VIDEO: Settle into Senaga Island’s relaxed mood while in Okinawa

Senaga Island (Photo by Shoji Kudaka)

Just off the coast of Okinawa’s main island sits Senaga Island.

With a circumference of about 1.5 kilometers, Senaga Island is tiny, but it’s still a popular destination for tourists. According to Umikaji Terrace, a shopping complex on the island, it draws about 3.3 million visitors a year.

From the island, visitors can see planes taking off and landing from Naha Airport nearby.

It is a great place for a laid-back vibe with some beautiful scenery. Here are a few places to check out while you’re relaxing on Senaga Island.

Kodakara Iwa (Child Blessing Rock)

Kodakara Iwa (Child Blessing Rock) (Photo by Shoji Kudaka)

This landmark standing at the southern shore of the island is a replication of a rock that used to be worshipped by locals during the pre-war days.

According to a description posted on the site, a local legend has it that throwing a stone into either of the holes lined up vertically on the rock would reward one with having a baby: the top for a boy, the bottom for a girl.

Kodakara Iwa

GPS Coordinates: N 26.173740, E 127.64190 2

To visit Kodakara Iwa and the locations described below, I parked my car at a free parking space nearby (N 26.174904, E 127.645662), and took a walk. There are free parking slots by Umikaji Terrace as well, but they are often taken.

Umikaji Terrace

Umikaji Terrace, a dining and shopping complex sitting on the side of a hill overlooking the west coast of the island. Surrounded by white walls and corridors, this location has a Mediterranean vibe.

Pirates Okinawa is one of the many restaurants at the complex. Here I enjoyed a tasty Cuban sandwich set.

Pirates Okinawa