Bombay Tailors
CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.
Awhile back, my husband had a shirt made at Bombay Tailors, an iconic shop on “Gate 2 Street” just outside of Kadena Air Base (you guessed it, Gate 2). Like most of us, shirts ‘off the rack’ just don’t fit him quite right, so we were curious how much we would like a custom shirt....
Editor's Note: The Nakagusuku Castle Ruins were originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on December 12, 2008; you can read a PDF copy of that original review HERE. The post below is an updated take on this attraction, published May 16, 2016.
CONTRIBUTED BY LOUISE DUPUY
Who doesn’t love a good castle? Okinawa has a long, rich history, and more than a few UNESCO world heritage...
Yakiniku Time! #Okinawa #Kokusai #Naha #Yakiniku #Meat #Carnivore #DailyOki #Japan #KoreanBBQ
A photo posted by Okinawa Hai (@okinawa_hai) on Apr 21, 2016 at 3:03pm PDT
Follow us on Instagram: @Okinawa_Hai
Onna Station Market & Onna Village Culture and Information Center
CONTRIBUTED BY JENNIFER GILES
The Onna Village Culture and Information Center and Onna Station Nakayukui Market are easy to find. It looks like a big convention center on Hwy 58, just north of the Renaissance Hotel and Resort.
This little outdoor/indoor roadside market has a small, user-friendly sampling of everything Okinawa is...
Vintage Yard Antiques
CONTRIBUTED BY JASON ANNIS
There is something about the way things were made many years ago that has a timeless allure. If you are looking for a special gift or a rare knick-knack then be sure to stop by Vintage Yard near Marine Corps Air Station Futenma’s main gate off highway 58. The building was once military housing...
Mihama American Village
CONTRIBUTED BY LOUISE DUPUY
American Village is a hugely popular tourist attraction. A short drive off Highway 58, between Camp Foster and Kadena Air Base, and across from Camp Lester, it’s a must-visit for locals and tourists alike. But what does it have to offer? Rather a lot, as you’re about to discover.
Shopping
Who doesn't love to shop? There’s...
This past weekend's gorgeous day at Tomigusuku Ruins! #Tamagusuku #Castle #Ruins #Archaeology #History #GoldenWeek #Okinawa #OkinawaHai #Japan
A photo posted by Okinawa Hai (@okinawa_hai) on May 2, 2016 at 3:56am PDT
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Maeda Breeze Café
CONTRIBUTED BY JENNIFER GILES
The best carrot cake in Okinawa can be found just south of Onna. The carrot cake is so popular they offer whole cakes made to order. A slice of this cake, perfectly balanced with a cup of coffee, is unexpectedly exceptional.
Maeda Breeze Café is a contemporary Euro-style café along route 6 between Cape Zanpa...
Editor's Note: Kodomo-no-hi Children's Day was originally published on May 29, 2009; we're pulling it out of the archives for those of you who want to learn more about the flags you've been seeing all over Okinawa the past few weeks.
CONTRIBUTED BY STACI HAWLEY
If you see those lovely carp flying in the breeze, no doubt it's swimming closer to...
Editor's Note: Naha Dragon Boat Races was originally published on September 16, 2012; we're pulling it from the archives for those of you who are interested in cheering on the competitors at tomorrow's races!
CONTRIBUTED BY KATRINA RAYMOND, photos by Zabrina Songui
Dragon Boat Men
History:
“Hari” boat racing or Dragon Boat Racing, is held during the Japanese holiday “Golden week” (April 29-May 5)...
Editor's Note: Makeman was originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on October 14, 2009; you can read a PDF copy of that original review HERE. The post below is an updated take on this attraction, published May 3, 2016.
CONTRIBUTED BY LOUISE DUPUY
Makeman is a Japanese chain of home and DIY stores, easily recognisable from its monkey logo. The bigger stores with LCD screens...
CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.
Here you’ll find a list of local events for the month of May. 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 add it...
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 May's page was taken at the Kijagawa River.
Photo Credit: Candace...
Editor's Note: In July 2015 we were informed that Toyo hanten had closed. In April 2016 we received word that it has reopened in a new location. The photos & hours/location info below were sent in by J. Ferguson in April 2016. The written post below refers to the old location and food; please leave a comment if you've...
This post was originally published on April 25, 2011. We're pulling it out of the archives for all of you - especially our newer readers - to learn about the importance of this holiday for our Okinawan and Japanese hosts. It is celebrated annually on April 29th, which is this Friday.
CONTRIBUTED BY SARRA MCMILLAN
Working in an Okinawan high school,...
