Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Japan - Okinawa June Holiday 16-20June24 (Umikaji Terrace, Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters, SHIMAUTA LIVE JURI OKINAWAN LIVE IZAKAYA, Busena Beach, Kouri Island, America Town, Okinawa World and Gyokusen-do Cave, Makashi Public Market, Tomari Iyumachi Fish Market, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium)

Okinawa - To Do
Okinawa - To Eat

Okinawa - To Do
SIN OKA SIN - Jetstar:SGD1920.20 (2Adult 2Kids)
Toocool Car rental SUV ¥25,000 with full coverage insurance + ¥5,000. Total fuel used for entire Journey about ¥6,000
(They were the few rental companies who allowed for an early car return. Due to the flight departure time. Some of the other rentals only opened at 9 or 10 am.)

SIN-OKA JETSTAR
0200am - 0810am
Day1 Arrival 16Jun24
Umikaji Terrace Opens 10am
Senaga Island’s white-washed buildings are evocative of a Mediterranean town, and are filled with a diverse array of cafes, restaurants, and boutiques. A short 10min drive from the airport and perfect to hang out in the morning whilst waiting for a usual later check-in at 3pm.


Great place to watch arrivals and departures of the aircraft. We were lucky too as it was a tidal low and could explore the sea life in the area whilst waiting for the eateries to open at about 10-11am. The Mediterranean town looks a worse for wear but still holds a certain beach side charm.
Oyaji no Maguro
(Umikaji Terrace)
 *Recommended to try their Tuna on bone, limited serving per day at ¥2,000 a piece.*
Fun, interactive and great with their local raw egg on rice, and Umibudo – the “sea grapes” is a type of edible seaweed that only grows in the warm waters of Okinawa. It looks like a string of grapes and taste a bit salty like the ocean.
Great view, a small cozy environment with very limited seating.They have a Wasabi oil (retails at ¥800) which goes well with the Tuna. Unique eating experience and highly recommended.

 Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters
(10min drive/5.2km away from Terrace)
Entry ¥1000 for adults ¥700 for kids aged 6-14

Shikuwasa (Their local citrus for drinks or in food which can be found everywhere. It's a unique citrus flavor akin to the mandarin orange.)
We experienced the history walking through meters of underground tunnels, once critical in the battle for Okinawa. Listen to and read one of the last messages sent from this underground headquarters and where many had taken their lives after.

*Room where the General sent the last message and took his own life there after.*
The walking routes are easy and all dug out with simple pickaxes. A monumental historical site visit that's synonymous with Okinawa and World War 2. Cater about 2hrs for a leisurely exploration of the place.

SHIMAUTA LIVE JURI OKINAWAN LIVE IZAKAYA
Try many of the classic Okinawan food and enjoy live music that's synonymous with Okinawa.
Reservations required for 19:20hrs show Shimauta Live Juri 098-861-0722 (TO CALL)
With limited spoken English language, reservations maybe a little challenging. Most places provide this classic experience but are mostly limited to Fri and Sat night performances only.

So Depending on your day of arrival day, sometimes choices maybe limited. There are other locations to try but this was one of the known ones highlighted online. Booking are still recommended for your show sitting.

Some of the Okinawan Eats than you can get at all Izakayas.
*Mozuku – slimy strands of brown seaweed. It doesn’t sound appetizing but it is actually really
tasty and is a superfood. It is either marinated in
Japanese vinegar or used in mozuku tempura. *
Jimami Tofu – the tofu-like dish starts with soaking raw peanuts in water, then straining the liquid to pan, heating it and thickening it with sweet potato starch. After it is cooled, it is served with sweeten soy sauce. The “tofu” is creamy and has a springy texture.
Tofuyu – shima tofu is fermented with red yeast, rice malt and awamori, which is why it tastes very boozy. Use a toothpick and slice off a very piece of tofu; the flavour is very intense.*
*Amori - Okinawa spirit*
Okinawan pork and noodles.
¥8760 total for food and a small cover charge per pax for the performance.
Food was pretty alright but the whole experience and atmosphere was rather unique and worth to experience whilst in Okinawa.
Click here for ABBA location of Shimauta Live Juri Okinawan Live Izakaya
 
