nearest beach. Although calling it a "city beach" would be more accurate since it was practically next to the highway. I'd never seen anything like this in my life! You know, when you see those gorgeous Okinawa pictures online, you assume the whole place looks like that, but boy, was I mistaken haha. Despite not matching my mental image, it was surprisingly refreshing and relaxing, especially in this scorching weather. For dinner, we ended up back at the same Izakaya restaurant in front of our hotel. It was just too darn good to resist. Who could blame us for going back for round two?

Day 3:

Today was the day we had high hopes for a fantastic adventure! We had to wake up early to catch a bus to the stunning Blue Caves in Onna and then head over to the Mihama American Village in Chatan. It took us about an hour to reach the pickup point where the snorkeling and diving company, Sword Fish, was set to collect us. After a brief introduction, we were on our way to the Blue Caves. It was my first time wearing a wetsuit, and I have to admit, it felt a bit weird, but hey, better safe than sorry, right? No jellyfish stings or rock scrapes for me! My smile was ear to ear as I caught my first glimpse of the ocean. I couldn't wait to dive right in! And there I was, in the water, feeling like a happy potato, haha. Oh, how I have missed the sea.

While snorkeling, I encountered many fishes, and some even swam remarkably close to me. We swam alongside a group towards the Blue Cave. I'll admit, it was a bit nerve-wracking at first – who willingly swims into a cave?! I kept thinking, "What if a kraken or something lives in there, haha?" But once I was inside, it wasn't as scary as I imagined. In fact, it was stunningly beautiful. The highlight was undoubtedly the exit from the cave. The way the sunlight shined on the water and illuminated the cave's entrance was so beautiful! After an hour of swimming and snorkeling, it was time for lunch back at Sword Fish, which was included in the trip. We had a lovely view of the blue waters while we ate.

Around 2:00 p.m., we set off for our next destination, the Mihama American Village, and yes, it's really called that. The name originates from its history as a former American military base, and I couldn't help but feel like I'd stepped into Miami. While strolling around, I stumbled upon a Pokémon, Squirtle. I thought, "Huh, how cool is that?" As I continued exploring, I spotted an advertisement mentioning several Pokémon spots you could discover. It's called Pokegenic, and these are photogenic Pokémon themed decorations scattered around the village. I was determined to find them all! But first, we decided to take a swim to cool off. The hunt began. Armed with a map indicating how many we needed to find, we managed to locate all of them, except for one that was just too far away. Additionally, there were some random Pokémon hidden throughout the Village. Super cute surprises.

Pokegenic and Sword Fish restaurant view, Okinawa, 2023

After this thrilling adventure, we grabbed a bite to eat. American Village turned out to be a bit on the pricey side, but we expected that since it's a tourist spot. All in all, this trip was very well organized, and I couldn't be happier with how the day turned out!

Mihama American Village, Okinawa, 2023

Day 4:

The next day, we had to wake up super early to catch a speed ferry to Tokashiki Island. The boat left at 9 a.m., so we had to get moving since it was a 20 minute walk to the port. Yep, we decided to walk from our hotel. 20 minutes isn’t bad, plus when you’re traveling, you easily hit 20,000 steps a day anyway, haha. We grabbed a quick breakfast from Lawson and made our way to the ferry.

I’m such an island girl—something about being on open water makes me so excited! The ferry ride took about 40 minutes, and when we arrived at Tokashiki Port, a mini-bus was waiting to take us to our destination. The drive through the island was so different from the city, just pure lush nature, rolling hills, and the most peaceful vibes. Loved it! After some twists and turns, we arrived at a small beachfront hotel with a private beach. The views? Breathtaking. I couldn’t wait to jump in the ocean! At the reception, we got a quick intro on how things worked, including restaurant hours. The hotel was simple, nothing fancy, but had everything we needed. We picked up our day bracelets and got our snorkeling gear, which was included in the tour. And the best part? This area is known for sea turtles! No promises, but hey, maybe luck was on our side.

Tokashiki Island, Okinawa, 2023

This day was all about relaxation. No plans, no rushing—just snorkeling, sunbathing, and eating. After traveling so much in Japan, this chill day was exactly what we needed. Unfortunately, we didn't see any sea turtle's, but we did see a lot of sea life.

Pro tip: Don’t forget sunscreen, because the sun is still super strong this time of year!

Around 5 p.m., the mini-bus took us back to the port, and we hopped on the ferry back to Naha, feeling totally refreshed. And of course, we ended up back at the Izakaya restaurant in front of our hotel. I mean, why not? It’s convenient, the atmosphere is great, and the staff is lovely.

Another successful and unforgettable day in Okinawa!

Day 5:

Today started off slow, and honestly, I wasn’t mad about it. I finally got to sleep in! After waking up early almost every day, this was much needed. Plus, I was smart about it and booked our flight back to Osaka for 1:00 p.m., with hotel checkout at 11:00 a.m.. More sleep? Yes, please!

Looking back, our Okinawa trip started off a bit messy, but it turned out to be amazing. If only we hadn’t left our international driver’s license in our suitcase back on the mainland, things would have been totally different. We would’ve had more freedom to explore instead of booking tours. But honestly? No regrets. The tours were so worth it, and we still got to experience Okinawa’s beauty in a unique way.

Until next time, Okinawa! Next adventure, I’m doing things differently and hopefully not forget anything!

Adventure is out there🌟