We've recently asked our writers to submit posts about on-base restaurants. These maybe obvious to most of you, but for those PSCing to Oki, it's fun to know what "home food" they can expect.
CONTRIBUTED BY LEEANN STEVENS
Chili's Grill & Bar: Like no place else!
Chili's is one of our favorite restaurants. Since it’s close to us, we go there...
UPDATE: This storefront is now closed, but lives on in its online form at www.thefabricgirl.com. See the comments below.
CONTRIBUTED BY AMANDA WEBB
Most people know about House of 66 as the go to place for fabric and notions. But what they lack is that colorful fun and modern feel American designer fabrics have. While in the States, I always...
CONTRIBUTED BY SARRA MCMILLAN
Curry is abundant in Japan. Heck, you can buy decently delicious from Family Mart. But sometimes, CoCo’s or convenience store curry experiences lack the class factor that you crave on a night out. Enter Pine Tree Bless Curry Café.
Located on one of the many, trendy backstreets of Shintoshin, the tasteful decour includes comfortable seating, fresh flowers,...
CONTRIBUTED BY LEEANN STEVENS
Today we decided to have dinner at Blue Seal. Blue Seal is well known for its delicious ice cream, but they also have really good dinner options!
My husband and I got burger combo meals (about 550Yen a la carte, 800Yen for combo)). You have the option of getting mild fries or spicy fries (which aren't really...
CONTRIBUTED BY MONETTE EAMES
Today I decided to give a treat to the part of my body that supports me and constantly holds me up—my two feeties! Cocok’s was closed, so my exchange student and I decided to try Sweet Nails. Oh, how sweet that was! I may be going to Sweet Nails from now on.
We had the first appointments...
CONTRIBUTED BY SANDY VAN NIEUWENHUYZEN
I recently began a self-improvement procedure effort to kick off 2011 right. I was very pleased with the salon I found! I wanted to share so you can enjoy a great service during your time on Okinawa. It is a salon called Me Love on Rt 23 east of Cocoks. They use IPL (Intense pulsed...
CONTRIBUTED BY MEGAN PARKER
After a rainy week of being relegated to the indoors, my family was ready for some fun and sun! After a super-fun outing to the Tropical Dream Center at EXPO Park, my little ones were itching to burn off some energy. We were eating a yummy taco rice lunch and perusing the EXPO Park brochure when...
CONTRIBUTED BY MICHELE LEHANE
Dug into a hillside outside of Naha city is one of the islands most somber reminders of the bloody Battle of Okinawa. In 1944, the Japanese Navy Corps of Engineers dug a 450 meter tunnel complex to serve as an underground headquarters. Towards the end of the battle, as things began to get hopeless, the commanding...
CONTRIBUTED BY KARA WALTON
On shore duty a few weeks ago, my husband spotted a restaurant we had to try. Café Gold Hall is a Cave, Bonsai Garden, and Restaurant all in one. The building offers a casual dining experience mixed with that only-one-in-the-museum adventure feel.
Upon entering, we paid an 800 Yen entry fee each and were handed a...
CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH PHILLIPS
After visiting Toguchi Beach yesterday we decided to check out the food choices at the shopping center near the closest Max Value. There were many choices but Marumenya looked promising. They offer ramen and Chinese-style food for a reasonable price.
We sat down and were given glasses and a pitcher of water quickly. We looked through the...
Japanese Holiday & Festival Calendar
The following is a list of Japanese holidays that are celebrated on Okinawa. We have provided links to posts we have on our site, and hope to add more posts on these events as you, our readers, submit articles to us. In the meantime, get to know the national anthem of our host country, known...
Sarah and Amanda both submitted posts on this new Thai restaurant -- since they both loved it, we are sharing both their experiences with you!
CONTRIBUTED BY AMANDA NEMETH AND SARAH PHILLIPS
We take a back route to our vets and one day we noticed a new restaurant had just popped up. After looking closer it was a Thai restaurant which...
COMMENT POLICY ON OKINAWA HAI
Here on Okinawa Hai, we like to think we're having a conversation with all of you. Whether we're discussing our plans for Saturday night, or talking back and forth about what we think of our housing situation, or sharing the joys and pitfalls of living overseas, we love knowing there are as many opinions about...
CONTRIBUTED BY MONETTE EAMES
Back in the states, I remember going to places like Macon, Ga., and Washington D.C. for their Cherry Blossom Festivals. Then there were the other places that also had these beautiful blossoms—San Diego, L.A., Philadelphia, Seattle, New Jersey, and New York. Last year, we were blessed to finally move to Japan, the place where the cherry...
CONTRIBUTED BY MICHELE LEHANE
When the kids and I arrived on the island, the first restaurant my husband took us to was Jack’s Place. His theory was that he wanted to start our stay on Okinawa with a good first impression but not induce too much “culture shock”. I was slightly insulted that he thought I couldn’t handle eating...
