Everyone's looking to travel and enjoy after a hard lockdown period.
Sharing this itinerary that we did as a family in FEB2020. Flight prices and quarantine period might be very different from the time you read this so please check the travel rules and stay safe.
This itinerary to Okinawa is uniquely via Bangkok and suited for young families =)
Singapore to Bangkok (BKK) then to OKINAWA
We flew to BKK first (not directly to Naha) for two reasons.
Firstly, we wanted to shop in Bangkok =).
Secondly, it is much cheaper than flying to BKK with Jetstar and then to NAHA by PEACH airlines than directly by Jetstar from SG to Naha. Best of both worlds... Crazy right?
Whether you are flying from BKK to NAHA or SG to NAHA, it is also a midnight flight. Not easy with young kids.
Bangkok needs no introduction. First night was in city centre and any hotel will do.
Before leaving on the second night. we checked into Great Residence Suvarnabhumi Hotel at about 5pm just to have a place to rest and let the little one sleep before our midnight journey to the airport. I am so thankful for that bit more of rest. It was like $30 only.
Address: 1892/1-3 Lat Krabang District, Lat Krabang, Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, Thailand, 10520
The place is 5min away from the airport and very cheap. Clean enough also that we all caught a 2hr nap before the flight.
And it's so peaceful there... we dined our last BKK meal at their restaurant.
The hotel provides hourly shuttle to airport and it is FREE.
We took the 12midnight shuttle.
5min trip and we reached airport in time for 1.45am flight to Naha airport to fly by PEACH.
Day 1: Toubaru Park, Futenma Shrine and Check-in Hotel Mahaina Wellness Resorts Okinawa
Finally to OKINAWA. The flight is 4h 20min long.
We arrived at 8am and rented car from OTIS.
Pick up rental car (free pickup service from airport). Counter is right outside airport arrival door.
OTS RENT A CAR Rental location: Toyosaki Main Office(Naha Airport)
From there, we drove 30min drive to TOUBARU PARK
Toubaru Park 桃原公園 Address: 北谷町字吉原５５４番地の１
Mapcode for GPS: 33 558 227
The Long roller slide was the highlight! Feels at least 6 stories tall.
It was super fun and the place is very quiet which is good!
Next, we went to FUTENMA SHRINE which is a 15min drive from there.
There's a lava cave, very nice! Permission to enter is needed at the counter.
Futenma Shrine 普天間宮.
Address: 〒901-2202 沖縄県宜野湾市普天間 1-27-10
Mapcode for GPS: 33 438 615 Website: http://futenmagu.or.jp
Lastly, we headed north towards MOTOBU. We chose to stay at Hotel Mahaina Wellness Resorts Okinawa.
Breakfast is pretty good. The room was also spacious enough for the three of us.
Drive up is about 1h 15min.
There is food around hotel area.
PS: Dinner recommendations! Steakhouse 88. Free flow salad bar with steak order. YUMMY!
Day 2 Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and Ocean Expo Park
Before that, we purchased admission tickets to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium at a discounted rate with OTS Rent-a-Car.
Be prepared to spend a whole day there! It is worth it! =)
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and Ocean Expo Park is a 10min drive from hotel
Address: 905-0206 424 Ishikawa, Motobu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture
Website for Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium: https://churaumi.okinawa/en/
Website for Okinawa Ocean Expo Park: http://oki-park.jp/kaiyohaku/en/
Mapcode for GPS: 553075768*42 (Car Park 7, which is nearest to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium)
There's also an outdoor dolphin show.
We paid to feed dolphins for 500yen too =)
Lunch to Ma-Blue Garden House for some Hawaii cuisine!
Japan, 〒905-0208 Okinawa, Kunigami District, Motobu, 字 新里２４７−１
We've been to Hawaii like 9years back and food there was interesting.
It was a fusion between japanese (that's why rice) and american (that's why hamburger). Sprinkled with local flavours and pineapple. Ma-Blue offers Hawaii cuisine =)
After lunch, we went back to hotel to rest.
Then at 5pm, we returned back at 5pm for whale shark feeding.
Look at the whale shark
At 6pm, you can collect the aquarium game card! Boys like cards...
