Okinawa Hai!

CONTRIBUTED BY JEANINE CZUBIK/UPDATED PHOTOS BY MARIE LEWIS You’ve probably seen Demure on Gate 2 Street. But did you know there are now two additional Demure locations? This March 2013 update has all the details. You probably already know this story: your spouse comes home and informs you there’s a dinner. Tomorrow. And you must have a [...]

Read the full story

CONTRIBUTED BY MORGAN WILLEMSEN This summer my husband and I heard about a fine jewelry boutique on island called Ledeen Diamond Co. One of our friends had just finished purchasing a birthday present from the boutique and raved about the experience. I had been in the market for a pair of diamond studs for sometime [...]

Read the full story

CONTRIBUTED BY ELISA SANGRIU We’ve all been there; you’ve found the cutest little outfit at the Exchange, only to walk outside and see two other people wearing the exact same thing. Luckily, you do have some choice in where to shop off base if you make a little time to explore. One of my favorite [...]

Read the full story

Recycle Store Exterior CONTRIBUTED BY STEPHANIE MONROE I’ve been on Okinawa about a year now, and since our arrival I’ve been lamenting the loss of one of my favorite activities: shopping the neighborhood thrift stores. Back in the states thrift stores are one of my regular stops to find unique, antique, or bargain priced items. [...]

Read the full story

CONTRIBUTED BY CHRISTOPHER DONG We walked through the small streets of South Sunabe on a sunny weekend afternoon. It was that odd hour of day where we were feeling peckish, energy enough to think about doing something, too hungry to actually accomplish anything. “Tea-time” menus infuriate me, lazily turned out dishes while chefs busy themselves [...]

Read the full story

CONTRIBUTED BY ANGI BRZYCKI Barclay Exterior Truthfully, I am not really a fan of strip malls with the exception of Barclay’s court in Urasoe City.  For one, the Starbucks opens at 6:50 am compared to a lot of the other Starbucks in Okinawa that open at 9 am. The only drawback is that they do [...]

Read the full story

CONTRIBUTED BY LULU American Wave Exterior I admit – I was one of those little girls who raided her mum’s closet for outfits and spangle, and I clip-clopped around in her heels. I still enjoy the experience of getting dressed up and I look forward to shopping with the same fervour. Many of us resort [...]

Read the full story

CONTRIBUTED BY SARRA MCMILLAN Perhaps you’ve seen it while strolling along Kokusai Street, the large, colourful letters adorning the side of the building, screaming “OPA”!! But have you ventured inside this huge shopping mall, investigating the world of Japanese fashion and accessories? The window shopping is a cultural experience and it is an ideal place [...]

Read the full story

CONTRIBUTED BY ERIN SCHALK Koza Gate Pottery In my case, finding Koza Gate Apartment, a combined boutique and art gallery, could be best described as a happy accident. Earlier this summer, I had agreed to meet my friend and Japanese teacher there for a private lesson and good conversation. As with many storefronts in Okinawa, [...]

Read the full story

CONTRIBUTED BY MONETTE EAMES Living in Okinawa, we’ve often read some awkward sounding phrases on shirts that made us go, “Huh!?” Sometimes it almost sounds like poetry in a way. Or sometimes, reading certain food descriptions on a menu made us wonder what really is in the food. Other times, we come across a store [...]

Read the full story