CONTRIBUTED BY ROB DOGGETT
After years of growing up watching Bruce Lee movies, like every kid, I always wanted to learn how to do what he did. Later, I learned that Bruce Lee studied Wing Chun (Ving Tsun) Kung Fu and was a student of Ip Man (Yip Man). This instantly began my search to find an authentic Wing Chun...
Editor's Note: was originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on August 28, 2008; you can read a PDF copy of that original review HERE. The post below is an updated take on this attraction, published April 25, 2016.
CONTRIBUTED BY LOUISE DUPUY
Arin Krin is like a Tardis (Doctor Who fans know where I’m going with this). Small on the outside (and with...
Thanks to Keith Robbins of Silver Fo Photography taken at the Fukushen Gardens in Naha - this is a runner up for our 2016 Calendar. Thanks for sharing! #Okinawa #OkinawaHai #DailyOki #Nature #GetOutside #Explore #BlueSkies #Japan #Flowers #Garden
A photo posted by Okinawa Hai (@okinawa_hai) on Apr 17, 2016 at 3:02pm PDT
Learn more about this urban gem here on Okinawa...
CONTRIBUTED BY JENNIFER GILES
Maeda is famous for its beach and snorkeling and diving, but there is an overlooked beautiful coastal jogging trail that begins at Maeda Point. My husband and I live in Onna Village by Point Maeda and came across the trail while scouting out the snorkeling spots. We nicknamed it the “Narnia” trail because it is full of...
The 2016 festival will run from Saturday, April 23 - Thursday, May 5, 2016. This post was originally published on May 2, 2008.
CONTRIBUTED BY MARISA
If you have dreams of dancing while being surrounded by thousands of beautiful lilies or maybe you’re just looking for a nice family outing, the Lily Festival (Yuri Matsuri) is the place to go. The...
Editor's Note: Gakiya's Obi & Kimono Shop was originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on march 19, 2010; you can read a PDF copy of that original review HERE. The post below is an updated take on this attraction, published April 20, 2016.
CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.
I recently had a friend introduce me to Rieko Gakiya - owner of Gakiya’s Kimono’s & Obi’s....
Editor's Note: Uniqlo was originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on August 14, 2009; you can read a PDF copy of that original review HERE. The post below is an updated take on this attraction, published April 18, 2016.
CONTRIBUTED BY LOUISE DUPUY
Uniqlo is an internationally recognized Japanese clothing brand. With several locations on Okinawa, there’s no excuse not to give it a look!
Uniqlo...
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
Torii Station, Yomitan
Overview
Torii Station is a United States Army Garrison located off the Yomitan peninsula which is surrounded by brilliant blue teal water and...
CONTRIBUTED BY PEGGY S.
Since we are in Okinawa Japan, we want to take an advantage of our geographical location and visit surrounding countries. We decided to explore China and see what it had to offer.
Besides many popular cities such as Beijing and Xian, we wanted to explore other destinations in China for one week. Our top choice was Zhangjiajie...
Editor's Note: Fukushen Garden was originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on August 14, 2009; you can read a PDF copy of that original review HERE. The post below is an updated take on this attraction, published April 11, 2016.
CONTRIBUTED BY LOUISE DUPUY
Fukushen Gardens is a traditional Chinese garden located in the Kumemura area of Naha. Kumemura was synonymous with Chinese culture for centuries,...
Selfie Sunsets #Okinawa #IslandLife #CapeZampa #Lighthouse #Yomitan #Sunset #GetOutside #OkinawaHai #DailyOki #Japan
A photo posted by Okinawa Hai (@okinawa_hai) on Mar 28, 2016 at 3:00pm PDT
Follow us on Instagram: @Okinawa_Hai
CONTRIBUTED BY CASEY ANNIS
Spa Day!
On my birthday we decided to try out a sea water spa that I heard about from one of my friends. Sadly it is a bit of a drive for us, or else I would always be there! There is a nice beach to the right of the building, but you aren’t allowed to walk in and...
CONTRIBUTED BY RACHEL NEWMAN
Interested in taking a trip to mainland Japan? Rachel's given us a bunch of tips & tricks for making the most of your trip!
click photo for source
Osaka
Arrival in Osaka: When you get to Osaka you will arrive in (I believe) terminal 2. Go outside and take the bus (only one bus available). This bus will take you...
CONTRIBUTED BY LOUISE DUPUY
The Marine Gift shop is a short walk from Camp Foster’s movie theatre. Not sure what a Marine gift shop stocks? Allow me to help you out!
So what do they sell? An amazing array. You’ll find home decor, clothing, jewelry, art, children’s toys, bags, gifts, and Marine-themed items. The best part? It’s all sourced from countries...
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 April's page was taken at the Naha Fish Market.
Photo...