Okinawa Hai!

CONTRIBUTED BY LAURA SNELL The Yukuru spa is located on the 14th floor of the Dai Ichi Hotel. I have been to the spa at least three times and each time I have been impressed. The spa is located in a converted hotel suite that looks out over the ocean. The rooms are private and [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY LAURA SNELL In all of my years of coming to Okinawa as a contractor, I have avoided the haircut/color procedure. Quite frankly it scared me a little. I have blonde hair and let’s face it: there aren’t very many light-haired Japanese people, so the idea of getting my hair colored here was too much [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY LAURA SNELL After a friend’s recommendation, I finally decided to take the plunge into the world of permanent makeup. Ambrosia is a gorgeous little salon that is along the sea (with the treatment rooms looking out to the sea). The thought of having a tattoo needle so close to my eye was anything but comforting, [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY MONETTE EAMES After winning an EM gift certificate to a spa at a dinner I recently went to, I was ecstatic.  I love spas and this was like an answer to prayer especially since I was really missing my husband.  I was familiar with the EM hotel high atop the mountain overlooking the [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY CHRISTOPHER DONG “I wish there was a…” I cannot tell you how many food-crazed expeditions these words have launched during my few years in Okinawa. Hometown cravings are not taken lightly in my household, sometimes days, weeks even before a suitable replacement is found. Today’s hunt had been two weeks in the making, [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER HOFFMAN Tired of turkey leftovers, my friends and I had the opportunity to do some sightseeing on our little lovely island. We ventured out to the neighboring islands of Ikei, Henza & Miyagi, all accessible by bridge (no ferry required) in search of the famous Okinawian sea salt factory. After a few [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY JENNIFER MARTIN The Kafuu Resort located in Onna is like a precious jewel, amazing from every angle. The Green Spa, located on the second floor of the resort, boasts every amenity one would expect to find in a high-end spa. The quality of the spa at the Kafuu Resort absolutely rivals the priciest [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH PHILLIPS Stationary, kitchen supplies, educational toys, purses, seasonal decorations, health & beauty supplies. Tokyu Hands has them all (and more)! Tokyu Hands is located in one of the newest San-A buildings to open: San A Convention City in Ginowan. It is on the 1st floor and takes up a large portion of [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY TINA FONACIER-FLORES Palma Sign There is a new massage place at the Mihama American Village and it is pleasantly clean and affordable with a courteous staff. Their prices are very affordable compared to other massage places that charge almost double. Palma Relaxation Room just recently opened and I tried their acupressure massage. The [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY ANGI BRZYCKI Charm Exterior This is slightly embarrassing to admit -but one of the first things I noticed about the friends I made within the JET Programme community of Assistant Language Teachers here in Okinawa was how cute everyone’s hair was. I thought it was sweet too when I asked everyone where they cut [...]

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