Free cancellation
Manual confirmation

[Winter Only] Kerama Islands Whale Watching Tour from Naha in Okinawa with Round-Trip Transfers & Photos | Japan

4.6
Free cancellation
Manual confirmation

[Winter Only] Kerama Islands Whale Watching Tour from Naha in Okinawa with Round-Trip Transfers & Photos | Japan

4.6
Next available dates
Sat
Dec 20
Sun
Dec 21
Mon
Dec 22
Bestseller

Route B: Okinawa Winter Whale Watching Experience + Anti-Seasickness 3-pc Package

Free cancellation
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From

USD 45.63

Route A: Okinawa Winter Whale Watching Experience + Anti-Seasickness 3-pc Package

Free cancellation
Manual confirmation

From

USD 45.63

Route B: Okinawa Winter Whale Watching Experience

Free cancellation
Manual confirmation

From

USD 41.07

Route A: Okinawa Winter Whale Watching Experience

Free cancellation
Manual confirmation

From

USD 41.07

Highlights

  • Zamami Island in Okinawa is surrounded by abundant coral reefs and tropical fish, making it an ideal breeding ground for humpback whales during winter.
  • Whale watching in Okinawa is a winter-only activity. Large humpback whales can weigh up to 30 tons and reach lengths of about 15 meters. Don't miss the chance to encounter the world's largest mammals in winter and capture those unforgettable moments.
  • Riding a high-speed speedboat, feeling the splashing waves, the vibrations felt on the hull, and the sensation of becoming one with a whale.
  • You can observe wild humpback whales swimming up close on the boat and fully experience the charm of marine ecology.


  • Hotels in Naha city offer free shuttle service for your convenience.


  • Guests can scan a QR code on-site to download the whale watching guidebook (in Chinese/English/Korean/Japanese).


  • Download free photos of the day's experience and past whale watching sessions.

The content of this product is provided by machine translation and may not
reflect the actual information, please take this into consideration before
booking.


Meeting time: 08:30 / 13:00


Departure time: 09:00 / 13:30


Meeting point: Inside Mie Port, Naha (3-20 Nishi, Naha City, Okinawa
Prefecture)


Return trip information: Disband at the same meeting point.


Transportation: Travel on your own, or choose a designated free shuttle bus
stop.


- Itinerary Introduction -


Humpback whales arrive in the warm waters of Okinawa in late December and
early April to breed. Zamami Island in Okinawa is surrounded by rich coral
reefs and tropical fish, making it the best breeding ground for humpback
whales during winter. Whale watching in Okinawa is a winter-only activity.
Large humpback whales can weigh up to 30 tons and reach lengths of about 15
meters. Don't miss the chance to encounter the world's largest mammals and
capture that moving moment. Enjoy a high-speed boat ride, experiencing the
splashing waves, the vibrations of the boat, and the feeling of being one with
the whales. You can observe wild humpback whales swimming up close from the
boat and fully experience the charm of marine life. Free shuttle service is
available from hotels in Naha for convenient travel.


Free Shuttle Bus Meeting Point & Pick-up
Time

】※Please arrive at the designated point at least 5 minutes in advance. Look
for employees wearing blue uniforms with the word "NEWS" on them.


Connecting to Route A:


08:00/12:40 FamilyMart Saion Square Address: 2-1-1, Asari, Naha City, Okinawa
Prefecture


08:05/12:45 Tenpusu Naha (Calbee+ Okinawa Kokusai-dori Store) Address: 3-2-2
Makishi, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture


08:10/12:50 Hotel Collective (HOTEL COLLECTIVE Jiaxin Hotel) Address: 2-5-7
Matsuo, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture


08:25/13:05 Lawson Kariyushi LCH Izumizaki (In front of Lawson convenience
store LCH) Address: 1-11-8 Izumisaki, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture


08:30/13:10 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Naha Address: 3-15 Higashi-cho, Naha
City, Okinawa Prefecture


Connecting to Route B:


