{"id":28159,"date":"2017-03-20T08:30:03","date_gmt":"2017-03-20T07:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thegoldenbun.com\/?p=28159"},"modified":"2017-07-27T16:30:20","modified_gmt":"2017-07-27T14:30:20","slug":"guide-okinawa-beach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thegoldenbun.com\/2017\/03\/guide-okinawa-beach\/","title":{"rendered":"Be Okinawa | 10 must do\u2019s on the main land of Okinawa"},"content":{"rendered":"

Advertisement*<\/a>. Upon invitation of Okinawa prefecture. Thank you!<\/em><\/p>\n

The Okinawa Guide.<\/strong> Can someone, please pinch me?<\/em> This was my reaction when I opened my mails and got an invitation for a press trip to Okinawa<\/strong>, the southernmost island of Japan. I\u2019d actually planned to finally fly to Japan this year but my visit came earlier than expected. Okinawa?<\/em> I\u2019m sure most of you have never heard about that island. Don\u2019t worry, because that is what I\u2019m here for. To show you all the interesting and beautiful spots Okinawa has to offer. A blogger colleague from Munich had visited the island a while ago and I remembered her posts (see them here).<\/em> Of course, I had to look them up immediately. There they were \u2013 beautiful pictures of stunning bays with the bluest and clearest water along with impressions of fish markets and more. I was already head over heels.<\/p>\n

So there I was three weeks later I got the invitation holding my flight ticket in my hands and was about to board a 9 hours direct flight to Tokyo. Tokyo was only a pit stop for the night as I hopped on an early 3 hours flight down to Okinawa the next day. My travel companion for the 5 days was Samantha, who has been living in Tokyo for many years now and luckily spoke Japanese fluently. As soon as we\u2019ve arrived at the airport we were welcomed by the team who accompanied us on our trip. The sightseeing program was about to start.<\/p>\n

Here are ten great activities you shouldn\u2019t miss on your Okinawa trip!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Please note that our team focused on the middle part of Okinawa\u2019s main island. You should combine your stay with a couple of days on the main island and then hop on a boat to the surrounding islands.<\/em><\/p>\n

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above<\/strong> breathtaking bay seen from the Happy Cliffs<\/em><\/p>\n

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Visit Okinawa <\/em> 1. Breathe in some salty air at the marvellous beaches<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

Okinawa offers the most beautiful beaches. We visited quite off the season and even caught some low tides. The view was still breath taking, though. I recommend driving to the Happy Cliffs<\/em> or Emerald Beach<\/em> take a walk at the Maeda Beach <\/em>& Beach51<\/em> and enjoy the sunset at the Sunset Beach<\/em>. Also, Hotel Nikko Alivila<\/em>, where we stayed for two nights, has a beautiful beach adjacent to the hotel area.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a great Beach Guide to Okinawa Main Island<\/em><\/a><\/center><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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above<\/strong> low tide at Beach 51<\/em><\/p>\n

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Okinawa <\/em> 2. Visit the most beautiful Futenma Shint\u014d-Shrine and its cave<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

Little did I know about Japanese culture and tradition. Therefore, a first visit of a Shinto-Shrine was a must<\/strong>. The shrine and its cave were built around 500 years ago. One of the main characteristics of a shrine is the Torii, which is a gateway made up of two vertical and two horizontal posts. From there you\u2019ll enter the zone of the shrine and you will need to cleanse your sins<\/em> at the water display. <\/em>This purification ritual is called chozuya <\/em>or temizuya<\/em>. After that you are ready to pray. Also, you can buy your luck at the Shint\u014d shrine. In case you got bad luck you can hang it on one of the ropes and the priest will come and get it and pray for you. I was lucky and got one of the highest luck. Good times ahead for me. The cave is located very beautifully behind the Futenma shrine<\/em>. Also, usually you don\u2019t get to see the house of the god\/goddess behind the shrine, which is quite special here. There is no entrance fee.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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above<\/strong> one of the most beautiful Shint\u014d shrines \u2013 the Futenma shrine<\/em><\/p>\n

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above<\/strong> beautiful Futenma shrine cave<\/em>
\nbelow<\/strong> usually you don’t get to see the house of the god\/goddess behind the shrine, which makes this one special<\/p>\n

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Visit Okinawa <\/em> 3. Sleep in a traditional old Japanese hotel<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

This may not be for everyone but you should definitely experience to sleep in a traditional Japanese hotel. You\u2019ll sleep on a futon <\/em>mattress on the traditional tatami, <\/em>which is a type of mat made from rice straws used as a flooring material. Nowadays they use compressed wood chip boards or polystyrene foam. There are not a lot of old Japanese hotels left. This is the one we visited in Okinawa City: Goyah-So Guesthouse<\/a>. If you\u2019re searching for more you can look it up on Tripadvisor here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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above<\/strong> beautiful dark cherry blossoms on Okinawa \u2013 Sakura was already in full bloom<\/p>\n

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Visit Okinawa <\/em> 4. Explore antique sights \u2013 Shuriji Castle & Ruins of Nakagusuku<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

Okinawa is full of history, which is evident for Okinawan inhabitants. I knew a thing or two about the history of Okinawa and of Japan in general but little did I know about their traditions. If you are interested in dipping into some antique sights the Shuri Castle<\/em> and the Nakagusuku Castle Ruins<\/em> are a must.<\/p>\n

The original building of the Shuri Castle<\/em> dates back to the 14th<\/sup> Century but it was destroyed in the Okinawa Battle in 1945. Years later, in 1992 reconstruction work began. The Shuri Castle is probably the best sight to see the influence of China. When I entered the main square called Kyo-no-uchi <\/em>it reminded me of my visit to the Forbidden City. For instance, the roof of the main palace has Chinese architectural elements.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the Ruins of the Nakagusuku Castle<\/em> are highly recommendable. The castle was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2000. These days they are doing a lot of renovation work. Also, you have an amazing view on the surrounding area and the Nakagusuku Bay.<\/p>\n

