DAY 1 • Saturday, 9 November 

Arrival in Okinawa

Your Adventure Week begins with your arrival in Okinawa. Connect with other delegates and settle in on your first night.

DAY 2 • Sunday, 10 November 

The Culture of Okinawa!

Enjoy breakfast at the accommodation before arriving at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum. You will learn about the overall history of Okinawa, from its nature to its culture.

©Okinawa Convention＆Visitors Bureau

Next will be a visit to  Shurijo Castle, where you will learn about the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The history of the building has a unique culture as a Bankoku Shinryo (a bridge to the world), and the castle is still the spiritual home of the Okinawan people. Although currently under reconstruction due to a fire in 2019, the tour will show you the efforts being made to restore Shurijo Castle, including the restoration of the main hall, which is scheduled for completion in 2026 under the theme of "Reconstruction on Display".

Afterward, we will take a walk along the picturesque Shuri Kinjocho Stone-paved Path. You can experience not only its charm and beauty but also the history of people's lives in the red-tiled houses and communal wells.

For lunch, we will enjoy the local flavours and cuisine, eating a traditional Okinawan meal together.

DAY 3 • Monday, 11 November 

Harmony with Nature

What was life like for the common people during the 450 years of the Ryukyu Kingdom?

Together, we will head for Yambaru in the northern part of the main island of Okinawa. In the Yambaru region, there are many places where you can still catch a glimpse of what it was like in those days, and you will enter a village to experience it for yourself. In the village of Kijoka in Ogimi, Yambaru, the traditional lifestyle of respecting and living in harmony with nature remains strong.

Afterward, we will visit the Utaki (sacred site) at Hedo, the place where Ryukyu was founded and where the world began. Ryukyu is believed to have been arrived at and opened by Amamikyo from Niraikanai, the land of the gods across the sea. We will visit Hedo no Utaki, the site of God's first creation in Okinawa, and the stream of Okawa (Ukka), which was used by the king of Ryukyu as the first water drawn from a well on New Year's Day, to offer prayers for peace in the world and gratitude for being alive.

Asumui Utaki is one of the most important sacred sites in Okinawa. We will take a look at the "Utaki worship" that supported the Ryukyu Kingdom and still lives on in everyday life.

DAY 4 • Tuesday, 12 November 

Yambaru Nature Tour!

Today we will visit the subtropical forests of Yambaru in the northern part of Okinawa Island. These lush forests are a treasure trove of endemic creatures, many of which have evolved in their own unique way. Among them, the rare Okinawa rail, the only flightless bird in Japan, is a rare bird endemic to Yambaru.

At the Okinawa Rail Ecology Exhibition and Learning Facility: Kuina no Mori, you will learn about the ecology and environmental conditions of the Okinawa rail, and there is also an observation booth that recreates the actual habitat of the animals in the facility. In the wild, it is difficult to even see the Okinawa rail, but here, you can observe them right in front of your eyes.

Afterward, you will kayak the Fukuchi Dam, the largest dam in Okinawa Prefecture. You will then follow the flow of the water and climb alongside the mountain stream. On the way, you can enjoy diving into the waterfalls and immerse yourself in the great outdoors. You may also encounter the sword-tailed newt which is a rare small animal, an endemic species to Okinawa.

DAY 5 • Wednesday, 13 November

Visiting our friends of Okinawa!

On this day, we will visit Kin, a town located in the center of the main island of Okinawa.

The Okukubi River, which runs through the town, is lined on both banks with thick mangrove forests. Here you can experience mangrove kayaking while admiring the beautiful scenery.

This area provides the optimal resting and habitat for migratory and resident birds from northern Eurasia and other regions, making it one of the best bird-watching destinations in the world, and expert nature guides will provide bird-watching tours. Enjoy the rich and diverse natural environment of the mangrove forests from both on the water and land.

More than half of the total area of Kin is occupied by U.S. military bases, and the tour will introduce the realities of living robustly side by side with the U.S. military. The tour will also visit a brewery that makes use of a cave, which was used as a shelter during World War II, as a place to mature awamori and tofu.

The life created by the relationship with the U.S. military base and the history of sending out many emigrants also intertwine a complex and multilayered story that is unique to this area.

DAY 6 • Thursday, 14  November

Water Adventures!

For the people of Okinawa, the sea is deeply connected to their lives and culture, as are the songs, beliefs, and festivals,which are profoundly related to Ryukyu culture and traditions.

This morning, in order to raise awareness of environmental conservation, you will experience a program combining a snorkeling experience around an anemonefish development area and a talk on one of the Sustainable Development Goals, "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development".

For lunch, At YAKUZEN RYU-KA, where the culture of health and longevity is revived and handed down to the present day, you can experience buying, procuring, cooking, and eating local ingredients that are unique to Okinawa.

After lunch, you will visit the former Navy headquarters. Okinawa, also known as "the keystone of the Pacific," was the site of Japan's only ground war during the Pacific War and suffered tremendous damage, including civilian casualties. Built as a naval headquarters base, this former naval headquarters bunker, where the Imperial Japanese Navy met the end of organized combat after fierce battling, is a valuable facility that has been preserved almost exactly as it was.

The Kingdom of Ryukyu once maintained peace through trade without hostility with neighboring countries. Through the history of Okinawa, which has been in harmony with nature and other cultures, and through the journey, you can experience the "kukuru” (heart) of the "Yuimaru” (mutual assistance and cooperation) of the people living in the modern world, and be reminded of the preciousness of peace. 

DAY 7 • Friday, 15 November 

Networking day!

Today is your chance to meet the local suppliers once more and participate in one-to-one meetings in Marketplace at a venue on Kokusai-dori in Naha City.
After the Marketplace, we will end with a farewell lunch.

DAY 8 • Saturday, 16 November 

Departures

Departure transfers will be arranged to Naha airport. Departure may be in the afternoon of the 15th, Day 7 depending on flight availability.

Please note that the region reserves the right for changes in the program. Activities will be done according to the weather conditions. A detailed itinerary will be shared with accepted participants.