08:00/12:40 APA Hotel Naha Matsuyama Address: 1-4-16 Matsuyama, Naha City,
Okinawa Prefecture


08:05/12:45 Prince Smart Inn Naha Address: 2-4-13 Matsuyama, Naha City,
Okinawa Prefecture


08:10/12:50 Hotel Aqua Citta Naha (Water City Naha Hotel) Address: 3-2-20
Maejima, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture


08:20/13:00 Nest Hotel Naha Nishi Address: 1-20-19 Nishi, Naha City, Okinawa
Prefecture


08:25/13:05 LOISIR HOTEL NAHA (Loisir Hotel Naha, Okinawa) Address: 2-1 Nishi
3-chome, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture


08:30/13:10 Hotel SANSUI (HOTEL SANSUI NAHA Ryukyu Onsen Namino no Yu)
Address: 2-25-1 Tsuji, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture


[Probability of whale sightings]


Many travelers ask whether the success rate of whale watching differs between
morning and evening sessions, or whether rainy weather affects the chances of
whale watching.


As this trip focuses on wild whale watching, it's a completely nature-driven
experience. The timing and location of whale appearances depend entirely on
their activity patterns. Based on our team's years of experience, whales will
appear during our trip most of the time, almost daily. However, there are a
few days when we may miss them, possibly due to expanded whale ranges or
changes in their behavior. Missing a whale watch during the four-month whale
watching season is extremely rare, usually occurring only on a handful of
days. Please note that a full refund is only available for whale watching
between February 1, 2026 and March 19, 2026. No refunds will be issued for
dates outside of this period.


Items to bring for a whale watching tour


  • Seasickness medication: Okinawa is often affected by the northeast monsoon in winter, resulting in rough seas. Even when traveling on cruise ships or large yachts, you will feel significant swaying. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that participants take seasickness medication before the activity to ensure a more comfortable journey. Seasickness medication will not be available for purchase on-site.


  • Windproof and warm jacket: Strong winds and low temperatures are expected at sea. It is recommended to wear a windproof and warm jacket, along with a beanie. Please avoid wearing hats that are easily blown away by the wind to prevent inconvenience.


  • Non-slip athletic shoes: The boat may be wet or bumpy, so please wear non-slip athletic shoes and avoid wearing unstable shoes such as high heels.


  • Anti-slip camera strap: When using a camera or mobile phone to take pictures, it is recommended to use a camera strap or mobile phone strap to secure the device to your hand to prevent it from accidentally slipping into the sea and to ensure safety.


  • Baby carriers: Due to the swaying caused by waves on the ship, parents traveling with infants aged 0-2 years must ensure that their children are securely fastened in a baby carrier before boarding to ensure safety.



- Itinerary -


[Morning Itinerary]


08:00-08:30 Fixed-point shuttle service


Meet at 8:30 AM inside Mie Castle Port, Naha.


9:00 Departure by boat


~Whale watching time can last up to 3 hours (we will return to port earlier if
we spot whales early)~


12:00 Return to port, disband (transfer back to hotel)


[Afternoon Itinerary]


12:40-13:10 Fixed-point shuttle service


Meet at 13:00 at the port of Mie Castle in Naha.


13:30 Departure by boat


~Whale watching time can last up to 3 hours (we will return to port earlier if
we spot whales early)~


16:30 Return to port, disband (transfer back to hotel)


[Whale Watching Experience Meeting Point]


Meeting point: Inside Mie Castle Port, Naha (Nishi 3-20, Naha City)


Recognize flags with the word "NEWS" on them.