 A short walk along Kokusai-dori
*Shisa  is a traditional Ryukyuan cultural artifact and decoration derived from Chinese guardian lions, often seen in similar pairs, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog, from Okinawan mythology. Shisa are wards, believed to protect from some evils.*
A long stretch of shops to look at as well as plenty of eating options and souvenir snack shopping from Okashigoten chain branch. These chain of shops can be found spread out along the island.
Click here for ABBA location of Kokusai-dori

Day2 17Jun24
Busena Marine Park Underwater Observatory closed!!
So we went to Busena Beach for a swim
Opens 9am-5pm
Pending weather there is the option of a Glass bottom boat 2100Yen/1050Yen
The underwater observatory is 1050Yen for adults and kids 530Yen
*Busena Marine Park Underwater Observatory seen in the background*
The natural Underwater Observatory was the original plan but due to a public holiday and weather conditions, the Glass bottom boat ride and aquarium were not open. So it turned out to be a beach morning exploring the crystal clear waters at Busena Beach.
Stay within the safe swimming restricted zone as Okinawa waters hold many sea creatures which are dangerous.

It was a nice swim however a heavy entry fee for non-guests, at ¥5,500per adult to enter. Children weren't charged. Well since we were all the way there and there were convenient shower facilities to wash up before carrying on. The original plan was to swim around Kouri Island but on hindsight, at least this place had a safe demarcated area as well as shower facilities. Still a great experience overall in Okinawan waters.
Click here for ABBA location of Busena Marine Park Underwater Observatory and beach

Kouri Island
Shirasa Shokudo // 176 Kouri, Nakijin-son しらさ食堂(Kouri Island)
Known for their local Uni.
 ¥4,800 for their iconic bowl

A small seaside restaurant which serves up some of the most decadent rice bowls on the island. Their bowls are topped with mounds of creamy sea urchin (uni) and freshly harvested sea-grapes, dishes which would likely cost three times as much in mainland Japan. Unlike the fresh uni found in the north, Okinawan uni showcases a slightly spicy and fruity aroma derived from the subtropical waters of the south.

Highly recommended for the view and the eats. A certain magic of the environment with the 2km long Kouri Bridge in the background.
Click here for Shirasa Shokudo

Honor System Watermelon at ¥500 (Kouri Island and various places)
Get a watermelon presumably from the farmers in the area. A unique system honor system and enjoy a sweet watermelon after your meal.

Kouri Shrimp (Kouri Island)
The most beloved restaurants on Kouri Island, popular among both locals and tourists are the Kouri Shrimp. Picturesque but the place was packed! A 40min wait before our order so we went to checkout the Heart Rock before returning for our order.
Ordered:
Garlic Butter Shrimp and beef at ¥2340

*Its nice. Not mind blowing. Flavors are there and the beef is very gamey*

Love Rock (Kouri Island)
The Love Rock on Kouri Island is a popular attraction in Okinawa, Japan, known for its heart-shaped rock formation. This natural landmark symbolizes love and is a favorite spot for couples and tourists seeking picturesque views and romantic photo opportunities.

Kouri Ocean Tower
(Shell museum and great lookout point)

¥2500 entry 2A1C.
For the view of the Kouri bridge as well as the impressive shell museum. A fun exploration before heading to America Town for a dinner. It was a little treat with the ride up in a driver-less cart up and down.


Great views from the top of the township and the iconic Kouri Bridge. There's both the option of indoor and outdoor viewing.

