Sunny Okinawa

 

Bird's eye view of Naha city

 
Blue sunny skies, coupled with white sandy beaches and clear turquoise sea and an all-year round sunny weather. It is no wonder Okinawa is also known as the 'Hawaii of Asia'. 

Compared to the other Japanese cities like Tokyo and Osaka, Okinawa is not a shopping or food paradise. But it is a slice of heaven for those who love to embrace nature such as scuba-diving and natural hot springs. Okinawan food is also famous for its healthy ingredients that promote longevity.

So what can one do in this beautiful tropical island?

From my experience vacationing in Okinawa last year, there are several things or places you can explore depending on one's interests, preferences or budgets. But there are at least five things to do or explore in a 4-day-3-night trip.

Five Places to Explore in Okinawa

The white-washed Umikaji Terrace

1) Ryukyu Senagajima Onsen 

A visit to Okinawa is not complete without visiting the Ryukyu Senagajima Onsen located within the hotel which is seated on the terraced Umikaji Terrace. But be prepared for the culture shock. The whole place is like a nudist colony where fully naked women walk around without covering themselves in towels. Some even brought along their daughters and granddaughters. The male and female onsen are separated, so you can cast modesty aside and just behave naturally like the other onsen users, mostly Japanese.

There are different types of onsen: Deep Bath, Tub Bath, Rock Bath and Cold Bath. The hot onsen is really nice and hot at 40 degree Celsius, you can even see steaming hot spring water seeping out of the rocks. The hot spring water tastes salty, so you know it is really rich in mineral salts. The cold bath is freezing cold at around 15 degree Celsius. I have to jump out of the cold bath immediately as my body has already adjusted to the hot bath. There are also two saunas: aroma and salt. But it is so steaming hot in there that I could not bring myself to stay there for more than a minute.

Overall, the place looks quite dated but it is a unique relaxing onsen experience that is worth a try. After the therapeutic onsen, we walk around the Umikaji Terrace which is lined with shops and restaurants. Lunch is settled at a taco rice cafe that offers fast-food service at reasonable prices. We complete the meal with sweet potato and chocolate gelato from a gelato shop there.

Popular Kokusai Street

2) Kokusai Street

Okinawa may not be a shopping paradise but you can still enjoy some shopping therapy at Kokusai Street, also known as International Street. It is about 10-15 minutes walk from our hotel. The long street is bustling with restaurants, eateries and shops, especially souvenir shops selling all kinds of Okinawan souvenirs and snacks. Prices are competitive as there are so many shops selling almost the same stuff. 

On Sundays, the whole International Street is closed off to traffic so it is quite relaxing walking across from shops to shops without having to worry about traffic. Look out for the popular Blue Seal soft serve ice-cream. I highly recommend the purple potato flavor which is probably only available in Okinawa. Don't miss the Calbee store on Kokusai Street where you can try the freshly fried potato sticks with a choice of salt, cheese and purple potato flavor to select from. 

Our favourite eatery

Hungry after the shopping spree? There are no lack of small family eateries and Japanese restaurants along Kokusai Street. We chance upon this unassuming homely eatery in an alley, and it comes with a choice of table or tatami dining. We choose the tatami as it is a novel experience for us. The food is great and the prices reasonable. They even serve a big jar of free Okinawan tea. It can get crowded during lunch and dinner times, so do go early to get seats. This eatery is also one of the few small eateries in Okinawa that has an English menu. 

International Food Village

There is also the renowned International Food Village where you can find some of the best ramen in Okinawa. However, most of the eateries there open late in the day so go there for dinner instead of lunch, or you will be disappointed like we did.

Heiwadori Market

3) Heiwadori Market 

This unassuming market may not be as hip as Kokusai Street but do not give it a miss as you may find some gems there, like we did. The snacks and souvenirs sold here are also cheaper than the same ones at Kokusai Street. Do note that most shops open around 10 or 11am and get busiest in the afternoon. It is also here where we find a bakery shop that sells the most delicious handmade mochi and Japanese snacks. 

Delicious homemade mochi and snacks

Both Kokusai Street and the Heiwadori market have many interesting shops selling Okinawan snacks, T-shirts and souvenir. Difference is the same stuff found in Heiwadori is tax free and hence cheaper than those in Kokusai street. We also discover the most delicious red bean mochi at one of the bakery shops here, which hand make their own mochi and snacks. 

Gyokusendo Cave

4) Okinawa World

The best part about Okinawa World is the Gyokusendo limestone cave. If you have never seen a natural limestone cave complete with stalactites and stalamites, this is a must-visit. It is a unique and amazing experience walking through the maze-like limestone cave, we even see a deer bone embedded into the limestone and a smoky waterfall. The walk, though damp and sometimes get cave water dripping onto our heads and faces, is easy and relatively safe.

Traditional Eisa Dance

Another part of Okinawa World is Kingdom World which comprises the traditional culture and crafts of the Ryuku era, but it pales in comparison to the limestone cave. Still, it opens your eyes to pottery-making, weaving, glass-blowing, making your own gel candle and even pearl jewellery fresh from oyster shell. When you are there, make sure you catch the loud but amusing Eisa dance and the traditional Okinawan dance which complete the Okinawan experience.

5) Shuri Castle 
 
If you love castles and want o know more about Okinawan history, spend a day at the renowned Shuri Castle. An important landmark of Okinawa's Ryukyu kingdom, the magnificient castle sits ontop of a hill overlooking Naha city, the capital of Okinawa. 

Explore the sprawling huge castle garden with a lake, a look-out where you can see the entire Naha city and several monuments within the castle grounds which is free for the public. Do catch the traditional Okinawan dance when you are there. It's an eye-opener. It is free entry to the castle ground but you have to pay to enter the interior of the palace. 

There are a few choices of eateries outside the Shuri Castle where you can rest your legs and satisfy your hunger pangs. We choose this small but cosy family cafe that sells Chinese dim sum and Japanese food? The food is delicious and the dim sum exquisitely handmade.


Footnote: In the early morning of October 31, 2019, the Shuri Castle -- a 500-year-old Unesco World Heritage site -- was unfortunately burned down to ashes by a raging fire.

Some Tips to Remember 

Do not leave Okinawa without getting the famous purple potato tarts and some Okinawan snacks and mochi. You can get these at many of the shops at Kokusai Street and Heiwadori, but I would recommend the latter as you can get the same stuff at lower prices.

Okinawan snacks

There are no lack of good eateries in Okinawa but do check out Mikado, a highly recommended small eatery off Kokusai Street beside Apa Hotel. It is not very conspicuous and a rather long 20-minute walk from Kokusai Street but the food is worth the walk. The small unassuming eatery is run by five middle-aged and elderly women (three cooks, one server and one cashier). The food is simple home-cooked comfort food that leaves us feeling satisfied and full. The prices are also very affordable that will not burn a hole in your pocket. 

If you do not intend to rent a car and drive around Okinawa, be sure to stay in hotels that are near to the monorail stations. One such hotel is Azat Naha (just beside the Asato Monorail Station). It is a small no-frill hotel but the room is very clean and cosy, with thermal toilet seat that features various splash-wash functions. If you are driving, do remember to convert your local driving licence to international as required in Japan.