CONTRIBUTED BY KANDY
Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I would like to dedicate this post to his life, struggles, ideals of non-violence, and legacy as an advocate of human rights.
Moving anywhere new has the added struggle of finding your way around let alone in a foreign country. Here in Okinawa, the street-naming system is a bit different than what we might be used to. Only the major roads (like 58, 330, and 329) are named. Smaller intersections bear the name for the area that they are in. So finding our way around can be a bit challenging without a map. The previous posts on maps found HERE and HERE have some great information. I recently found a free on-line map in English called MapFan that I've been trying to get to know better than my stand-by Google Maps On MapFan, you must select the prefecture, Okinawa, to get started.
So, my friends, what do you use to your way around Okinawa?
I’ve been using the maps (last few pages) in the Okinawa Yellow Pages since we got here in 2004. It’s not perfectly accurate, but close enough.
I just go down the road and see where it gets me. Sometime it calls for a lot of turning around, but oh well…..:)
My husband bought a GPS unit when we got here and it’s loaded with Okinawa maps. So we basically get in the car with the GPS thingie, the Yellow Pages and…..pretty much get lost.
We drive around, try new roads, use the yellow pages to find major roads, mark things in the GPS so we can go back to them, etc. We’ve had a lot of fun doing this!!
Like EM above, the yellow pages is my life saver, I like it put out to me Barney style and that map suits me just fine!!! I also do ‘The Daniela’ every now-and-again!
We are due there next year (I am impatiently counting down the days…) and I am wondering which GPS units work over there? We have a Garmin but I am unsure if they sell maps for Japan. Thanks!
I use the big maps that Peace Housing puts out each year when they update the Yellow Pages. It folds up nicely and I keep one in my car and one at my house. I get new ones each year so I have all the current roads, and I make sure I get copies for all the new people we have coming in. I have seen them at my housing office but I also get them from our relocation assistance people (which each service has a version of).
Rachael, I’ll try to find out which ones work and keep you posted.
I use the map I got from Ace Family Housing and also the nice map inisde of July 08′Okinawa Living, and sometimes the yellow pages too.
I’ll have to find the maps from the Peace housing people. The map from MCCS kinda blows. Diddlefinger was helpful today in finding Charlie’s Tacos!
The Peace Housing Maps are free…and are usually located where the new phone books are….but I am pretty sure everyone’s relocation people have them too…I know ours get a huge stack of them each time a new one comes out (annually). We have a map of Okinawa that we bought last time we were here but it is all in Japanese…we used the heck out of it last time but these new ones are a bit easier because they have landmarks on them as well.
Here is a great online interactive map of OKI. http://oki-map.com/
Where can I get one of these Yellow Pages phone book with the great maps? I dont think I have seen them and we could REALLY use one as we just got our car and we like to explore. Thanks!
Hi Sarah,
You can get them at the Schilling Center on Kadena. They also have other maps, as well. Just ask at the desk, and they’ll give you what you need.
I’m sure they are around on other bases too, but since I live on Kadena, that’s the place I definitely know of.
Thanks Ash…we dont live on Kadena so if anyone knows of someplace on Foster to get one please do tell me! Otherwise next time we have to go up to Kadena during the say for something I will check out the Schilling Center..thanks!
For those of you that use GPS, what model do you use that has English instructions and Maps of Okinawa?
You might be able to check with the personal services center or with your FRG/FRO, or maybe even your sponsor, too. They might have them or be able to advise you where to get one.
For those of you using GPS, what maker/model are you using? Does it have the local maps, and is it in English? Thanks
I’m hi-tech, I use my iPhone 3G! We just got here May 15th 2009 and the Google Maps on the iPhone are GREAT! My wife didn’t care much until it got her back on track on her trip to the Castle Ruins. The turn by turn directions even work, but not through the bases (like most GPS).
I’m trying to find something that I can build a map online and would like to have it where you can also use it on a phone with google maps. I want to do a few overlays: parks, restaurants, beaches etc. This site is a great resources and have helped us find a lot of nice places already, but wish I could pull them all up on one easy to use Google Map.
As an update, I tried out a JRoad model car GPS system the other day. The maps were very clear, and easy to understand, but everything was not in English. I will keep checking around though.
We have an iPhone 4 with the provided map software. It’s google map based software. You can save “pins” for your favorite places and even share them. For example, here is a pin for Kandas BOQ (the art gallery). Works like a charm and when you load in your house or another starting point like KAB Gate 2, you’ll get turn by turn directions. It ROCKS.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&q=26.322968,127.813416%20%28Kandas%29
So what’s the verdict on the Garmin in Oki? We may be moving there within the next year, and I want to get my husband a new GPS for Christmas but don’t want to bother if it won’t be able to have maps of Okinawa, Japan on it. Has anyone had any experiences with this?
Buy a GPS and ask a Japanese friend to tell you how to use the major features. Usually if you have a phone number you can input that into your GPS and it will take you right there. Addresses too of course. The streets are not named by names, but they are identified by numbers… e.g. 3-1-9 Koza, Hanshin Mansion # 504, Okinawa City 904-0884… NOT A REAL address LOL just a sample.
Benjamin Sensei
Thank God!!!! Because the housing is 98.3% full we have to live off base and i was so scared for a bit. Our sponsor was taking us on all these back roads (that as far as i’m concerned should be one-way but aren’t!!!)to get to base and I am not good at remembering directions, but Japan Maps should help a lot.
Google maps get us anywhere we want to go. we bought a wi-fi walker at AU and connect it to our tablet and it gives us turn by turn directions everywhere on island.
My AU android phone lets me pull up Oki Hai’s map and navigates with turn by turn directions.