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...
Working hard, making salt! #Shisa #Okinawa #OkinawaHai #DailyOki #Gala #Salt #Factory #Yomitan #Japan
A photo posted by Okinawa Hai (@okinawa_hai) on Aug 10, 2016 at 3:46pm PDT
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Taking a jump from the Miyagi island bridge
CONTRIBUTED BY CAPTAIN IAN
WARNING: Don’t jump if you don’t want to! Peer pressure is only good in times of Love and Safety. If you are above the age of 13, don’t give into peer pressure! And if you are one of those bullies who enjoy pressuring people because you think it makes you...
Dai Sekirinazan Park
CONTRIBUTED BY DEJAILA SIMMS
Okinawa Quasi-National Park Dai sekirinazan lies at the north end of Okinawa, near Cape Hedo. The park goes through a subtropical forest called Yanbaru, which literally means “Mountains and Fields”. Dai sekirinazan is, ‘A memorable visit to the earth of 200 million years ago’.
The park consists of four intertwined trails, the Wonder of Rocks trail, the Churaumi...
Editor's Note: Mac House Jeans was originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on April 15, 2009; you can read a PDF copy of that original review HERE. The post below is an updated take on this attraction, published August 22, 2016.
CONTRIBUTED BY LOUISE DUPUY
Mac House is a chain of stores offering clothing and lifestyle goods for men, women, and children. Here are...
SassyQuack #Okinawa #OkinawaHai #DailyOki #GetOutside #Garden #Japan #Nature
A photo posted by Okinawa Hai (@okinawa_hai) on Aug 3, 2016 at 5:32pm PDT
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Doka Doka Cafe & Pottery Studio
CONTRIBUTED BY CASEY ANNIS
Pure peacefulness and serenity await you at this beautiful café in Onna village. I met a friend there for the first time the other day and was taken aback by the view as I walked into the café.
The café upstairs has a pottery store as well. It is a...
Stationed in Korea & Japan: A Comparison
Sometimes, living abroad puts the wanderlust in our hearts, and when the opportunity to move from one OCONUS duty station to another is too tempting to pass up. This post was originally published on our Overseas Yes network site, Korea Ye, and is being shared here for those of you who are considering...
LAWSON STATION. CONTRIBUTED BY LOUISE DUPUY
Lawson Station is a well-known chain of convenience stores across Japan. Ever visited one? If not, you’re missing out.
History
Lawson Station actually originated in Ohio, in 1939. It was started by J. J. Lawson, who used to sell fresh milk (hence the logo; a white milk can against a blue background). Due to its success,...
GOOD DAY COFFEE. CONTRIBUTED BY DONNA MACK
This was a great discovery! Most Fridays my friend and I set out to find a new-to-us cafe and we usually never end up where we decided ahead of time; instead, we talk and lose track and get lost and stumble upon a great find. This past week it was Good Day Coffee....
Bali Noon Bali Moon
CONTRIBUTED BY ALLI M.
If you have ever to been to Bali, you will know the local cuisine is delicious! The dishes are similar to other southeast Asian foods, with selections of fried rice and curry, but using Balinese spices.
click photo to enlarge menu
Bali Noon Bali Moon offers a small selection of Balinese cuisine in a comfortable...
Editor's Note: Round 1 Entertainment Center was originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on June 12, 2009; you can read a PDF copy of that original review HERE. The post below is an updated take on this attraction, published August 9, 2016.
CONTRIBUTED BY LOUISE DUPUY
Round 1 is a 24-hour amusement place that offers bowling, arcades, sports, karaoke, food and drinks. It has...
The 2016 calendar was available for purchase from November 2015 through March 2016. This was our final year creating and publishing this wall calendar; many thanks to all who contributed photos and haikus over the past few years, and to those of you who purchased these calendars to display in your homes.
This photo on August's page was taken at the 10,000 Eisa Festival.
Photo...
H & S Burger"Healthy and Smile Burger", Onna
CONTRIBUTED BY "MAGNUS verMASTERNAK"
I ran out of propane on the 4th of July, so I rolled down the street for some soba. Great soba (recorded in this article by my wife on Okinawa Hai), but not really American Independence Day food. I was jonesing, On the 5th of July, I decided to go to H & S...
CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.
August is here and we have a list of local events for the month. Events on the island are constantly being created and changed, so please make sure to use the contact info provided on each event to verify information. If you know of an additional event that you’d like to share with our readers, please...
Nagumagai Okinawa Style Restaurant in Nago BY VICTORIA
My husband, mom, and I were traveling back from the aquarium on 58. It was dinner time so we were looking for somewhere to eat. My husband pulled into Nagumagai Restaurant. It smelled and looked really good! Unfortunately, we didn't eat there that night because of its yen only. Although, we knew...
