CONTRIBUTED BY C.S.

I think this is one of my favorite cafes on island. It’s not too far from Araha beach, but it’s just far enough to feel like you have gotten away from the crowd. Nestled between homes and apartments near the water treatment plant at the end of the seawall, Palmetto has a charming ocean view. I often come here to read, study or chat with friends. The atmosphere is warm and accommodating, and the staff is really friendly too!

The cafe is really big on sandwiches. They offer a selection of paninis, grilled cheese and a wide variety of other sandwiches. Most sandwiches come with soup and salad and you get to pick your own bread (brown sugar bread, bagel or ciabatta bread, then the fulling options. Where else on island can you find a full selection of grilled cheese sandwiches? The restaurant is quite kid friendly, offering a kids menu, booster chairs, a changing station and wipes for baby.

My favorite sandwich is the Palmetto burger; it’s perfectly thick and juicy. I also love their breakfast menu… plus the ketchup smile makes always makes me smile.

I have tried the vanilla milk shake and must say it was one of the best I have ever had…EVER! The cappuccino, teas and lattes are also very good. They also sell baked goods, including granola and cutely decorated cookies (I love the Christmas ones).

Outside seating is available and is dog friendly. One of the selling points for me is the free Wi-Fi. I had yet to find a cafe with everything I love, until I discovered this one!

Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sundays 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Phone:  098-989-5751

Payment: Yen only. Soon to sell gift cards!

Address: 1 Chome-16-9 Kitamae Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture

Directions: From Gate 1 Kadena, go south towards naha on 58. Take a right at Hamby town San-A shopping mall, and then take your first left at the fork in the rd. Continue down the road (same rd. that Araha Beach is on), then take a right when you see Alaha Dental Clinic, and tan apartment complex. Go down and then take a left, and Palmetto is to the left.

Coordinates: 26.2984709, 127.75842110000008

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Palmetto-Cafe/776564119030634

CONTRIBUTED BY KELSEY HUGHES

My husband and I knew that one of the first things we would do after moving to Okinawa was get a puppy. We had many debates about whether to adopt or find a breeder before moving to Oki, but decided to wait until we were here and settled before making the final decision. We quickly realized there are many puppies and dogs on Okinawa who need loving homes. After learning that animals picked up by Okinawa Prefecture Animal Protection and Control Center (Ozato) are only given five days to live, we knew we had to adopt from a rescue. In our minds, there was no other option.

There are multiple American animal rescues on Okinawa. I immediately “liked” all of their Facebook pages so I could have constant updates about available puppies and dogs. If you do this, be prepared for cuteness overload on your newsfeed! It had only been a couple of days when OAARS, Okinawan American Animal Rescue Society, posted a picture of two puppies that were recently rescued. Later that day, my husband called to ask me if we wanted to meet two puppies that one of his co-workers was fostering for OAARS. Turns out, we were both looking at the same puppies and I knew we were in trouble.

Before we could meet the puppies, we had to fill out a dog adoption form, available on the OAARS website. It is an extensive application that OAARS uses as a pre-screening to decide if you and your family are the best match for the animal you wish to adopt. Be prepared to answer questions about your family, home life, current pets and future pet care. Once our application was approved, we set up a time to meet the puppies at their foster home.

Meeting the puppies was really fun. How could playing with puppies not be fun? All puppies are cute, so it was nice to get to know their personalities a little bit. One of the puppies was very shy and timid. The other kept coming up to both my husband and I for attention and played with us and the other dogs. It was wonderful to talk to the person fostering them too, because she had already had a chance to get to know their personalities. She was very knowledgeable about Oki mixes, the affectionate “pet” name given to mixed breeds in Okinawa. We learned that almost every puppy rescued would probably be a blend of Japanese dog breeds, due to the high number of un-neutered or spayed dogs on-island. Oki mixes are typically small to medium size dogs (20-45 pounds), smart and energetic. We had originally wanted a larger breed dog but after learning about Oki mixes, we realized that size wasn’t as important as rescuing a puppy that might otherwise be overlooked.

Another benefit of adopting through OAARS, is that they provide medical care to the animals while they are in foster care. These puppies were only 7 weeks old, but were already microchipped and had their first round of shots.

As we were leaving the foster’s house, the rambunctious puppy tried to leave with us. There wasn’t much of a discussion in the car ride home about whether or not to adopt the puppy. We knew we had to have him.

