February–MarchOkinawa Pro Baseball Spring Camp
Okinawa ・ Naha
Usually February 1 to late February (the Yomiuri Giants' Naha camp runs from mid-February to early March)
Theme park · Okinawa
Okinawa World
NanjoIndoor & outdoor
Overview
Overview
A theme park in Nanjo City in the south of Okinawa Island, centered on the Gyokusendo limestone cave. Besides exploring the cave, you can watch Eisa dance and try crafts in the Ryukyu Kingdom castle town lined with old houses, visit the Habu Museum Park, and experience Okinawa's nature and culture all in one place. It's about 30 minutes by car from Naha Airport.
- Address
- 1336 Maekawa, Tamagusuku, Nanjo, Okinawa 901-0616
- Time needed
- The official model courses come in three lengths: 2.5 hours, 3.5 hours, and 5 hours
Highlights
Highlights
Of Gyokusendo's roughly 5 km length, 890 m is open to the public, and you can walk through scenery created over about 300,000 years by more than one million stalactites. Super Eisa, held three times a day, is a powerful traditional performing arts show. You can also try Ryukyu glass, bingata dyeing, and shisa painting, and enjoy Okinawan flavors such as bukubuku tea.
Hours
Opening hours
Opening hours9:00–17:30
Last admission 16:00
Super Eisa10:30 / 12:30 / 14:30
About 30 min
Habu and mongoose show11:30 / 13:30 / 15:30
About 20 min
Hours vary by day and season. Check the official website before you go.
Tickets
Prices & tickets
Adults (15+)¥2,000
Access to all areas of the park. Entry is via Gyokusendo
Children (4–14)¥1,000
Free for under 4 (with web advance tickets, a free ticket must be issued)
Prices include tax and may change. Check the official website before buying.
🎫 How to buy tickets
- →Official web advance admission tickets are 5% off; admission reception is 9:00–16:00
- →Admission tickets bundled with experiences such as shisa painting, a Ryukyu costume stroll, or a bingata eco bag are 10% off, web only
- →Admission tickets with a sweets voucher are also sold online
- →Group rates for 15 or more, and discounts for Okinawa residents
Tips
Tips for travelers
- ✓Time your visit to Super Eisa (10:30 / 12:30 / 14:30) and go from Gyokusendo to the castle town for an efficient route
- ✓Last admission is 16:00, earlier than closing, so watch the time if you're going in the afternoon
- ✓Experiences such as Ryukyu glass, bingata, and shisa painting need no reservation (Ryukyu glass reception until 15:00)
- ✓The cave exploration tour and Uwaa-gaa Jungle require advance reservations
- ✓Bukubuku Chaya is certified as a Food Culture Museum by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs
Access
Getting there
- Nearest station
- Gyokusendo-mae (bus stop)2 min walkRyukyu Bus Nos. 83 and 54
- From major stations & airports
- Naha Airport: Ryukyu Bus No. 83 (Gyokusendo Line) to Gyokusendo-mae
- Naha Bus Terminal (next to Asahibashi Station on the Yui Rail): Ryukyu Bus No. 54 (Maekawa Line) to Gyokusendo-mae
- Naha Airport: Car (About 30 min)
- Haebaru IC (Okinawa Expressway): Car (About 10 min)
- Getting back
- About 15 min by car to the Peace Memorial Museum and about 30 min to Shuri Castle, so it's easy to combine with sightseeing in southern Okinawa
- Local buses are infrequent, so check return times on the timetable linked from the official website
- Some scheduled sightseeing buses and bus tours include Okinawa World
Weather
Weather & what to wear
Autumn
In October 2026, wooden sanshin-making experience slots (web only, about 50 min) are available on Saturdays.
