The Best Souvenirs from Okinawa: What to Buy (and Avoid)
Last Updated on October 27, 2025 by Kay
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Whenever I travel to Okinawa, I can’t help but return home with a ton of souvenirs.
I’m not buying things for the sake of simply shopping or showing off (I’m a minimalist, believe it or not). Instead, through multiple trips to Japan’s southernmost island over the years, I’ve figured out what is worth getting, and these are souvenirs that my family and friends love as well.
In this article, I’ll share my top picks for Okinawa souvenirs that are actually worth getting. I’ll also share souvenirs that weren’t that great, so that you can avoid buying them and save your money for something else!
Table of Contents
What to Buy in Okinawa
Below are souvenirs that I’ve gotten and would recommend to anyone.
The best places to purchase these are at Kokusai Street (Kokusai Dori) in Naha or at Naha International Airport.
When it comes to food souvenirs, make sure you check the expiration date for these before purchasing, as some expire within a few days.
Orion Goods
When traveling in Okinawa, everyone (who drinks alcohol at least) drinks the local beer at some point, which is called Orion. Orion is made right in Okinawa, and it’s the fifth-largest brewery in Japan.
The beer is really refreshing, especially while looking at the ocean on a summer day in Okinawa. Maybe this is why locals in Japan, including myself, buy Orion beer merchandise, like shirts and bags. It’s a great way to remember a relaxing trip to Okinawa.
I see people in Osaka, where I live, wearing Orion beer shirts quite often in summer. It helps that the multicolored logo is appealing as well!
They also sell these Orion peanut and rice cracker snacks that are made using yeast from Orion beer, as well as seasoned with Okinawan salt and red pepper. Needless to say, these taste perfect with beer.
Okinawa Black Thunder
A chocolate bar with a crisp cookie center, Black Thunder is one of my go-to Japan souvenirs for family and friends back in Canada. The Okinawa one is flavored with brown sugar (kokuto) that’s local to the island, and it’s absolutely heavenly.
I also like that these are individually wrapped because they’re easy to share.
Whale Shark Gifts
Okinawa is famed for its whale sharks, so I can’t help but buy something whale shark-related when I visit the island, be it socks, T-shirts, or even handkerchiefs.
If you like cute characters, then you’re in luck because there are tons of whale shark souvenirs featuring popular characters like Kirby, Chiikawa, Hello Kitty, and more!
Mango HI-CHEW
HI-CHEW is an addictive candy that’s soft and juicy, almost like a caramel’s texture has been blended with gummy flavor.
There are several Okinawa-limited tropical flavors, such as Shiquawa and Pineapple, but my family’s favorite is mango. It is so good.
They’re sold at any convenience store in Okinawa, so it’s easy to find!
Handmade Seashell Art
I came across these seashells with beautiful hand-drawn art when I was walking along Kokusai Street. Owned by a local couple, I especially loved how Seashell Gallery (貝殻絵画) incorporates Okinawa culture into its designs. You can see the husband painting seashells as well, so you know they’re not printed!
I also love how many of the seashells have designs on them. For instance, if you turn over the whale shark seashell we got, you see a pair of shisha! How cute is that?
If you’re looking for a unique, one-of-a-kind souvenir from Okinawa, this is it.
Beni Imo Tart
Beni imo (紅芋) tarts are a very famous souvenir from Okinawa that is produced and sold by various companies. However, I’ve found that the taste tends to be the same. The tart’s filling, purple sweet potato (beni imo), is sweet and rich, while the tart portion is nicely soft and just the right amount of moist.
My daughter is obsessed with beni imo anything, so it’s easy for her to devour one of these.
A word of caution, though — these tarts are quite fragile, so I’ve stopped giving them as gifts because they sometimes break apart on the journey home!
If you want to try different kinds of beni imo desserts, I recommend grabbing one of these boxes called Beniimo Matsuri, which contains an assortment featuring cookies, milk buns, and, of course, tarts. Everything in here is absolutely delicious.
Handmade Ryukyu Glasses
I was so tempted to get a pair of Ryukyu drinking glasses when I was in Okinawa. They’re so beautiful, carrying blue hues reminiscent of Okinawa’s culture, such as bright oranges and reds that are similar to Okinawa’s traditional clothing, as well as blues that look like the ocean.