America Town
America Town in Okinawa, also known as American Village, is a vibrant entertainment and shopping district. It features a mix of American and Japanese culture, with numerous shops, restaurants, cafes, and a large Ferris wheel. Loads of photo spots and its really like a Disney Land kind of experience but free to explore all the uniquely designed nooks and carnies.
Jumbo Steak Han's
When in Rome. A cowboy sized steak. Why not. ¥10,065 for a party of four. It's alright. Not the best steak house that money can buy. The beef tongue was interesting and their house sauce was a hit with the kids.
Click here for ABBA location of Jumbo Steak Han's

Blue Seal
(Chain that's found pretty much everywhere)

Blue Seal is a well-known ice cream brand in Okinawa, originally founded in the United States. Famous for its wide variety of unique and tropical flavors, Blue Seal has become a beloved treat among locals and tourists. The brand's colorful shops and distinctive flavors, such as Okinawan salt cookies and sweet potato, offer a delightful taste of Okinawa.

A must have and enjoyed thoroughly.

Day3 18Jun24
Okinawa World and Gyokusen-do Cave
9:00 to 17:30 ¥6000 for 2A1C chargeable
Okinawa World. The highlight here was the 2km Gyokusen-do cave developed hundreds of thousands of years ago.

Unfortunately due to the rain warning the previous night which evacuated the elderly from low lying areas, only half of the underground caves could be explored as the rest of the path the rising waters were overflowing part of the walking areas.

There were other side attractions like the Snake show. Othe attractions like the reptile enclosure and sideshows seem like an afterthought to add to the Gyokusen-do Caves. The weather didn't help much either. In total maybe a 2-3hrs tops attraction.
For the caves it was pretty good and am sure even more fascinating to walk to full length of the path. Perhaps on a better weathered day it would have been a much more enjoyable and pleasant experience.

Makashi Public Market (For Lunch)
*Very friendly and accomodating corner stall we bought from. She was happy to let the kids carry the live seafood for pictures after our meal. Warm friendly and not pressuring. Just order and one of their staff will bring you to the restaurant that they have an arrangement with.*
Makishi Public Market is one of the most famous seafood markets in Okinawa, and for good reason. This market has been around since the 1950s and is a hub for fresh produce, meat, and seafood. What sets Makishi Public Market apart from other markets in Okinawa is its sheer size and variety. You can find just about any kind of seafood here, from shrimp and crab to octopus and eel. The market also has a great selection of street food vendors, where you can try some of the most delicious and unique local dishes.

Shop around and see what you'd like to eat. We didn't have the courage to try the coconut crabs, but an Okinawa classic are their Green Turban (giant sea snail), Tiger Prawns and which we did have.
Ordered On:
18Jun24

Total ¥12,900
x4 ¥500/Tiger Prawns

Half Lobster about
¥3000++

Salmon Shashimi ¥1600 (not pictured)
Fish Eggs

Green Turban about ¥3000 (not pictured)
Total ¥12,900
ABBATip:
How it works?
- You buy your seafood products from the market below. Each stall works with a restaurant upstairs. There's a ¥500/pax cooking charge. You can still order additional eats from the stall themselves.

- You can specify how they prepare the food or style. Usually they offer half sashimi and half grilled. For lobster, same with the other half in soup and additional if having it as a porridge.
- You can order meat as well like Okinawa's Agu Pork from the butcher down stairsbut this was an additional ¥200/piece cooked.
 
 Dinner at a local joint around the corner.
あぐー豚しゃぶしゃぶ宝石鍋と本格ちゃんこ鍋の美食蔵部～
How a classic Shabu Shabu and Sukiyaki is prepared. Each set is a fixed ¥5,500 price tag.
The food was good with Japan ingredients and whats more interesting was that we dined in an established owned by a Japanese, with the chef from Pakistan, and the wait staff a Burmese.

Day4 19Jun24
Tomari Iyumachi Fish Market
(Opens 7am-5pm)
Stop over for exploration and Breakfast! Deals mostly in *CASH ONLY*
*Representation of an award winning 300kg Tuna which was once caught.*
If you're looking for the more authentic seafood market experience in Okinawa, then one can visit Tomari Iyumachi. This medium-sized market has a wide variety of fresh fish and seafood available, including tuna, salmon, lobster, scallops, squid, and more. The prices are reasonable and free seating is available in the compound to sit down and enjoy your fresh purchases. Much like Makashi Public Market but on a smaller scale. It does have great views of the working harbor.
Click here for ABBA location of Tomari Iyumachi Fish Market

