CONTRIBUTED BY STEPHANIE
A friend introduced me to Sai Nam. She spoke of an amazing teriyaki chicken wrapped up in a tortilla, with yummy sauces on it. She also spoke of a low price, which really interested me. So we took a trip to American Village.
We went shopping at Village House, which I am absolutely in love with. Famished,...
CONTRIBUTED BY DEANNA HAXTON
My husband was craving pizza and I just couldn't justify another night of eating on base when we are still so new to the island. The need to explore was just too great and if I couldn't get him to go out any try new and exciting food I could at least get him to...
CONTRIBUTED BY MEGAN PARKER
One of my very favorite Japanese foods is yakisoba. For one, it’s just a fun word to say. Yakisoba, yakisoba, yakisoba! Two, what’s not to love about it? It’s quick, easy, and tasty. Choose your favorite meat, some yummy, fresh veggies, add some noodles and you’re good to go! It’s also versatile in that, if you...
Living overseas has its challenges, and a commonly agreed upon one is finding that perfect place to live. To help those of us who are curious about the different options for living on Okinawa, readers have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about on-base housing. If you live in an on-base house that has not yet been...
CONTRIBUTED BY JACKIE LEWIS
Living in Okinawa has afforded us many unique experiences. But after nearly three years in one place, we began to notice that, with respect to Okinawan food, we had been-there-done-that. We were visiting our favorite places repeatedly, and we had become 'regulars' at one or two restaurants in particular. So the question of where to go...
Reader, Kara, wrote asking for help for her hair:
I am an African American woman in desperate need of a black hair dresser. I have made two separate appointments with black hairdressers at the Kadena BX beauty shop, and both appointments were canceled at the last minute. Ugh! So I need help for salons, stylists and which services are offered...
CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH FORTE
Hello! Welcome to my book club! Sit down and have some coffee cake! (I’ve never been to a real book club meeting. Can you tell?) I know you all love to read; otherwise you wouldn’t have come to this (imaginary) meeting. So, we’re here in Okinawa (or will soon be, or wish we still were, or...
CONTRIBUTED BY COLLEEN FRANCIS
I have been dreaming of Chipotle’s since we moved here. Then just the other day I saw an ad for “Tortilla Factory." I was super stoked to arrive today with my kids in tow. We were greeted by the aroma of sassy Mexican food and super friendly staff. The owner/manager is such a nice man; he...
Where To Worship
When you move there's a lot to consider: where to live, where to send your kids to school, what car to buy. For many of us, where to worship is another one of those great unknowns. Fortunately there are many churches and chapels on Okinawa; while not a complete listing of all churches, temples, or houses of...
CONTRIBUTED BY JOY BARNES
Although I do enjoy a good bowl of soba soup, a plate of taco rice, and yes, even some goya champuru, there is a restaurant in Ishikawa that brings Okinawan food to a whole new level of delicious. Sakae Ryouriten or “Seasonal Foods of Okinawa” uses traditional Okinawan ingredients to create flavorful dishes completely new to...
CONTRIBUTED BY KARA WALTON
Since our first couples massage on our honeymoon two years ago, my husband and I have made any excuse to repeat the experience. As our two year anniversary and a short deployment approached, my husband suggested an early celebration with our favorite relaxing pastime.
After scouring the internet for Okinawan masseuses, I narrowed the choices to a few...
We were recently invited to enjoy a complimentary dinner and show at The Orchid. Sarah & Tara enjoyed the evening with their families, but the opinions are all ours.
CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH FORTE
When you think of traditional Okinawa what comes to mind? Maybe it’s Eisa dancers, sanshin players and taiko drummers pounding out their rhythms on a late Obon night....
Many of you ordered the 2011 Okinawa Hai Calendar for yourself and friends and family. But for those who were not so lucky, we wanted to give you the chance to see the photographs and stories that currently grace the our kitchen walls!
We'll feature these throughout this year, and as we get closer to the end of the summer,...
CONTRIBUTED BY KARA WALTON
Most of us have probably smelled Four Seasons from the ferris wheel and movie theater, and some of us have been tempted enough to eat there. The latter will likely agree that this restaurant is a fun experience, romantic but child friendly setting, and plenty of food! Four Seasons in a teppanyaki restaurant that has many...
CONTRIBUTED BY MONETTE EAMES
Every morning, if you’re driving on the 36 from or to Expressway exit 5, you may find lots of Japanese construction workers in their baggy pants trickling in and out of a building with a huge yellow sign with the word Uema.
Sometimes they emerge with a white bowl stuffing their mouths with soba or tempura. Sometimes...
