How much does it cost to travel to Okinawa?
You should plan to spend around $105 (¥15,896) per day on your vacation in Okinawa. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $23 (¥3,525) on meals
- $9.43 (¥1,429) on local transportation
- $146 (¥22,080) on hotels
A one week trip to Okinawa for two people costs, on average, $1,470 (¥222,541). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Okinawa has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Okinawa expensive to visit?
Prices in Okinawa are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within Asia, Okinawa is a somewhat more expensive destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Asia for its travel costs. While some cities in the region are more expensive, Okinawa is generally more expensive than most.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Okinawa Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Okinawa?
The average Okinawa trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Okinawa travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
Category
|
Cost
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
¥22,080
($146)
|
Local Transportation 1
|
¥1,429
($9)
|
Food 2
|
¥3,525
($23)
|
Entertainment 1
|
¥2,071
($14)
|
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Alcohol 2
|
¥1,104 -
3,313
($7 - 22)
|
Accommodation Budget in Okinawa
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Okinawa is $73 (¥11,040). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Okinawa is $146 (¥22,080). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Okinawa? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Okinawa
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Okinawa is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $9.43 (¥1,429) per person, per day, on local transportation in Okinawa.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$9.43
¥1,429
How much does it cost to go to Okinawa? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Okinawa will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Okinawa
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Okinawa can vary, the average cost of food in Okinawa is $23 (¥3,525) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Okinawa should cost around $9.31 (¥1,410) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Okinawa is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$23
¥3,525
Entertainment Budget in Okinawa
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Okinawa typically cost an average of $14 (¥2,071) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$14
¥2,071
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Alcohol Budget in Okinawa
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $15 (¥2,209) on alcoholic beverages in Okinawa per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$15
¥2,209
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Okinawa On a Budget
Okinawa, Japan
Okinawa is the southernmost prefecture of Japan and includes hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands. The chain of islands is off the southern mainland portion of the country and is made up of 49 inhabited islands and over one hundred uninhabited islands. Naha is Okinawa's capital, which is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island.
Okinawa's pleasant climate and easy accessibility make it a popular travel destination for Japanese and international travelers alike. While it remains slightly undiscovered among foreign travelers, this continues to change every year.
Okinawa is an interesting place to visit in that it has its own unique culture and language. The population identifies themselves as unique from those living on mainland Japan and there remains a subtle, lingering resentment based on historical tensions that existed in the area. Okinawans refer to themselves as uminchu, or "sea people." Okinawans are credited with the creation of the martial art of karate. The area's music and food has also grown in popularity and the music shares many similarities with American rock and jazz. It is often played on the sanshin, which is a banjo like instrument.
Okinawa has a subtropical/tropical climate. The temperature stays about 68 degrees Fahrenheit most of the year and the islands are surrounded by beautiful coral reefs.
Sights
There are some interesting sights around Okinawa, but most people come to the islands to soak up some sun on the beaches. You can usually expect comfortable weather, even during the winter months when mainland Japan gets quite cold.
Cultural sights in the area include the Shuri Castle, which was rebuilt in Naha, and the well preserved village of Taketomi in the southern Yaeyama Islands. There are also several historical sights that relate to World War II. Most are located on the main island of Okinawa with the most famous being Peace Memorial Park in Naha, the navy's former underground headquarters, and the Himeyuri Monument.
Churaumi Aquarium on the Motobu peninsula is one of the most impressive aquariums in the world. It has one of the world's largest tanks where you can see whale sharks and manta rays.
Neighborhoods
Okinawa's inhabited islands are divided into the geographical archipelagos: Okinawa Islands, Miyako Islands, and Yaeyama Islands. Okinawa Islands are in the northeast and include Ie-jima, Kume-jima, Okinawa Island, and Kerama Islands. Miyako Islands are where you'll find Miyako-jima. Yaeyama Islands include Iriomote-jima, Ishigaki Island and Yonaguni.
Major cities include Ginowan, Ishigaki, Itoman, Miyakojima, Nago, Naha, Nanjo, Okinawa, Tomigusuku, Urasoe, and Uruma.
Activities
Okinawa offers some of Japan's best water sports. It is possible to enjoy snorkeling, diving, surfing, sailing, or fishing around the islands. The area is a world class diving destnation with over 400 types of corals, 5 types of sea turtles, manta rays, whale sharks and hammerhead sharks, as well as plenty of tropical fish. Snorkeling is best off of the smaller islands. Tokashiki is a popular day trip from Naha and can be reached by ferry.
Although surfing is popular, it's quite challenging in the area. The waves break over shallow rocks or reef and the waves can be challenging.
Offshore fishing is world class. Many of the fish are seasonal, but there are usually fish for every season. Marlin, mahi mahi, and tuna are all abundant in the area.
Food and Dining
Okinawa has it's own distinct cuisine that is very unique from traditional Japanese cuisine. The dishes are actually heavily influenced by Taiwanese cuisine. Common ingredients include pork, bitter melon, purple yam, mango, papaya, pineapple, dragonfruit, and calamansi. There are many local restaurants around the area where you can sample some local cuisine.
Interestingly, there are also several American chain restaurants that came to the area to serve the US military, even before they reached mainland Japan. A&W is available and serves hamburgers and root beer. Spam is also common throughout the islands.
Transportation
In Japan, trains are one of the fastest and lowest cost means of transportation. Getting a
Japan Rail Pass can save you money if you plan to stay for several days or more. Regional and nation-wide passes are available, usually for the number of days of your choice.
The cheapest domestic flights to Okinawa are usually into Naha, although there are direct flights to other islands including Miyako and Ishigaki.
If you're planning to travel between islands, it is possible by either ferry or plane. Many of the smaller islands are very infrequently serviced, so it is better to stick with the more populated, larger islands. Once on an island, it is possible to travel most places by public buses, which are readily available almost anywhere.
Related:
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.