Embrace the misery. That’s my best words of advice for taking on such an endeavor. These wise words were also passed along to me by those that had made this trek before us. Only a psychopath would …
If Okinawa is your overseas PCS destination, you’re going to have questions, especially about where you'll be living. Start here for helpful information for living both on and off base in Okinawa.
PCSing to Okinawa? A military family stationed in Japan for 6 years shares their experience and favorite spots around the island!
A great perk of military life, and one of its biggest challenges, is moving. Planning a PCS to Japan? Read about what to expect at your new duty station!
One of the 11 sea turtles that inhabit the lagoon around the Alamanda resort where I shoot weddings sometimes. Miyako island, Okinawa Japan.
We were so lucky to have the opportunity to live in Okinawa, Japan for almost 3 years. Island fever never really set in because we had so much fun exploring the towns and beaches and enjoying all of the seasonal festivals. The people are warm, the food is amazing, and Okinawa has a charm that…
Life lessons that came full circle at the end of our three years in Okinawa.
Sueyoshi Forest Park View Map It! Okinawa in a larger map Sueyoshi Forest Park GPS Latitude Longitude N 26 13.548 E 127 42.819 Sueyoshi Forest Park in Naha City If you love exploring and being around nature, then you're really gonna love this place. This is Sueyoshi Park. I call it the Sueyoshi Forest Park, and when you get there you will know why. Just like Kin has its 'Hidden Nature Trail', another very inconspicuous, but much larger park lies in the southern part of Okinawa, and of all unexpected places, this one lies in Naha City. There are three main parts to Sueyoshi Park. The first part is the forest park itself, the second part is the grave of Ginowan Udun and the last part is the Sueyoshi Shrine.The latter two parts I will cover in two separate post. I won't talk much about the forest park itself cause words can't replace the actual experience. You will have to see for yourself. You can peruse through the photo album to get an idea of what to expect. Be prepared to do a lot of walking. In this post, I want to cover how to get there, since that will probably be the most difficult part to this venture. Places of interest nearby: The Sueyoshi Shrine, The Tomb of Ginowan Udun. What to bring. Plenty of water, mosquito repellent, hat for shade, umbrella for rain and to remove spider webs, camera, snacks or a bento box, a small sweat towel. Caution. The trails to the Tomb of Ginowan Udun and the Sueyoshi Shrine are pretty much beaten down, however if you venture off to see the shrine you will see some other unbeaten paths along the way. I don't recommend going on them. If you can't see your feet within a 3 foot radius as you are walking then it is not worth it. The obvious danger is snakes. Over time, hopefully a trail maintenance crew will tear away some of the vegetation on some of these paths. Please follow the instructions below and the study the Map Icons above carefully. If you don't read the instructions you may skip past one of the major highways without realizing it. Also, please note that depending where you park you may be required to do a lot of walking... up and down hills. <>
Going to Okinawa? Want to experience the traditional culture of Okinawa while you're there? Now that it's summer vacation in Japan, JAPANKURU wanted to prepare something to get everyone in the mood! Many people's image of Okinawa is just resorts and beaches, but there are really a lot of other things to see and do. So in this article, we are going to mention hands-on activities along with yummy food recommendations in Okinawa. Hopefully, you'll see something you like and you can add them to your list for when you get a chance to go to Okinawa💖 Murasaki Mura is basically a cultural theme park where you can experience many different parts that make Okinawa so special and different from the main island of Japan. It's a reproduction of its capital Naha City during the 14th and 15th centuries when Okinawa was known as the Ryukyu Kingdom. Before entering the experience part of the kingdom, check out the village of Okinawa's ancient buildings. A large part of this facility in Murasaki Mura has been shot in scenes for many Japanese TV shows (dramas) which is proof of its authenticity. There are a total of 32 workshops and 101 kinds of experience activities, so you can definitely find the perfect cultural aspect of Okinawa that you want to experience here! ★Murasaki Mura Ryukyu Kingdom Theme Park (体験王国 むら咲むら) 🏢1020-1 Takashiho, Yomitan, Nakagami