10 Best Things to Do in Nago
What is Nago Most Famous For?
The best things to do in Nago all extend essentially the same invitation: to relax and connect to the natural surroundings. Swim with the fish in the coral reefs of Nago Bay, stroll between the palms in the city’s parks, and stop wherever you are just to take in the view. Chances are, it’s incredible.
Don’t miss opportunities to sample local specialties like Okinawan pineapple and the ever-popular Orion beer. Take your partner on a romantic trip to Kouri Island or bring the kids to feed the animals at NEO Park. Let this list of Nago’s top 10 be your jumping-off point as you explore this beautiful part of Okinawa.
What are the best things to do in Nago?
1. Nago Pineapple Park
Dedicated to Okinawa’s favorite fruit
Ideal para: Famílias, Viagens alternativas
Nago Pineapple Park is a cheerful little theme park centered around a significant Okinawan export: pineapples. Visitors can sample fresh fruit and learn about the growing process and the history of the industry in Okinawa. Savor the sweet aromas from the pineapple fields and explore arboretums bursting with palms and tropical flowers.
The park is a great destination for families with young children. Kids will love riding into the park on the pineapple train, while parents can sit back and sample pineapple wines. The Pineapple Café offers pineapple-flavored cakes, chocolate, and a towering ice cream sundae.
Abre: Daily from 10 am to 6 pm
Nago Pineapple Park
2. Busena Marine Park
Close encounters with the underwater world
Ideal para: Econômico, Casais, Foto
Busena Marine Park offers a close-up view of Okinawa’s lively coral reefs. The Underwater Observatory is the only one of its kind in the archipelago: a chamber 5 meters below the surface offers 360 degree views of the reef and its colorful inhabitants. The Okinawan waters are quite clear, allowing visitors to see far.
Those who prefer to stay above the surface can enjoy guided tours in a glass-bottomed boat, where the teeming life below is visible through glass panels in the boat’s hull. The park is located on a picturesque beach with beautiful views of the ocean and a rolling green coastline.
Abre: Hours vary by season
Telefone: +81 (0)98-052-3379
Busena Marine Park
3. Kouri Island
Spectacular viewpoints on this romantic island
Ideal para: Econômico, Casais, Foto
A popular day-trip destination, tranquil Kouri Island is an easy 30-minute drive from Nago. The 1.6-km long Kouri Bridge that connects it to the main island offers panoramas so spectacular you’ll be tempted to stop the car.
The picture-perfect views don’t stop there. The island is encircled by an 8-km road, perfect for scenic drives, and the observation deck at Kouri Ocean Tower offers beautiful vistas as well. Kouri has been dubbed the Island of Love for a local folktale about an Okinawan Adam and Eve. It’s certainly a romantic spot, with stunning beaches all around. Visitors flock to one particular beach on the north coast to photograph 2 unusual heart-shaped rock formations jutting out of the water.
Kouri Island
4. Nago Bay
Catching the sunset from the beach
Ideal para: Aventura, Econômico, Famílias
The beaches on Nago Bay are great spots for sunset viewing, swimming, and snorkeling. Most beaches are located on the south side of the bay, lined with greenery, and face northwest over the clear blue waters.
Diamond Beach and Kibogaoka Beach are good snorkeling spots to see colorful schools of fish, although you won’t find much coral. Families flock to Mission Beach, a deep-water beach with a lifeguard on duty and plenty of facilities for beachgoers. Nago Citizen Beach is the best place for a relaxing afternoon on the sand.
Nago Bay
5. Kise Beach
Flying above the bay or diving beneath the surface
Ideal para: Aventura, Econômico, Famílias
Kise Beach is a private beach on Nago Bay that offers a myriad of activities in and on the water. The beach is only accessible to guests of the Kise Beach Palace resort, which means it never gets too crowded and offers plenty of amenities. Every room at the resort has a private balcony with views of the sea, and kids will love the inflatable playground of the Aqua Park.
Green mountains are the backdrop of this shell-filled beach where you’ll find crabs scuttling across the sand. Marine Club Berry, housed in the hotel lobby, facilitates activities like parasailing, beginner diving lessons, and marine walks, where visitors view the coral reefs as they stroll along the sea floor.
Kise Beach
6. 21st Century Forest
A seaside park popular with locals
Ideal para: Econômico, Famílias
21st Century Forest is a beachside park located on the coast where Nago City meets the Bay. The park includes a long stretch of man-made beach, wide lawns with picnic areas, and several sports fields. There is also an amphitheater that hosts local festivals and events. The park is popular with locals, who can be seen jogging, playing baseball, or practicing their golf swing.
The bay waters are shallow and calm at the park beach, great for swimming, although you’ll want to wear swimming shoes. One side of the beach is soft sand, the other is mostly seashells and coral fragments. Snorkelers can encounter a variety of fish and corals in a jellyfish-free zone.
Telefone: +81 (0)98-052-3183
21st Century Forest
7. Fukugawa Falls
A waterfall off the beaten path
Ideal para: Aventura, Famílias, Foto
Accessible via a short hike, Fukugawa Falls is a remote, beautiful spot to immerse yourself in nature. Located a 30-minute drive northeast of Nago, the trailhead can be a little challenging to find, so visitors should follow directions with care.
The trail to the first waterfall is paved, easy, and shady. It leads to a gorgeous little waterfall that pours into a lagoon of cool water deep enough for swimming. Beyond this, there is a more rugged trail leading to a second waterfall, for more adventurous hikers. Pack a lunch and make use of the picnic area during your peaceful respite from the city.
Fukugawa Falls
8. Nago Castle
Stunning views from the mountaintop
Ideal para: História, Foto
Perched on the slopes of Mt. Nago is Nago Castle Park, a sprawling park with hiking trails and picnic areas. The park is a great place to relax and take in the view. Visitors can park at the bottom of the mountain and climb hundreds of stone steps surrounded by tropical forest, or conserve their energy and drive to the top.
The park consists of several distinct areas. Relax by the creek, picnic under pavilions with views of the Nago skyline, or hop on a slide down the mountainside from the children’s playground. Wandering further up the mountain, you’ll follow a path lined by stone lanterns to a small shrine resting where there once was a 14th-century gusuku castle.
Telefone: +81 (0)98-052-7434
Nago Castle
9. Orion Happy Park Beer Brewery
A popular local brew
Ideal para: Econômico, Alimentação
Orion Happy Park offers brewery tours through the making of Okinawa’s most famous beer. The tour and tasting last about an hour and are conducted in Japanese, though English-speaking visitors are given an easy-to-follow translation. Reservations via the official website are required.
The tour covers the history of Orion beer and its production process, with views of factory halls and the bottling line along the way. The journey concludes with a tasting, of course – 2 Orion beers of your choice poured into chilled glasses.
Abre: Friday–Tuesday from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm (closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays)
Telefone: +81 (0)57-000-4103
Orion Happy Park Beer Brewery
10. Katsuudake trail
A short and challenging yet rewarding hiking trail
Ideal para: Aventura, Econômico, Foto
The Katsuudake trail may be less than a mile (1.4 km) long, but that’s one tough mile with a rocky and steep ascent, but it’s well worth the effort. As you catch your breath at the top, you get to enjoy mesmerizing views of Okinawa, the blue sea, and the verdant nature around. If go slowly, the round trip could take you about an hour. The trail is well maintained and clearly marked, with ropes in some areas for assistance.
You’ll find restrooms ample parking at the bottom of the mountain. The best time to visit is the dry season from January through May. Go early in the morning, and be sure to bring water, insect repellent, and sturdy shoes.
Katsuudake trail
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