📝 1. Overview
Nicknamed the “Miracle Mile,” Kokusai Street (Kokusai Dori) is the bustling main avenue of Naha, stretching for 1.6 km through Okinawa’s capital. Packed with souvenir shops, awamori liquor stores, street snacks, entertainment venues, and markets, it’s the perfect place to feel the island’s energy. Whether you’re day-shopping, bar-hopping, or festival-watching, this lively strip is where tradition meets pop culture, all with an Okinawan flair.
🌟 2. Highlights
🛍️ Souvenir Paradise – Shisa statues, bingata crafts, snacks & local sweets
🍢 Street Food Stalls – Try sata andagi (Okinawan donuts), goya dishes & fresh pineapple
🎭 Live Music Bars – Catch Okinawan folk music with sanshin performances
🎆 Eisa Dances & Parades – Cultural events on weekends or during summer
🍶 Awamori Tasting – Sample Okinawa’s signature rice liquor
🧃 Heiwa Dori Arcade – Covered side street filled with retro vibes and local markets
💡 3. Tips
📸 Best Photo Spots:
- Entrance arch of Kokusai Street
- Neon-lit signboards and lanterns at night
- With colorful shisa statues in shopfronts
🕰️ Best time to visit:
- Afternoon for shopping and street food
- Night (6 PM onward) for lights, music & local bars
- Summer Sundays during the Eisa Festival = dance + fireworks
💴 Most shops accept cards, but cash is faster for small food stalls
🌴 Stay hydrated—Okinawa heat can sneak up on you
🎁 Look out for local-only brands & handmade awamori
🍽️ 4. Nearby Eats – Top 3 on or near Kokusai Street
- Yunangi
🍲 Local favorites like tebichi (pork stew) and goya champuru
📍3-3-3 Kumoji, Naha
🕒 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM
🚶 Just off Kokusai Street - Ukishima Garden
🥗 Vegan & organic Okinawan fusion in a chic space
📍2-12-3 Matsuo
🕒 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM
🚶 3 min walk from center of Kokusai Dori - Blue Seal Ice Cream
🍦 Okinawa’s iconic ice cream brand—try beni-imo (purple sweet potato)
📍2-1-1 Makishi
🕒 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
🚶 Along Kokusai Street
🍽️ 4B. Sub-Zone Picks – Explore by Street Section
🛍️ Central Street Zone (Main Drag)
- Souvenir superstores
- Awamori shops with tasting corners
- Brightest signs and most foot traffic
🛒 Heiwa Dori & Ichiba Area
- Side arcades with seafood, crafts, and market snacks
- Entrance to Makishi Public Market (undergoing renewal)
- Great spot for rainy day exploring
🍹 Nightlife Corner (Matsuo to Kumoji)
- Live music izakayas
- Trendy rooftop bars
- Street food open till late
🚗 5. Access
📍 From Naha Airport
🚃 15 min on Yui Rail → get off at Kenchomae Station or Makishi Station
🚗 ~15 min by taxi
📍 From Shurijo Castle Area
🚃 Yui Rail from Shuri Station to Makishi or Kenchomae (20–25 min)
📍 Local Travel
🚶 Fully walkable street (1.6 km end to end)
🅿️ Paid lots available behind arcades
🧭 Combine with Tsuboya Pottery Street, Makishi Market, and Naha City Museum for full-day downtown culture