CONTRIBUTED BY LISA
Italian restaurants are by no means hard to find on Okinawa. Everything from lasagna to homemade cannolis are available both on- and off-base. Trattoria d'Italia is located in American Village, just to the right of Tony Roma's. Since this little eatery is somewhat hidden beneath the stairs and sandwiched between the movie theatre and Tony Roma's, it's...
CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH BANCROFT
Don’t you just love it when you stumble upon a hidden gem? This happened to my husband and I when we journeyed up to Nago to see some castle ruins. We thought we were headed in the right direction, but alas, we were not. Not wanting to give up, we continued on our way just to...
CONTRIBUTED BY ANNA BOOM
Needles, needles and more needles.
Acupuncture, oh my!
Recently, my running friend mentioned acupuncture helped her knee pain. Then another friend tried it for her glute/hamstring pain, another for plantar fascitis. And then an article in one of my favorite magazines popped up on acupuncture.
Like many of you, I have heard of acupuncture and known it is all...
CONTRIBUTED BY STEVE SINGER
Like FIRE? If you're going to Nago, enjoy nature, or just want to get off the radar, you may want to check out a wood-fire ceramic kiln firing in Nago. INTENSE is the only way to describe it. The workshop is owned by an ex-Navy corpsman, Nicholas Centala, who originally built the kiln for a NPO...
CONTRIBUTED BY SARRA MCMILLAN
I love shoes. Who’s with me? Before coming to Japan, I agonized over the shoe situation that would await me; I’d be in a county filled with the most adorable footwear, none of which would ever adorn my (average-sized, thank-you very much!) feet. Luckily, upon arriving, my obsessive worrying manifested itself into a passionate mission to...
CONTRIBUTED BY LEAH MAGID
At the ripe old age of 40, I finally started carrying a purse. My previous reasoning for just jamming a wallet in my pocket (causing a need to carefully plan clothing assembly each day) was that I would just lose a purse. It had happened before, back in my early twenties, when I was concerned about...
CONTRIBUTED BY KIMBERLY TRIGNANO
I am a bit of a gyoza connoisseur. Personally, I prefer Me Kara Uroko’s pan fried version, while my husband likes the deep fried deliciousness at Kitakaisen. So when I saw an advertisement for Osaka Ohsho (The Chinese Restaurant), in which they claimed to have The Most Famous Gyoza in Japan, I knew it needed to...
Recently, we received an email from Cindy asking for help regarding gluten-free options on Oki. We don't have a post specifically about this, so thought we'd bring the question to all of our readers for help.
Hello. My name is Cindy. My husband and I were both Marines stationed on Okinawa 2001-2004. Our first son was born there - we...
CONTRIBUTED BY LISA WILLIAMS
I have to say when I arrived on Island in November 2010, I was a little overwhelmed with locating food I would like and my five (pronounced “go” in Japanese) year old would actually eat. I use Okinawahai.com religiously to locate everything.
Tonight, however, I was on a mission for good shrimp tempura and accidentally ran...
CONTRIBUTED BY MICHELLE D.
Among the many marine activities you can experience in Okinawa, whale watching is probably one of the easiest and most rewarding. The start of the new year heralds the return of humpback whales (ザトウクジラ) to Okinawa, the Philippines, and Hawaii when these great mammals migrate south from the Arctic to mate and give birth to new...
CONTRIBUTED BY THERESA COCKHILL
One of the things I love about Okinawa is its complete randomness. Most things are unexpected, and everyday can literally be an adventure to the American traveler. One of my most favorite places is Gala in Yomitan, and if you haven’t been there then you do not know what you are missing! This story however is...
Many of you ordered the 2011 Okinawa Hai Calendar for yourself and friends and family. But for those who were not so lucky, we wanted to give you the chance to see the photographs and stories that currently grace our kitchen walls!
We'll feature these throughout this year, and as we get closer to the end of the summer, we'll...
CONTRIBUTED BY SARRA MCMILLAN
Cafe 1-or-8 has been my Japanese home away from home since I arrived in Okinawa one year ago. This two-story building features a delicious menu, helpful wait-staff, and quirky, constantly-changing décor. The stairs that lead up to a quiet study area are lined with books (some English, but mostly Japanese). There is a room of desks...
CONTRIBUTED BY JULIE BROWN AND JENNIFER STARCHER
Let me just start by saying, "Okinawans really know how to build a park."
Not long ago, I decided to take my daughter to Yaeshima Park, also known as Civic Center Park. I was amazed as I entered the park. It is broken into different play areas and is perfect for the child who...
Though we spend most of our "post time" encouraging you to get up and off base to explore and enjoy Okinawa, we are currently trying to add some posts about on-base establishments for newbies or those preparing to PCS soon to Oki.
CONTRIBUTED BY LEEANN STEVENS
Banyan Tree on Kadena Airbase is a great place to eat! We started eating...