OAARS gives families a 2-week trial period to make sure the new pet fits well into their home. This trial period began when we picked up our puppy, newly re-named Archie, from his foster family. The adoption paperwork was filled out and adoption fee ($125) was paid at this time too. Our trial went smoothly and after two weeks, Archie was officially ours. The rest of the adoption process was pretty simple. Since Archie had already been seen at the vet clinic on Kadena, I had to change his sponsorship to our name. The original OAARS sponsor and I had to be present at the clinic to do so, but it was a short process after that. We had to make sure he got all of his shots and was neutered around 6 months old. OAARS even offers a $50 spay/neuter rebate for dogs and puppies!

I would highly recommend adopting from OAARS when your home is ready for a fur baby. Their adoption process was easy and simple. Plus, we ended up with a great dog!

Adoption Fees: 

• $125 for dogs that aren’t fixed ($50 back upon spay/neuter)
• $100 for fixed dogs
• $80 for all cats

Website:   http://www.oaarsrescue.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/okinawanamericananimalrescuesociety

Email:

• Dogs: adopt4oaars@gmail.com
• Cats: oaarscatadoption@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTED BY MINDY MORRIS

We discovered My Blend accidentally. (To be honest, I think accidentally is probably how most people find this place!) This awamori tasting shop is tucked away in the back corner of the HAPINAHA building, located on Kokusai Street in Naha.

We’d ducked in to the very kid friendly HAPINAHA one afternoon to escape the rain, and there, hidden beyond the Pokemon store and souvenir food shop, this little treasure was just waiting to be discovered.

My Blend is the first of its type on the island and a brilliant idea for those of us who balk at the shelves of awamori with no idea what to buy. For ¥ 1,000, you get to sample and blend six different types of awamori, all made locally at the Chuko Distillery and aged to a different maturity.

Awamori is an Okinawan variety of sake that is distilled similarly to shochu. Awamori is traditionally aged in clay vessels and served from clay pots with a long spout, called a Kara Kara. Falling in love with the pottery? I was! The sales associate told me it is all handmade at the Chuko Distillery and that it’s possible to buy it there.

When you arrive you will be served five different types of awamori in clay cups, called “chibuguwa”. Each cup is marked with a colored dot that corresponds with a letter. You will also get a stack of tasting cups, a pipette for blending, water, and a “Spirits Evaluation” worksheet to help you keep track of all you are tasting.

You begin by rating each of the 5 awamoris by scent. Then, use the pipette to transfer several milliliters of the awamori from the clay chibuguwa to your tasting cup and rate them again, this time, by taste. They recommend blending two milliliters of water to two milliliters of awamori, but of course this is up to you. I found myself mixing water almost 3:1 for some of them, while my out-of-town friend, who had recently discovered that she loves awamori, preferred some without any water at all.

Just when you think you have a handle on your favorites… they pour the “Treasured Sake”, a 30-year-old cured awamori. This one is served in a glass rather than the clay cups. I still cut it with water, but my friend sipped it as-is and loved it.
Now that you have sampled each, the educational tasting turns into a full awamori experience, as you begin blending your favorites. It’s remarkable the way the tastes change as you blend the different types and vary the ratios.

The knowledgeable staff will help you create popular blends by providing you with recipe cards, but you are also free to mix and match them according to your own rating system. I blended everything I had given a four or five star rating for one blend. My favorite blend was 3 ml of Awamori B (Pot Distillation Sake aged 3 years), 1 ml of Awamori C (Mango Yeast Sake aged 5 years), and 4 ml of water.

We had so much fun that a couple of weeks later I dragged my husband and one of our friends back down to Naha, promising that for ¥ 1,000, they’d have a good time and walk out with lots of new awamori knowledge.

This time around we kept much more detailed tasting notes and I was impressed how seriously the boys were taking their recipes. We sat at the bar for well over an hour sampling different blends. I was snapping photos and the guys were deep in conversation with Fukuhara, our server, when my husband started circling one of his ratios and said “I’m buying this one!”

I was a little bit surprised. It’s a very no-pressure kind of place, so on my first visit they had never really even encouraged us to bottle anything, and it hadn’t occurred to me that we would be walking out with a bottle. Our friend also decided to buy his favorite blend. I was concerned that it might be a bit pricey, especially because they both included the “treasured sake” in their recipes. Prices are determined by the amount of each awamori (all priced differently according to age) and the volume of the bottle you select.

