Kokusai-dori is Naha’s most famous street, stretching 1.6 kilometers through the city center and offering an around-the-clock experience of Okinawan culture. Once a quiet track before World War II, the street developed rapidly after the Ernie Pyle International Theater opened to serve U.S. servicemen. Today it is a bustling thoroughfare lined with shops, eateries, arcades, and entertainment venues.
The street balances international convenience with strong local character. Global brands and chain stores stand beside family-run shops, food stalls, and covered markets. Heiwa-dori Arcade, located midway along, features narrow lanes filled with pottery, seafood, textiles, and shisa statues. These lion-dog guardians, placed in pairs, are symbols of protection and good fortune throughout Okinawa. Nearby Ichiba-hondori leads to a farmers’ market showcasing fresh produce, while Mutsumi-dori provides another glimpse into the city’s traditional shopping culture.
Dining and nightlife are central to the Kokusai-dori experience. Visitors can sample Okinawan specialties at izakaya and restaurants, with awamori, a rice-based distilled spirit, frequently on the menu. Stronger varieties reach up to 60% alcohol content, while habushu—awamori infused with a preserved habu viper—offers a distinctive local specialty.
Evenings are the most vibrant time to visit. Street performers gather on Saturdays, providing traditional music, folk dance, and contemporary acts. On Sundays the street is closed to vehicles, transforming into a pedestrian-friendly space filled with activity. Shops typically remain open until 11 p.m., and the nightlife in surrounding bars and venues continues into the early morning hours.
Easily accessible from Naha Airport by monorail, Kokusai-dori serves as both a cultural introduction and a lively gathering place. With shopping, entertainment, and food available at nearly every hour, it remains the centerpiece of Naha’s urban life.
/127.6887000801,26.216405169966,9/397x132?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiamFwYW50cmF2ZWxtYXBzIiwiYSI6ImNqbXBtOXYxbDB5Z3ozbHFrazJuYWMwOGYifQ.v15fy_mcFWtgopmz8PhwqA)
Kokusai-dori runs through central Naha, close to the Naha Bus Terminal and within easy reach of the Okinawa Monorail. From Naha Airport, ride the monorail to Kencho-mae Station to begin at one end of the street, or alight at Makishi Station to explore from the opposite side.
Every October, Naha hosts its annual Tug-of-War Festival, where competing teams face off with a 200-meter long rope – a Guinness World Record (1997) for being the biggest such event in the world.
Stretching for a good 1.5 km Kokusai Dori is the famous shopping street in downtown Naha
Naha's Kokusai Dori shopping street has a new addition as of early August: a multi-floor GiGO arcade offering a mix of nostalgia, pop culture, and entertainment.
November 1st is Ryukyu History and Culture Day. Okinawa has a tradition of respect for ancestors and a reverence for nature, one that is also celebrated every 5 years at the World Uchinanchu Festival in 2022, 2027 and 2032
Every October, Naha hosts its annual Tug-of-War Festival, where competing teams face off with a 200-meter long rope – a Guinness World Record (1997) for being the biggest such event in the world.
Fall in love with Okinawa's joy through Eisa this Sunday on Kokusai dori, the International street of Naha.
Hotel Route-Inn Naha Tomariko has a fantastic location in Naha city. One of my favorite places in the hotel is, with no doubt, the 14th floor, where you can just relax in the large public bath or check out the relaxation room equipped with a couple of full-body massage sofas. Both spots have amazing views over Naha city.
APA Hotel, Naha. A mid range hotel in the centre of Naha, Okinawa, Japan.
I spent my last night in Naha at this great hotel placed just by the canal in the central area of Kumoji, not far from Kokusai Dori. I chose this hotel mainly for its convenient location, as it is just 15 minutes away from the airport by Yui Rail or by car. Moreover its central location makes this hotel a great base for both sightseeing and other activities.
Stop at Makishi Public Market to soak up Naha's traditional market vibes and have some fresh Okinawan cuisine
Ukishima Garden in downtown Naha serves up organic vegetarian food for both lunch and dinner.
Tamagusuku Coffee Roasters often gets touted as some of Okinawa's best coffee. With a range of light, medium, and dark roasts available on any given day, there is something for any coffee lover's palate.
Naminoue Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture. It is located on a high cliff overlooking Naminoue Beach and the ocean. Any boat that enters and exits the trading base of Naha Port looks to the shrine on top of the high cliff and prays for a safe journey, the shrine has always been revered and people pray for a rich fish catch and a rich harvest as well. Each new year the king himself visited the shrine on behalf of his people to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation. The Naminoue Shrine is admired as the "" main shrine of the kingdom "". It was classified as a Kanpei-shousha (Shrine of National Significance) and Okinawa Sochinju (Shrine that protects all of Okinawa) in the Meiji era, but it was destroyed during the war. After the war, the shrine office (Shamusho) and the main shrine (Honden) were rebuilt in 1953. The church (Haiden) followed a little later and was rebuilt in 1961. In 2006 the Naminoque Shrine was declared a Historic Heritage Site of the City of Naha.
Shuri Castle was built in the 14th century and was the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom. It was neglected for almost 400 years and suffered great damage during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. After the war, the castle was used as a university campus, but from 1992 it was rebuilt through extensive reconstructions based on historical records and photographs. The castle served as the administrative center for several centuries until Okinawa became a Japanese prefecture in 1879. The castle is listed as one of the Ryukyu Kingdom's castles declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The annual Okinawa International Movie Festival is a chance to showcase both international and domestic films, and highlight the prefecture's unique culture and traditions at the same time.