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (Indoors)
Opens 830am-6pm
In actuality, the whole area is a ocean theme park with some of the attractions like the Dolphin show is free to view without ticket entry.
The Okinawa Chiraumi Aquarium is the main highlight here for their various displays with their finale being the Kuroshio Tank.
Massive Kuroshio Tank: The aquarium's main attraction is the Kuroshio Tank, one of the largest in the world, holding 7,500 cubic meters of water and featuring a variety of marine life, including whale sharks and manta rays.
Whale Sharks: It is one of the few places in the world where visitors can see whale sharks, the largest fish species, in captivity.Osaka's Aquarium is where one can also view the impressive whale sharks as well.
ABBATip:
- Take note of their feed timings so you don't miss out the main attraction.
- You can grab a meal in there which is okay at best but you get a great view of the tank as the fishes and huge manta rays swim by. No wait time, but at a premium for the window seats.
- There are side attractions located outside and free to access like the turtle and manatee enclosures but they seem to just add them onto the main attraction here. 
A great selection of sea creatures and don't miss out the preserved ones as you exit out via the gift store.

Day5 Return
OKA-SIN JETSTAR 0940-1355
Try to be there 2.5hrs before for international flight. It caters sufficient time. The eateries air-side don't open till 9am and maybe too late depending on your flight time.

There's still an opportunity for last minute shopping air-side which we did. The great thing about Japan is all these snacks are price fixed wherever you buy them from so there's no rush to get them immediately unless its unique to the area.
Click here if interested in last Hokkaido Trip 12D11N
Click here for Osaka 6D5N for newbie Osaka iteneary with easy day trips to NARA and Kyoto
Click here for 6D5N Tokyo Holiday Iteneary. Self guided Hakone trip and Robot Show!
Click here for 6D5N First Hokkaido holiday with two ski locations and newbie must visit locations.
5D4N Okinawa Experience
Day 1
Arrival day at 810am in the morning.
- Umikaji Terrace
- Lunch at Oyaji no Maguro
- Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters
- SHIMAUTA LIVE JURI OKINAWAN LIVE IZAKAYA
- Short Walk along Kokusai-dori
Day 2
- Busena Beach - Kouri Island - America Town
Day3
- Okinawa World and Gyokusen-do Cave - Makashi Public Market
Day4
- Tomari Iyumachi Fish Market
- Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Day5
- The Flight home at 0940am
5D4N

Food bingo for Okinawa eats that you may want to look out for.
Gurukun (banana fish)
Green Turban (giant sea snail) -
Tiger Prawns and Skipjack Tuna
Amori - Okinawa spirit
Okinawa's Agu Pork
Ishigaki Beef
Sata-andagi (Their donuts)
Shikuwasa (Their local citrus for drinks or in food which can be found everywhere. It's a unique citriusy flavor akin to the mandarin orange.)
Satanagi Okinawa Doughnut (Tried along street eats. Its a very dense doughnut)
Rafute – thick cuts of pork belly braised in awamori, soya sauce and Okinawa black sugar. It is both savoury and sweet.
Umibudo – the “sea grapes” is a type of edible seaweed that only grows in the warm waters of Okinawa. It looks like a string of grapes and taste a bit salty like the ocean.
Mozuku – slimy strands of brown seaweed. It doesn’t sound appetizing but it is actually really
tasty and is a superfood. It is either marinated in Japanese vinegar or used in mozuku tempura.
Jimami Tofu – the tofu-like dish starts with soaking raw peanuts in water, then straining the liquid to pan, heating it and thickening it with sweet potato starch. After it is cooled, it is served with sweeten soy sauce. The “tofu” is creamy and has a springy texture.
Tofuyu – shima tofu is fermented with red yeast, rice malt and awamori, which is why it tastes very boozy. Use a toothpick and slice off a very piece of tofu; the flavour is very intense.
Abura Miso – Okinawan seasoned miso made with fermented soybean paste and pork lard. It is an excellent rice topping, ingredient in onigiri and goes well with shima tofu. You only need a small amount to add extra umami flavour to your food.
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