Having toddlers is a challenge. Finding toddler activities in Okinawa can be an even bigger challenge. Okinawa offers a unique experience for families with babies and toddlers. There is so much to do with your kids here but let’s start with these ten options.

1. Sports
2. AWANAS
3. MOPS
4. Parks
5. Waku Waku Kidsland
6. Aquariums
7. Chikyu no Niwa Aeon Mall Okinawa
8. Library Story Time
9. Okinawa Zoo & Wonder Museum
10. Playdates

Sports

You have the option of getting involved in soccer, dance or gymnastics for your sportsy toddler activities in Okinawa.

Tiny Troops soccer is for ages 2-5 and you can register your little one online on the 15th of every month at noon. They have locations at Camp Foster, Kadena and Camp McTureous. https://tinytroopssoccer.com/findmylocation/

Okinawa School of Dance at Gunners Gym on Camp Foster offers dance for as young as age 3. It’s a beginner ballet/acro dance focusing on basic movements, learning positions and body control. https://aheath4242.wixsite.com/ospa

Gymnastics is available through Excellence Gymnastics Academy also located at Gunners Gym on Camp Foster. They offer parent/child classes for kids as young as 10 months with classes in different age groups through teens. There are multiple toddler classes depending on age and ability and whether you want a parent/child or individual class. https://www.okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/recreation-fitness/sports/gymnastics

Kadena Youth Center also offers dance and gymnastics classes for kids ages 2-5. Some of them are parent/child classes as well for some extra bonding time together. https://www.kadenafss.com/youth-center#class

AWANAS

For more biblical toddler activities in Okinawa, AWANA is a great place to go! This is a kids bible study based program at local churches. Foster Chapel, Kadena chapel and several churches off base host AWANAS programs. Check with the individual churches for more information on their program times.

MOPS

Standing for Moms Of PreSchoolers, this is a group for moms of kids not yet in school to connect, find support and foster friendships. What’s better than some toddler activities in Okinawa that also give you a chance to connect as well?! Koza Baptist Church in town hosts a MOPS group every other Tuesday during the typical school year months. https://kozabaptistchurch.org/mops

Parks

There is no shortage of perfect parks to enjoy for your toddler activities in Okinawa. Join the Facebook group Parks in Okinawa (https://m.facebook.com/groups/Parksinokinawa/?ref=share) and browse through to find parks that are around you or that you can make an adventure out of. Searching Google Maps for parks is also a great way to find some hidden gems.

Waku Waku

• https://www.nami-kids.com

This is a wonderful indoor playground area near Naha. With a ball pit, slides and all the climbing structures a kid could want, you could easily spend an entire morning here. This is one of the most fun toddler activities in Okinawa and those kids will have one heck of a nap afterwards. It’s 600 Yen for one hour of use (less than $4) for kids and parents/caregivers pay 500 Yen for the whole day.

Aquariums

There are two large aquariums on the island. Churaumi Aquarium up north and the DMM Kariyushi aquarium in the south.

• https://churaumi.okinawa/en
• https://kariyushi-aquarium.com/en

Churaumi Aquarium offers year long season passes for about as much as it would cost to visit twice. If you think you’ll go there more than two times in a year, it is a smart choice to get the annual pass. Churaumi has a large tank with the whale sharks, rope playground out front, and lots of places to walk around.

DMM Kariyushi Aquarium is inside of a mall. It has two floors with lots of ocean life to see, a small room with some birds and other land animals, and the highlight is the glass floor above their main tank that you can lay down and watch the fish through.

Chikyu no Niwa Aeon Mall Okinawa

• https://www.fantasy.co.jp/chikyunoniwa/okinawarycom/

Another indoor play place perfect for the rainy season or those super hot summer days when you just need a break from the beach. Decorated in neon colors and white this place draws the kids in with playful colors along with lots of activities. There is a large ball pit, scooters, swings and climbing structures, making it some of the more adventurous toddler activities in Okinawa.

Library Story Time

• https://www.okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/marine-family-support/libraries
• https://www.kadenafss.com/library#calendar

All of the MCCS Libraries and the Kadena Library have storytimes for babies and toddlers throughout the entire year. Check their calendars to find a story time at a base near you. This is also one of the better toddler activities in Okinawa to connect with other moms.

Okinawa Zoo and Wonder Museum

• https://www.okzm.jp/information-en

The Okinawa Zoo is one of the greatest toddler activities in Okinawa. It is a relatively small zoo so it’s easy to get around and let those toddlers toddle where they want. They have a great set up with multiple level viewing areas so you can zigzag and see animals at different angles and be relatively contained.

There is a new splash pad as of summer 2024 and the Wonder Museum (a separate entrance fee from the zoo) is a great place to head indoors. The Wonder Museum, while geared slightly toward older kids, can be enjoyed by the littles as well. You can help them move things and discover the science in all the exhibits together.

Playdates

• https://m.facebook.com/groups/244368635907801/?ref=share

Join the Oki Munchkin Playdates group on Facebook and find a playgroup near you. You can see if there are already organized groups near you or you can set one up yourself.

You may be use to scheduling playdates with friends but when you move to a new place finding adult friends AND friends for your kids can be hard, especially with toddlers. This Facebook group is a great way to dive in, find your community and discover even more toddler activities in Okinawa.

Looking for more? Check out these other popular articles on activities in Okinawa.