February in Japan is still in winter and if you say Okinawa is surrounded with ocean everyone might think that it’s not a good time to go sightseeing in Okinawa. But that is not true as you can get a cheaper flight ticket and cheaper hotel fee because of the low season. And the biggest highlight of going around this time is that you get to see Sakura bloom before other places because they say Sakura bloom first in Japan here in Okinawa.
I will show you my trip for sightseeing in the north of Okinawa by using rental car.



The night before the trip I stayed in hotel in Naha, in the morning I start the trip by using 58street (Kokusai Dori) which is to go along the sea line left of the island. Along the way you can experience and take photo of the beautiful ocean, you also can stop at the convenient store once you are hungry. After driving north to Nago for about 1 and half hour you will reach Mount Yaedake, now you will start to see Sakura tree along the road to the top of the mountain. On the top there is a shop that sells delicious Sakura-flavor ice-cream too.

The benefit of sightseeing Sakura in Okinawa is that you don’t have to walk or place a mat to sit down. You can view the Sakura from within your car. If you were to take a photo from the top of the mountain you will be able to see all of Sakura, the island and the ocean which will be a very rare sight to see.
If that is not enough to satisfy you, you can also view Sakura in the Nakagusuku Castle which is one of the World Heritage Site but you will have to pay a little for the entrance fee. In the evening you will be able to see a lot of light shine to the Sakura tree along the castle tree. Along the way you can taste the local Soki Soba (soba topped with extra ribs) which is around 600-800yen.





After all sightseeing I go to Kouri Island next by crossing the bridge across the ocean. The scenery here is very beautiful that I want to go down and take a photo but there is a rule say not to park on the bridge. At the end of the bridge there is a shop that sells local mango juice which is also very delicious. Upon reaching the island you will see a very white cleared shallow beach. On the island you also taste variety flavor of Blue Seal Ice-cream such as Shikwasa (Okinawa lemon), Beni-imo(Purple sweet potato) or Jinsuko (Okinawa cookie). Although in February you don’t get to play in the ocean you can get a lot of photo of beautiful scenery of the ocean.





In this kind of trip I advice to rent a car in Naha rather than use a bus because it’s more convenient you can stop and enjoy the view at your own pleasure and during the trip most of them are free except for the entrance fee for the World Heritage and your own food cost.



Trip Information

Experiece Sakura at Mount Yaedake
Always open and free of charge

Kouri Island
Always open and free of charge

Soki Soba at Umanju
Operating Hours 11:00-17:30 close every Monday
Budget – around 700yen
Address – Motobu-shi Tancha 28-75 (Near Tancha Park)
Telephone number 098-047-3060