CONTRIBUTED BY KATIE GARTNER/ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM LORI CLEYMANS
Like many of you reading this, I attended the Newcomers’ Orientation Welcome Aboard (NOWA) brief in a hazy state of mind brought on by a combination of jet lag and shock. Despite my semi-conscious state, I remember making the rounds of the various booths - speaking with representatives from the overwhelming assortment...
CONTRIBUTED BY KELLY GILLOTTI
I picked up some Okinawan spinach, or handama (ハンダマ), recently. There are two varieties; one has a beautiful purple color on one side the leaf, and the other is green on both sides. It can be eaten raw or cooked. The taste is pleasant and mild.
I also found fresh lotus root, known as renkon (れんこん). On...
CONTRIBUTED BY MARIE LEWIS
Editor's Note: Marie was recently invited to enjoy a complimentary stay at two rental homes by Japan Experience, a European travel agency specializing in mainland Japan tours. Marie enjoyed the experience, but the opinions below are all hers.
I had never vacationed in a rental home before, so I wasn't sure what to expect when my husband...
This post was originally published on February 26, 2010. We're pulling it out of the archives so that maybe this year you can help cheer on our runners. This year's marathon will be held tomorrow, February 16th. The full marathon begins at 9am and ends at 3:15pm; the 10k road race begins at 9:30am and ends at 11am.
CONTRIBUTED BY...
CONTRIBUTED BY KELSEY FEENEY
Many months ago, a good friend of mine mentioned a really cool bar and grill on the sea wall called Infiniti. When some friends of mine decided to go check out some bars on the sea wall for a birthday celebration, I thought it would be a great time to try out Infiniti.
We went to a...
CONTRIBUTED BY KELLY GILLOTTI
We spent New Year’s Eve in Kyoto this year with my sister-in-law and her beau. It was beautiful and busy, but most restaurants were not open. It seems to me that Japanese people take their holidays very seriously. I mean, where are people going to eat? Options limited for dining and drinking, we made the best...
CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER OLSEN
As Valentine’s Day approaches, many thoughts turn to the rich indulgence of chocolate. When my mind does, I think of Fashion Candy. Everything that I have tasted in this store is heavenly. When you walk in, you will see a long display of cheesecakes and hand-made chocolates. There are a few different samples of the cakes...
This post was originally published on February 13, 2010. We're pulling it out of the archives for all of you - especially our newer readers - to enjoy. Take note ladies, and don't despair - your turn for some lovin' comes next month, but in the meantime you can still tell your sweetheart "I love you" in Japanese. Happy...
CONTRIBUTED BY LEVI COLE
One of the things I love about Okinawa are the numerous undiscovered local treasures that are often in plain sight. Kohama’s Honey (小浜のハチミツ), a local honey producer and national honey distributor, is one such local treasure.
From the more common orange blossom or clover honey, to the more exquisite and potent manuka honey, the sweet, natural substance...
CONTRIBUTED BY TRISH KAPRIELIAN
I was cruising around one day in the area between 58 and the 58 bypass and found a pizza place called TOGO pizza. I had already eaten, but the pizza smelled good, so I ordered one. It was delicious! I took a menu and didn’t go back until ... I got a delivery menu for TOGO...
CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER OLSEN
Just down the road from the front gate of Camp Hansen is the beautiful Kin Kannon-do Temple. It is pretty easy to overlook this site because it is set back from the road and surrounded by trees. Even if you visit the temple, the cave entrance to the right is easy to miss as well.
The temple...
CONTRIBUTED BY TRISH KAPRIELIAN
I drove by the Pizza Parco a few times on my way home from work. I happened to really want pizza one night, so I stopped in to see what they had. I expected corn and seafood pizza, but was pleasantly surprised to see all the choices!
I like how they do half pizza orders. Sometimes, I...
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Okinawa Hai and its affiliate sites and products are owned and operated by Okinawa Hai ("Okinawa Hai" or "we"). We have no legal, contractual, or other affiliation, written or verbal, with the US Military, the US Department of Defense (DoD), United States government entities, or any representative thereof. All opinions and ideas expressed here are our own and...
This post was originally published on February 3, 2008. We're pulling it out of the archives for you to enjoy. Satsubun, while not a national holiday, is always celebrated on February 3rd. This gives you some time to go buy some edamame, an ogre mask, and get to throwing!
You may also want to take a look at THIS POST...
The 2014 calendar was available for purchase in November and December of 2013; we have a limited amount of calendars left for on-island delivery. If you'd like to purchase one for yourself, please visit our 2014 Calendar Purchase page for information.