Itinerary

  • 08:30

    Gather at Naha Mie City Port (recognized with [NEWS] flag)
  • 09:00

    Morning departure|Whale watching by boat
  • 10:30

    Whale watching time is up to 3 hours (if you see a whale early, you will return to port early)
  • 12:00

    Return to port and disband
  • 13:00

    Afternoon departure|Assemble at Naha Mie City Port
  • 13:30

    Take a boat out of the port to watch whales, and the whale watching time is up to 3 hours (if you see whales early, you will return to port early)
  • 16:30

    Return to port and disband

What's included

INCLUDED

Insurance
Life jacket
Ferry fee
Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Naha city
Electronic whale watching guide book (Chinese/English/Korean/Japanese)
Download photos on the day

NOT INCLUDED

Dining expenses
Parking fee
Personal expenses
Other expenses not mentioned above

Customer reviews

4.6

56 verified reviews
  • 1
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  • 5
9 months ago
Nattaphol.Family (with young kids)

Very attentive staff. I feel very safe traveling with them.

Additional information

Purchase Notice

If no whales are seen on that day:

Full refund (cannot be rescheduled)

Full refund period: February 1, 2026 to March 19, 2026

Non-refundable period: December 20, 2025 - January 31, 2026 • March 20, 2026 - April 5, 2026

No refund will be issued if any of the following conditions are met. The final decision will be made by the cruise line on the day of your visit. Thank you for your understanding.

① Whales spouting water were seen from a distance. ② More than two guests saw whales that day.

  • It is not recommended for elderly people who use wheelchairs or have mobility issues to participate.
  • Infants aged 0-2 years, pregnant women, and people who have consumed alcohol are not allowed to participate. If discovered on-site, boarding will be refused and no refund will be given. Please be aware of this.
Reminders
A minimum of 6 traveler(s) are required for the tour to depart. If the number of participants does not reach the minimum requirement, the tour will be canceled. An email regarding tour cancellation will be sent 3 day(s) before the departure date
In the event of inclement weather such as typhoons or snowstorms, a decision on whether to cancel the tour will be made 1 day(s) before departure (local time 18:00). Notifications will then be sent via email
Epilepsy, Pregnant women
Depending on the observation status of whales, there may be times when they return to port earlier, so please be aware.
The waves in Okinawa in winter are the highest in a year, and pregnant women are not recommended to participate. Regarding children, the captain will judge whether they can take the boat according to the sea conditions of the day, please understand
Due to force majeure factors such as weather and sea conditions, the whale watching trip may be canceled on the day, and passengers will be notified through the reserved contact information at that time
Guests are requested to prepare raincoats and other cold-proof and waterproof supplies by themselves
Guests who are prone to seasickness are advised to take their own seasickness medicine in advance. Seasickness medicine cannot be purchased on site
For your safety, please wear a life jacket at all times
As long as the rain does not cause navigation difficulties, ships can still leave the port even on rainy days. If a guest cancels due to rainy weather and does not want to participate, cancellation fees will be charged in accordance with regulations
You may be splashed by waves when watching whales. Please wear warm or waterproof clothes that you don't mind getting wet. Avoid wearing unstable shoes such as high heels. Be sure to wear a life jacket provided by the ship throughout the process
The entire event is in Japanese
Free pick-up and drop-off is provided in Naha city (except for some areas such as the Shinto center area). According to the principle of pick-up on the same day, some hotels will arrange for guests to go to a nearby meeting point to gather on their own. The specific information will be subject to the notification received. Please be informed
If you are unable to arrive at the meeting point on time on the same day, you will not be able to change the date and venue for free, and a 100% cancellation fee will be charged, so please allow enough time to arrive
Please provide a messaging software when making a reservation and allow your account to be added for emergency contact (Line/WeChat/WhatsApp/Kakao).
Pregnant women and people who have drunk alcohol are not allowed to participate. If found on the spot, no refunds will be given. Please be informed
Regarding the process of downloading photos for free, the on-site staff will inform you of the password and link on the day, and then you can log in to the link and enter the password to download the photos yourself
If the transfer time changes, customer service will notify you via the email you provided the evening before. Please also pay attention to your spam inbox
Please note that depending on the time and location of the whale sighting, the return time may be pushed back or forward by more than 1 hour.
How to Use Your Voucher
Please present the e-voucher on-site

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Marine Club Berry Naha

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