Essentials
- City
- Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
- Population
- 317,000
- Internet Speed
- 95 Mbps (Starlink and high-speed fiber widely available)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 JPY ≈ 0.0067 USD, 1 USD ≈ 150 JPY
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (Highly regulated, though some locals prefer filters)
- Power
- 100V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Ubigi (eSIM), Sakura Mobile, or Mobal (approx. ¥4,500/month for 20GB)
- Banking for Expats
- Japan Post Bank (Yucho), Wise, Sony Bank (English friendly)
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Monthly Mansions (Leopalace21), Booking.com
- Cashless Friendly
- Improving; PayPay and Suica/Pasmo accepted in most chains, but small Izakayas remain cash-only
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (¥120,000 - ¥200,000/month), Matsuo/Kumoji districts
- Budget Accommodation
- The Kitchen Hostel AO (¥3,500/night), Little Asia Guest House (¥2,000/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Kokusai-dori (International Street) for shopping and dining access
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Omoromachi (Shintoshin) for modern apartments, malls, and quiet cafes
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- b-working (¥1,500/day, Naha Shintoshin), Howlive (¥2,200/day, Kumoji/Ryubo)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Zooton’s Shintoshin (Good Wi-Fi), T's Style Coffee (near Prefectural Museum)
- Networking Events
- Startup Cafe Koza (Nearby in Okinawa City), Okinawa Digital Nomads Meetup (Facebook Group)
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Okinawa, weekly language exchanges at local community centers
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- DiDi, GO App, Uber (limited to taxis)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Hello Cycling (¥200/30 mins), Cycy (electric scooter sharing)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Naminoue Beach (In Naha city), Ginowan Tropical Beach (20 mins drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- Peach Aviation, Jetstar Japan (Naha Airport - OKA)
- Top International Airline
- All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan Airlines (JAL)
- Highway Access
- Okinawa Expressway (Naha Interchange connects to northern parts)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Naha Airport Station / Asahibashi Monorail (Yui Rail)
- Public Transport Passes
- Yui Rail Day Pass (¥800 for 24 hours), OKICA IC Card
- Regional Travel
- Yanbaru Express Bus (to northern Okinawa), Ferry from Tomari Port (to Kerama Islands)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Okinawa Red Cross Hospital (Yogi district), Adventists Medical Center (Nishihara - English support)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Tree Okinawa, VAJA Yoga (Chatan/Naha area)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Anytime Fitness (¥7,500/month, multiple locations), Naha City Gymnasium (¥300/entry)
- Laundry Services
- Coin Laundry Fuwari (locations city-wide, ¥400-¥1,000 per load)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, Wolt, Menu
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Okinawa Soba (Eibun Soba), Goya Champuru (Stir-fry)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Ukishima Garden (Vegan Organic), GubGub’s Vegan Burgers
- Best Dessert Spots
- Blue Seal Ice Cream (Kokusai-dori), Ball Donut Park
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- San-A Main Place, Makishi Public Market
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.co.jp, Rakuten, Mercari
- Grocery Delivery
- Aeon Net Super, Radish Boya
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Sakaemachi Market (Deep atmosphere), Matsuyama (Club district)
- Local Brewery
- Orion Breweries, Wolfbräu (Craft beer shop in Shuri)
- Wine Bars
- Wine Bar Bunkyu (Kumoji), Un Deux Trois
- Street Food Stalls
- Yatai-mura (Kokusai-dori Food Village)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Bacar Okinawa (Neapolitan Pizza), Borrachos (Mexican)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Shuri Castle (Shurijo), Naminoue Shrine
- Museums & Art Venues
- Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum (OPAM)
- Historical Sites
- Shikinaen Garden, Tamaudun Royal Mausoleum
- Religious Sites
- Gokoku-ji Temple, Naminoue-gu
- Annual Events
- Naha Hari (Dragon Boat Race - May), Naha Great Tug-of-War (October)
- Cultural Districts
- Tsuboya Pottery District (Yachimun Street)
- Theater Venues
- National Theatre Okinawa (Ryukyuan Dance/Kumiodori)
- Local Markets
- Makishi Public Market, Sakaemachi Market
- Music Scene
- Sakurazaka Central (Live house), Sanshin street performances
- Street Art
- Sakurazaka area murals
- Cooking Classes
- Taste of Okinawa (Cooking class + Craft beer tour)
- Art Galleries
- Garaman Hall (Nearby in Ginoza), Tsuboya Pottery Museum
- Historic Buildings
- Shuri Castle Seiden (Restoration in progress)
- Local Heritage
- Bingata Textile, Sanshin (Okinawan Banjo) music
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Manko Waterbird and Wetland Center, Sueyoshi Park
- National Parks Nearby
- Yanbaru National Park (2 hours north), Kerama Shoto National Park (Ferry ride)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Naha Harbor Walk, Shuri Castle hilltop trails
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Shuri Castle Observatory (West Azana), Umisora Park
- Birdwatching Locations
- Manko Park (Migratory birds and mangroves)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Bibi Beach Itoman (15km south, designated BBQ areas)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Yamato Transport (Kuroneko), Sagawa Express
- Tech Repair Services
- Bic Camera Naha, Labi1 Naha (Computer repairs)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Naha City Health and Wellness Center
- Language Classes
- ICLC International Center for Language & Culture
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Okinawa Prefectural Library (Asahibashi Station)
- Community Centers
- Naha City Community Center (various locations for events)
- Gaming Lounges
- e-Sports Arena Okinawa
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Pachinko Maruhan (No traditional casinos in Japan yet)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥850,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = ¥25,500,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥550,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = ¥16,500,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥800,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = ¥40,000,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥500,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = ¥25,000,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥750,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ¥60,000,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥450,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ¥36,000,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx 30.6% (Combined effective rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 20.42% for non-residents
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for tax residents; progressive rates
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (plus 10% inhabitant tax)
- VAT
- 10% (8% for groceries/takeaway)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to 20% + ownership/low-tax jurisdictions
- Property Tax
- Approx 1.4% (Fixed asset tax) annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx 3% - 4% including registration and stamp duty
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Japan Digital Nomad Visa allows 6-month stays (No local income tax if earned abroad)