As Fukuhara input the formula my husband had created into the iPad, we all had our fingers crossed. After he selected the 360 ml bottle, the price came to ¥ 4,080 (about $35.00) Not bad for a custom blend! And just like that: we were in the blending business!

Turns out, the blending is just as much fun as the tasting. Fukuhara filled beakers from the giant clay vessels behind the bar, while the guys picked out labels for their bottles, (they have five to choose from, so you can customize the look of your bottle).

Then Fukuhara lined up the beakers and the guys poured them through a funnel into their respective bottles. Insider trick: pour slowly and try to pour directly into the bottle without letting the awamori touch the funnel. Every drop matters… especially when you’re blending with the treasured sake!

We walked out with two custom awamori blends for about ¥ 8,000! The whole experience was so much fun and I know that every time we open that bottle we will feel a certain amount of ownership knowing that this bottle would never have existed had we not spent an evening at My Blend.

CONTRIBUTED BY SHANNON R.

The following sentence in airline search engines has always struck fear into my heart:

*Note- this itinerary has an airport change*

This line of red letters has been enough of a concern to make me shell out a few hundred extra dollars just to avoid the chaos of picking up my luggage, finding a train or bus, getting checked in at another airport, and going through security again.

However, when I found tickets back to the US for $1,028 (adults) and $822 (children), I knew I couldn’t justify convenience for the cold hard cash I’d be saving. The next cheapest ticket that went straight into Narita was $1,600 for an adult ticket alone. I would be saving about $1,000 easily by taking the route with an airport change.

It was, however, plenty of reason to justify significant anxiety in the days leading up to the flight, knowing that I’d be making the transfer by myself and three kids. I am terrible with directions.  Actually, it’s worse than that. I have NO sense of direction and thought that I would most certainly get us lost enough to miss our connecting flight in Narita by the time I found the bus or train. So, I went straight to OkinawaHai.com (as I usually do when faced with some burning question related to being stationed here). However, in this case was surprised to find that no one has ever posted on this topic before!

Anxiety! So I looked up everything else I could about the transfer from Haneda to Narita. A few google searches made it seem simple enough, but I couldn’t find any explanation other than time tables for shuttles and trains. I told my husband “I got great prices on these tickets, but I couldn’t get us all on the same flight. You will meet me and the kids in Narita. But our first flight lands in Haneda, so I just have to get us to Narita for our flight back to the States”. In true soulmate fashion (AKA brutally honest) he didn’t mince words, but said, and I quote: “Really? Without me? That’s probably a bad idea.”

The day of our flight arrived. There were two options for a transfer: the train system or the ‘limousine” service. (Much like “mansion” equals “apartment” in Okinawa, “limousine” equals “bus” at the airport.)  The counter agent recommended we take the train, as it would be more reliable in terms of time table from point A to B. However, I chose to go with the limousine service and I’m glad I did!

It was simple and quick and only cost ¥ 3,100 yen for adults and ¥ 1,500 for the kids.  (Bring yen!)

Immediately upon walking off the plane, I followed the crowd to the baggage claim area.  Once we picked up our bags, I saw a glorious orange sign in both English and Japanese the read “Bus Tickets”.  There was also another sign that said “Airport Limousine Bus Tickets”.  Both nearby each other as pictured.

I walked up to the kiosk (these are located in two areas: inside the baggage claim area and outside near the buses) and immediately saw a blue box on the screen “English”  It was all touch screen.  It took me to the next screen where I selected “Narita Airport”.

Enter the number of tickets needed, both adult and child. Insert your yen into the machine and out come your bus tickets. The bus stop number will be in the top right corner of the ticket along with the time your bus departs.

Again, mild to moderate concern struck me as I thought, “But now how do I find the bus stop?!?” Again, it was far easier than I could have hoped. All four of us and our five suitcases (don’t judge me) walked outside to find clearly marked bus stops. There was a group of people waiting for the bus leaving prior to our assigned time slot. There were about three employees checking each person’s ticket and gathering up suitcases.  I was handed a “baggage check” ticket for each suitcase and used these to retrieve our bags from the bus when we arrived at our destination.  At this point, the employee’s also asked which airline we were flying and told me which terminal in Narita I should exit the bus.

