CONTRIBUTED BY KYLE KELLY

Green Leaf Interior 1

As my time here on Okinawa tragically comes to a close, my family and I are in a mad rush to try everything we can. I’m sure it is a common thing, but there are many things that we kind of “put on the back burner” as far as things to do and we are making an attempt to get all of those, and some new things, done in our last couple of weeks on island. We are one of those “hippie/new age” families that tries our best (usually with what little is provided by the commissaries) to eat as organic/natural as possible. Now in the states there is a nice little niche market set out for people like myself, but here due to the limited availability and my limited Japanese, it is a little more difficult to come by.

While sitting in one of the nice little breakfast café’s on the beach, I found an article in an English language newspaper that mentioned a new natural/organic market that opened up on island. Once I read the article I knew that I just had to check it out, so I ran out that same day and checked the place out. It was everything I was looking for and more.

Green Leaf Interior 2 1

Green Leaf Menu 1

The shop, albeit small, had a very nice variety of both locally grown and imported natural/organic goods that ranged from cooking ingredients to snacks to vitamins and more. One helpful feature is that descriptions of all items in the store are in both Japanese and English. They also have a juice/coffee bar right there in the store where they will brew you up an organic iced or hot coffee, or make you juice while you pay for your goods. My wife is the coffee drinker, so she tried an iced latte and couldn’t stop raving about how delicious it was. I opted for the fresh carrot juice, which was also amazing. The prices were fair and they accept yen, dollars, or credit card. They also offer a membership for free.

The membership entitles you to discounts which come in the form of points accrued through purchasing qualifying items that are over 200 yen. If you spend over 10,000 yen they will give you double points, over 30,000 yen gets you triple points, and 60,000 yen gets you 4 points per item. Your member card will also determine the language your receipt is printed in (i.e. English speaking customers get an English receipt). Additionally the membership cards help the track which items are more popular so that they may increase the quantities on hand of the more popular items.

One of the things that will keep me going back is just how nice the staff was, the store manager also speaks nearly better English than I do.

Hours:  Tues-Sun 1000-1900

Payment: Yen, Dollars, Credit Cards

Phone: 098-923-0298

Green Leaf Info Map 1

Directions: From Kadena Gate 1: Head south on 58, turn right at Blueberry Cafe/330 intersection, make your first left (yellow Ishigaki-jima restaurant), follow the road as it bends right, take the first right and the shop will be on the left.
From Foster Commissary Gate: Head north on 58, turn left at Blueberry Café/330 intersection, make your first left (yellow Ishigaki-jima restaurant), follow the road as it bends right, take the first right and the shop will be on the left.