Solo traveller arriving in Okinawa 31st Dec. Not interested in shopping, theme parks or aquarium. Plan is to eat, sight-see and chill.
I’ve have a rental car from 8am – 8pm on 2nd Jan with the intention of driving along the rim.
Initial plan was to drive from Naha to Cape Manzamo, Nakijin, Cape Hedo, Sedakazaki Lighthouse and down along road 70 and 331 back to Naha.
Then I thought I should try to catch a sunset so I’d go the other way from Naha to Kafu Bante, Nagahama beach, Sedakazaki Lighthouse, Cape Hedo, Najikin and Cape Manzamo for sunset.
After calculating travel time with Google, both seemed too ambitious. Also that road to Kafu Bante is closed due to a recent landslide, so there’s a detour that adds to driving time.
So I should be more conservative with time and revised the road trip itinerary to keep things *very* simple but with longer duration. I’d like to squeeze in a hike at Daisekirinzan while at Cape Hedo but unsure now if that’s even possible.
Locals and experts, was my initial plan of driving along the rim departing Naha 8.30am and return by 8pm achievable?
What would you change in this itinerary?
Nothing is set in stone for the road trip and everything is at the mercy of the weather of course.
Thank you for any recommendations that you can share!
**Day 1 – 31st Dec Sunday**
Arrive
Drop bag at hotel near Tsubogawa station
Explore on foot towards Okinawa Karate Hall
Lunch – find soba
Hotel – check in, rest
Dinner – find dinner
After dinner – rest and/or Naminoue Temple midnight
**Day 2 – 1st Jan Monday**
AM – Breakfast
PM – Whale watching
Hotel – rest
Dinner – explore and find dinner
**Day 3 – 2nd Jan Tuesday – Road Trip**
0830-1030 Hotel to Cape Hedo (2 hrs)
1100-1230 Cape Hedo to Ufuya (1 hr)
1230-1400 Lunch break at Ufuya
1400-1430 Ufuya to Nakijin Castle Ruins (30 mins)
1430-1600 Explore Nakijin (1hr)
1600-1700 Nakijin to Cape Manzamo (1hr)
1700-1800 Sunset at Cape Manzamo
1800-2000 Cape Manzamo to Hotel
**Day 4 – 3rd Jan Wednesday**
Breakfast
Monorail to Shuri castle
Monorail Shuri to Miebashi
Lunch – find soba
Stroll and explore Kokusai Dori
Hotel
Dinner, rest
**Day 5 – 4th Jan Thursday**
AM Sayonara