Analicia & Sarah submitted posts about the reasons they love local "shoppettes." We've combined them to give you a look at some of the konbini favs...
CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH FORTE AND ANALICIA MCCLELLAN
Konbini is Japanese for convenience store. Around here Family Mart, Lawson (a.k.a. Lawson Station) and Coco are the ubiquitous brands. Throughout Asia you will find Konbini...
The branch of this restaurant in Mihama - American Village - closed in early 2015, but there are several other locations around Okinawa. The review below includes directions for a branch in Okinawa City, but was regarding a now-closed location.
CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH FORTE
I am a modified grazer. Yes, I made that term up, but hear me out. A grazer, by...
CONTRIBUTED BY EMILY FINDERS
My husband and I have always enjoyed visiting unique animal farms/parks. On our first vacation together we visited an alligator farm in Louisiana. On our honeymoon we spent a morning at an Alpaca farm in Cape May, NJ. So shortly after arriving on Okinawa in October, I began searching for a new and different animal...
CONTRIBUTED BY JENNIFER MARTINEZ
The KES school bus drives ahead. Meanwhile we’re stuck at a red light in the Tamagusuku area of Nanjo. My toddler, Justice, is the in backseat bouncing with excitement from our field trip to Okinawa World. Priding myself on a good sense of direction in Okinawa is pointless as this was the farthest we’d ever...
CONTRIBUTED BY COLLEEN FRANCIS
click photo for source
Oh my goodness... this little cafe has definitely become a favorite of ours! It's a tiny little quaint cafe on this old country road. It looks as though the family who owns the house opened up the main floor to make it a tiny bit of heaven. I regret not taking photos of this...
CONTRIBUTED BY MARTHA
Oh you little Brother, that brims with full heart, and having nothing, possesses all, surely you do well to sing! For you have life without labor, and beauty without burden, and riches without care. ... Therefore sing, Brother, having this great wealth, that when you sing you give your riches to all.
(St. Francis of Assisi's legendary sermon...
CONTRIBUTED BY ANNA TIENTER
Have you been looking for other women to share some fun and exercise with? How do you feel about mud, puddles, overgrown weeds and trail? And very small unassuming spiders?If all this sounds like it is right up the alley you call fun, come out and try our Women on Okinawa Trail, WOOT run.
A group of...
CONTRIBUTED BY ANALICIA MCCLELLAN
One of my favorite places to eat on island is at Goen, a Korean BBQ. Ever seen a orange, red, and yellow building with the strobe lights at night? That’s Goen. Really gets your attention, doesn’t it? I first went there with a friend and now go there at least once a month!
It’s yakiniku style...
CONTRIBUTED BY MEGAN HOOSER
A typical Saturday for my husband and me is to jump in the car and drive North. No destination in mind, we just go exploring. Often though, halfway through our drive, someone’s stomach starts grumbling. And as those of you who have ever driven North of Nago know, McDonald’s, A&W and the other familiar fast food...
CONTRIBUTED BY JOY BARNES
At my core, I am an activist. Before my “career” as a stay at home mom, I worked for a feminist non-profit organization, I volunteered for political movements, and I’ve certainly done my share of letter writing campaigns. However, when I moved to Okinawa, I was worried about where I would find a place to...
CONTRIBUTED BY ANALICIA MCCLELLAN
I'm sure you’ve seen a sign for Jimmy’s somewhere on the island, but if you are like me you may never have gone in! I live five minutes down the road from one and it took me a year to walk in their doors. But now I go every week.
I love their fresh baked bread --...
CONTRIBUTED BY MEGAN H.
Sooner or later, while living here on Okinawa, you will have to make phone calls into the DSN system. Basically, there are local Okinawan numbers and there are DSN numbers, and the DSN numbers are like a private phone network that you either need to be a member of (ie, have a base phone line)...
CONTIBUTED BY SARAH FORTE
Part I of this post regarding the Dragon Hill Lodge in Seoul, Korea can be found HERE.
Mention a trip to Tokyo from Okinawa and one of the first questions may be “Are you staying at the New Sanno?” Lots of us stationed on the Rock have heard of this hotel, but in case you haven’t...
CONTRIBUTED BY ANALICIA MCCLELLAN
A&W is a rare commodity in the States now. Growing up in Texas and California, I think I’d eaten there once. I mostly knew the name for their root beer. But over here in Okinawa, they are everywhere!
My kids love their food and especially love their ice cream! It was the first place we tried waffle...
CONTRIBUTED BY ANNA TIENTER
Did anyone notice the huge group of 25,000 people hanging out around the Asahibashi Park a few Sundays ago? It was the 26th annual Naha marathon.
A little history: This “Festival of Sun, Ocean and Joggers” started in 1985 as a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the sister city bond between Naha and Honolulu.
This is the...