A three-night, four-day trip for enjoying Okinawa and learning about peace, nature, and traditional culture.
There are lots of things you can learn about only in Okinawa, and with easy access from various parts of Asia, we recommend it as an educational travel destination.
| Locations Visited | Okinawa 3-nights trip |
|---|---|
| Learning Themes | Traditional culture Natural environment Peace and friendship |
Highlights
Itineraries
Day 1
Afternoon
In addition to offering access from major airports within Japan, there are also direct flights to Naha Airport from Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, and Singapore.
Travel by car to Nanjo. (approx. one hour and a half by car)
Tourist Spot
Day 2
All Day
Okinawa has a subtropical climate, so it's warm throughout the year.
The sea is home to abundant tropical fish and coral, and there are rivers surrounded by mangrove forests, so a wide variety of water activities can be enjoyed.
In the sea, you can go snorkeling and take a boat cruise, while in the mangrove forests you can try canoeing.
There are also activities for younger students, such as rockpooling and beach cleaning.
Through these experiences, the students will think about nature and the environment.
The following site provides information about hands-on learning during educational travel in Okinawa :
https://www.visitokinawa.jp/edu
Day 3
All Day
Engage in exchange activities at a school near Naha.
At the school, you may be able to join Japanese students in the traditional Okinawan dance of eisa, which involves the use of taiko drums, and in practicing karate, an Olympic sport that has its roots in Okinawa.
Even if the school exchange doesn't include eisa or karate, you can still experience them at other locations.
The following website provides information about four places in Okinawa Prefecture where you can try your hand at karate (in Japanese):
https://www.okinawastory.jp/feature/karate/related_facilities
Tourist Spot
Eisa Museum open_in_new
As a base for spreading the word about eisa, the museum works to preserve and pass on the eisa culture. If you book in advance, you can take a formal eisa lesson.
Evening
As with school exchanges, at minpaku in Okinawa you can learn about Okinawa's traditional culture.
You can also savor the flavors of Okinawan cuisine.
And depending on the time of year, you may also be able to experience harvesting sugarcane, a local specialty crop.
Day 4
Morning
Tour relics of the Ryukyu Kingdom in Naha, and learn about the unique Ryukyu culture, which blended elements from the cultures of Japan and China.
The Ryukyu Kingdom was a nation state that governed the islands around Okinawa, and flourished as a hub for trade between the Japanese mainland and southeast Asia.
Tourist Spot
Shuri Castle open_in_new
This was the castle of the kings of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On October 31, 2019, the Seiden (main hall) was destroyed by fire, but action is being taken to reconstruct them. At present, some areas, such as the Shureimon (gate) are open to the public.
Shikina-en open_in_new
These are gardens that were constructed during the period of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and they combine Japanese forms of garden design with elements originating from China. Like Shuri Castle, they are registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