District, Okinawa Google Maps ⏰9am～6pm (no holidays) 💴Infants free, elementary school 400yen, middle and high school 500yen, adults (college↑) 600yen 💻Murasaki Mura homepage (JPN) ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ What Can You Do at Murasaki Mura? ❶ Blown Glass (吹きガラス) One of Okinawa's famous traditional souvenirs is "Ryukyu Glass", which goes all the way back to Japan's Meiji era (868 to 1912). The glass was used to make bottles for medicine as well as lamp chimneys, but after WWII much of the island was destroyed (literally and spiritually). So as a way to bring back moral, many craftsmen scrambled around the island to make use of available materials discarded by the Americans mostly on military bases. It was from this "trash" that they melted the glass down and shaped it into glasses, vases, and dishes. It was from there Ryukyu glass made its mark into a traditional Okinawan art and became a popular souvenir of the island. Knowing how important Ryukyu glass is to Okinawa, when we saw there was an area to create your own Ryukyu glass tableware it was immediately added to our to-do list. Since glass crafts deal with high-temperature tools, you have to be careful but since the staff are all highly trained professionals there is nothing to worry about. The cups you make are available for pick-up the next day, but if that doesn't work with your schedule don't worry! Worldwide shipping is available here for a separate fee, so you are sure to get your work of art✨ 🎐Blown Glass (吹きガラス体験) ●Location: Glass Studio Umikaze (ガラス工房 海風) 💴 From 2,400 yen *Prices vary depending on the form and color ⏰Time needed: 5～10mins/person *You can choose the shape, color, etc of the glass 💻Murasaki Mura page (JPN) ❷ Screen Printing (スクリーン印刷) Create your very own original, one of a kind designs and print it on an all-white T-shirt. If you don't want to make a T-shirt, you can also design your own tote bag!👜 There are tons of screens with traditional Okinawan print which makes it a fun Okinawan souvenir. There are two options to choose from: ❶Screen Printing (スクリーン印刷体験): Select an existing design and print it on a white T-shirt 💴From 1,458 yen Time needed: 1hr (1 to 15 people) ❷Original T-shirt Printing (オリジナル版Tシャツ制作体験 ): Make an original copy and print it on a white T-shirt. In addition to logo marks and names, illustrations, team names, and more are available 💴From 3,132 yen ⏰Time needed: 1hr 1/2 (1 to 15 people) ●Location: Angel Hall Screen T-shirt Studio (天使館内 スクリーンTシャツ工房) *Max group of 50 allowed (If you're in a big group, making a reservation in advance is best) 💻Murasaki Mura page (JPN) ❸ Wood Studio, Asahi (木の工房 あさひ) In addition to using Okinawan patterns to make a shirt, another option is decorating frames and clocks with local Okinawan seashells! Just pick the shells you want and arrange them on the frame.🐚🖼🐚 Once you're happy with the design, hot glue them to the wood. And you have your one of a kind Okinawa seashell picture frame💖🖼 🐚Wood Studio Asahi (木の工房 あさひ) 💴1,500 yen to 2,000 yen ⏰Time needed: 30min/person ※There are also lamps, thermometers, cell phone stand, and piggy banks ❹ Traditional Okinawan Dance, Eisa Lessons (エイサー体験) Eisa is a form of folk dance originating from the Okinawa Islands, Japan. It originally was done to honor the spirits of their ancestors. If you're in Okinawa during O-bon (a Japanese holiday normally in the middle of August), you can hear sounds of taiko (Japanese drums) being played every night. When you go to Murasaki Mura you can also learn the Eisa dance! They'll give you a traditional garment to wear and a small taiko, then teach you step-by-step🎶 This was probably one of our favorites at Murasaki Mura. It's a super fun Okinawa experience even if you aren't coordinated. 🥁Eisa Lessons (エイサー体験) ●Location: Experience Stage Visitor Center Dance Room (体験舞台 又は 体験ビジターセンター内 舞踊体験室) *Group more than 4 people, children 5 and above can join 💴1,620 yen ⏰Time needed: 1hr 💻Murasaki Mura page (JPN) ❺ Okinawa Soba, Janatei (琉球武家屋敷 謝名亭) You can also enjoy local Okinawa food at Murasaki Mura. One thing you can't overlook is "Okinawa soba". Looking at it you may be confused since the noodles look more like udon noodles instead of soba. That's because it's made from completely different ingredients. Unlike "regular" soba which is made from buckwheat, Okinawan soba is made of wheat. Chewy like udon noodles, the broth is normally pork-based and comes with green onions, ginger, and pork. It's a great place to try Okinawa's famous noodles and pork! 