This was February's page:
Izakaya near Torii Station
Photo credit: Pamela Oliveras
www.pamelaoliveras.com
"Okinawa doors
Welcoming to me and you
Enter and be changed" -- Lauren Grimes
Tan-tans...
CONTRIBUTED BY KYLENE O'CONNOR
I experienced my first sensational aroma room scent at my yoga class. During meditation my instructor used it to mist a towel and draped it across my face. I inhaled a fresh, tingling scent that washed over my body, relaxing my muscles and easing my mind. After finding out that the spray was supplied by Aroma Room...
CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER OLSEN
If the Kadena Veterinary Clinic is unavailable, there may be few of us that start to panic when thinking about finding veterinary care out in town. I am one of those people. My dog had broken a tooth and it needed to get checked out immediately. Luckily, I was told of a vet that was right...
CONTRIBUTED BY JOEL SEPPALA
One of the things that most binds those of us who live temporarily on Okinawa, whether for one week or for three years, is the airport. To be specific, that is the Naha International Airport, Okinawa’s primary point of embarkation and debarkation for commercial flights. Whether greeting newcomers, arriving on Okinawa for the first time, or leaving for...
CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER OLSEN
Editor's Note: A reader has commented that a sign at this park names it Nakagusuku Park, rather than Ogido Park.
Introducing the crème de la crème of all playgrounds, Ogido Park. Talk about amazing! Wide open spaces, plentiful parking, as well as THREE playgrounds that will keep your children occupied for hours. The only complaint that I heard...
CONTRIBUTED BY TYLER GRAY
Feel like you need a little time away from the circus of life? Step right up to Tina’s Top Ten.
Desperate for a traditional pedicure, I was recently referred to Tina’s Top Ten by a friend. I was skeptical at first. The nail salon is located in Tina Neal’s home on Camp Courtney, and I was concerned...
The location and dates of the 2015 festival have changed from previous years. This year it will operate from February 28th through March 15th.
CONTRIBUTED BY MEGAN PARKER
Sunflowers make the world a brighter place – and the sunflower festival is just what we needed to brighten up our February weekend! This is a free, fun, easy-to-find gem located so close...
Note: This restaurant closed in its original Chatan location in September 2014, but a reader has informed us that it has since reopened in Mihama. The review below reflects the restaurant before this closure and move; if anything significant has changed about its food or service please feel free to leave a comment here OR write an updated review with new...
CONTRIBUTED BY AMY MADDOCKS
Very recently a small, but fun, art museum opened in Kunigami Village, a short drive from Okuma. While I wouldn’t recommend driving all the way up there just for the museum, it’s well worth an hour of your time if you are in the area. We jotted over during a stay at Okuma, and it was well worth...
CONTRIBUTED BY SHELL BURGER
When we decided to go to Tokyo the first week in December, everyone we talked to and every tour guide we read said to use the Metro System to get around. But that was easier said than done. Even though we were able to grab an English metro guide at the first station, we still had to figure...
This post was originally published on January 9, 2010. We're pulling it out of the archives so that all of you - especially our newer readers - can learn about this traditional Japanese holiday. Seijin-no-hi is celebrated on the second Monday of January, which is January 13th this year.
CONTRIBUTED BY JANNINE MYERS
Happy New Year to all of you! While...
CONTRIBUTED BY LACEY SOILEAU
When my husband first told me he got orders for us to move to Okinawa, he made it his mission to tell every funny, horrific, adventurous story he could about his tour here 15 years ago. He talked about the food, the people, the scuba diving…and the INEXPENSIVE cars! Normally I just smile and nod, but...
CONTRIBUTED BY SHELL BURGER
Wanting to make the most of our first trip to Tokyo, we decided to venture over to the Odaiba area on our last day. According to the research my husband did, the area was supposed to be full of a ton of various things to do.
The Odaiba area has something for everyone. When you first get...
CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER OLSEN
It never ceases to amaze me what things are hiding in plain sight, here in Okinawa. I have driven past this site hundreds of times, not knowing that this was here. In Urasoe, right next to a Pachinko and across the street from Arin Krin is the Makiminato Terabu Cave and Shrine. The legend with this...
CONTRIBUTED BY LEAH MAGID
I was watching the Japanese travel-food-lifestyle channel, Tabi Channel one night and saw a show in which the host devotes himself to finding the finest bars in Japan. It became painfully obvious to me that he hadn’t yet visited Chatan – more specifically, Sammy’s Bar Kiwi on the north end of Araha Beach. Nestled in between...