That’s it!  The bus arrived EXACTLY on schedule. We boarded and arrived at Narita about an hour later. (Depending on traffic, it could be anywhere for 60-90 minutes for the transfer time.)

It was all very simple and self-explanatory. Hopefully, others seeing the dreaded airport change notification will also save some money by taking the slightly longer route.

CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.

Here you’ll find a variety of local events happening in the month of September. 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 to the comments below!

September 3rd

Ryukyu Kings vs. Toyota Alvark Tokyo

Okinawa City Gym, Okinawa City. Tickets vary from ¥900 to ¥4,000 per game. Season tickets available. Tickets can be purchased at Kadena ITT, MCCS Tours+, and box office. 6pm doors open, 7:30pm tip off.

September 4th – 6th

60th All-Okinawan Eisa Festival & Orion Beer Fest

Okinawa Prefectural Sports Park, Okinawa City. Seats at Eisa festival cost approx. ¥2,500. Standing, Lawn Seats, etc are Free. Eisa Times: 4th, 6:20pm – 9pm. 5th, 3pm – 9pm. 6th, 2:30pm – 9pm. Beer Festival 4-9pm. Beer Festival Free. 098-877-5050

September 5th

Ryukyu Dragon Wrestling

Naval Kadena, 3F, Kadena Town. Doors 6pm, Match 7pm. Tickets ¥1,000-¥2,500.

Ryukyu Kings vs. Toyota Alvark Tokyo

Okinawa City Gym, Okinawa City. Tickets vary from ¥900 to ¥4,000 per game. Season tickets available. Tickets can be purchased at Kadena ITT, MCCS Tours+, and box office. 6pm doors open, 7:30pm tip off.

September 6th

Koza City Dance Carnival

Variety of individual and group dance performers compete against one another through busting a move.. Koza Music Town, 3F, 1-1-1 Uechi, Okinawa City. Doors open 2pm, show starts 3pm. ¥2,000 – includes one drink. 098-932-1949

Ryukyu Dragon Wrestling

Naval Kadena, 3F, Kadena Town. Doors 1pm, Match 2pm. Tickets ¥1,000-¥2,500.

Jazz in Nanjo

10th Annual Jazz performances. Nanjo Bunka Center, Sugar Hall & Outdoor Stage. ¥3,500. Discounts for school aged children. 4:30pm. 098-947-1100

Nakijin Hari Carnival

62nd annual summer dragon boat races and festival. Nakijin Unten Port, 962-4 Nakijin-son, Kunigami-gun. Races start 9:30am, Festival starts 5pm. Free

September 10th

Root Rockers Vol. 2

Live performance at Bar & Grill Flex. Nakagami-gun Chatan-cho Chatan-2-chome, 20-5. Doors 6pm, Show 9pm. ¥3,500 Advance. ¥4,000 Day of. Includes one drink. Advance tickets receive a free CD. 098-926-0470.

September 11th – 13th

Uruma Eisa Festival

Details TBA on Eisa website. Fireworks on the 13th. 098-965-5634

September 12th

Fireworks Show & Hawaiian Buffet Dinner Cruise

Dinner cruise leaving from Naha Port. Boarding 8pm, Departure 8:30. ¥5,480 Adults, ¥4,480 Ages 6-12, Free Ages 0-5. Contact Island Life Concierge at www.islandlifeconcierge.com for reservations and more information.

September 12th – 13th

Ginowan Youth Eisa Festival

Join over 10,000 spectators to celebrate Eisa! Fireworks on the 13th. Ginowan Citizens Square (Across from City Hall). 5pm – 9pm. Free. 098-893-4431

September 21st – 22nd

World Eisa Tournament

Eisa competitions will be held on main stages and substages throughout the day. Times TBA. National Theatre Okinawa, 4-14-1 Jitchaku, Urasoe. ¥2,000 to watch main stage, smaller stages Free.

September 26th – 27th

Shuri Castle Festival

Live traditional Ryukyu performances celebrating Autumn. Illuminations. 3-Chrome 1-2, Shurikinjo, Naha. 6:30pm – 9pm. Free. 098-886-2020

September 27th

Itoman Great Tug-of-War

Okinawa’s second largest tug of war. Itoman Rotary. Tug of war starts at 5pm, arrive early to participate. Free.

