Kokusai Street in Naha, Okinawa, lined with shops

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Naha and Kokusai Street Guide: Markets, Food and the Old Capital

   

Written by:

Jun

Naha for a first visit: Kokusai Street, the Makishi market lanes, Shuri and the monorail, with what to reconfirm before you go.

Operational details such as opening hours, admission fees, and train times can change. Prefer official pages and reconfirm before you travel (sources checked on 30 October 2026).

Why visit

  • Naha is the entry point for most Okinawa trips and worth a day of its own.
  • Kokusai Street is the main tourist street, with the Makishi market lanes behind it.
  • Shuri, the old royal capital, is a short monorail and bus ride uphill.

Top places and highlights

Kokusai Street in Naha, Okinawa, lined with shops
Photo: Kugel~commonswiki · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The covered market lanes beside Kokusai Street in Naha
Photo: Naha Mama Pavilionz · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
A street in central Naha, Okinawa
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Kokusai Street

A long shopping street of souvenir shops, restaurants and bars. It is busiest in the evening.

Makishi public market

Covered lanes of fish, meat and Okinawan produce, with small eateries inside and around the market.

Shuri

The old capital on the hill, with the restored castle grounds, stone paths and a quieter pace than the centre.

The monorail

The Yui Rail connects the airport to the city centre and Shuri, which makes a car unnecessary for a short stay.

Food and drink

  • Okinawan dishes such as goya champuru, rafute and Okinawa soba are on most menus.
  • The market lanes are good for a quick lunch; Kokusai Street is better for an evening meal.

Getting there and around

  • Naha airport is about 15 minutes from the city centre on the monorail.
  • Kokusai Street is a short walk from Makishi or Kencho-mae stations.

Where to stay

  • Hotels cluster around Kokusai Street and the monorail line.
  • Staying near a monorail station keeps the airport connection simple.

Best time to visit

  • Winter is mild and dry, and the busiest season for domestic visitors.
  • Summer is hot and humid with typhoon risk; the rainy season falls in early summer.

Practical tips

  • Carry cash for the market stalls.
  • Expect crowds on Kokusai Street after dark and on holiday weekends.
  • Treat opening hours, market days and monorail times as things to reconfirm.

Suggested day-trip outline

  1. Arrive, drop bags and walk Kokusai Street in the late afternoon.
  2. Eat in the Makishi lanes.
  3. Take the monorail to Shuri the next morning before heading north.

Before you go

Timetables, fares, admission fees, and seasonal access rules can change. Check the official tourism and transport sites linked below for the latest information before you travel.

Explore More of Japan

Published guides that pair with this one:

Browse every Okinawa guide on this site for the rest of the region.

Sources

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