Photo: 663highland / CC BY 2.5Kokusai-dori is the main street of Naha, 1.6 km long, with about 600 shops along it according to a listing supervised by the shopping-street federation. It runs from the prefectural office end to the Asato junction and is the easiest way into the city from the ship, since the walk from the Wakasa terminal is flat and the ride is short.
It is a souvenir strip, and honest about it: Okinawan crafts, awamori, sweets, T-shirts, snack stalls, restaurants. The reason to go is the sideways step. The covered arcades running off the street lead to the Makishi market and to the potters' street at Tsuboya, which we cover separately. On Sundays between 12:00 and 18:00 the street is closed to traffic and fills with open-air cafes and events.
The catch is that it is built for crowds and heat. On a hot day the walk is tiring. If you are short on time, do not walk the whole street: ride the monorail one stop or take a taxi to the middle and turn down an arcade.
Five things the plaques won't tell you
- A taxi out saves the 20–25 minute walk from the terminal. Taxi first-ride fares changed on 24 August 2026 to ¥650 for the first 1.65 km.
- Sundays 12:00–18:00 are car-free, so it is calmer but busier with people.
- Turn off into the covered arcades for the market and pottery; they are one block away, as our guide to Makishi and Tsuboya explains.
- Awamori is on sale all along the street; our Naha eating list explains how to order it (kusu, with water).
- The nearest monorail stations are Kencho-mae and Makishi, according to the street's own listing; a ride between them is ¥250.
On Sundays between 12:00 and 18:00 the street is closed to traffic and fills with open-air cafes and events.
Guided days from Naha
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More in Naha
Questions people ask here
How far is Kokusai-dori from the Naha cruise terminal?
About 20 to 25 minutes on foot from the Wakasa terminal, or 5 to 10 minutes by taxi, according to a cruise port guide dated December 2025. From the Shinko Wharf No.12 berth there is no public transport, so plan on a taxi of about 10 minutes or a ship shuttle.
How long is Kokusai-dori and what is on it?
About 1.6 km, with roughly 600 shops, restaurants and souvenir stores, per a listing supervised by the Naha City Kokusai Dori Shopping Street Promotion Association Federation. It is closed to cars every Sunday from 12:00 to 18:00.
What is the best way back to the ship?
Walk or take a taxi. The Yui Rail monorail does not reach the Wakasa terminal; the nearest stations are Kencho-mae, about a 15-minute walk from the port according to the Okinawa Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Asahibashi.