Gorgeous beaches. Amazing weird cuisine. Fascinating culture.
Okinawa is one of the best travel destinations in Japan. The only problem – there aren’t a ton of hostels!
Which is exactly why I wrote this guide to the best hostels in Okinawa Japan, so you can book your hostel like a boss and travel this amazing collection of Japanese islands.
I’ve organized this list into different travel-categories, so you can book your personal best hostel in Okinawa. What are you looking for? A cheap bed? A good party hostel? Somewhere to sleep with your SO? Or maybe just a cool Japanese style sleep capsule?
Whatever your style, our guide to the 15 best hostels in Okinawa will ensure you can book your hostel in Okinawa quickly, and stress free.
Quick answer: best hostels in Okinawa in 2024
- Best Overall Hostel in Okinawa – Seawall
- Best Cheap Hostel in Okinawa – Little Asia
- Best Hostel for Couples in Okinawa – MyPlace Guesthouse
- Best Party Hostel in Okinawa – Base
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Okinawa – Guesthouse Okinawa Monogatari
Some Hostel-Hacks for Backpacking Okinawa
Okinawa is a unique region of Japan, and one of 160 islands (50 of which are uninhabited). It’s an interesting combination of resorts, US military bases, beaches, and pineapples. But one that will leave you busy.
Here are a few ways to keep the cost of your Okinawa-experience as low as possible (while still having a kick-ass time).
- Location – By Japanese standards, Okinawa is a pretty small city, but the island itself can seem monstrous. The best way to get around is by train, but rails in Japan, it’ll cost you some decent yen. Unfortunately, transport is arguably the largest expense when traveling to Okinawa – especially when trying to take ferries to the surrounding beautiful (and deserted) islands. If you are looking to
- Price – A bit cheaper than most of Japan’s best hostels, as mentioned above, the first way to save money is by cutting down on expensive means of travel. Aside from high transport-costs, Okinawa can actually seem like a steal when compared to the main island.
- Amenities – The Okinawa accommodation scene offers some nice value for the price. Some hostels provide free breakfast, free towels, or even free snorkel gear. These small freebies can quickly add up, giving you more bang for your buck while backpacking in Okinawa.
The 15 best hostels in Okinawa
Backpacking in Japan and need some Okinawa digs? Then check out the 15 best hostels in town!
Seawall – Best Overall Hostel in Okinawa
Seawall is the best hostel in Okinawa in 2021, and one of the newest too. Light, bright and of course, incredibly clean, Seawall is a joy to stay in. As a top hostel in Okinawa Seawall gives all guest free shampoo, conditioner, body wash and soap too! All your linen is included and the beds are ultra comfy. Seawall hostel is just a 2-minute walk from the Miyagi seawall and a 15-minute stroll from the super touristy American Village. Taro-san is a great host and the common room is chilled out and friendly. The Seawall staff are always happy to help.
Little Asia – Best Cheap Hostel in Okinawa
With a list of freebies as long as your arm Little Asia is the best cheap hostel in Okinawa. Little Asia is a bit of a party venue to be fair, their hostel vibe is on-point and they have their own rooftop bar too. As the best budget hostel in Okinawa Little Asia has dead cheap beds throughout the year, regardless of the high season. Kokusai Street, Tsuboya Pottery Area, and Shurijo Park are just a stone’s throw away and the Little Asia team are always up for helping their guests out with directions and insider tips.
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View on Osprey View on REIMyPlace Guesthouse – Best Hostel for Couples in Okinawa
The best hostel for couples in Okinawa is MyPlace Guesthouse. Cosy and charming MyPlace is laid back, welcoming and perfect if you’re looking for a bargain. Not only are private rooms for couples super cheap but MyPlace offers hefty discounts on scuba diving, parasailing and all the other tonnes of cool activities there are to do in this beachside Japanese town. As a top hostel in Okinawa MyPlace has a chilled out common area complete with hammocks big enough for two…if you squish yourselves in! If you fancy a romantic date day, hire bicycles from the MyPlace team and get exploring!