🍜Janatei (謝名亭) ⏰11am～6:30pm (last order 6pm) 💻Murasaki Mura page (JPN) ★Murasaki Mura Ryukyu Kingdom Theme Park (体験王国 むら咲むら) 🏢1020-1 Takashiho, Yomitan, Nakagami District, Okinawa Google Maps ⏰9am～6pm (no holidays) 💴Infants free, elementary school 400yen, middle and high school 500yen, adults (college↑) 600yen 💻Murasaki Mura homepage (JPN) ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Places to Go in Okinawa Hotel Resorts, Okinawan Breweries, Okinawan Pork ❶ Holiday Resort Rizzan Sea Park Hotel Tancha Bay (リザンシーパークホテル谷茶ベイ) Okinawa's Onna Village is filled with resorts and this time we went to their biggest one that has a natural beach that stretches out 2624ft/800m, Rizzan Sea Park Hotel Tancha Bay!! This resort has ALL! SORTS! of activities and facilities! Snorkeling, marine walk, fishing, spas, morning markets, and more. Click here for a list of the sort of things you can do at Rizzan Sea-Park Hotel If you're looking for the more tropical experience, Rizzan Sea-Park Hotel is for you. 🏨Rizzan Sea Park Hotel Tancha Bay (リザンシーパークホテル谷茶ベイ) 🏢1496 Tancha, Onna Village, Kunigami, Okinawa Google Maps 🚙Car rental map Code: 206 158 991 * 66 ☎+81 98-964－6611 💻Official homepage (ENG) ❷ Okinawa Brewery ★Orion Happy Park★ (オリオンハッピーパーク) Want to try Okinawan beer?! Love going to breweries?! Then you've got to go to the Orion brewery Orion Happy Park. At Orion Happy Park everyone, even children, can visit to learn about Orion beer. Orion beer is primarily only sold in Okinawa. You may get lucky and see it in other parts of Japan so if you like trying local beer, you've got to try one of Japan's easy to drink beers, Orion. If you don't drink alcohol you can also try their lemon tea. Which, may we say, we've never seen before! Their gift shop is massive and has almost everything under the sun. Stickers, shirts, beer mugs, figurines, there wasn't anything that we were looking for that they didn't have. 🍺Orion Happy Park (オリオンハッピーパーク) 🏢2-2-1 Agarie, Nago-shi, Okinawa Google Maps 🚙Car navigation code: 206 598 867*32 📅Closed December 31 through January 3 Brewery Tour is free! ⏰Tour (in Japanese only): First tour 9:20am, final tour 4:40pm Time required: Roughly 1hr Restaurant "Yanbaru no Mori": 10am～7pm (Last order at 7:30pm) Shop: 10am～7pm 💻Orion Brewery Reservation (ENG) Orion Happy Park Homepage (ENG) ❸ Try Okinawan Pork and Traditional Food Agu's Hideout (あぐーの隠れ家) Agu's Hideout (あぐーの隠れ家) is a pork restaurant specializing in Okinawan pork "Agu". Their most popular way to eat the pork is Shabu-shabu, which is basically a Japanese hotpot where you dip thinly sliced meat and vegetables. Shab-shabu is also said to be really healthy, so there is no shame in eating a ton💖 Agu pork is quite a high quality of pork due to its scarcity. Something that sets Agu pork aside from other types of pork is primarily the fact it's relatively low in cholesterol, despite its extreme marbling (which also makes it super juicy!). Aside from Agu pork you can also have some of Okinawa's local dishes like umibudo (海ぶどう), meaning sea grapes, and oysters. There are pleanty of interesting and delicious food to try here. 🍴Agu's Hideout (あぐーの隠れ家) 🏢1-1 Fuchaku, Onna-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Google Maps ⏰5pm～10:30pm (Last order 10pm) 📖 English menus available 💻Official website (ENG) ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Visiting Okinawa An Island of Relaxation and Culture 🌞 More lovely article on Okinawa Travel 🌞 For info on some hidden gems in Okinawa click here! Shop at Okinawa's Largest Shopping Mall ～ Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom Okinawa Accommodation Recommendation: Best Western Okinawa Onna Beach ✈🗾JAPANKURU HOME PAGE🐶 ●Instagram● ●Google+● ●Pinterest●
Towards the south of Japan, exists Okinawa, which is more like a collection of some tropical Islands. Okinawa boasts magnificent views that look too good to be real. Some military families are lucky enough to
We called upon fellow travel bloggers and Japanese local, Nagisa Tsuchida, to help us round up the top things to do in Okinawa, Japan based on her extensive experience.
This Okinawa travel guide is designed to help you plan the best trip like a local. You'll know what to do, where to go, and what to eat.
Okinawa, a stunning Japanese archipelago, is famed for its tropical climate, pristine beaches, and unique Ryukyuan culture. Ideal areas to stay in Okinawa include: Naha: Best for first-time visitors, offers attractions, shopping, and dining. Onna: Perfect for beach romance. Nago: Great for nature enthusiasts. Ishigaki: Ideal for island-hopping. Nakijin: Rich in history and culture. Motobu: Suitable for families. Yomitan: Traditional
Mary Richardson breaks down the island's avoidable attractions...and what you should do instead.