Other Events/Dates

September 21st – Respect for Aged Day

September 23rd – Autumn Equinox

The 2015 calendar was available for purchase in November and December of 2014. This was September’s page.

Kayo Beach

Photo Credit: Melanie Dunn
Melanie Dunn on Flickr

“Oh Okinawa
Adventure, then chill at beach
All in a day’s work” –Calyn Paquin

Uehara Upland Park

Photo Credit: Kristy Wells
His Hands For Life

Yomitan

Photo credit: Stephanie Gonzalez

CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.

I have a lot of favorites on this island, and Kramp Coffee Store is one of them. As usual with the places I frequent, the atmosphere is clean, peaceful, and happy. The staff is personable, friendly and thankful for your patronage. The food and drinks are made to order, tasty and strong. So let’s talk details.

Kramp Coffee Store serves hot & cold coffee, juices and sodas. This includes, but is not limited to espresso, pour overs, Americanos, lattes, mochas, smoothies and melon cream soda. They also have a variety of ways to have your drip coffee brewed: chemex kone, aeropress or their famous Hario V60 drip. The last is my favorite. I also think it’s the strongest drink they have and will leave you with coffee jitters that you’ll crave regularly. Not for the faint of heart.

The beans come from Costa Rica and Indonesia, and are roasted by Ogawa Coffee Kyoto. If I’m wanting to add a little more ‘splurge’ to my morning than a drip coffee, their cafe latte is the best I’ve had in years.On my most recent visit I tried their breakfast plate for ¥450. It includes slow, slow, SLOW cooked scrambled eggs (you know, the kind that are naturally creamy and moist), a mixed green salad, toast and warm mashed potatoes. If that doesn’t suit your fancy, they also offer a sandwich, french toast and a variety of homemade sweets that are available all day.

A bonus for me is that humans 12 years old and under are not permitted. While some people may find this a bummer, I’d imagine that both parents and child-free adults cherish their quiet, uninterrupted coffee time. I appreciate the coffee shops straightforwardness on this subject.

Hours: Saturday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Closed Fridays.

Phone:  098-938-0833

Payment: Yen

Address: 5 Chome-32-2 Awase, Okinawa, Okinawa Prefecture 904-2172, Japan

Coordinates: 26.322443, 127.829773

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krampcoffeestore

We will be publishing base reviews of all US Military Installations on Okinawa over the course of the rest of this year. Many thanks to Anthony for taking on this time-intensive and incredibly helpful series for our readers!

CONTRIBUTED BY ANTHONY CAMINA

Camp Courtney, Urasoe City

Overview

Camp Courtney is one of the southernmost bases on Okinawa and is near the prefecture capital city of Naha. Originally called Camp Tengan, it was renamed after Major Henry A. Courtney who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions during the Battle of Okinawa during the Second World War. Camp Courtney is one of several installations throughout Okinawa which make up the Marine Corps Base Smedley D. Butler. One key difference about Camp Courtney compared to other installations is that it is split into two geographically separated areas, informally referred to by locals as the “commissary side” and the “main side”. Marines who work on the commissary side are permitted to walk off base in uniform between their BEQ and their workplace.

Lodging

Camp Courtney does have family housing units and a satellite military housing office. Units on Courtney range from multiplex to apartment-style tower quarters. All housing on Okinawa is run by the Air Force. For more information, or to view floor plans, you can visit the Okinawa housing website at: http://www.housing.af.mil/okinawa/.

Currently, you can only live off base if your designated housing areas are at 98 percent capacity or above. The primary housing area for Courtney is on Camp Courtney itself or at the adjacent Camp McTureous (also known as McT). Occasionally housing will allow personnel to live as far as Camp Shields or Kadena airbase depending on the individual situation. Generally four bedroom housing fills up the fastest because only the multiplex units contain quarters that large. The housing occupancy numbers are updated weekly.

Camp Courtney also has bachelor quarters for junior enlisted, Staff NCO, and Officer unaccompanied Marines. Most individual units manage their own barracks but SNCO and Officer Quarters are managed by the base’s Camp Services Section.

Camp Courtney is equipped with a cozy 16-suite temporary lodging facility in building 4440, located near the satellite housing office http://www.mccsokinawa.com/courtney_lodge/ . Typically, most inbound families to Camp Courtney stay at the Courtney Inn or Shogun Inn on Kadena AFB http://af.dodlodging.net/propertys/Kadena-AB.