Alas, I don’t have enough space at home for more glasses, but if one breaks, these will be a great replacement. The ones pictured above were for sale at Naha International Airport.
Miyakojima Hibiscus Tea
This is one of my favorite drinks ever. It’s super refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness, so it’s not overwhelming, but even kids will drink it. (My daughter will easily down one of these, so I’m careful to buy her one of her own and hide when drinking mine.)
I liked this so much that I bought about six bottles when I was at the airport to take home to Osaka.
Bireley’s Fruit Juice
When you’re in Okinawa, you are bound to see these blue-labeled drinks by a company called Bireley’s, which might sound familiar to Americans.
Originally from America, it was bought by Asahi and has now become associated with Okinawa. They contain only 10% pure fruit juice, but they’re really delicious. We’re fans of the mango drinks as well as guava.
Sanpin Hana Cha
This is another drink that my family is obsessed with. Okinawa’s take on Jasmine tea, Sanpin tea (さんぴん茶) is a mix of semi-fermented oolong tea with the scent of jasmine, which makes it lighter in flavor and perfect for hot days.
Okinawa Nori Tempura Chips
If you like nori (dry edible seaweed), you’ll probably be a fan of these battered and deep-fried versions. They’re crispy and flavorful, and another great snack to have with beer.
My husband was a huge fan and would gladly buy these again.
Porickey
Porickey reminds me of a Pocky without the coating. These particular Okinawa-limited ones are brown sugar flavored, which gives them a warm, almost chocolatey taste. They’re nicely crunchy and quite addictive. I managed to enjoy two before my daughter devoured the entire package.
I wish I had bought more!
Hai-Sai Sauce
If you’re a fan of hot sauce like I am, you might want to consider picking up a bottle of Hai-Sai Sauce. It’s very affordable and a great way to dress up dishes like hot dogs, fried rice, or you can simply use it as a dipping sauce. You can really taste the Okinawan chilis as well as the garlic in this sauce. It’s also gluten-free!
Personally, I think it could use a bit more kick, but I’m also a weirdo who can handle a lot of spice. (So if you’re looking for something super spicy, I would pass on this.)
Blue Seal Candy
Blue Seal is a famous ice cream company from Okinawa, and while you’re visiting, you absolutely need to try a cone of their fresh ice cream. Of course, ice cream isn’t the easiest thing to bring back with you as a souvenir, which is why I was drawn to their hard candies.
Now, I’m not the biggest candy fan, but I absolutely loved these. They’re so creamy and flavorful, just like ice cream! Each candy comes individually wrapped so they’re easy to share as well.
Okinawa Island Red Pepper Chips
Okinawa is famous for its red peppers, and as a spice-lover, of course I had to pick up a bag of these chips. They are pleasantly spicy with a hint of sweetness, crunchy, and addictive.
We ended up loving it so much that we brought a bag home to enjoy as well!
Okinawa Mango Gumminchu
Gummichu is a company from Okinawa.
This is another snack that you can easily find at convenience stores in Okinawa. My daughter and I love gummies, and this mango-flavored one delivered. It’s super juicy and delicious, and small enough that you can buy a couple of packs for loved ones, too.
They also come in other Okinawa flavors like shiquasa, pineapple, and acerola.
Sata Andagi Okinawa Donuts
Okinawa donuts are called Sata andagi. They’re fairly simple, consisting of a batter made from flour, sugar, and eggs that’s deep-fried.
Of course, they’re best enjoyed fresh, but what I liked about these ones was that they were moist and had the richest brown sugar flavor. These are now my go-to souvenirs for friends and family if I’m going to be seeing them soon (since they expire rather quickly).
Shisha Figurines
Shishas are Okinawa’s version of Chinese guardian lions, and they often come in pairs. You’ll see them everywhere in Okinawa, especially in front of homes, and there are lots of little cute Shisha decorations that you can purchase for your own home to help ward off evil.
My husband and I bought a pair of glass Shisha sitting on a piece of coral on a trip to Okinawa before our daughter was born. When we visited again when our child was six, we let her choose her own.
These are also great to gift to people since they’re fairly small and easy to pack.
Edelweiss Okinawa Sweets
Eldelweiss is a famous confectionery company in Japan. The name alone isn’t what made me get this souvenir, though.