CONTRIBUTED BY TIFFANY WHEELER FOR KOREA YE! Anytime you move, it helps to be organized. When you move once a year, it is essential. Living the Army life, I knew it would come with its fair share of moving. For us, though, it has meant four moves in under four years and I think by now I’ve …
Okinawa, Japan in 5 days
A complete guide to the best things to do in Naha, Okinawa including restaurants, shopping, nightlife, beaches and awamori distillery tours.
If you are searching for a Japanese vacation like in Thailand, these are the things to do in Okinawa, Japan.
CONTRIBUTED BY TIFFANY WHEELER FOR KOREA YE! Anytime you move, it helps to be organized. When you move once a year, it is essential. Living the Army life, I knew it would come with its fair share of moving. For us, though, it has meant four moves in under four years and I think by now I’ve …
This is the ultimate Okinawa travel guide that gets you in, out and around Okinawa, Japan including when to go, where to stay and things to do
Kin Town's Okawa the Natural Spring View Map It! Okinawa in a larger map The Natural Spring (Okawa in Kin)) GPS Latitude Longitude N 26 27.246 E 127 55.674 Okawa the Natural Spring Okawa is the name of the Natural Spring in Kin. You can park off to the side. Some people stop by to collect the water for variety of reasons. Some will clean their clothes there (it doesn't happen often). Nevertheless the water does look clean and fresh. I drank the water...and still alive. Drink at your own risk. It does look fresh though. If it is a hot day...you will be tempted. There is an old playground across from it... Okawa is a great place to sit and have a lunch or a short drink. Okawa is off Highway 329. You will see a 'Family Mart' before you turn off to the road to go to Okawa. The road is downhill and is covered by green asphalt. Other places of interest nearby: Statue of Oshiro Kozo, Kin Kannonji Shrine, Kin Watch Tower, Kin's Castle Rock, Richamocha Cafe, The Gold Hall, Kinjo's Used Goods, Kin Town's Hidden Nature Trail, Statue of Toyoma Kyuzo, Birth Place of Toyoma Kyuzo, Kin Town's History Chronicles, Kin Town's Cherry Blossom Way.
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Join The Travel Tester on a discovery tour of Ishigaki Island in Yaeyama, Okinawa Japan. We show you the highlights and our tips for places to eat & sleep
Explore Alex_Mueller's 3959 photos on Flickr!
It's that time again: a military PCS! Whether it is your first or 10th, it is important to be prepared. Here is a helpful list of everything you will need!
Here are 18 Things to know before visiting Okinawa. Hope they will be useful in your travel planning. E.g. "How to save money when travelling in Okinawa?"
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is truly worth a visit. I'm so glad I didn't skip it as this place rewarded me with a romantic and almost perfect sunset.
Planning a trip to Okinawa, Japan? Whether it's for vacation or if it'll be your home for the next few years, here's my list of 101 things to do in Okinawa!
If you are searching for a Japanese vacation like in Thailand, these are the things to do in Okinawa, Japan.
CONTRIBUTED BY TIFFANY WHEELER FOR KOREA YE! Anytime you move, it helps to be organized. When you move once a year, it is essential. Living the Army life, I knew it would come with its fair share of moving. For us, though, it has meant four moves in under four years and I think by now I’ve …
Japan’s are among the most beautiful and diverse in the world. The country also boasts more than 30, which means choosing the very best parks to visit in a single trip is no easy task.
Camping at Kouri Island, Okinawa
Here are 18 Things to know before visiting Okinawa. Hope they will be useful in your travel planning. E.g. "How to save money when travelling in Okinawa?"
CONTRIBUTED BY EMILY COZZIE It’s no doubt that Okinawa is one of the best places to find sea glass. Let’s face it, we can’t help looking down at the beautiful sand from time to time and spotting a gorgeous piece of frosted glass. It makes us wonder about the story behind it. Sea glass …
Okinawa is like Polynesia in Japan. Landscapes and cultures to discover: Tonaki-Jima, Cape Manzamo, American village, the seabed...
ROM stands for Restriction Of Movement, a military term for locked up for two weeks to make sure you don’t infect your new surroundings with COVID. Don’t worry, I hate that I used a mil…
Okinawa is the name for a prefecture in Japan which is also an archipelago of some 160 islands, some of which are inhabited and the vast majority of which are ... Read more
The main sights in Naha, Okinawa, Japan are the "Naminoue Shrine", which is known as one of the eight major shrines in Okinawa, and the "Shuri Castle", the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Ryukyu. Of course, there is also the "Kokusai-Dori", a good place for shopping. Public transportation is very convenient
Life lessons that came full circle at the end of our three years in Okinawa.
