CONTRIBUTED BY BRANDI JAKUBOWICZ
Moving is stressful. When moving across the world, one can never fully be prepared for what lies ahead. When we moved out of our temporary lodging at the hotel, we couldn’t wait to get into our new home.
A few weeks later our things from the States arrived and made it feel a little bit more like...
CONTRIBUTED BY ARIELLE SULLIVAN
This place is basically straight out of a fairy tale. I'm pretty sure Hansel and Gretel walked by this place every day, and I'm not 100% sure that there aren't fairies flying around or that we don't walk straight into a different world when walking through the sliding doors.
If there is a heaven on Earth, this...
CONTRIBUTED BY INORI HAYASHI
Editor’s Note: Okinawa Hai has partnered with Inori Hayashi, to provide a new monthly series written in a local voice. Our hope is to address some of the issues we all encounter while living abroad from a Japanese perspective. Inori-san grew up in Japan, attended an international school in Kyoto, and then moved to New York to attend college. She is...
CONTRIBUTED BY EMILY BUREK
About a year after I arrived in Okinawa I was overwhelmed by shopping off base, especially for natural products and health remedies. Of course, I could order some things online, but I'd have to wait until they arrived- and that was if they were able to ship here in the first place! I don't mind browsing for products on the...
CONTRIBUTED BY BRETTE KNAUTE
There was a time, back in my youth, when my car was spotless. The seats were clean, the windows were washed -- it even had a wonderful "new-car smell". Ah the good old days...Those were the days before babies.
Now, my car is "well used". It serves as our shuttle for adventures to castles and aquariums. It taxis little...
Editor’s Note: Okinawa Zoo was originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on March 5, 2007; you can read a PDF copy of that original review here. The post below is an updated take on the Okinawa Zoo, published October 16, 2015.
CONTRIBUTED BY MARISSA MATSUZAKI
Recently whenever I’ve taken my daughter for walks, her little legs pedal and her voice squeals as...
Editor’s Note: Su Su Soon was originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on October, 2 2008. It was closed for a short time, but has since be re-opened and it is re-reveiwed today for you by Kacey A. Original post is still available if you scroll down.
CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A
I just want to clear up a rumor publicly for you: Su...
Editor’s Note: Indira Indian Restaurant was originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on November 11, 2013; you can read a PDF copy of that original review here. The post below is an updated take on this restaurant, published September 11, 2015
CONTRIBUTED BY: D.A.
My wife and I love Indian curry, and are always on the hunt for new places to indulge on the island....
CONTRIBUTED BY ARIELLE SULLIVAN
We've passed this place quite a few times but thought it was a different restaurant and never stopped. Tonight we were looking for something new so we decided to give it a try. We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived!
When you walk in there are long traditional Japanese tables in a big L-shape for large parties...
CONTRIBUTED BY ORLANDO ANAYA
If you are like me and love a great steak, Taiyo Steakhouse is the place for you. I have now been there for dinner with my family and my buddy Mark three times and I can tell you that this restaurant is unlike any in Okinawa. Walking in you can immediately see the difference, the place...
CONTRIBUTED BY MINDY MORRIS
I know I’m not supposed to judge a book by its cover and all that… but here’s the truth: I pick books based on their covers, brands based on their logos, and wines based on their labels. I just can't help it!
I had a meeting with the owner of Cotton Candy a few weeks ago and as...
We will be publishing base reviews of all US Military Installations on Okinawa over the course of the rest of this year. Many thanks to Anthony for taking on this time-intensive and incredibly helpful series for our readers!
CONTRIBUTED BY ANTHONY CAMINA
Camp Courtney, Uruma
Overview
Originally called Camp Tengan, it was renamed after Major Henry A. Courtney who was awarded the Congressional...
CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.
I have a lot of favorites on this island, and Kramp Coffee Store is one of them. As usual with the places I frequent, the atmosphere is clean, peaceful, and happy. The staff is personable, friendly and thankful for your patronage. The food and drinks are made to order, tasty and strong. So let’s talk details.
Kramp...
The 2015 calendar was available for purchase in November and December of 2014. This was September's page.
Kayo Beach
Photo Credit: Melanie Dunn
Melanie Dunn on Flickr
"Oh Okinawa
Adventure, then chill at beach
All in a day's work" --Calyn Paquin
Uehara Upland Park
Photo Credit: Kristy Wells
His Hands For Life
Yomitan
Photo credit: Stephanie Gonzalez
CONTRIBUTED BY SHANNON R.
The following sentence in airline search engines has always struck fear into my heart:
*Note- this itinerary has an airport change*
This line of red letters has been enough of a concern to make me shell out a few hundred extra dollars just to avoid the chaos of picking up my luggage, finding a train or bus, getting checked in...
