Naha

Naha is Okinawa's capital and main gateway, where you can visit Shuri Castle, walk Kokusai-dori and catch ferries to the Kerama Islands from Tomari wharf.

Find a room in Naha Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Naha

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Naha is the capital of Okinawa Prefecture, on the southwest coast of Okinawa Island and facing the East China Sea. It is the prefecture's largest city and its main gateway, with an airport and a port that serve mainland Japan and the outlying islands. In the Ryukyu Kingdom period, Naha was the commercial hub and a major port, while the royal capital, Shuri, lay nearby and is now part of the city. Shuri Castle, the former royal palace, was destroyed in 1945 and has since been rebuilt.

Kokusai-dori, the main street, runs about 1.6 km past shops, restaurants and bars and ends at the main bus terminal. Makishi Public Market sits just off it, selling fresh fish, meat, produce and liquor. The central roads are narrow and congested, so the Yui Rail monorail and local buses are often quicker than driving. Naha has a humid subtropical climate: July and August are the hottest months, rain falls all year, and winters are mild. A daily ferry leaves Tomari wharf for Kagoshima, and small ferries serve the Kerama Islands.

Naha in five

Ride the Yui Rail from the airportThe monorail reaches Kencho-mae in about 13 minutes and Shuri in 27–30, running from about 6:00 to 23:30. It is Okinawa's only rail line and it stops at Naha's edge.Where to stay in Naha
Base near Kokusai-dori or AsahibashiKokusai-dori has the food and late nights. Asahibashi has the bus terminal and is the closest station to the Kerama ferries at Tomari Port.Compare Naha areas
See Shuri Castle after 23 NovemberThe rebuilt main hall is scheduled to open its interior to visitors on 23 November 2026. Before then you can see the finished exterior from the walkway.
Take the fast ferry to the Kerama IslandsFrom Tomari Port, Tokashiki is about 40 minutes and Zamami 50–70. Only a few boats run per day, so plan the return before you choose the morning departure.
Rent a car only for the northYou will not need a car inside Naha. For Churaumi Aquarium and the north coast, rent for a day or two and skip the parking hunt in the city.Okinawa travel guide

Things to do in Naha

See all attractions in Naha

Museum · NahaOkinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum (Okimyu)

Garden · NahaShikina-en Royal Gardens

Market · NahaMakishi Public Market

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to NahaPut the places you like in Naha on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Getting there: Naha Airport (OKA), 13 min to Kencho-mae by Yui Rail
Getting around: Yui Rail about 6:00–23:30; buses and taxis beyond it
Best base: Kokusai-dori first trip, Asahibashi for ferries
Time needed: 1–2 days, plus days for Kerama or the north
Accommodation tax: 2% per person, per night from 1 Feb 2027; capped at ¥2,000

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryCloudy11 rainy daysHigh19°Low16°Whale season
FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low16°Cherry blossom
MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh21°Low18°Mild, breezy
AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low20°Sunny, Golden Week
MayRain17 rainy daysHigh25°Low23°Rainy season
JuneRain22 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Rainy season
JulyRain21 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low27°Beach season
AugustRain22 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low27°Typhoon risk
SeptemberRain24 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh29°Low27°Typhoon risk
OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh27°Low25°Warm, clear
NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh24°Low21°Mild, dry
DecemberRain12 rainy daysHigh21°Low18°Cool, dry

Average daily high and low in Naha, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Naha

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 23°
Humidity: 74%
Wind: 23 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Okinawa

06:56 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+9

Today25°22°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed27°22°22%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 27°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 22%.
Thu27°22°25%Thursday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 25%.
Fri26°22°32%Friday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 32%.
Sat26°21°8%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 26°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 8%.
Sun26°22°12%Sunday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 12%.

Updated 03:14 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 157.5 JPY

Amount

Converted to

JPY · Japanese Yen

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Kerama Islands40–70 min by fast ferryTokashiki, Zamami and Aka for beaches and snorkeling, with whales in winter.
Churaumi AquariumAbout 2 hours by car or busWhale sharks and manta rays on the Motobu peninsula; open 8:30–18:30.
Southern battlefieldsAbout 30–45 min by carThe Peace Memorial Park and the Himeyuri museum on the south coast.
Yaeyama IslandsAbout 1 hour by planeIshigaki and Iriomote are better as an overnight trip than a day trip.Read the guide

Before you go to Naha

Kerama Islands day tripsFerry and snorkel days from TomariCompare day trips

Rental car for the northChuraumi Aquarium and the coastCheck car prices

eSIM for JapanData from the airport, no SIM swapRead the guide

Travel insuranceTyphoon delays and medical coverRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Naha, checked

Okinawa accommodation tax: 2% of the room charge per person, per night, capped at ¥2,000, for stays from 1 February 2027.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source

All Naha guides

Where to stayWhere to stay in Naha: four bases from Kokusai-dori to TomariChecked Oct 3, 2026

Plan around Naha

Okinawa travel guide

Rainy season, typhoons and how to plan the main island.

Read the guide Ishigaki or Iriomote

A one-hour flight south: where to base and how many nights.

Read the guide Best time to visit Japan

Blossom, rainy season, typhoons and the weeks to avoid.

Read the guide Money in Japan

Cash, cards and ATMs, including at small island shops.

Read the guide eSIM for Japan

Coverage and plans for a trip that includes islands.

Read the guide

Naha FAQ

How many days do you need in Naha?

One full day covers Shuri Castle, Kokusai-dori and Makishi Market; two days adds the Tomari waterfront and a slow morning. Add extra days for the Kerama Islands or a drive to Churaumi Aquarium.

Where should I stay in Naha?

Kokusai-dori for a first trip with food on the doorstep. Asahibashi if you have an early Kerama ferry or a north-coast bus, and Omoromachi for malls and easy car pickup.

Is Shuri Castle open?

Yes, the grounds are open, and the rebuilt main hall's exterior can be seen from the walkway. The interior is scheduled to open on 23 November 2026, so check the official park page before you go.

Do you need a car in Naha?

Not in the city. The Yui Rail, buses and taxis cover Naha. Rent a car for one or two days for Churaumi Aquarium and the north coast; it also saves the bus transfers.

Is Naha worth visiting or should I go straight to the islands?

Give it one night. Shuri Castle, the market and the food around Kokusai-dori are the culture most Okinawa trips lack, and you often need a night here anyway for the Kerama ferries or a flight to Ishigaki.

What is the best time to visit Naha?

April, and October to November, are the safest months: warm, mostly dry and outside typhoon peak. July is beach season but hot. Rainy season usually runs from May to mid June.