Base – Best Party Hostel in Okinawa
Base is the best party hostel in Okinawa. Set in the heart of Naha this is the ideal place to ‘base’ yourself if you plan on exploring Okinawa’s many bars and clubs. As a top budget hostel in Okinawa Base offers travellers free snorkel and bicycle hire, saving you a pretty penny for sure. By no means the biggest party hostel in the world, Base is a brilliant Okinawa backpackers hostel for travellers who want to chill out with a beer or two of an evening. It’s not uncommon for someone to appear with a guitar for an impromptu sing-a-long, brace yourself!
Guesthouse Okinawa Monogatari – Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Okinawa
Monogatari Guest House Okinawa is the best hostel in Okinawa for digital nomads; their free, unlimited WiFi is just the start. The Monogatari team lay on a free breakfast every morning, the ideal way for digital nomads to fuel up and get focused. The self-catering kitchen and laundry facilities are perfect for digital nomads who still have to do ‘life admin’ on the road. Monogatari Guest House Okinawa is a bit of a novelty, although the cosy lounge room would throw you off the scent, there is a prison theme to the dorms!
Aien Coffee & Hostel
Aside from WiFi connection and a laptop, here is a third essential item needed by all successful digital nomads and that’s coffee! Aien Coffee & Hostel is an ideal Okinawa backpackers hostel for digital nomads. They have their own coffee shop onsite with spacious desks and great internet connection. Aien Coffee & Hostel has newly opened but is gonna be the coolest hostel in Okinawa. The late check-out is great if you’re catching an evening flight or if you’ve been up all night trying to hit those deadlines; digital nomads you feel me, right?! A perfect base for your Okinawa itinerary.
Okinawa Guest House FUSHINUYAUCHI – Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Okinawa
Okinawa Guest House Fushinuyauchi is the best hostel for solo travellers in Okinawa and great for anyone who wants to experience authentic Japan. This cosy, homely hostel is family run and backpackers are often invited to join for communal dinners and tea. As a top youth hostel in Okinawa Fushinuyauchi is incredibly welcoming and the staff have a wealth of local knowledge that they’re just dying to share with their guests. You can find Guesthouse Fushinuyauchi in the heart of Yomitan village, surrounded by natural beauty and Instagrammable landscapes.
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Hide Yo’ Money!More Best Hostels in Okinawa
Guesthouse Umikaji
Guesthouse Umikaji is a top hostel in Okinawa for travellers looking to stay in the Yui Rail station, connecting you directly to the airport. Guesthouse Umikaji is a simple but friendly youth hostel in Okinawa, it’s fairly quiet and not much of a rowdy hostel crowd gathers here; that’s not to say there’s no hostel vibe though, far from it. The beds are super comfy and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a fluffier duvet in any hostel anywhere in the world!
Kumoji-So Hostel
Kumoji-So is a great budget hostel in Okinawa, with their own bar “Spades’ complete with a pool table you’ll definitely find some new friends to compete against here. Kumoji-So is in the perfect place for backpackers looking to make the most of every moment in Okinawa, they are at the heart of the action and the staff are always more than happy to share local tips and not to miss touristy experiences.
Abest Cube
Abest Cube is one of Okinawa’s newest hostels and is fast becoming a popular choice for backpackers seeking a taste of luxury in Japan. Although simple Abest Cube is beautifully kept, light and airy. The beds are super comfortable and the dorms give travellers the space they need to spread out. The dorm beds aren’t bunk style rather segmented into the wall, creating an open capsule style arrangement. In a bid to become a top hostel in Okinawa the Abest Cube team offer a free breakfast, not to be missed!
