Okinawa resort town of Chatan is recommended for spring break and graduation trips! We'll tell you how to spend your time, budget, and more

Wonderful memories are treasures that will stay in your heart forever. Hoping that your trip to Okinawa will become one of those memories, we'd like to introduce you to our special sightseeing plan.

The town of Chatan, which we'll be introducing today, is about a 40-minute drive from Naha Airport and easily accessible by bus. Hotels and restaurants are scattered throughout the Mihama district, which boasts a 700-meter-long Sunset Beach, and there are plenty of photogenic spots.

While you're a student and it's easier to take extended breaks, be sure to visit and spend some time relaxing and at your own pace!

<Table of Contents>
1. Sample Itinerary – How to spend time in Chatan with friends or your partner –
2. Top 3 reasons why Chatan is recommended
3. What is your budget for your Okinawa trip?
4. Flights from various locations to Okinawa

Show all table of contents

1. Sample Itinerary – How to spend time in Chatan with friends or your partner –

● 7:00 Wake up
Hotel buffets are nice, but why not wake up a little early and enjoy some morning activities at a seaside cafe?
● 7:30 Breakfast (SEASIDE TERRACE)

SEASIDETERRACE serves amazing French toast. Taking it to go and eating it on the beach is also a great option.

● 8:00 Coffee time (ISHICOFFEE)

To fully enjoy a refreshing morning, take your time with your coffee.
ISHICOFFEE is a hidden gem. Enjoy a moment of elegance with their high-quality coffee paired perfectly with scones.

● 9:00 Diving

Just north of the Mihama area, off the coast of Sunabe Beach, lies a coral reef known as the "flower garden," and Chatan is a popular spot for marine activities such as diving.
Many people are snorkeling and surfing here.

● 12:00 Lunch at American Village (Wagyu Cafe Kapuka)

There are tons of restaurants in American Village, but I recommend "Wagyu Cafe Kapuka".
The main dish, as you can see, is a salad bowl featuring a rose made from avocado. Adding a set menu makes it a healthy and nutritious meal.

● 13:30 Explore and shop in American Village by bicycle.

I set off on a cycling tour of Chatan. The feeling of cycling along the coast is amazing!
I rented a bicycle from SHUHARI BIKE WORKS.

● 15:30 Break (YANCAFE)

Taking a break at the stylish YANCAFE.

● 16:00 Stroll along the beach

Enjoy the luxury of having both Sunset Beach, adjacent to American Village, and Araha Beach, right next to it.
Both beaches open in early April, so during spring break, you can mainly enjoy the beautiful sandy beaches.

● 17:30 Sunset viewing

The sunset over the sea in Chatan attracts many visitors even in winter. Watching it with friends or a loved one is one of the great pleasures of a trip to Okinawa.

● 19:00 Dinner (pockefarm)

At pockefarm, my personal recommendation is the Taco Moco Rice, a dish that combines taco rice and loco moco. It's a collaboration between Okinawa and Hawaii.

● 20:00 Enjoy the illuminations

You can enjoy illuminations all year round at American Village. Combined with the unique sculptures, it makes for a truly photogenic experience. Especially before and after events like Halloween and Christmas, the entire American Village is immersed in the festive atmosphere, and you can also enjoy fireworks every Saturday starting at 20:00 PM.

There are plenty of open-air seats along the coast, so you could head straight to a second party, or you could just relax and chat at the hotel.

2. Top 3 reasons why Chatan is recommended

1. A beach area with an atmosphere that feels just like being abroad.

Chatan Town boasts two resort beaches, Sunset Beach and Araha Beach, and is lined with many stylish cafes and restaurants. Because of its proximity to a US military base, you'll often hear and see English spoken throughout the town, giving you a slight feeling of being on an overseas trip. Palm trees line the beach, and people can be seen practicing yoga in the nearby fields, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a beach resort abroad.

Point 2: Easy access even without a car!

American Village, the heart of Chatan Town's tourist area, is about a 35-minute drive north from Naha Airport along National Route 58. Turn left at the "Kuwae" intersection to arrive. If taking the bus, take bus number 120 (Nago West Airport Line) from Naha Airport and get off at "Kuwae." From there, it's about a 3-minute walk to the American Village sign.
The fare from Naha is about 700 yen.

There are also day trip bus tours departing from and returning to Chatan, allowing you to fully enjoy Okinawa Island, from Naha in the south to Chatan in the central region, and Nago in the north where the Churaumi Aquarium is located.
>>Click here for Okinawa Main Island sightseeing bus tours.

3. A wide variety of options, from luxury resorts to guesthouses.

When staying at a resort, the cost is often a concern. In Chatan, you can stay with friends or your partner at a reasonable price. My friend and I stayed at the "Okinawa Oceanfront Hotel." The room-only plan included a twin Western-style room with a balcony for 11,800 yen per room. That's less than 6,000 yen per person.
Chatan is also characterized by its wide variety of accommodation options, including guesthouses, business hotels, and resort hotels.

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▼▼Tour Okinawa by bus! Two round trips per day between Naha Airport and Chatan Town (American Village)!▼▼

3. What is your budget for your Okinawa trip?

Chatan is a town in Japan that offers a taste of a foreign atmosphere. How much would it cost to stay in such a charming town as Chatan around March?

Based on the model course I introduced earlier, and calculating using the cheapest fares between Tokyo and Okinawa in March (according to my research), the cost would be...

Airfare (Narita ⇔ Naha round trip): 17,460 yen
Accommodation fee: 5,900 yen per night x 1
Transportation costs (Naha Airport ⇔ Chatan): 1,400 yen
Food and entertainment expenses: 30,000 yen

Roughly speaking, a 2-night, 3-day trip, including spending money, would cost around 65,000 yen, and you should expect to pay an additional 10,000 yen for each extra night thereafter.

Of course, the cost can vary depending on where you stay, what you eat, and what you do for fun. Having so many options is one of the great things about Chatan.

However, one thing to keep in mind when considering your budget is that most flights and hotels have fluctuating prices depending on availability (the fewer seats available, the higher the price).
The above information is from March 2023, and was researched three months prior, in December 2022.
As of February 2023, a search for the same information revealed that the round-trip airfare had increased to ¥26,560, 1.5 times the original price, meaning the airfare alone was nearly ¥10,000 more expensive.

4. Flights from various locations to Okinawa

Several airlines, including ANA, JAL, and low-cost carriers (LCCs), operate flights from various locations to Naha Airport. Here's a list of airlines operating direct flights to Naha Airport from major airports.
Use this to compare fares!