CONTRIBUTED BY MINDY MORRIS
We discovered My Blend accidentally. (To be honest, I think accidentally is probably how most people find this place!) This awamori tasting shop is tucked away in the back corner of the HAPINAHA building, located on Kokusai Street in Naha.
We’d ducked in to the very kid friendly HAPINAHA one afternoon to escape the rain, and there,...
CONTRIBUTED BY KELSEY HUGHES
My husband and I knew that one of the first things we would do after moving to Okinawa was get a puppy. We had many debates about whether to adopt or find a breeder before moving to Oki, but decided to wait until we were here and settled before making the final decision. We quickly realized...
CONTRIBUTED BY C.S.
I think this is one of my favorite cafes on island. It's not too far from Araha beach, but it's just far enough to feel like you have gotten away from the crowd. Nestled between homes and apartments near the water treatment plant at the end of the seawall, Palmetto has a charming ocean view. I often come here...
CONTRIBUTED BY ERIN GODDARD
I want to live at Ametsuchi Terrace! It has everything bohemian I could every imagine needing or drooling over: rugs from Morocco, Thai dresses, organic soaps, delicious coffee AND (let’s be honest, the real reason we love it) HAMMOCKS to relax in!
Amidst the wild bustle of the new Rycom Mall, Earth Hammock Cafe is a quiet oasis...
CONTRIBUTED BY MINDY MORRIS
Every once in a while I get a certain craving for the type of high end restaurant you find back in the States. Don’t get me wrong, I love both the food and restaurant style of this island. I have found some of the best curries, sushi and even pizza in hole in the wall locations...
Editor's Note: Okinawa Hai is excited to introduce a new monthly column that we hope will provide our readers with a uniquely Japanese perspective on some of the issues that we all encounter while living abroad. We are partnering with one of our newest writers Inori Hayashi to bring you these posts. Inori-san grew up in Japan, attended an international school...
CONTRIBUTED BY QUENTIN RICHARDSON
Upon my return to my beloved second home, I notice a tremendous amount of changes inland. A recent and very welcomed change is the new Food Street just off Kokusai Dori. If you really want to have the izakaya atmosphere, similar to Ebisu-cho or other popular izakaya districts, this is the place to be. Before...
CONTRIBUTED BY HANNAH CURTIS
Izena island is located approximately 14 miles from the northernmost point of the Motobu peninsula, and in order to reach it, you take a 55 minute ferry ride departing from Unten Port. There are two daily sailings from Unten Port (Motobu) to Nakada Port (Izena) so you could make this a very quick day trip or even better...
CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.
Coffee roasteries have been getting very popular here in Okinawa, especially to the general public. Okinawa Cerrado Coffee has been in business for over 25 years and opened a retail shop in Minatogawa in early 2015. The owner, Narihito Sueyoshi, is very friendly, makes a great brew, and is extremely efficient at his job.
Narihito-san truly enjoys...
CONTRIBUTED BY ANNA WISHERD
Khrua Thai is probably my favorite restaurant on the island. Living on Camp Courtney, and with the restaurant conveniently located across the street from the main gate, it’s a place that we frequent regularly.
First off, the ladies here are absolutely the sweetest. The owner and her staff provide excellent customer service from the second you step...
CONTRIBUTED BY: HIRO AKO
If you think finding authentic Italian food in Okinawa is a rather difficult task, if not impossible, I have an answer for you: Corrente.
Corrente is an Italian restaurant located inside the Hilton hotel in Chatan. My friends and I went there for dinner because I had heard that it was exceptional, which is certainly true of...
CONTRIBUTED BY HANNAH CURTIS
My kids and I are trying to knock out as many parks as we can this summer; often we go to the larger interesting parks (like Ogido) but sometimes a smaller one close to home is just what we are after.
Yoshinoura Athletic Park, located in Nakagusuku Village, like Comprehensive Park contains a baseball field, tennis court,...
The 2015 calendar was available for purchase in November and December of 2014. This was August's page.
Okinawa City Eisa Festival
Photo credit: Leandros Rubio
Leandros Rubio Photography
"Air heavy and wet
Sundresses and lazy days
Eisa drums thunder" --Marie Lewis
Ryukyu Mura
Photo credit: Pamela Oliveras
Pamela Oliveras Photography
10,000 Eisa Festival, Kokusai Street
Photo credit: Stephanie Gonzalez
CONTRIBUTED BY ALEX
If you have despaired over finding authentic Italian food, this review will give you new hope. For over a year, my wife and I were on a quest to find that very thing (Italian food, not hope). We tried all variety of restaurants in search of Italian food that was worth Skyping home about. Credit for our...
CONTRIBUTED BY BEVERLY CHESTER
I am on a perpetual hunt for good tacos on the island. I think we can all agree there aren’t many places here that serve flavorful Mexican dishes. A new restaurant popped up within walking distance from Camp Courtney/McT called Kitchen MaGee! (The owners are so excited about their diner they included the exclamation point in...