Okinawa is long enough that where you sleep shapes what you see. Most visitors choose between the capital, Naha, in the south, and a beach resort on the west coast, and many split their stay between the two. The choice mostly depends on whether you want city life and easy transport, or sea views and a quieter pace.
Naha: the practical and cultural choice
Staying in Naha puts you beside the best food, the history of Shuri Castle and the Yui Rail monorail, which links the airport with the centre and the castle. You can do a lot without a car, and evenings on Kokusai Street are a pleasure. Three of our hotels are here, around Makishi and Miebashi. The Hyatt Regency Naha, Okinawa is the upper pick, three minutes on foot from Kokusai Street, with pools and a club lounge. Hotel JAL City Naha is the comfortable mid-range choice right on the street, with family rooms and a well-regarded breakfast. The Toyoko Inn Okinawa Naha Kokusai-dori Miebashi-eki is the budget option, one minute from Miebashi Station with free breakfast, though check-in closes at ten in the evening.
Onna: luxury on the west coast
Onna Village is where the island's beach resorts cluster, with white sand, calm water and views west over the East China Sea. Halekulani Okinawa is the splurge pick, a five-star resort with ocean-view rooms, villas with private pools and a long beach. It works best for three nights or more, with a rental car or a taxi for day trips, because the resort is largely self-contained and the drive from Naha Airport takes roughly an hour and a quarter. It is a strong choice for honeymooners, couples and families who want space. The ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort, beside Cape Manzamo, is the large family-friendly alternative, with a long beach, pools and a children's club.
Yomitan and Chatan: the central coast
Between Naha and the main resort strip, the central west coast works well if you want to see both the south and the north. Hotel Nikko Alivila in Yomitan is a Mediterranean-style beach resort close to Zakimi Castle and the pottery village, and the Hilton Okinawa Chatan Resort sits near American Village, with restaurants, shops and sunset views a short walk away. Both are roughly an hour or less from the airport, and Naha, Nakagusuku Castle and the Onna coast are all within easy reach by car.
Nago and the north coast: aquarium and nature
Nago is the main town of the north and the natural base for the Churaumi Aquarium, Neo Park, Kouri Island and Nakijin Castle. The Okinawa Marriott Resort and Spa sits here, with sea-facing rooms, a large garden pool and a beach a short walk away. It is a good family base, and you can see the whole north in two days from it. Allow around ninety minutes to two hours to reach it from the airport.
Splitting your stay
A popular plan is two or three nights in Naha for history and food, then two or three at a resort on the coast for the sea and the north. Collect a rental car on the day you leave Naha rather than at the airport, to avoid paying for parking while you explore the city. If you want to visit the Kerama Islands, stay in Naha, because the boats leave from the city port.
When to book
Naha hotels fill at weekends and holidays, and resorts are most expensive in summer, Golden Week and around New Year. Winter and early spring are quieter, with milder weather, and some pools and beach facilities close seasonally, so check what is open on your dates. Whichever base you choose, the island is small enough that your next sight is always a drive or monorail ride away.