- ☂ Rainy days
- Gyokusendo is viewed inside the cave. The Kingdom Village and Habu Museum Park involve walking outdoors. Umbrellas can be borrowed (¥500 deposit, refunded on return)
- Heat
- Parasols can be borrowed (¥1,000 deposit, refunded on return)
- What to wear & bring
- The public section of the cave is 890 m long and explored on foot, so wear comfortable shoes
Rules
Rules & what you can bring
- !A ticket is required to enter the park. Entry is via Gyokusendo
Facilities
Facilities & services
- Strollers & wheelchairs
- Stroller rental ¥300, free wheelchair loans (both limited in number)
- Language support
- Official website has pages in English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), and Korean
Food
Food
- Must-try
- Bukubuku tea (Bukubuku Chaya, served with Ryukyu tea sweets)Kenshoku Buffet Churashima (lunch buffet with island vegetables and more, 11:00–15:00)OKINAWA SANGO BEER (craft beer café SANGO)Tropical fruit at the fruit parlor
Where to Stay · Agoda
Places to Stay near Okinawa WorldPR
Prices and availability are shown on Agoda.
Events
Events & festivals in Naha
February–March
May
August–SeptemberOkinawa Zento Eisa Matsuri
Okinawa ・ Naha
Usually three days, Friday to Sunday, on the weekend after the lunar Obon (late August to early September)
OctoberNaha Great Tug-of-War Festival
Okinawa ・ Naha
Usually the three-day weekend around Sports Day (formerly Health and Sports Day) in October. The tug-of-war is on the Sunday in the middle of the long weekend
2026 (56th): Oct 10 (Sat) – Oct 12 (Mon, holiday); Hatagashira procession and tug-of-war on Oct 11 (Sun)
DecemberNAHA Marathon
Okinawa ・ Naha
Usually the first Sunday of December
2026 (40th anniversary race): Dec 6 (Sun), 9:00 start
Attractions
Attractions in Okinawa
AquariumOkinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Okinawa ・ Motobu & Churaumi
This aquarium sits in Ocean Expo Park on the Motobu Peninsula in northern Okinawa Island. Its exhibits trace the creatures of Okinawa’s waters in sequence, from coral reefs out to the open ocean. It’s about 2 hours by car or about 2.5 hours by express bus from Naha Airport.
☂ Mostly indoors · rain-friendly
Theme parkJUNGLIA OKINAWA
Okinawa ・ Nakijin / Nago
An immersive, nature-themed park that opened in July 2025 near the Yanbaru forest in northern Okinawa Island. Set on vast grounds that were once a golf course, it offers a dinosaur safari, aerial attractions, a spa with spectacular views, and restaurants serving Okinawan ingredients.
ZooOkinawa Zoo & Museum
Okinawa ・ Okinawa City
A facility in Okinawa City that combines a zoo with a hands-on museum. With the outdoor Animal Zone and the indoor Wonder Museum, it's fun rain or shine. Admission is free for ages 15 and under.
Botanical gardenSoutheast Botanical Gardens
Okinawa ・ Okinawa City
An outdoor botanical garden in Okinawa City, officially named "Churayashi Park Okinawa Southeast Botanical Gardens." You can see about 1,300 species of tropical and subtropical plants, and an evening illumination is usually held from autumn through spring.
ZooNeo Park Okinawa
Okinawa ・ Nago
A zoo in Nago City whose official name is Nago Nature Botanical and Zoological Park. It uses what is said to be Japan's largest flying-cage system, and many animals roam freely in the park. Walking through areas themed on Africa, South America, and Oceania, you can experience how close you get to the animals.
AquariumDMM Kariyushi Aquarium
Okinawa ・ Tomigusuku
An aquarium inside the iias Okinawa Toyosaki shopping center, about 20 minutes by car from Naha Airport. Opened in 2020, it combines spatial effects using video and light with hands-on encounters with marine life. It's open until 19:00, making it easy to drop by on your arrival day or before departure.
Hours, prices and access are based on official and other primary sources. They may change, so check the official website before you go.
Last checked: 2026-10-01