With its white sand beaches, historic hilltop castles, and quirky theme parks, Okinawa is Japan's ultimate family-friendly destination. So, if you're worried about travelling to this tropical island with kids, don't be. You'll find plenty of fun things to do in Okinawa that the whole family will love.

The island stretches just over 100 kilometres from north to south, making it easy to explore quite a few of its top attractions in just a few days. For the sake of this family-friendly three-day Okinawa itinerary, you're going to be based in the island's capital city of Naha in the south.

Not only is Naha home to the famous Kokusai-Dori tourist and shopping street, but you'll be within easy reach of everything from Shuri Castle Park to Okinawa World. That being said, you will need your own rental car to reach all the destinations in this guide. Road-tripping around Okinawa is half the fun.

Planning a trip to Okinawa with kids? Follow this carefully curated three-day Okinawa itinerary - your family's bound to have a blast exploring this endlessly entertaining destination in Japan.

If you're searching for a family-friendly home base in Okinawa, Novotel Okinawa Naha has everything you need for a carefree and relaxing stay. Located just 25 minutes from the Naha Airport, this four-star hotel puts you near major Okinawa attractions, including Kokusai-Dori and Shuri Castle Park.

When you're not out exploring, you can take in sweeping city views from the infinity pool and kids' pool, work up a sweat in the 24/7 fitness centre, fuel up for the day at the kid-friendly breakfast buffet, enjoy meals at the teppanyaki restaurant, or have al fresco sunset dinners on the BBQ Terrace.

At the end of a long day, you'll appreciate the modern, family-friendly rooms, which can accommodate up to five guests. 

Pro tip: It is well worth upgrading to one of the Premier Lounge rooms for exclusive access to the dining options and panoramic views in the lounge.

Start your day off with a buffet breakfast at your hotel or make your way to local favourite C&C Breakfast near Kokusai-Dori. This Hawaiian-style cafe has tons of options that kids and adults will love, from fluffy pancakes and French toast to granola bowls and eggs benny. 

Next up is Shuri Castle, one of the top Okinawa activities and a hit with kids of all ages. Built in the 14th century, this ornate red building and sprawling complex once served as the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom and has been painstakingly reconstructed over the years. 

It's well worth spending a couple of hours here to walk along the stone ramparts, take in the sweeping hilltop views of Okinawa and the East China Sea, and learn about what daily life was like for the royals. Be sure to pick up a postcard for your little one at the park's entrance so that they can collect stamps as they explore. After they've completed the postcard, they'll get a fun gift.

If you've got the energy for more, check out the nearby Tamaudun Mausoleum, the burial site of the royal family. Or, if you're hungry, you can stop off for lunch at nearby Suimui or Shimujo for a traditional Okinawan lunch.

When it comes to fun things to do in Okinawa, you're going to find them in spades in Kokusai-Dori. Located in the heart of Naha, this 1.6-kilometre street stretches right through the heart of the city. This tourist hub boasts cool shops, department stores, bars, restaurants, entertainment venues, and more. 

You can easily spend hours walking along this bustling strip. Kids will love stopping off for ice cream at the famous Blue Seal Café (try the Okinawan salt cookie flavour), seeing the live fish and seafood in the Makishi Public Market, and trying Okinawa's famous taco rice dish at The Tacorice House. 

Pro tip: Visit Kokusai-Dori on a Sunday, when the street is closed to traffic and the street performers are out in full force.

Today, you're going to take a mini road trip to tick off another one of the most fun things to do in Okinawa: visiting the Churaumi Aquarium.

It takes about 90 minutes to reach the aquarium from Naha, but your kids will absolutely love it. Plus, the coastal scenery along the way is absolutely jaw-dropping. If you need to stretch your legs, Tropical Beach and Araha Beach make for lovely stops along the way. 

Churaumi Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in the world, so there's a lot to see here. A few highlights include marvelling at the huge whale sharks and manta rays swimming in the Kuroshio Sea Tank, checking out one of the free dolphin shows, and spotting mysterious creatures in the Deep Sea Tank. 

Kids can also let off steam at the nearby Kids Adventure Land or frolic on picture-perfect Emerald Beach. 

After spending a few hours exploring Churaumi Aquarium, it's time to make your way to Nago Pineapple Park.

Located roughly 30 minutes from the aquarium, visiting this kid-friendly attraction is another one of the most fun things to do in Okinawa. Plus, it just happens to be on the way back to your hotel in Naha, so it makes for the perfect pit stop. 

You'll have the chance to ride a self-driving pineapple-shaped cart through the pineapple plantation, where you'll see 120 pineapple varieties growing.

Kids will also love seeing the life-size dinosaurs on the Dinosaur Adventure Tour, while adults will be tempted to pay a visit to Japan’s only Pineapple Winery. There's also a shop where you can sample all sorts of pineapple-infused foods, baked goods, and drinks. Be sure to try the pineapple cake.

By now, you're probably exhausted. You can either lie low and grab dinner at your hotel or head back to the Kokusai-Dori area and enjoy a casual dinner at Kokusai Street Food Village.

You're going to have a couple of options today, depending on how much you'd like to pack into your schedule. Visiting Okinawa World and American Village are two of the most kid-friendly Okinawa activities.

You can easily fit both of these attractions into one day. However, they are located roughly 45 minutes apart. So, if driving between these attractions is too much for your little ones, just pick one.

On the final day of your Okinawa itinerary, you're going to make your way to Okinawa World in Nanjo, which is roughly 30 minutes from Naha. This theme park is brimming with natural wonders and cultural curiosities. Rest assured, you'll find some of the most fun things to do in Okinawa at Okinawa World.

Kids of all ages will love wandering through the 300,000-year-old Gyokusendo Cave. This massive natural cave is five kilometres long and is studded with stalagmites and stalactites.

Visitors will have the chance to walk through an 850-metre section of the cave, encountering the otherworldly blue waters of the "Blue Fountain" along the way. 

After that, you can learn about traditional Okinawan arts and crafts at Ryukyu Kingdom Village, see venomous habu snakes at the Habu Museum Park, and see one of the traditional drum and dance shows, amongst other family-friendly activities. 

After spending a few hours at Okinawa World, it's time for a completely different experience at Mihama American Village.

This place is located roughly 30 minutes north of Naha and is the perfect place to while away a few hours. Built on a former US Military base, this American-themed entertainment district offers some of the most fun things to do in Okinawa with kids.

The whole family will love shopping for kitschy Americana trinkets at Depot Island, exploring a year-round winter wonderland at Christmas Land, riding the Ferris wheel, playing games and going bowling at the Dragon Palace and GiGo arcades, and seeing the sunset at Sunset Beach.

Once you've worked up an appetite, you'll have loads of American food to choose from, from a pizza stand selling NY-style pizza slices to a burrito truck selling carnitas burritos. But don't worry, with options like conveyor belt sushi and Okinawa-style onigiri, you can end your family trip to Okinawa with some local flavour.