Learn
Dojo information corner, karate awareness panels, Shuri Castle restoration panels, JICA international cooperation, a Beijing dojo introduction
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Summer holidays start here!
WatchEatLearnTry— 1 week!
OKINAWAKARATE WEEK
OKINAWA KARATE WEEK starts in--days
Free admissionFree karate classes (10:30 / 13:30) & daily demonstrationsOkinawa Karate Kaikan and other venuesJuly 28 → August 3
About
About OKINAWA KARATE WEEK
One week when karate lovers from around the world gather in Okinawa, the birthplace of karate.
In the same week as the 3rd Okinawa Karate World Tournament, people who have kept practicing karate all over the world gather on this island. Seven days to touch the techniques and spirit passed down here, and to widen the circle of exchange — from demonstrations and karate classes to festival games, at three venues.
Meet the world
Share the week with karate lovers from around the globe
Feel the art
Demonstrations, classes and exhibits of Okinawa karate
Easy to join
Free admission — come in the clothes you're wearing
How to Enjoy
Free and paid, at a glance
Free things to do
- Admission to all three venues (excluding the paid area of Shurijo Castle Park)
- Karate classes (daily at 10:30 & 13:30, capacity of 100 per class)
- Karate demonstrations (daily, Dojo A | Shuri-Tomari-te, Naha-te, Uechi-ryu and kobudo)
- Tile-breaking (free throughout the week)
- Panel exhibitions, the reference room and the stamp rally
- Shuttle bus (Prefectural Office, Karate Kaikan, Shurijo Castle Park and more)
Paid activities
- Festival games (200 yen per game)
- Shisa magnet painting (1,500 yen)
- Food and drinks from the food trucks
- Karate heritage bus tours (from 5,000 yen, Aug 3, phone reservation)
Parking: about 100 spaces at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan, plus the nearby Tomigusuku Castle Ruins Park west parking lot and others (about 299 in total). See each venue page for the other venues.To be confirmed: awamori tasting and a few others. Whether they are free or paid will be posted here once confirmed. On the day, please check at the venue information desk.If a class is full: karate classes have a capacity of 100 each. What happens when a class is full will be posted here once confirmed. On the day, please check at the venue information desk.
What you can do this week
Admission is free. Karate classes and demonstrations are also free every day. Festival games are 200 yen each and shisa painting is 1,500 yen. Start from what interests you and find a day you can come.
Try
Karate classes, tile-breaking, shisa magnet painting, stencil tote bags, Okinawan culture experiences
7 programs →
Watch
Daily demonstrations, karate heritage tours, free admission to the Karate Kaikan reference room
3 programs →
Play
Haisai festival games (cork-gun shooting, basketball, shuriken throwing, kick darts) and the stamp rally
2 programs →Daily schedule
Find programs from the day you can visit. During the week, today's column is highlighted automatically.
| Venue | Jul 28 Tue | Jul 29 Wed | Jul 30 Thu | Jul 31 Fri | Aug 1 Sat | Aug 2 Sun | Aug 3 Mon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Okinawa Karate Kaikan | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Okinawa Convention Center | – | – | ● | ● | ● | ● | – |
| Shurijo Castle Park | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| 3rd Okinawa Karate World Tournament (competition) | – | Registration | Opening & rounds | Rounds | Rounds & Okinawa Karate Seminar | Semifinals, finals & Demonstration Tournament | – |
● = OKINAWA KARATE WEEK is on / – = no programs that day. Aug 3 is the day for the karate heritage tours.
Uchiwa Fan Stamp Rally
Pick up an uchiwa fan at any venue information desk, collect two stamps, and try the capsule lottery at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan.
The monster capsule lottery: collect two stamps on your uchiwa fan, then try the capsule machine at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan. Prizes are handed over on the spot — one try per person per day, free to join.
1. Get your fanHanded out at each venue's information desk (Japanese & English)
2. Collect two stampsYou get the first stamp on the spot
3. Try the lotteryHead to the monster capsule at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan — prizes handed over right there
Prizes include a special prize (5 winners a day) plus festival game tickets, karate stickers and more. Free to join, once per person per day.
For Tournament Visitors
Between matches, demonstrations and seminars — come to the Okinawa Karate Kaikan.
Daily demonstrations of Shuri-Tomari-te, Naha-te, Uechi-ryu and kobudo, morning and afternoon (Dojo A, Okinawa Karate Kaikan) | Practice space in Dojo B (Jul 28–Aug 2) | Heritage tours on Aug 3 | Free shuttle bus
A lottery event just for tournament participants is also held at the Convention Center central plaza (please bring your ID pass).
Start Karate
First time? You'll be fine.
Join in the clothes you're wearing | Walk-in slots, no reservation needed | Daily at 10:30 & 13:30, free | At the Okinawa Karate Kaikan and other venues
After you try a class, you can look for a dojo. The Dojo Information Corner at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan and the Okinawa Karate Information Center will show you how.
Karate Tourism
Karate Tourism
Your karate journey in Okinawa continues beyond the week. "Okinawa Karate Tourism", the official site of the Okinawa Traditional Karatedo Shinkokai, introduces karate tourism programs and historic karate sites to explore.
Venues & access
A free shuttle bus links the three venues.
Okinawa Karate KaikanMain Venue
854-1 Tomigusuku, Tomigusuku City, Okinawa | Parking: About 100 spaces on site, plus the nearby Tomigusuku Castle Ruins Park west parking lot and others (about 299 in total)
Jul 28 – Aug 3 (daily), opens 9:00Okinawa Convention Center
4-3-1 Mashiki, Ginowan City, Okinawa
Jul 30 – Aug 2Shurijo Castle Park
1-2 Shuri-Kinjocho, Naha City, Okinawa
Jul 28 – Aug 3 (daily)Free shuttle bus: A loop route links the Prefectural Office (Kenmin Square), Okinawa Karate Kaikan, Shurijo Castle Park and Okinawa Convention Center — about 20–30 minutes per loop (the Convention Center stop operates Jul 29 – Aug 2). The timetable is posted on the shuttle bus page. On the day, the venue information desks can also help. Shuttle timetable → Access →
News
- The OKINAWA KARATE WEEK special site is now open
- How to join the Uchiwa Fan Stamp Rally
- [Summer Special] Free karate classes
If typhoons or bad weather affect the event, we will announce it at the top of this page as soon as a decision is made.