Would you like to feel the Okinawan breeze with blue skies and ocean as your backdrop?
Are you looking for a new way to enjoy Okinawa’s beautiful scenery? This article will introduce the appeal and enjoyment of street kart experiences in Okinawa. After reading this article, you’ll understand how to fully enjoy the tropical scenery while cruising in a street kart. We’ll provide detailed explanations of the optimal ways to enjoy the experience tailored to Okinawa’s climate and environment. This article focuses on the Okinawa location and explains the unique street kart experience that only Okinawa can offer.
Under Okinawa’s Blue Sky: Kart Experience Around Naha Airport
The street kart experience in Okinawa is an activity that allows you to fully enjoy the unique tropical charm unlike anywhere else in mainland Japan. The Okinawa location is situated near Naha Airport, allowing you to enjoy street karting amid Okinawa’s distinctive open landscapes and warm climate.
Okinawa is located at Japan’s southernmost point with a subtropical climate, characterized by warm temperatures throughout the year. The average temperature is around 30°C in summer and about 17°C in winter, making it warmer than mainland Japan. Thanks to this favorable climate, street kart experiences in Okinawa can be enjoyed comfortably year-round. Even during winter when mainland Japan is cold, driving in Okinawa remains relatively warm.
The O-S Tour program departing from the Okinawa location first drives around Naha Airport. In this area, you can see aircraft landing and taking off up close. With Okinawa’s blue sky as a backdrop, watching large aircraft gracefully descend is a special sight that cannot be experienced from inside a car. Thanks to the kart’s open structure, you can experience the powerful roar of aircraft engines as they pass.
When driving the airport route, the contrast between the vast sky and sea is particularly impressive. Okinawa’s sky is known for being especially blue with high transparency. This is due to the high atmospheric transparency characteristic of subtropical regions, allowing you to enjoy the vivid blue sky known as “Okinawa Blue,” which is distinctly different from mainland Japan. The open structure of the street kart is perfect for fully appreciating this beautiful sky.
Near Naha Airport is a small island called Senaga Island. This island is located right next to Naha Airport’s runway and is popular as a spot to watch aircraft landing and taking off up close. When driving a street kart near this island, you can enjoy the spectacular scenery created by the sky, sea, and aircraft. Senaga Island also has observation decks and beautiful beaches where you can enjoy typical Okinawan scenery.
The street kart experience at the Okinawa location is conducted in groups of up to six people, accompanied by experienced guides. The guides are well-versed in local culture and history, providing interesting explanations during the drive. For example, you can learn about Okinawa’s history, remnants of the American occupation era, and the culture of the Ryukyu Kingdom – local knowledge that doesn’t appear in tourist guidebooks.
Since you’ll be driving under Okinawa’s strong sunshine, sun protection is essential. It’s recommended to bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Don’t forget to prepare drinking water for hydration. Guides pay attention to participants’ condition and take breaks as appropriate.
Cruising Through Kokusai Street: Experience Okinawan Culture and History
Kokusai Street is a main street about 1.6 kilometers long known as “Okinawa’s Kitchen” and is the center of Okinawa tourism. The street was named with the hope that it would be revitalized as an international street after World War II. Currently, approximately 400 shops line the 1.6-kilometer stretch, including souvenir shops, restaurants, and clothing stores, bustling with tourists throughout the year.
The experience of driving a street kart down Kokusai Street will become a special memory unique to Okinawa. On both sides of the street, you’ll see shops selling colorful Ryukyu glass products, stores displaying vibrant Okinawan textiles, and shops selling traditional crafts such as Shisa statues, allowing you to appreciate the richness of Okinawan culture.
When driving along Kokusai Street, the unique architectural style is particularly impressive. The distinctive townscape that blends Okinawa’s traditional red-tiled roofs with modern buildings reflects Okinawa’s history and culture, which differs from mainland Japan. These buildings are inscribed with the history of post-war reconstruction and Okinawa’s development, and you can hear interesting explanations from your guide.
Around Kokusai Street, there are numerous small alleyways such as “Heiwa Street” and “Ichiba Hondori.” These streets are lined with shops and eateries used daily by locals, allowing you to experience more of the local atmosphere. By driving along the main street in a street kart while glimpsing the entrances to these alleyways, you can get a glimpse of everyday life in Okinawa.
In the central area of Kokusai Street is an area called “Okinawa Prefectural Office,” which includes the location where “Old Okiei,” a theater that represented pre-war Okinawa, once stood. Near the end of the street, there are also the Peace Memorial Statue and the Himeyuri Peace Museum, where you can feel Okinawa’s wish for peace. When passing near these spots in a street kart, you will sense the weight of Okinawa’s history.
During the tour, mobile phone operation is only permitted when stopped at red lights. The guide will help you take photos of Kokusai Street’s vibrant scenery, allowing you to record your memories properly. Of course, you can also bring an action camera to record your driving experience.
Safety is the top priority during the street kart experience on Kokusai Street. Since this street is crowded with tourists and locals, special attention must be paid to pedestrians and other vehicles. Dangerous driving such as speeding, racing, zigzagging, drifting, and driving side by side is strictly prohibited. Guides carefully explain safe driving points and are always vigilant to ensure participant safety.
Street Kart Experience Utilizing Okinawa’s Climate: Seasonal Attractions
Okinawa’s climate differs greatly from mainland Japan and is classified as a subtropical oceanic climate. The street kart experience that takes advantage of this distinctive climate offers different attractions in each season.
