For Backpackers and Solo Traveler: One Day Itinerary of Nago City in Okinawa to Discover Different Photogenic Charms in addition to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

“Churaumi Aquarium”(美ら海水族館) is famous in Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, but this time, for those who like photography, we thought about a sightseeing route that goes around the other four classic photogenic spots in one day. It’s packed tightly with spots where you can experience the charms of Nago City, so it is recommended for backpackers and who like traveling alone.

It takes about an hour and a half to reach Nago City by “Yanbaru Express Bus” from “Kencho Kitaguchi”, which is a 5-minute walk from Hotel Gracery Naha. It is convenient for accessing each spot if you get off at Nago Bus Terminal. You can sleep on the round-trip bus to Naha City and save your energy to enjoy sightseeing.

“Nago City Hall” looking like an ancient ruin with the greenery of vegetation and bougainvillea flowers

“Nago City Hall” (名護市役所) has an impressive striped appearance created by white and pink blocks. It was built in 1981 based on a design proposal selected from 308 proposals. The building using the concrete block technology brought in by the US military stationed in Japan is crawled up by the bougainvillea, which blooms bright pink and magenta flowers, and the surrounding area is overgrown with vegetation. It appears an ancient ruin in a foreign country. Anyone can free entry the terrace at any time. You can eat your lunch or spend a cool evening time when you’re stopping by.

Opening Hours	8:30AM – 5:15PM　Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays
Address	1-1-1 Minato, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture
Access	3 minutes by Okinawa bus from Nago Bus Terminal, then a 2-minute walk after getting off at Nago City Hall Station
URL	http://www.city.nago.okinawa.jp

Okinawa Prefectural Designated Cultural Property “Todorono Falls” dropping 30 meters along the monolith that has been popular as a scenic spot for over 500 years

“Todorono Falls”(轟の滝) is a designated cultural property of Okinawa Prefecture. The spray of water that runs down a huge monolith from a height of 30 meters is full of negative ions. This monolith is called quartz porphyry(石英斑岩), and it seems that the magma that came up from the underground cooled and solidified in the ground before it came out to the surface. It is said to have been created 15 to 12 million years ago. In 1804 during the Ryukyu dynasty, there is a record that the 17th King built a Nyoden in front of the waterfall, and the scenery of Todoroki Waterfall was highly evaluated at that time as well. It is located in the well-maintained Todorokinotaki Park(轟の滝公園), so you can easily visit it in your everyday clothes.

Opening Hours	9:00AM – 6:00PM
Address	594 Sukuta, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture
Access	14 minutes by Ryukyu Bus from Nago Bus Terminal, then a 10-minute walk after getting off at Sukuta Station
URL	https://sukutatodoroki2.wixsite.com/sukutatodoroki

Fluffy and Moist Healthy Donuts made from Okara of Okinawan Tofu are exquisite! “Shima Donuts” whose building is retro and cute

From lunch to interior and exterior of the store, “Shima Donuts” (しまドーナッツ), a baked donut specialty store, is all photogenic, as well as food. The store, which is said to be a renovated old folk house, has a retro and cute appearance with a lemon-colored tiled roof. The showcase inside the store is lined with carefully selected donuts that are handmade every day. Healthy baked donuts made with Okara of Shimadofu (Okinawan Tofu) and soy milk are characterized by the flavor of the ingredients that can be felt firmly because they are not fried in oil. It’s light, but it’s also delicious, and good to keep your stomach feel full. In addition to the standard flavors such as plain and black sesame, there are about 10 types of flavors such as Beniimo and Jimami, which are typical of Okinawa. If you want to try different flavors, you can buy a mini donut set with 5 flavors.

Opening Hours	11:00AM – 3:00PM (Closed when out of stock)　Closed on holidays
Address	270 Isagawa, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture
Access	15 minutes by Okinawa bus from Nago Bus Terminal, then a 2-minute walk after getting off at Isagawa Station
URL	＜Facebook＞https://www.facebook.com/shimadonuts/ ＜Instagram＞https://www.instagram.com/shimadonuts_okinawa/

“Busena Marine Park” where you can carefully observe the emerald green sea covered with coral reefs from the only ‘underwater observatory’ on the main island and the whale-shaped ‘glass bottom boat’

“Busena Marine Park” (ブセナ海中公園), where untouched nature remains, is a long-established leisure facility that was established in 1970 and is currently designated as the Okinawa Kaigan Quasi-National Park. The highlights of the facility are the “Underwater Observatory”(海中展望塔) where you can enter the underwater world at a depth of 5 meters and observe coral reefs and tropical fish, and the “Glass Bottom Boat”(グラス底ボート) where you can enjoy a 20-minute underwater walk on a whale-shaped boat with a glass bottom. The appearance of the fish is different between underwater and above sea, so please try both.

Opening Hours	April-October 9:00AM – 5:30PM / November-March 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Address	1744-1 Kise, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture
Access	3 minutes by Okinawa bus from Nago Bus Terminal, then a 10-minute walk after getting off at Busena Resort Mae Station
URL	https://www.busena-marinepark.com