Affordable Luxury – 2026 Cherry Blossoms – Ryukyu Okinawa Islands Tour Photos

Cherry Blossoms & Island Culture in Okinawa

Cherry blossoms and island adventures came together on our 2026 Cherry Blossoms — Ryukyu Okinawa Islands Tours #1 & #2! We explored Okinawa’s rich history at Shuri Castle and Peace Memorial sites, then got hands on with local traditions like coral dyeing and shisa painting. The journey continued to Ishigaki and Iriomote with glass bottom boat rides, mangrove cruises, and a unique buffalo cart ride across the water. Back in Naha, we enjoyed shopping along Kokusai Dori and a lively showcase of traditional Okinawan performances, all shared with two great groups led by Tour Managers Sharon Miyashiro and Erik and Lianne Wong.

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We arrived in Haneda and had dinner at the Aile Restaurant in Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport.

We started our Okinawa adventure with a visit to Shuri Castle. The castle was under construction.

At the castle, we dressed up in Ryusou Ryukyu kimonos for a group shot. Here is group #1.

We learned how to decorate tote bags with a coral dyeing activity.

This technique is called “Ryuzen Zome” and done only in Okinawa.

Dinner at Vision and Emotion Restaurant.

Tour Manager Sharon Miyashiro enjoying a slice of wagyu beef.

So many different choices!

We visited Okinawa World to learn about Okinawan culture. Here is Group #2.

We explored Gyokusendo Cave in South Okinawa.

Group #1

Learning the craft of weaving at Kingdom Village.

Group #1 trying some Habu sake and having fun together.

Whale shark airplane on our JAL flight from Naha to Ishigaki.

First stop, a local pottery studio in Ishigaki.

Group #2 at the local pottery studio.

Enjoying each other's company at ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort.

We took a ferry to Iriomote, the second largest of the Ryukyu Islands.

Views on the ferry ride.

We transferred boats and went on a river cruise through the mangrove forest.

The buffalo cart ride on Yubu Island was fun!

The water will sometimes reach up to knee height during the ride.

We finished the day off with a Bar-B-Q Wagyu dinner.

So ono!

At a local sugar cane factory, we learned how sugar cane is grown, harvested, and processed.

Scraping dead leaves.

Squeezing the juice out of the cane.

Tasting snacks shared by the people at the factory.

Group #1 at the factory.

Group #2 at the factory.

Okinawa Peace Memorial Park on Mabuni Hill, the site where the Battle of Okinawa ended.

Himeyuri Peace Museum

Dinner at Tsubarame, serving authentic Okinawan food.

Shoyu pork

White fish with seaweed

Wagyu steak

Mozuku (seaweed)

Celebrating a birthday!

Getting creative and painting our own shisa.

Shisa are traditional Okinawan lion-dog protectors meant to ward off evil spirits and invite good luck.

Awamori (Rice Liquor) Factory

Mori no Nigiwai at the Naha Convention Center.

Mori no Nigiwai initially began with the concept of unearthing and rediscovering various festivals and performing arts that were slowly being lost, forgotten or left behind.

We stopped to eat lunch at the various food stalls.

On our leisure day we we shopped at Heiwa-Dori, a covered arcade.

6 of us followed our local guide, Shoko San, through Heiwa-Dori.

Making a big purchase!

Still deciding and shopping.

Such fun groups to travel with, now we head back to Honolulu! Aloha!

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Affordable Luxury – 2026 Cherry Blossoms – Ryukyu Okinawa Islands Tour Photos

Cherry Blossoms & Island Culture in Okinawa

Travel Photo Gallery

Explore more adventures in our photo and video galleries below!