Start by choosing the right area
Okinawa's main island is long and thin. From Naha Airport to the northern tip is over two hours by car, so pick your base according to what you want to do. - Chatan: about 40 minutes by car from Naha Airport. American Village and Sunset Beach are walkable, so it suits couples and friends on short trips who want shopping, food and sunsets. - Onna: the west coast of the central island. Cape Maeda (the Blue Cave), Cape Manzamo and plenty of ocean activities. Ideal for families who want a house with a sea view and a slower pace. - Kumejima: a small island 30 minutes by plane from Naha. Hatenohama sandbar and Eef Beach offer the luxury of doing nothing at all. If you want to live on island time, rent a house here.
You will almost certainly need a car
Whether on the main island or an outlying one, a car transforms what you can do from a rental house. Check how many cars the property can park (and whether the space is covered). Rental cars sell out in summer holidays and long weekends, so book the car at the same time as the house.
Making the most of a whole house
- Cook with local ingredients: island tofu, mozuku seaweed and Okinawan fruit from the local supermarket make every meal feel like part of the trip. - Evenings on the roof terrace or in the garden: an Orion beer in the sea breeze is hard to beat. - The beach before anyone else: if the house is walking distance from a beach, you can have the morning sea to yourselves.
Typhoons and weather
July to October is typhoon season. Flights can be cancelled and stays extended, so leave slack in your plans and read the cancellation policy before you book. TABI STAY handles natural-disaster cases individually, so contact us if a typhoon affects your trip.
Booking with TABI STAY
Houses in Chatan, Onna and Kumejima are available at our official-site price with cleaning included. Each property page lists nearby spots with approximate travel times to beaches and the airport.