So hang around for it =)
Day 3: Dinosaur park, Neopark and check-in Rizzan Sea Park Hotel Tancha Bay
After check out we drove 15min to Pizza in the sky (image below)!
The road up is hilly and secluded. We reached at 11am plus but there was already a crazy queue.
Can also try Anettai Chaya (Hammock Garden) 亜熱帯茶屋 which is beside it
Next, we headed to Dinosaur park which is about 6km and another 15min drive.
There is a nice restaurant opposite the dinosaur park and we happily ate there instead.
Recommend to spend at least 1hr there. It is pretty good actually.
Dinosaur Park, Nakayama, Nago-shi, Okinawa-ken 905-0004
We next headed to Neopark okinawa which was another 15min drive down.
There is a botanical park & zoo featuring petting & feeding areas, plus train rides.
Overall, this park is a little sad. Animals seem to be too cramped up for my liking.
Address: 4607-41 Nago, Okinawa 905-0012, Japan. 9Am to 5.30pm
Discounted tickets can be bought with OTS also.
After that, we drove 30min down to Rizzan Sea Park Hotel Tancha Bay.
Rizzan Sea park hotel Tancha bay 1496 tancha onna-son Japan 904-0496
The whole area around Rizzan Sea Park Hotel Tancha Bay has lots of eateries.
Even the hotel has like 4 or 5 buffet restaurants for you to choose.
But instead, we chose dinner at Steakhouse 88 again which is a 5min drive down from hotel.
Day 4: Cape Manzamo, Zakimi Castle Ruins and Cape Zanpa Lighthouse
For Cape Manzamo, you'd really need to go early.
We reached at 10am and it was already getting crowded. Tour buses were starting to come in.
From hotel, it is a 15min drive up.
There is only one path in and if there are tour groups, it's going to be hard to take pictures.
Cape Manzamo (Okinawa Kaigan Quasi-National Par) 万座毛 Mapcode: 206 312 038
After resting in the hotel for lunch, we headed down 45min to Zakimi Castle Ruins.
座喜味城跡 708-6 Zakimi, 読谷村 Yomitan, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0301, Japan
Personally, I feel this place is underrated.
Very peaceful and we even had a picnic around there for awhile.
Then, we headed to Cape Zanpa Lighthouse 残波岬灯台 Uza, Yomitan, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0328, Japan which is a 15min drive from Zakimi castle Ruins.
There were 9 cute little cats around the park area (One of which is in thumbnail image above). The lighthouse is also a must see in our opinion.
We then went back to hotel RIzzan Sea Park Hotel Tancha Bay for buffet BBQ dinner.
And our 5yo ate for FREE! =)
Day 5: Araha Park, Blue Seal Ice Cream Factory and drive to Daiwa Roynet Hotel Naha Omoromachi
Next morning, we headed down to Blue Seal Ice Cream factory which is a 45min drive down.
Blue Seal Ice Park, 905-0206 Okinawa Urasoe City Makiminato 5-5-6
Blue Seal has quite a history and a major ice-cream brand around Okinawa. They have a make your own ice cream class for 1500 yen but we didnt go for it.
Tried the salt ice cream which was disappointingly not salty enough
After lunch, we headed to Araha Park which is a 15min drive from blue seal ice cream factory.
The Beach was beautiful! Must see!
There's a pirate ship for kids with a Tarzan rope. Boys will certainly love it!
Many playground for small kids and basketball courts.
After that we headed into NAHA. Drive down was about 30min.
Daiwa Roynet Hotel Naha Omoromachi
1-1-12 Omoromachi, Naha, Okinawa Main island, Japan 900-0006
We returned the car at the terminal opposite the hotel which is at DFS Branch (Omoromachi Monorail Station). There are petrol stations near also.
TIP if you are using OTS: After returning car, go to level 2 and walk to next connected mall to get back ETC deposit from their OTS counter.
Day 6: Flight back to SG from Naha airport
It was a fun trip to Okinawa. Flight back to Singapore is early morning 9am by Jetstar.
We took Didi chuxing and used a discount code for 500Yen off from total ride of about 1900Yen.
It was a 15min car ride to the airport and the end of our lovely trip!