Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The Eye of God at Newchurch in Pendle
St. Govor’s Well.
St. Govor’s Well
Shivsrushti
Pierced domes of Hammam Seffarine.
Hammam Seffarine
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Grasshopper Chapel and grounds.
How the Rocky Mountain Locust Plague Spawned Federal Disaster Relief
3 days ago
The Guy Bradley Visitor Center at Flamingo in Everglades National Park.
America’s First Game Warden Died Fighting for the Birds
3 days ago
Echo Park Time Travel Mart.
Atlas Obscura Presents: Traveling Back in Time for Coconut Cake With The Sporkful
4 days ago
One of the PATH’s many entrances.
A Supposedly Boring Mall I Might Actually Visit Again
5 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
All Japan Okinawa

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Okinawa

7 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Okinawa, Japan

Updated May 2, 2025

Email
Attractions
Trips
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Hotel Deals

Unusual Attractions in Okinawa

Visitors at the Kuroshio Sea main tank

Motobu, Japan

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

One of the world's largest tanks mimics the experience of watching rare whale sharks, giant rays, and deep sea creatures from the ocean floor.
The entrance to underground naval headquarters.

Tomigusuku, Japan

Naval Underground Headquarters

Elaborate series of tunnels where traces of mass suicide are still visible.
Handlers position bulls and cheer 
them on.

Okinawa, Japan

Okinawan Bullfights

A bovine sumo match in which both bulls live to fight another day.
Hacksaw Ridge

Okinawa, Japan

Hacksaw Ridge

A World War II battle site made famous by one man's heroic actions.
An overhead view of the aquarium.

Okinawa, Japan

Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom Aquarium

Located in the large-scale shopping mall is an otherwise unassuming aquarium featuring species native to Okinawa waters.
Permanently Closed

Okinawa, Japan

Gajumaru Treehouse Diner

Okinawan dining in a twenty foot tall, man-made tree house overlooking Naha Harbor.
Permanently Closed
Replica of Bill Clinton’s childhood home.

Nago-shi, Japan

Clinton Home

An exact replica of Bill Clinton's childhood home stands within a resort in Japan.
Are we missing something unusual?
Add it!
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Hidden Japan: Sado Island, Nara & Kyoto

Explore a different side of Japan.

Book Now

Explore Okinawa, Japan

A
7

Okinawa Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. kristenator
    1
  2. jiminj
    1
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Okinawa.

Places Edited

  1. Mark Casey
    1
  2. Rachel
    1
  3. kristenator
    1
  4. calton
    1
  5. hana
    1
Join the Ranks!
Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

  1. jmhayes612
    3
  2. mgunsgravley
    3
  3. navonco
    3
  4. heymeadows
    3
  5. ashureee
    3
Join the Ranks!
Visit a place in Okinawa.

Recent Okinawa Activity

  • driessouvereyns

    wants to go to Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom Aquarium

    29 days ago
  • f35188431

    wants to go to Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom Aquarium

    29 days ago
  • f35188431

    wants to go to Gajumaru Treehouse Diner

    29 days ago
  • breaingram

    wants to go to Okinawan Bullfights

    13 days ago
  • ottonarusing

    wants to go to Hacksaw Ridge

    6 days ago

Stories About Okinawa

Few have ventured into the narrow tunnels of Dai 32 Gunshireibu-go since the Japanese army abandoned the bunker in May 1945 during the Battle of Okinawa.

Could an Infamous WWII Bunker Become a Symbol of Peace?

The tunnels under Okinawa's Shuri Castle should be preserved as a reminder of the costs of war, advocates say.
by Azby Brown
December 9, 2021
Iriomote is famously unsullied—with the exception of its problematic poop.

Leave Only Footsteps and Take Your Poop When Visiting Japan's Lush Iriomote Island

"Tent toilets" are helping to remedy a stinky situation.
by Alice Barnes-Brown
March 2, 2021
Shikina Cemetery in Naha, the capital of Okinawa, Japan.

The Graveside Festival That Celebrates the Dead in Okinawa

Shimi, or “grave-sweeping festival,” takes place every April on the southernmost islands of Japan.
by Allan Richarz
October 31, 2019
The monument commemorating the driving-side switch on July 30, 1978.

40 Years Ago, Okinawans Returned to Driving on the Left

A stone monument marks this symbolic last moment of post-WWII repatriation.
by Allan Richarz
July 30, 2018

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.