Kadena Town - Japan's Smallest Town, Creating New Tourism Opportunities in Okinawa
Located in the heart of Okinawa's main island, Kadena Town is known as the smallest town in Japan, with approximately 82% of its land area occupied by Kadena Air Base.
Despite its compact size, Kadena offers a remarkable concentration of Okinawa's key attractions, including history, culture, nature, peace education, local cuisine, and music. These diverse tourism resources make the town an ideal destination for creating half-day to full-day itineraries and immersive experiential travel programs.
At Michi-no-Eki Kadena (Kadena Roadside Station), visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Kadena Air Base from the observation deck while participating in Peace Learning Programs that explore the history of the base and its relationship with the local community. These educational programs are particularly well suited for school excursions and educational travel.
At the Hija River Nature Experience Center, visitors can experience one of Okinawa's rare mangrove ecosystems through a variety of river activities, including stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), kayaking, and night kayaking. These nature-based experiences combine outdoor adventure with environmental education, making them suitable for families, school groups, and experiential tourism programs.
Kadena is also the hometown of Noguni Sokan, who is credited with introducing the sweet potato to Japan. The town's rich cultural heritage, vibrant local music scene, distinctive cuisine, and regional specialties provide authentic storytelling opportunities that enhance the visitor experience.
Kadena Town is expanding its potential as a destination for experiential and stay-oriented tourism, combining peace education, nature experiences, history and culture, local gastronomy, and meaningful community interaction.
We welcome travel professionals, tour operators, educational travel planners, FIT specialists, inbound travel buyers, and regional tourism partners who are seeking new travel products and collaboration opportunities.
Visit the Kadena Town Booth at Tourism EXPO Japan 2026 to discover unique tourism experiences and explore new partnership opportunities in Okinawa.