Shopping

The base has a small exchange in building 4131 on the commissary side, which offers decent electronics, apparel, household goods, toys and a stationery section. The main exchange building houses a small food court, barber shop, beauty shop, souvenir vendors and a Softbank cell phone retailer. The Exchange here also has a military clothing department which has a decent selection of Navy and Marine Corps uniform items. On the external side of the exchange facing the parking lot is the music school.

On the main side of the camp there is an Express Exchange in building 4312, across the street from the food court. This Exchange Express rents movies as well as houses a barber shop, exchange new car sales and dry cleaner/alteration shop. The main website for the Exchange on Camp Courtney is: https://www.shopmyexchange.com/exchange-stores/Okinawa/OKI/Camp%20Courtney/Camp-Courtney-1771003

Adjacent to the main exchange is a medium sized commissary. This particular commissary takes cash, credit and debit cards with the added convenience of self-checkout lanes. Occasionally the staff at this particular commissary will actually tape valid coupons to merchandise throughout the store which is not only super thoughtful but also a great benefit to its patrons. There is also a deli and bakery onsite where one can order a sandwich at lunchtime or preorder a custom birthday cake. For more info visit: http://www.commissaries.com/stores/html/store.cfm?dodaac=hqcwhm

There are two financial institutions located on Camp Courtney. Community Bank is located in building 4135, adjacent to the post office, and is the only of the two financial institutions that can exchange foreign currency. Navy Federal Credit Union serves all branches of the military, to include DoD members and their families. The credit union is located in the same building as the main side food court (bldg 4228). For more info on Navy Fed visit their website at: https://www.navyfederal.org/branches-atms/locations-by-service.php?branch=MarineCorps

There is a fully functional United States Post office in building 4135 that offers retails services such as Express mail, Priority Mail, standard shipping, stamp sales, and money order sales. The post office accepts cash, credit, or debit cards. The Courtney post office also houses PO boxes which are issued to personnel with an area clearance. Despite many misconceptions, a sponsor can reserve a PO Box for an inbound family as long as he has a copy of that inbound family’s area clearance and orders. It is extremely helpful for a family to know their new mailing address before they have to move to Okinawa.

Dining

The Exchange food court on main side (bldg 4228) offers franchise favorites such as Anthony’s Pizza, Taco Bell and Burger King. The Commissary / Main Exchange food court has a Subway, Baskin Robbins and Anthony’s pizza. All food court eateries accept USD, yen, credit and debit cards.

Tengan Castle is one of the largest sit-down dining establishments on Camp Courtney. It has gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding mountains. Tengan Castle is a full service club which hosts weekly events such as Sunday Brunch and Mongolian BBQ. This particular club is located in building 4419. For specific information such as hours for lunch and dinner visit: http://www.mccsokinawa.com/tengancastle/

Near the main side movie theatre, in building 4218, is the Bayview and Bulldogs restaurant. The specialty here is burgers and sandwiches. Current hours can be found at: http://www.mccsokinawa.com/bayview/

The current menu can be found at: http://www.mccsokinawa.com/uploadedFiles/MainSite/Content/Dining_and_Entertainment/Dining_and_Clubs/Menus/bulldogs%20menu.pdf

Recreation

The Ironworks Fitness Center is located on the main side and can be found in building 4451. This gym offers a large weight room, adequate cardio room, racquetball courts, basketball court, HITT room and martial arts room. For specific information on hours or contact info, please visit the MCCS Fitness Center website at http://www.mccsokinawa.com/fitness/

Near the Theatre on the main side, is the base pool. This facility is located in building 4227 and has both a 25-meter lap pool and a Kiddie Pool. The pool offers both recreational and lap swim times. For specific info on hours visit: http://www.mccsokinawa.com/pools/

One unique advantage Camp Courtney has over other camps is its beach access on the base. There is a park (across the street from theInternet/Cable and Single Marine Program offices (bldg.4319), near the Helicopter pad), with a path that leads directly to the beach.

