Home 2011
Yearly Archives: 2011
Sai Kyou Restaurant
CONTRIBUTED BY MONETTE EAMES
Sai Kyou Exterior
Knowing only elementary Japanese words like arigatou, ohayo gozaimasu, and hai, we sometimes get intimidated walking into restaurants with...
UMUC – Okinawa Site
CONTRIBUTED BY SUZIE SMITH
Looking to expand your higher education while in Okinawa? Well look no further. The University of Maryland University College or UMUC...
Miyako-Jima
CONTRIBUTED BY LEAH MAGID
Miyako View by Stephanie Magid
Miyako Beach
Mid-October, my little family and I took a much-needed vacation to the small island of Miyako...
Nani Kore? Green Papaya
CONTRIBUTED BY SARRA MCMILLAN
Green Papaya
Even though I have been living in Okinawa for 2 years, there are still moments where I am struck with...
Sakura Zaka Theater
CONTRIBUTED BY ANGI BRZYCKI
Sakura Zaka Exterior
The Sakura Zaka 桜坂劇場 is one of my favorite places to go to in Naha. The movie theater...
Gushikawa Ruins & Cape Kyan
CONTRIBUTED BY QUENTIN RICHARDSON
Kyan View
These two sites provide fantastic views of the southern coast as well as secluded snorkeling opportunites (given the sea condtions)....
Joy Company
CONTRIBUTED BY LAURA COSTA
Joy Company provides balloon decorations and so much more. My favorite thing about Joy Company is not just the quality of...
Yanbaru Kuina Park
CONTRIBUTED BY QUENTIN RICHARDSON
Yanbaru Bird
Yanbaru Front
I found this spectacular place while looking at it from Cape Hedo. I was curious to see it close...
Japanese Online Shopping: Rakuten Global Market
CONTRIBUTED BY ERIN SCHALK
rakuten purchasesII
As holiday season approaches, time, patience, and energy are all beginning to run short, while social commitments and gift lists...
Lima Restaurant
CONTRIBUTED BY MONETTE EAMES
Lima Sign
Lima… the capital of Peru, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Imagine my surprise when we found a place called ‘Lima...
Jumbo Steak Han's
CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH FORTE
We were recently invited to enjoy a complimentary meal at Jumbo Steak Han's in partnership with Plat Okinawa. Sarah and her...
Kayauchibanta Viewpoint
CONTRIBUTED BY QUENTIN RICHARDSON
Kaya View 3
I found this spectacular place on my way to Cape Hedo. If you want to see how beautiful Okinawa...
Kaho’s Japanese Corner: Where is…?
Back in 2008 we had a regular contributor, Kaho, whose first language was Japanese. She wrote many posts with helpful information about commonly used...
Crocodile’s Restaurant
Editor's note: We have been informed that this restaurant was closed for six months, but as of March 2015 the bar section has reopened, with the...
Pan Ya & Tida Cafe
CONTRIBUTED BY ANGI BRZYCKI
Pan Ya Signs
EDITOR'S NOTE 8/12: This post was written specifically about the Urasoe location. Unfortunately these shops have closed. They are...
Okinawa Explorer: A Complete Guide to Okinawa
CONTRIBUTED BY QUENTIN RICHARDSON
If you want to know even more about Okinawa, I highly recommend this book. It covers so much material abouth holidays,...
Kaho’s Japanese Corner: "Kawaii" and "Kowai"
Back in 2008 we had a regular contributor, Kaho, whose first language was Japanese. She wrote many posts with helpful information about commonly used...
Ukishima Garden
CONTRIBUTED BY ANGI BRZYCKI
Ukishima Front
Prior to moving to Okinawa I lived in LA for 7 years. I got used to the “organic” food phenomenon...
Attending an International University on Okinawa
CONTRIBUTED BY ERIKA MEYERS
Becoming a student on Okinawa is simple. There are several international universities on the island that accept students:
Meio University
Okinawa International University
Okinawa...
Red Lobster
CONTRIBUTED BY JESSICA TIUSECO
Red Lobster Exterior
Let me start this off by saying that I have never been to a Red Lobster in the states,...
Kaho’s Japanese Corner: Calorie Off?
Back in 2008 we had a regular contributor, Kaho, whose first language was Japanese. She wrote many posts with helpful information about commonly used...
Nana Iro no Niji (Colors of the Rainbow)
CONTRIBUTED BY ASHLEY MORALES
My friend decided to take me out to lunch for my birthday. She chose the restaurant Nana Iro no Niji.
Nana Road
The...
Urasoe City Park & Castle Site
CONTRIBUTED BY QUENTIN RICHARDSON
Urasoe Pano 1
Urasoe City Park & Castle Site is a massive network of observatories, walking paths and a large playground at...
Olive Batake (Garden)
CONTRIBUTED BY MONETTE EAMES
Olive Sign
Lately, I have been craving the Olive Garden back in the states. So when I found out that there...
Mama-Sans of the Childcare Variety
CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER GELORMINE
As parents, finding quality childcare is one of those dreaded tasks that need attending to. Whether a parent works outside the...
Kaho’s Japanese Corner: Sumimasen and Gomennasai
Back in 2008 we had a regular contributor, Kaho, whose first language was Japanese. She wrote many posts with helpful information about commonly used...
Gyu-Kaku
CONTRIBUTED BY JESSICA RODRIGUEZ
Gyu Front
On a family outing looking for dinner, we found on OkinawaHai the Jungle Themed Izakaya. We stopped, and went in, and...
Ploughman's Lunch Bakery
CONTRIBUTED BY ANGI BRZYCKI
Ploughmans Food
The term “Ploughman's Lunch” is a British phrase for a plain and simple, cold lunch. It usually includes a piece...
Fishing Port Grill Syu Getsu
CONTRIBUTED BY LEAH MAGID
English on the awning is our signal that the restaurant we are approaching has an English menu, or at least a...
Roller Derby with the Devil Dog Derby Dames
Derby Gang
CONTRIBUTED BY ZABRINA "JerZee Stinga" Songui
When I first got to this island, I felt so disconnected. I was newly married and this was...