Okinawa: main island, Ishigaki, or both for scuba & relaxation?
I am travelling to Japan for a 3-week honeymoon Sept-Oct. I have 7-10 days towards the end of the trip allocated to Okinawa. My primary goals for this last portion of the trip is to relax and scuba dive, since we’ll be tired from all the excursions in the weeks prior in Tokyo/Kyoto. Looking at Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kerama Islands, Nago/Onno, etc – everything is beautiful and has very nice resorts and scuba diving.
I am inclined to stay 5 days at the ANA Intercontinental in Ishigaki, diving for 2 days and relaxing at the resort, and then fly over to Naha and stay in Naga/Onno for 4 days. I am interested in visiting the Aquarium, scuba diving (Kerama or main island), and maybe going out in Naha one night, but honestly not super hype about having to rent a car and travel around the main Island. I’m also not so keen on all the flights all in ~1 week (Osaka to Ishigaki, Ishigaki to Okinawa, Okinawa to Tokyo, followed by Tokyo to US). However, I feel like it would be strange to “go to Okinawa” and not actually go to the main island. I also have read that Kerama islands have some of the best scuba diving in Okinawa, so can’t quite figure out how to balance Ishigaki and main island.
Please advise!
by Purplefoodie714