CONTRIBUTED BY EMILY ALTIMARI
Although it sounds like a cheesy Vegas bar, Mermaid’s Grotto, located west of Onna Village and south of Cape Manzamo, boasts the best snorkeling I’ve ever experienced, on and off Okinawa. An unmarked drive (shout out Google Maps for getting us there) through sunflower fields off Highway 58 leads to a dead end likely lined with...
Editor's Note: This post was originally published in 2015, but we received another post with some valuable information that we felt should be added. We're including both of these contributors' writing in this post. And if you want another take on this historical landmark, check out our first post on Nakijin Castle from 2009.
CONTRIBUTED BY HOLLY BATES, September 16, 2015
It...
I know everyone's Instagrams are going crazy about the recent sunsets, but seriously...they've been amazing. Here's an unedited one as proof! #Okinawa #OkinawaHai #Sunset #IslandLife #Sky #DailyOki #Japan #GetOutside
A photo posted by Okinawa Hai (@okinawa_hai) on Jul 6, 2016 at 5:23pm PDT
Follow us on Instagram: @Okinawa_Hai
CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.
I have to tell you first off that this is a review of a company who asked me to do a write up in exchange for a free tour. All opinions are my own. Secondly... had I discovered this company on my own, I’d still be writing a review on it. That’s gotta tell you something.
A representative...
CONTRIBUTED BY KIRKLAND MARTIN
There are many battle sites you can visit on Okinawa, which aids in understanding the tragedy and loss of human lives here. I learned of a site that is relatively unknown, is not on any tours, and is off the beaten path.
Although I had been stationed here several times, I never took the time to study...
CONTRIBUTED BY JASON ANNIS
A brand new rock climbing gym opened up on June 5th, 2016 in Ginowan that is just a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute drive from the Camp Foster commissary gate.
Inside you will find kids play area, restrooms, and a changing room. Not only does this place have a great climbing wall, but there are pull up...
CONTRIBUTED BY LOUISE DUPUY
Kokusai Dori (street) is a hugely popular tourist spot located in Naha, Okinawa’s capital city. The name Kokusai Dori translates to “international road”. It’s one of the best-known tourist spots, and though it is very much aimed at foreign visitors, it’s still an interesting visit that has more to offer than just shops.
Shopping
Obviously, this is Kokusai...
Thanks to #OkiLife for providing us some stickers to giveaway to our followers! We have 3 Oki Life Turtles (Large) to share with you, but first you have to share something with us! Each week we will give away one sticker! Simply post a photo according to the weekly theme with #OkiHaiOkiLife.
Themes will be announced on Wednesday. Winners will...
CONTRIBUTED BY CAPTAIN IAN
This place is off the hook awesome! And by awesome, I really mean emotionally tragic. I visited Army Depo #20 with my wife and four of her colleagues (for OPSEC sake, these are real people but I haven't used their real names). Sarah, a girl my wife works with turns out to be a huge history buff, so...
We will be publishing base reviews of all US Military Installations on Okinawa over the next few months. Many thanks to Anthony for taking on this time-intensive and incredibly helpful series for our readers!
CONTRIBUTED BY ANTHONY CAMINA
White Beach, Uruma City
Overview
White Beach is a United States Naval Facility located off the Katsuren peninsula, which is surrounded by brilliant blue teal water...
Editor's Note: The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium was originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on March 11, 2007, and May 2, 2008; you can read a PDF copy of that original review HERE. The post below is an updated take on this attraction, published on July 14, 2016.
CONTRIBUTED BY MARISSA MATSUZAKI
We may speak different languages, but the name'Nemo' is universal. I found this to be...
CONTRIBUTED BY LOUISE DUPUY
Aeon is a chain of malls found throughout Japan and Asia. They are the biggest retail operator on the continent. On Okinawa, they are spread throughout the prefecture, so you’re likely near one wherever you are! Never been? Here’s a little guide for when you do!
Malls
The best known on the island is the brand new mall on...
CONTRIBUTED BY DONNA MACK
I suspect anyone (ladies) who moves to Okinawa knows about this nail salon. I had heard such great things about the pedicures even seen some of the artwork walking around base. The location is a perfect spot to relax. The view is amazing, who wouldn’t want a spa day looking at the water?
I could not wait to give...
CONTRIBUTED BY KIRKLAND MARTIN
In pre-war Okinawa, there was a narrow rail system stretching from Naha north to Kadena, south to Itoman, and east to Yonabaru that carried freight and passengers to and fro. There are some pictures of the old rail system in the Japan Update issue dated 05/18/2015. It was completely destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa and...