Okinawa: Japan’s TROPICAL Island Paradise You NEVER Hear About
Everyone talks about Tokyo and Osaka in Japan, but what about Okinawa? What is Okinawa and where is it? [Music] So, Okinawa is basically this group of islands that used to be called the Ryuko Islands. They were actually a separate country, a separate kingdom. Japan conquered them in the 1800s and incorporated them into the Japanese Empire. They’ve been under Japanese rule ever since then and they are now an integral part of Japan just like any other islands. However, due to their unique past and the Ryoko Kingdom, you’ll find little things that set them apart from the rest of Japan in terms of culture, foods, and also some American influence due to the military bases the US has over there. Ever since World War II happened, it’s got this unique culture that blends Japanese culture with the Ryuko culture from the previous kingdom that was there and also the American culture, especially seen on foods like spam because spam was actually made available to the local populations that were going through famine and a lot of food insecurity. So, spam was a quick and easy way to end famine in Okinawa. And since then, it’s become some sort of brand of the Okinawan culture. And you can find spam as part of several local dishes in Okinawa, including the dish called shampuru. As soon as you land in Okinawa, you’ve got this feeling that you are definitely in a tropical or subtropical location, the warm weather, the humidity, the beautiful beaches, the palm trees, but then you’ve got the Japanese culture, the Japanese people, and all the little things that make Japan what it is today. also in Okinawa, especially in the capital, Naha, and that’s what sets this location apart. So, you can have the perks of the tropical weather of Southeast Asia or the Pacific Islands, but then you are deep into the Japanese civilization and culture. That’s very special, especially if you love Japan. The lifestyle is very laid-back. It’s definitely not Tokyo or any other big city, and you can really see it. It’s a more relaxing lifestyle. Even though Naha is the capital city of Okinawa and it’s quite big and people have their stressful lives and there’s a lot of traffic, it still feels like a tropical sort of holiday destination in some way. In terms of the cost of living, I was always eating in isizakayas. Isizakayas are these Japanese bars where you have food and drinks. I compare them to tapas bars like in Spain where you have small dishes and a drink or two. Well, you can go overboard and get drunk over there, but I don’t drink alcohol, so I only had food there. So, of course, that meant that I wasn’t spending so much money in these isakayas if I was only buying food. But, you know, having said that, they are quite affordable. You can expect to spend around 3,000 to 4,000 yen on a big dinner. By big dinner, I mean with at least four different dishes for you to try different things. Cuz I’d rather use my budget on food rather than drinks. That’s how I usually live. You can go much cheaper than this, especially if you only order one or two dishes that you think are going to fill you up. And even if you order a drink with that, maybe you’ll only spend 1,500 yen in some more local isakayas. Please, please, please just avoid the tourist traps. Don’t go on the main streets of Naha, especially the main streets, the most famous one with all the shops and tourist traps and all these silly attractions for tourists. If you go a bit off that road and actually venture into the local neighborhoods, you’ll find the most affordable and beautiful izakayas with the most tasteful food you can ever find in Japan. And that’s what I did. It was amazing. You can also do the same in the second big city, which is Nago. I found transport around town quite cheap. The monorail, which takes you to a lot of nice places, was around $3 Australian. So that’s like 1.5 USD, 1.4 €4 and it takes you to most places that Montreal. There’s buses and everything and you can usually pay with your debit card on board or if you have cash and even if it’s like a big note you can just insert into that machine they’ve got and it gives you the change. It is extremely safe just like the rest of Japan. There are exceptions of course you need to be careful all times all over the world but I honestly never felt so safe in my life in any country not even my own country Portugal. That’s one of the safest countries in the world supposedly because you could literally leave your bag with your laptop inside anywhere like at any beach and just forget about it. Go snorkel, spend hours in the water and then come back to your bag and your belongings and everything is there including your laptop, your cameras, everything. Just like any part of Japan, the locals were very polite and respectful. And I’m so pleased that I actually went to Okinawa first as my first time in Japan rather than the the other main islands where the big cities are. But of course, what’s the point of being in a location like this if there’s nothing for you to do? The point of being in Okinawa is that you can actually explore a lot of nature sites. You can go snorkeling. You can do scuba diving. You can simply go to the beach. One of the hundreds, if not thousands of beaches that Okinawa and the surrounding islands offer. You can take very affordable ferry boats that take you to the Karama Islands where I spent 3 days in Zamami. Zamami Island was one of the most beautiful jewels I’ve ever seen. It’s got coral reefs. It’s got crystal clear turquoise blue waters, lush forest that is actually protected because that’s a national park. Basically, all these three main islands are called the Karama Islands, and they are an archipelago that is protected with plenty of activities for you to do. Even if you’re in Naha, you can just take a ferry that costs around 20 USD to cross over and return and do plenty of activities or simply just chill on one of the beautiful beaches that these islands offer. And remember, the Japanese culture is still there, still pristine for you to try the best foods, to have the best experience with the locals. And of course with the Okinawa tropical touch that’s so unique to this part of the world. So you should never skip this part of your trip and your stay in Okinawa. Make sure you visit the Karama Islands. [Applause] You also got the amazing beaches in the northern part and also around Nago which is the second biggest city. You’ve got Cory Islands that is connected with a bridge. The waters over there are just beautiful, beautiful beaches where you can just chill, order drinks, foods, snorkel. There are tours everywhere for you to go see turtles and other ocean animals. There’s also a little peninsula near Nago, the ocean expo area where you’ve got the Okinawa Aquarium, you’ve got the Okinawa Museum, and you’ve got the Emerald Beach and beautiful other cafes and locations that you can frequent. Also, a cape where you can snorkel