Spring (March to May) in Okinawa arrives with warmth earlier than on the mainland, and beautiful flowers bloom during this season. Particularly from late March to April, subtropical flowers representative of Okinawa such as the Royal Poinciana and Deigo bloom. During this season’s street kart experience, you can enjoy the colorful flowers blooming along the roads. The temperature is around 20-25°C, which is comfortable, and the humidity is relatively low, making for a pleasant drive.
Summer (June to September) in Okinawa is characterized by strong sunshine and high humidity, but the constant breeze from the sea makes street kart driving surprisingly comfortable. Especially from late July to August, summer festivals and fireworks displays are held throughout Okinawa, allowing you to experience the lively local atmosphere. Sun protection and hydration are particularly important when driving during this season. The Okinawa location sometimes offers summer-exclusive early morning tours or sunset tours, designed to provide a comfortable experience while avoiding the strong sunshine.
Autumn (October to November) is perhaps the optimal season for enjoying street karting in Okinawa, as the typhoon season has passed and the weather stabilizes, while summer heat subsides. The temperature ranges from 24-28°C, and the humidity drops, making extended outdoor activities comfortable. This period falls outside the peak tourist season, allowing you to enjoy driving on relatively uncrowded roads. While Okinawa’s autumn doesn’t feature the red leaves seen on the mainland, you can enjoy unique autumn scenery such as sugarcane flowers blooming.
Winter (December to February) in Okinawa remains warm compared to mainland Japan, with daytime temperatures maintaining around 16-20°C. Driving under blue skies in mild weather becomes an especially memorable experience when the mainland is covered in harsh cold. The air is particularly clear during this season, providing better visibility, allowing you to enjoy views of distant islands and the beautiful sea more vividly. From December to January, illumination events are held throughout Okinawa, and you can enjoy tropical light displays.
In Okinawa, sudden heavy rains called “squalls” can occur, but they usually stop in a short time and are often followed by clear weather. If it starts raining during a tour, the guide will direct participants to temporarily shelter in a safe place, and depending on the rain condition, the tour will either continue or be canceled.
A Japanese ordinary driver’s license or an international driver’s license is required to drive a street kart. You can check the types of valid licenses on the official website’s [Driver’s License page](https://kart.st/en/drivers-license/). Reservations are required, and early booking is recommended, especially during peak tourist seasons from July to September and December to January.
Okinawa’s Ocean and Sky Scenic Points: Perspectives Unique to Street Karts
The greatest attraction of the street kart experience in Okinawa is the ability to drive while feeling the beautiful sea and sky up close. The tour program at the Okinawa location includes several scenic spots unique to the island.
Particularly impressive is the view of the East China Sea visible from near Naha Airport. Okinawa’s sea is so transparent that it’s called “Emerald Blue,” and its beauty attracts many tourists from Japan and abroad. When driving along the coastal road in a street kart, you can enjoy a 180-degree panoramic view of the vast sea. This sense of openness, which cannot be experienced from inside a regular car, is the true pleasure of the street kart experience.
From the highlands around Senaga Island, you can overlook Naha Airport’s runway and the East China Sea. Here you can enjoy the contrast of the blue sea with aircraft taking off and landing in the background. Guides will make temporary stops at such scenic points to allow time for photography. They not only support landscape photography but also help take commemorative photos that include participants, allowing you to create wonderful memories.
A characteristic of Okinawa’s sky is the shape of its clouds. Cumulus clouds (thunderheads) typical of subtropical regions are frequently seen, especially in summer, and their powerful appearance is overwhelming. Looking up at the sky from a street kart, you can enjoy the dramatic scenery created by these clouds. Especially at dusk, you might see the spectacular “sunset” where clouds are dyed red and orange by the setting sun.
Another feature of Okinawa is the scenery dotted with islands. On clear days, you can see remote islands such as the Kerama Islands and Kumejima from Naha. During the street kart tour, guides will provide interesting explanations about these islands. Each of Okinawa’s islands has its own unique culture and history, and the presence of these islands visible from Naha tells the story of Okinawa’s geographical and cultural diversity.
When enjoying Okinawa’s scenery, choosing appropriate clothing for the climate is important. To protect your skin from strong sunshine, wearing light long-sleeved clothing and a hat is recommended. Also, bringing compact rain gear will provide peace of mind in case of sudden rain. The Okinawa location offers rentals such as raincoats suited to the weather conditions.
Safety is the top priority during street kart sightseeing in Okinawa. Care must be taken not to neglect driving while being captivated by the beautiful scenery. Guides will periodically stop at safe locations to allow time to enjoy the scenery, so please follow their instructions to enjoy your sightseeing safely.
At the Okinawa location, you can also purchase exclusive souvenirs after the tour. Besides original T-shirts and key chains, limited-edition items incorporating typical Okinawan motifs are also available.
Street karts fully comply with Japanese road traffic laws and are unrelated to Nintendo Co., Ltd. or “Mario Kart.” Nintendo character costume rentals are not offered, providing a safe and legal tour experience.
Summary
The street kart experience in Okinawa is a unique activity that maximizes the subtropical climate and beautiful scenery. This experience of enjoying the vast sky and blue sea around Naha Airport, the bustling Kokusai Street, and the subtropical scenery of the four seasons while directly feeling the wind will make your Okinawa trip even more special.
With thorough safety measures and experienced guides accompanying you, even first-timers can participate with peace of mind. As long as you make a reservation in advance and verify you have a valid driver’s license, anyone can easily enjoy this special experience.
When visiting Okinawa, please consider experiencing street karting, which allows you to discover the island’s charm from a perspective not available through ordinary tourism. Driving under the emerald blue sea and clear blue sky while feeling the pleasant breeze all over your body will surely become an unforgettable memory of Okinawa.
