5 #Insta-Worthy Places in Okinawa

By Lilly Thach

Looking for Instagrammable places in Japan?

Okinawa (おきなわ), also known as "the Hawaii of Japan", is a popular tourist destination just south of the mainland. The prefecture gets its nickname from the tropical climate, beautiful beaches and American influences, which are perfect components for some very insta-worthy photos!

1. @COZY Live&Bar

yucca_official via insta

supereeeisus via insta rinyapu0307 via insta

This adorable pink themed cafe is located on Kokusai Street in Naha. Here, you can take an unlimited amount of photos with giant teddy bears and walls covered in barbie dolls and donuts! COZY Live&Bar would be a perfect location for anyone who wants a bright, colorful Instagram (インスタ) feed.

2. @Cape Zampa (ざんぱさき )

kittyjaja via insta

Cape Zampa, located at the tip of Yomitan, is a hidden gem that not many tourists know of. Despite the fact that it is not a popular tourist destination, it is still a very scenic area with beautiful pathways and a white lighthouse that overlooks the sea. The popular Korean boyband BTS have also been to this location to film for their 2018 Season's Greetings Package! This is a perfect location for any ARMYs who would want to recreate photos of BTS:)

3. @Anettai Cha-ya ( あねったいちゃや)

okinawa_likes via insta

julia.c.0209 via insta manarin37 via insta

For the foodies out there, Anettai Cha-ya is the place to go! The name of the cafe translates to hammock garden in Japanese and is located on a hill in Nobaru which provides a jaw-dropping view of the ocean from the comfort of a hammock, not to mention the artistically crafted food as well. This cafe is perfect for all food-lovers!

4. @American Village (アメリカンビレッジ)

___akanechan___ via insta tomomi_holistic via insta

American Village is a commercial shopping and dining center that is American themed, similar to the Chinese themed towns (Chinatown) in America. The architecture in this village is unique compared to traditional Japanese architecture, since it is made to look more American/European. This is another hotspot for locals, tourists, and even U.S. soldiers who are deployed in Okinawa. It may give these soldiers a sense of being home in the U.S.

5. @FR2Getto (FR2ゲット)

shioripipipi1226 via insta gobusataryuseigun via insta

FR2 Getto is a souvenir shop located on Kokusai Street in Naha. The Asian franchise FR2 has many stores with different color themes scattered throughout Asia- their newest addition being the Getto (a term coined from the symbolic flower of Okinawa) with a tiffany blue theme. This souvenir shop is very popular amongst teenagers who want a cool looking photo with the bright neon light and interesting color scheme.

Although I have not posted any of my personal pictures throughout this blog, I have been to all of these locations and can safely say that they should be on everyone's bucket lists when visiting Okinawa! May your Instagram feed be spiced up with beautiful, fun pictures from these locations in the future!

'til next time👋 (じゃ、またねー！）