Kokusai Street — Visitor FAQ

What time do shops open?

Most arcade and souvenir shops open around 10:00 and start closing in the evening. The Makishi Public Market runs earlier: stalls open from 8:00 (hours vary by shop) and the building stays open until 22:00, with the 2nd-floor restaurants taking last orders at 20:00. If you want the market at its calmest, go before 10:00.

Is anything closed on a particular day?

The Makishi Public Market closes on the 4th Sunday of each month (except December), plus New Year and lunar-calendar holidays. Fukushuen Garden closes on Wednesdays. Most other shops set their own closing days, so a rainy Tuesday is never a wasted day — something is always open.

What should I do on a rainy day?

This is one of the best rainy-day areas in Okinawa: the market arcades are covered, and the public market, department store, cinema, library and craft museum are all indoors. Walk the arcades, eat your way through the market, and save the outdoor pottery street for a dry hour.

Street-food etiquette?

• Eat near the shop you bought from — walking while eating in the crowded lanes is frowned upon and messy.
• Return trash to the shop or carry it with you; public bins are rare.
• Ask before photographing shopfronts, produce or people — the market is a workplace.
• Popular items can sell out by late afternoon; go before lunch for the full selection.

Where can I leave my luggage?

The Naha City Tourist Information Center (1st floor of the Tenbusu Naha building, mid-way along Kokusai Street; open 9:00–19:00) has coin lockers in several sizes, plus maps and English-speaking staff. Wheelchair and stroller rental is also available there (reservation recommended).

Can I pay by card?

Larger shops, the department store and most restaurants take cards and IC payments. Small market stalls and older shops may be cash only — carry some yen, and there are convenience stores with ATMs along the street.

Is it good for kids?

Yes — there is a planetarium and a spacious library right at Makishi Station, an indoor playground in the Palette Kumoji building, parks for a break, and ice cream everywhere. A nursing room is available at the Makishi Public Market.

See also: Street Food & Market Guide / Access from Naha Airport. Verified July 2026.