Whale watching

The Boundless Ocean

A tour to commune with Okinawa's wonderful and beautiful ocean is one that you should definitely sign up for. Besides the usual marine leisure activities, a rich variety of programs have been lined up for you.

Diving is a popular sport in the islands of Okinawa. If you are a beginner, there is no need to worry. Diving tours for beginners to licensed divers are readily available. If you do not want to carry a tank on your back, snorkeling also gives you a chance to enjoy the beauty of Okinawa's translucent seas

Fishing in Okinawa also makes a fun tour for visitors and locals alike. Okinawa's waters support a rich variety of colorful fish. You can try off-shore fishing or fishing from the beach. After taking pictures, you can enjoy filleting and eating your day's catch.

Reef or shore trekking would also be interesting for many adults and children. Here one can observe the sea life along the white sand beach or in the Ino (the shallow water on the landward side of the reef).

Schools of humpback whales come to the waters around the Kerama Islands each year between January and April. If you're in Okinawa during these months, whale watching is a fascinating thing to do. Spotters watch sea conditions from observation platforms around the area. When they spot whales, they radio the whale watching boats. The boats go out and, keeping 50-100 meters away from the whales, follow them for observation.

Watching the courting activities of these whales or seeing a mother with her calf will give you a glimpse of nature's sublimity. You'll probably also hear fascinating stories of the connections between island people and the whales.

There are various other activities that put you in touch with the sea in one way or another, including sea kayaking, the Hari dragon-boat races and more. Required time can be as little as hour to as much as a full day and even overnight. You are sure to find an activity to suit your schedule.

Sugarcane field

In Touch with the Blessings of the Earth

Experiencing farm work, cooking Okinawan cuisine with local ingredients, or getting to know some local people are also some of the hands-on programs that are gaining popularity these days. You can join one or more tour plans that put you in touch with Okinawa's nature and culture in such classes. Okinawa's major crops are sugar cane and pineapples. You can help harvest these crops, or try your hand at harvesting Beni-imo (sweet potato), watercress, black sesame, peanuts and coffee beans. You can spend anywhere from an hour or two to several days to learn how the crop is processed and cooked.

Another fun option is to spend some time at a guesthouse or with a farming family. You can work in the field under the farmer's direction at no charge, doing anything and everything from planting to harvesting vegetables. Lodging and meals will be provided during your stay while you help with the sugar cane harvest. Learning about the land and about the wisdom of Okinawans in these farm-experience tours and cooking hometown meals will give you a deep feel for the culture and life of Okinawa.