Overview
Kokusai Street runs for about 1.6 kilometers through central Naha, from Kumoji near the Okinawa Prefectural Office to the Asato intersection. Souvenir shops and restaurants line the main road, while side streets lead to Makishi Public Market and the pottery shops of Tsuboya. You can spend an afternoon browsing here and stay for dinner without crossing the city.
The street stays busy into the evening. Restaurants and bars serve Okinawan food, and some venues feature live island folk music. Staying nearby puts these evenings within walking distance of your hotel, with Yui Rail stations around the district for the journey to and from Naha Airport.
Shopping and Makishi Public Market
Heiwa Dori's covered arcade and the narrower Ichiba Hondori shopping street branch off Kokusai Street into the market neighborhood. Smaller shops sell local crafts and food along the way to the First Makishi Public Market. The arcades provide some protection from the weather, but Kokusai Street itself isn't covered.
Rebuilt in 2023, the market has fresh-food stalls downstairs and restaurants on the second floor. Seafood or meat bought from participating stalls can be prepared upstairs. Ask which purchases qualify and agree on the preparation before buying, since ingredients and cooking are charged separately and the cooking price varies by dish.
You can also order from the restaurants' menus without buying ingredients downstairs.
Tsuboya's pottery streets
A short walk from the market brings you to Tsuboya Pottery Street, also known as Yachimun Street. Its shops and studios specialize in Okinawan ceramics, from everyday plates and bowls to shisa, the guardian-lion figures found across the islands. Cafes and narrow lanes break up the rows of pottery shops.
Near the street's western entrance, the Naha Municipal Tsuboya Pottery Museum explains the area's pottery history and techniques. Visiting before browsing adds context to the styles on sale. The museum and surrounding pottery shops make a worthwhile extension to a market visit, especially if you're looking for locally made tableware to take home.
Stations and airport access
Kencho-mae Station serves the Kumoji end near the Palette Kumoji shopping complex. Yui Rail uses the English name Prefectural Office for this stop. It's a natural starting point for walking east along Kokusai Street toward the markets.
Makishi Station is near the eastern end, while Miebashi Station lies north of the central section. Makishi and Miebashi are both about ten minutes on foot from the public market, so the better stop depends on where you're starting. The Naha City Tourist Information Center, on the ground floor of Tenbusu Naha, provides visitor information along the street.
Yui Rail runs directly from Naha Airport to all three stations. The journey takes about 13 minutes to Kencho-mae and 16 minutes to Makishi, followed by the walk to your hotel. When comparing hotels, check which station is closest to the entrance; being near Kokusai Street doesn't necessarily mean being near Kencho-mae.
Planning your visit
Kokusai Street is a city neighborhood rather than a beach-resort area. Walking and the monorail cover much of a stay around central Naha, but trips farther around Okinawa need separate transport planning. Yui Rail doesn't extend along the island's resort coasts.
On Sundays, part of Kokusai Street normally becomes a pedestrian-priority area from noon to 6 p.m., although events are subject to weather and cancellation. Sunday bus services may take a different route, so check your stop if you're arriving by bus.
The public market follows a separate schedule. It normally closes on the fourth Sunday of each month except December, with additional closures over holidays.