and see beautiful fish. Very turquoise blue waters. You can just chill there. It’s just beautiful, beautiful location. And you can also watch a beautiful sunset over there. [Music] The good weather depends on the season. So if you go when it’s summer in the northern hemisphere, it’s also the typhoon season. So typhoons can occur. If you don’t know, typhoons are the equivalent to hurricanes. Quite destructive and they can really ruin your holiday plans. That’s a risk you’re running in this type of location. in. Anyway, if you go in winter, it’s usually really sunny and beautiful, and the waters are really vivid, but it’s also a bit chilly, or at least not warm enough for you to swim long and extended hours snorkeling in the sea. So, yeah, no location is perfect. There’s also fewer foreigners and experts compared to other parts of Southeast Asia that are very popular. Of course, there’s the American bases there, but I’ve realized that the American military tends to just stick to themselves and to focus on their work, whatever they are doing there in their military bases. So, it’s not like you’re going to bump into them all the time and you’re going to go to parties together and all this. It’s definitely a very very very Japanese location. Bear in mind that they do not speak very fluent English. So, if you want to mingle with the locals, you need to make an effort into learning some basic Japanese. very often nobody around me spoke English at all. It’s okay when you have technology and you can use Google and everything to translate things, especially restaurant menus, but sometimes there’s literally no signal. If you are in remote areas like the mountains in the north or any particular smaller islands, some basic Japanese comes quite handy. [Music] If you come to Okinawa as a digital nomad and not just a traveler or tourist, you’ll have a fairly easy time to find free Wi-Fi, especially in very modern and very cute cafes all over the islands. My experience with it, working from cafes over there, has been amazing. There was never a struggle to get the password or anything like that. Sometimes they even give you Wi-Fi for free without any password, just straight up from a QR code. And the connection has always been reliable. And of course, it comes with the amazing food that these cafes offer. Sometimes Japanese, sometimes with Western influence, sometimes fusion. Overall, it’s just been an amazing experience. I never felt pressured to order anything else other than my meal and my drink, even if I was there for longer than 2 hours. And yes, that felt like I was in Shang or something like that. On top of the cafes, Naha especially offers a lot of co-working spaces if you’re into that. I didn’t go to any of them cuz I didn’t need to. The Wi-Fi is very strong both in your accommodation providers and also the cafes and I was able to do anything I needed from the internet in those places. But if you want to mingle with other workers and meet other people, you might as well just try the co-working spaces over there. In terms of accommodation, because I was there for only 2 weeks, I actually stayed in hotels and I was moving around quite a lot. But if you go and rent a room or one-bedroom apartment, you can expect to pay between 47,000 and 65,000 yen per month. That’s quite affordable, especially for Japan. You can check the exchange rate right now for your currency because, you know, it changes so often. There’s no point for me telling you how much it is in USD. But basically during my time there it was around 600 to700 USD per month or around€ 650 per month for a one-bedroom apartment. There are flights to many locations in Southeast Asia and maybe beyond. I didn’t check all of them, but of course you’re still in an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. You can treat it as a base for a year if you want, similar to what people do in Lisbon or other digital nomad locations. But I would not see Okinawa as that. I would see Okinawa as a location for you to spend one or two months, not make it as a base. That’s my suggestion. But of course, if you’re a hardcore scuba diver, snorkeler, you love nature, you love the Japanese culture, you just want to be there, meet the locals, be into the culture 100%, yeah, by all means, I think a year would keep you really happy there. And to go to mainland Japan is a short flight, so you’d still be able to visit the other parts of Japan quite easily. So, my final thoughts on Okinawa. Would I come back to work there for one or two months? Yes, definitely. Especially in the warm season, the hot season, which is around June, July, and August. But it’s also the typhoon season. So, take that with a pinch of salt. So, I’ll say this destination is perfect for nature lovers, for people seeking peace, those who like a quiet local Japanese experience with a tropical vibe. But this is definitely not a location for party seekers or those craving big social scenes. But it’s an amazing hidden gem for a focused, peaceful work life or a holiday. So this is my summary of my Okinawa experience. If you got any questions or comments, leave them down below. If there’s anything in particular you’d like me to discuss on my next video, just let me know. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment down below. And I’ll see you next time. See you.
🌴 Okinawa: Japan’s Tropical Paradise You Never Knew Existed! 🏝️
When you think of Japan, you probably imagine bustling cities, temples, and cherry blossoms. But Japan has a completely different side — a subtropical island paradise with turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, and vibrant coral reefs.
In this video, I take you to Okinawa and its surrounding islands, showing you the tropical beauty, stunning beaches, island lifestyle, and the unique blend of Japanese culture with a laid-back island vibe. From snorkelling with colourful marine life to exploring hidden coves and enjoying fresh island food, Okinawa is the perfect destination for travellers and digital nomads looking for something different in Japan.
Whether you’re planning a trip to Japan, looking for hidden tropical destinations, or just love beautiful island escapes, this video will inspire your next adventure.
📍 Highlights in this video:
– Okinawa’s best beaches and crystal-clear waters
– Snorkelling in coral reefs and spotting exotic marine life
– Stunning island views from drone footage
– Japanese island culture and lifestyle
– Why Okinawa is perfect for digital nomads and slow travellers
💡 Why visit Okinawa?
Okinawa offers warm weather year-round, affordable travel options, incredible diving and snorkelling spots, and a completely different experience from mainland Japan.
✈️ Travel tips:
Best time to visit: March–May & September–November
Nearest airport: Naha Airport (OKA)
How to get there: Direct flights from Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong and other Asian cities
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