Guesthouse CamCam
Guesthouse CamCam is an ideal budget hostel in Okinawa. Basic but bang on would be the way to describe CamCam. With a chilled out lounge room complete with a great DVD collection if you don’t fancy exploring every minute of the day at CamCam you can kick back and relax for a while. When you do want to venture out be sure to visit Kokusai Dori, a great local market just a 5-minute walk away. Getting to and from the airport is super easy from CamCam, they are just 1-minute from Monorail Miebashi Station
MaxiALPA
Not only is MaxiALPA one of the best hostels in Okinawa but one of the best located too, next to Kokusai-street. Although simple MaxiALPA is incredibly clean, friendly and reasonably priced. In keeping with the classic Japanese minimalist style, MaxiALPA offers backpackers their own capsule for the night. Those with claustrophobia may want to look elsewhere to be fair! There are tonnes of food courts and diners within a 5-minute walk of this great Okinawa backpackers hostel. MaxiALPA is a highly recommended hostel in Okinawa, be sure to book your bed ASAP!
Okinawa Sora House
Okinawa Sora House is a super clean and super cosy hostel in the centre of Naha city. Offering everything the modern backpacker could need Sora House is one of the best budget hostels in Okinawa. The self-catering kitchen is always immaculately clean, as are the bathrooms. Sora House is a highly recommended hostel in Okinawa for they offer great customer service and all the home comforts you could wish for. Free tea or coffee anyone?
Okinawa Guest House Kerama
Guest House Kerama is a great budget hostel in Okinawa. With dorm rooms staying at consistently low rates throughout the year travellers heading to Japan on a tight budget should add Kerama to their hostel wishlist. With free hot showers 24-hours a day in sparkling clean bathrooms. Kerama is just a 15-minute walk from Naminoue Beach, the reception staff are super friendly and can give you directions, no worries there. The lounge room is chilled out and where you’ll find your hostel mates of an early evening. Make the most of their free DVD collection for sure.
Star Capsule
You don’t only find funky capsule hostels in Tokyo don’t you know! Star Capsule is one of the coolest hostels in Okinawa and is in keeping with Japan’s obsession with minimalism. Star Capsule is the best hostel close to the airport in Okinawa, just a 10-minute drive from the departure hall in fact. Just a 3-minute walk from Naha Wharf, Star Capsule is located in an ideal little spot for backpackers who don’t want to travel too far to experience Okinawa’s nightlife.
What to Pack for your Okinawa Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from me, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straightforward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art I have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
Why you should travel to Okinawa
So, while the hostel scene is a bit thin, no matter your needs, there’s sure to be something to suit your style.
This list of the 15 best hostels in Okinawa was created to help you find the hostel that best fits your needs, so you can enjoy your time exploring this incredible part of Japan.
Can’t pick one hostel? Go with Seawall – our top hostel in Okinawa for 2021!
FAQ about Hostels in Okinawa
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Okinawa.
How much does a hostel cost in Okinawa?
Depending on the room type and location, the average cost of hostel rooms in Okinawa starts at $15 for a dorm, and private rooms start at $18+.
What are the best hostels in Okinawa for couples?
MyPlace Guesthouse is a charming hostel for couples in Okinawa. It’s cozy, affordable, and in a convenient location.
What are the best hostels in Okinawa near the airport?
Guesthouse Umikaji is 4 km from Naha Airport. It is close to the Yui Rail station, connecting you directly to the airport.
Travel Safety Tips for Okinawa
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
More Epic Hostels in Japan and Asia
Hopefully by now you’ve found the perfect hostel for your upcoming trip to Okinawa.
Planning an epic trip all across Japan or even Asia itself?
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!
For more cool hostel guides around Asia, check out:
Over to you
By now I hope our epic guide to the best hostels in Okinawa has helped you choose the perfect hostel for your adventure!
If you think we’ve missed anything or have any further thoughts, hit us up in the comments!
- Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in Japan for a wealth of info!
- Check out the best places to stay in Okinawa before you arrive.
- Remember to grab yourself an international sim card for Japan to avoid any issues.
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