Since you can get to the beach from Courtney, it seems like a no-brainer to also have a fully equipped scuba shop: Tsunami Scuba. All Tsunami SCUBA shops on island also serve as PADI 5 Star-Instructor Development Centers dedicated to the military community. If you have ever entertained the idea of a PADI license, Okinawa is the place to do it. The website for Tsunami Scuba is: http://www.mccsokinawa.com/tsunamiscuba/

The base theatre is located on main side and offers current movies inside with a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean outside. For current prices and show times visit the Exchange Reel Time website at: https://www.shopmyexchange.com/reel-time-theatres/-1771003

The Courtney Youth and Teen Center is found in building 4446. Specific information is available at: http://www.mccsokinawa.com/youthandteen/

Camp Courtney has a large bowling facility in building 4234. For specific information on the MCCS bowling alleys, visit http://www.mccsokinawa.com/bowling/

The USO is located in building 4430 near the Library. More info can be found at their face book page: https://www.facebook.com/USOCampCourtney

The Courtney Arts and Crafts Center offers classes, hosts birthday parties, and has experts to assist with most projects. The site also has a fully functional woodshop for amateur carpenters on the island. For more information visit: http://www.mccsokinawa.com/courtneyartsandcrafts/

Education

There is no middle or high school on Camp Courtney. Elementary students attend Bechtel Elementary School on Camp McTureous. Most middle school students living on Courtney are bused to the nearby Ryukyu Middle School on Kadena AB, and high school students usually attend Kubasaki High School on Camp Foster. Both are highly regarded DODEA schools. For more information visit: http://www.dodea.edu/Pacific/Okinawa/

There is also a Child Development Center on Camp Courtney called the Chura Warabi. Specific information can be found at: http://www.mccsokinawa.com/cdc/

The base Education Center is near Tengan Castle, in building 4412, and offers tuition assistance, as well as hosts various self-help and transitional classes offered by MCCS. The education center contains offices manned by representatives from the main college campuses in Okinawa as well as flyers and literature from various online campuses. For more info on the education options on Courtney through MCCS visit: http://www.mccsokinawa.com/educationandcareerservices/

MCCS runs a library on Camp Courtney in building 4453 that checks out books, movies and video games. There are also a variety of resources on site such as computer access, printers and reference materials. All MCCS libraries are networked so a book checked out on one base can be returned at another. For more information visit their webpage at: http://www.mccsokinawa.com/libraries/

Unique Attractions

Camp Courtney hosts a periodic flea market on the Main Exchange/Commissary side of the base on certain weekends. For upcoming dates and details visit: http://www.mccsokinawa.com/fleamarket/

Family Services

Marine and Family Programs have a well-equipped facility which is located within building 4425. For newcomers in the Courtney area, this is also the location of the loan locker. For more information you can go to their webpage at: http://www.mccsokinawa.com/mfp-r/

Medical

Camp Courtney has its own medical and dental branch clinics which services family members, retirees and active duty alike. This facility is the Bush Branch Medical Clinic.

Specific information on the Bush Medical clinic located in building 4231 can be found at: http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nhoki/Patients/PrimaryCare/Pages/Bush.aspx

For dental, visit this site: http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/3denoki/Subordinate%20Units/Pages/BranchDentalClinicCourtney.aspx

Transportation / Car Care

There is a fuel station and repair shop operated by the Exchange on the commissary side of the base just before you get to the main exchange. This facility is prominently located a few hundred meters through the gate and has an automated car wash machine that takes yen. The service station does oil changes and other repairs by appointment. Store information can be found at: https://www.shopmyexchange.com/exchange-stores/Okinawa/OKI/Camp%20Courtney/Camp-Courtney-1771003

The auto hobby shop on Courtney is called Typhoon Motors, and is also on the commissary side of the camp. This facility is run by MCCS and offers full service repairs or bay, lift and tool rental for those wanting to get their hands dirty. The main page for all things Typhoon motor related on island is: http://www.mccsokinawa.com/typhoonmotors/

Marine Corps Bases Camp Butler offers a camp to camp bus service called The Green Line for service members and space available transportation for authorized ID card holders. The Camp Courtney Bus is the #4 line and goes from Courtney to Camp Foster. There is also a #3 bus that goes back and forth to Camp Hansen. For more information you can visit the MCB Butler Shuttle Service main page at: http://www.mcbbutler.marines.mil/BaseInformation/TheGreenLine.aspx

There are various taxi services available in the area. Here is a useful article from Staci on the subject: http://okinawahai.com/taxis-and-thong/

Popular Nearby Attractions

Camp Courtney is in the center of the island with an abundance of nearby activities to do. Below are but a few suggestions by fellow Okinawa Hai alumni.

