By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
With phoenix trees in full bloom, graduation season is here again. As classmates go their separate ways, why not create unforgettable memories together to mark the perfect end of your school days? How do you choose a destination that’s easy to reach, has great food, plenty of photo ops, and is super budget-friendly for independent travel? Plan a high-value budget-friendly grad trip now!
With phoenix trees in full bloom, graduation season is here again. As classmates go their separate ways, why not create unforgettable memories together to mark the perfect end of your school days? How do you choose a destination that’s easy to reach, has great food, plenty of photo ops, and is super budget-friendly for independent travel? Plan a high-value budget-friendly grad trip now!
The waters of Ishigaki Island are a pure, brilliant blue, and its white sandy beaches soothe all your senses. (Photo / TripAdvisor)
Japan has always been one of Taiwanese people’s favorite travel destinations. While Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka have long been the top three choices, these major cities come with relatively higher costs. For recent graduates on a tight budget, consider Okinawa (Naha), which is not far from Taipei by flight and is also ranked among Japan’s top ten best travel destinations.
The King of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Shō Kei, once praised this place as “a spot where ten thousand people can sit,” which is the origin of the name Manzamo. (Photo / MOOK)
Okinawa consists of 160 islands of various sizes scattered across the vast ocean. On the main island, you can visit ancient palaces of the Ryukyu Kingdom, enjoy tender and juicy Ishigaki beef and fresh seafood on Ishigaki Island, go diving and take part in water activities on the crystal-clear, sandy Naga Island, or shop to your heart’s content in American Village!
Shuri Castle Park. (Photo / MOOK)
The most important part of a grad trip is making memories with your closest friends. The most budget-friendly way to travel is to visit free-entry attractions. Here are ten free spots in Okinawa:
• Miyako Island • Shimojishima
• Okuma Park
• Taketomi Island Beach
• Sesoko Beach
• Heiwa Kinen Park
• Shuri Castle Park
• Oki Daito Shrine
• Manzamo
• American Village in Chatan
• Miyako Island • Shimojishima
• Okuma Park
• Taketomi Island Beach
• Sesoko Beach
• Heiwa Kinen Park
• Shuri Castle Park
• Oki Daito Shrine
• Manzamo
• American Village in Chatan
Oki Daito Shrine. (Photo / MOOK)
Also, when traveling in Japan during the summer, you simply must attend a grand fireworks festival. Taking photos in a yukata with friends under a sky full of fireworks is an absolutely priceless memory.
In July, Okinawa hosts three large-scale fireworks festivals, each with its own unique charm: the fireworks show at Okinawa Ocean Expo Park on July 14th — arguably the largest fireworks event in Okinawa; the Northern Harbor Carnival at American Village on July 21–22, which features Okinawa’s only underwater fireworks display; and the Summer Festival in Nago City on July 28–29, where the fireworks are closest to the audience, creating a non-stop spectacle with dazzling lights and powerful sounds.
Traveling in Japan during the summer? Be sure to catch a grand fireworks festival. (Photo / TripAdvisor)
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