Here are some further suggestions:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Shuri Castle<\/li>\n
  2. Ruins of Nakagusuku<\/li>\n
  3. Tropical Dream Center<\/li>\n
  4. Fukushen-Gardens<\/li>\n
  5. Shikina-en<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    above<\/strong> view on the Island from the Shuriji castle<\/em><\/p>\n

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    above<\/strong> Tea time and trying some Okinawan biscuits
    \nbelow<\/strong> left<\/em><\/strong> loved the round shaped wall at Nakagusuku Castle Ruins <\/em> | right<\/em><\/strong> enchanted house close to the ruins<\/p>\n

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    Visit Okinawa <\/em> 5. Visit a local fish market \u2026 or two<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

    I could spend hours and hours at a local market. The Awase fish market<\/a> was definitely one of my highlights. You\u2019ll see kinds of fish you\u2019ve never seen in your life before. Not to mention how cheap a platter of sashimi is. I tried the \u00bd lobster set, which was so delicious. The rice bowls with sashimi on top are also to die for. I could eat them every single day!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    above<\/strong> cute Sake bottle \u2013\u00a0Japanese characters are so beautiful<\/p>\n

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    Visit Okinawa <\/em> 6. Visit the Ryukyu Lantern Festival at Murasaki Mura<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

    The Ryukyu Lantern Festival<\/a> at Murasaki Mura was opening its door to the public for the second time. It\u2019s a romantic theme park filled with over 5000 Chinese lanterns. Moreover, a variety of food stalls and typical Japanese restaurants are offered.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    Visit Okinawa <\/em> 7. Learn more about the art of Sake distillery … no, it\u2019s not drunk hot!<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

    I thought I was a fan of Sake until I\u2019ve tried the real one. In fact, I was grateful to get the chance to take part in a real Sake tasting. We visited the Kamimura Distillery<\/a> on Okinawa and got an exclusive tour through the distillery by Mrs Nakazato. The distillery produces special Sake creations. Therefore, it is a real insider tip, if you are into Sake.<\/p>\n

    Of course, I brought some bottles of Sake back home and presented one to my friends. The eye fell immediately on the high percentage of alcohol. In fact, the bottles I\u2019d brought had between 50-70% alcohol. That\u2019s quite strong but here\u2019s another fun fact: Sorts of Sake with a high percentage of alcohol are blended with either sparkling or still water.<\/p>\n

    We were also taken to the cellar, where people store their bottles. Usually they buy one of the expensive bottles, store them for years and whenever they have a special occasion they come back and add some photos to their bottles.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    above<\/strong> \u304b\u3093\u3071\u3044\uff01Kanpai!<\/p>\n

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    above<\/strong> people store their bottles and hang pictures on them on special occasions<\/p>\n

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    Visit Okinawa <\/em> 8. Visit the traditional Nakamura House<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

    The Nakamura House is an architectural example how extravagant a farmer was living. More importantly, it contains all the main characteristics of an Okinawa style house. It is located on a hillside in central Okinawa and dates back to the 18th<\/sup> century. It measures around 1700 square metres. See more information here.<\/a><\/p>\n

    Entrance fee costs 500\u00a5<\/em><\/center><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    above<\/strong> sitting on the traditional tatami<\/p>\n

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    Visit Okinawa <\/em> 9. Experience the traditional art of making pottery<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

    Pottery is an important craft and old traditions are still preserved on Okinawa. We visited the Yomitan Pottery Village<\/a> and got the chance to talk to the master Kyoushi Matsuda. This pottery doesn\u2019t date back to a long history as he is the first of his generation. The aim of the Yomitan Pottery Village is to preserve the traditional handcraft not to pass over into mass production. In fact, all is still handmade and the factory is overbooked for more than a year. Imagine that there are only around 25 people working there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    above<\/strong> right<\/strong><\/em> Noborigama chambered climbing kiln, ancient pottery kiln<\/p>\n

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    A Noborigama chambered climbing kiln<\/em> is also built on a slope, and each succeeding chamber is situated higher than the one before it. The chambers in a noborigama<\/em> are pierced at intervals with stoking ports. Such climbing kilns have been used in Japan since the 17th century. The largest working Noborigama kiln in Japan is located in Shigaraki<\/em>, in the southern portion of Shiga Prefecture.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    Visit Okinawa <\/em> 10. Get lost in the streets of Naha City<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

    A visit to Okinawa\u2019s capital is definitely a must for dining, shopping and there is also a lot of cultural offer. You may immediately notice that there is a lot of traffic in the cities. In fact, the public transport isn\u2019t developed so well and most destinations are only reachable by car. However, you\u2019ll see many hybrid and electric cars driving around. Japanese are very eco-conscious and always have the newest technologies. We only stayed a couple of hours in Naha, which included a walk on the main street, where you can do a lot of shopping and make a visit to a local market Makishi Kosetsu Ichiba market<\/em>, whereof I will show you more pictures soon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    above<\/strong> Yui Rail in Naha City \u2013\u00a0only train system on Okinawa connecting Naha City with the airport<\/p>\n

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    I hope you\u2019ve enjoyed this little insight into the beautiful island of Okinawa! Some more posts are still coming up \u2013 until then I say Sayounara! <\/em>\u3055\u3088\u3046\u306a\u3089\uff01<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    10 must do’s on<\/em> Okinawa<\/span><\/b><\/h5>\n

    Find all my posts about Okinawa here!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    photos \u2013 \u00a9 Vicky Klieber<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    Find my Okinawa Google map here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n