Kokusaidori Street

What to know

Kokusaidori (国際通り, literally "International Road") is Naha's premier tourist and shopping street, stretching about two kilometers through downtown. Its name comes from the former "Ernie Pyle International Theater," a movie theater built along the road after the war.

Starting near the Naha Bus Terminal and the Okinawa Prefectural Office, Kokusaidori is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars, hotels, souvenir shops, boutiques, and department stores. Many shops stay open until 10 pm, and several restaurants feature live Okinawan music.

For even more shopping, explore the colorful covered arcades of Heiwadori, Mutsumidori, and Ichiba Hondori, which branch off from Kokusaidori near the intersection with Okieidori, halfway along the street. Shops in these arcades are smaller, often just a booth run by a single owner.

Further into the arcades away from Kokusaidori, the atmosphere becomes less touristy as souvenir shops give way to establishments catering more to locals. Besides bars, eateries, clothing, and hardware stores, you'll find fruit vendors selling tropical fruits like pineapples, mangoes, and passionfruit. Hours vary, with some bars and eateries open late into the night.

Also in this area is the Daiichi Makishi Public Market, where vendors sell meat, seafood, produce, and inexpensive dry goods like household items. The market building was rebuilt and reopened in March 2023. Besides food stalls on the first floor, it houses several restaurants on the second floor.

Kokusaidori Street is located right in central Naha, stretching from the Naha Bus Terminal to Makishi Station on the Okinawa Monorail. It is also just steps from the monorail's Kencho-mae and Miebashi stations.