They were giving out free samples at Naha Airport and when I tried one, I knew I had to buy a couple for my family and friends in Japan, and of course, one for my family, too.
The adorable small shirt-box souvenir is pricey for only four pieces, though, and probably not the best idea if you’re giving it to a family that needs to share since three of the four sweets are different flavors (chocolate banana, shiquasa, and beni imo).
There’s a larger one that doesn’t come in as cute a box but contains 19 pieces, which is probably a better choice.
Souvenirs You Might Love… or Not So Much
Below are Okinawa souvenirs that aren’t necessarily the best for certain reasons, but might still be worth getting depending on your tastes/budget.
Kaju no Shizuku
Kaju no Shizuku are popular souvenirs from Okinawa. I loved the shiny, diamond packaging and quickly swept two up, one for myself and another for a friend who likes pretty things like me.
Thankfully, the gummies tasted just as good as the packaging looked. Made in Miyakojima, they come in six different flavors (mango, hibiscus, pineapple, shiquasa, salt soda, and acelola), and there are two of each flavor in a box.
Soft and fluffy on the inside, they’re finished with a sweet-and-salty coating. I especially like that the salt on the outside is sourced from Ishigaki salt for that extra Okinawan touch.
According to my daughter, “It’s so good!”.
However, are these anything really special? They taste great, and remind me of gummies I had in my childhood. There’s nothing wrong with that, but for thirteen gummies, it’s expensive. I think it averages at around 50 yen per gummy.
I also don’t like all the plastic packaging; it’s quite wasteful and unnecessary.
So, for these reasons, Kaju no Shizuku might not be the best souvenir to buy in Okinawa. However, my friend said she loved them and it was fun trying out all the different flavors. My daughter enjoyed them as well, so if you don’t mind the plastic or spending the extra money, these may be worth getting.
Churashima Hibiscus Tea
This is a little controversial in my household because my husband likes it and would get a pack again, but my daughter and I are not fans.
I picked this up because my kid and I went hibiscus crazy when we were in Okinawa and ate/drank everything that tasted like the tropical flower. So needless to say, I was excited when I found this at the airport.
My daughter and I found it too sour for our liking, though, and if I can help it, I don’t add sugar to my tea. But since my husband is a fan, he can enjoy the rest of the pack!
Potezaku
These are Okinawa’s version of Jagabee potato chips. They’re dusted with sea salt from Ishigaki, which makes them super addictive and perfect with a glass of cold beer.
I enjoyed them, but my husband said they’re not necessarily worth getting for the higher price, especially since each box only contains four small packages of chips.
Mango Caramel Baum
Since I love mango, getting these little Baumkuchen cakes seemed like a no-brainer. However, I expected more of a mango flavor from these, and thought they were dry.
Also, the package made it seem like there would be a thick, rich mango glaze on each cake. There clearly wasn’t, as you can see from the image below.
This is one of the very few examples of Japanese packaging not meeting expectations.
My husband, though, thought they tasted fine, although somewhat overpriced for what you get since each box only contains three.
Chinsuko
I have never liked Chinsuko. These cookies are made with salt from Miyakojima, one of Okinawa’s islands, and they’re an incredibly famous and common souvenir in Okinawa. They also come in variety packs with flavors such as matcha and chocolate.
However, my husband and I both find Chinsuko awfully dry, so we’re not fans.
I popped Chinsuko into this section because they are very famous, and the milk version pictured above has won awards for its quality, so get these and perhaps avoid the rest.
What to Avoid Buying in Okinawa
Here are the souvenirs my family bought that weren’t great, and we wouldn’t get them again (nor recommend them to anyone).
Blue Seal Okinawan Baked Donuts
So these tasted fairly good, but they were more like a moist cake than a donut, and were a little too oily for my liking. They’re also really expensive at around 400 yen for one! For these reasons, I suggest skipping these “donuts”.
Puchi Sata Andagi Okinawa Donuts
These were a huge disappointment. They were dry and oily, and just not enjoyable whatsoever. Don’t get them!
Wrap-up: The Best (and Worst) Souvenirs from Okinawa
There is so much selection when it comes to Okinawa souvenirs that it can be overwhelming, but hopefully this article has helped you get a better idea about what to get when visiting this island paradise in Japan.