There is a great park and impressive little known castle ruin within walking distance of Camp Courtney and McTureous. Be careful if you visit in summer as there will be a lot of vegetation and spiders in the ruins themselves. http://okinawahai.com/agena-castle-ruins/

This is a popular off base beach near the base. Many years ago it was nicknamed “trash beach” but after an extensive clean up and renovation effort by both the local community and bases, it is now very clean and beautiful. Here is a detailed article by Eliza; http://okinawahai.com/uken-beach/

The Chinese Dragon is a restaurant that is super popular with both Americans and locals because of the awesome sized portions, frugal pricing, delicious tasting dishes, and last but not least—free self-serve sweet tea. Dasha breaks things down in this article which is a little old but still very relevant. Also of note, this place is a chain with several locations on island, but this article specifically covers the one near Courtney/McT. http://okinawahai.com/chinese-dragon-restaurant/

Kafe Kelp is near the commissary gate of Courtney. Colleen speaks very highly of it in this article: http://okinawahai.com/cafe-kelp/

Exit Café can be seen on the shortcut many Americans use to bypass the 75 heading toward Ishikawa. It boasts great views and quirky individuality, served with good food. http://okinawahai.com/exit-cafe/

Okay, I know this place stirs strong emotions because of the use of the words “Authentic Mexican” on the sign outside, (as referenced in the comments section of the article attached), but Obbligato’s is one of the few places to get Mexican food other than tacos or taco rice and it’s popular with locals. http://okinawahai.com/obbligatos-uruma/

Restaurant Guide

There are many restaurants near Camp Courtney that are well worth visiting. You can find all of our Okinawa Hai reader-reviewed restaurants on-island, with an extensive section covering the Courtney-McT area on our To Eat Index – By Location page.

Have we missed something useful about Camp Courtney in this post? Please leave a comment with any information that can be helpful for our community!

CONTRIBUTED BY MINDY MORRIS

Mindy enjoyed a complimentary haircut at Cotton Candy, but all opinions below are her own.

I know I’m not supposed to judge a book by its cover and all that… but here’s the truth: I pick books based on their covers, brands based on their logos, and wines based on their labels. I just can’t help it!

I had a meeting with the owner of Cotton Candy a few weeks ago and as she showed me a picture of the building, I realized I had driven by Cotton Candy numerous times without really taking notice. She invited me to stop by for a haircut, and since I was in desperate need after spending the summer in salt water, I took her up on the offer.

My first haircut in Okinawa was by a friend who works out of her home. She did a really great job with my hair and I loved hanging out with her, but I kind of missed the salon experience. Having someone else wash my hair is on my list of favorite things in the world! For my next hair cut, I went to a salon near my house where I got the whole salon treatment- right down to warm towels and fresh espresso. The problem this time was that I couldn’t communicate without my google translate app, and it turns out it didn’t translate very well.

I had my Goldilocks moment when I discovered Cotton Candy. Finally a salon that was “just right.” I got the full salon treatment, plus all of the women that work at Cotton Candy speak excellent English, so I had no trouble communicating. She took a ton of weight off the bottom of my hair and I walked out with the long layers I’d been eyeing on pinterest for the last year.

In addition to haircuts, color and styling, the women at Cotton Candy also offer a great deal of other salon services, including nail art, waxing, facials, pore cleansing, massage and more. It’s a one stop shop for a head-to-toe spa day! There are three rooms in the Cotton Candy building. The first is where they do hair and nails, the second room is for skin services, and the third is the waxing room.

For a full list of services and prices visit: http://www.cottoncandy-japan.com/?page_id=2&lang=en

I met three girls who were getting back-to-school ready while I was there. I had curl envy the moment I saw Savannah’s curls, but we all laughed that everyone wants what they don’t naturally have. She was getting a keratin treatment that would tame her curls for the next several months.

Her friends Alondra and Jenna were both getting pedicures with the beautiful hand-detailed nail art I’ve come to appreciate since moving to Okinawa while they waited for her.

We all chatted casually with the staff of five while watching a movie on Apple TV and flipping through American fashion magazines. I enjoyed the atmosphere and loved the haircut from Keiko-san. I’m looking forward to going back for a pore treatment and aroma therapy massage soon.

Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Closed Wednesdays and some Japanese Holidays

Phone: 098-926-1162

Payment: Yen

Address: 556-1 Kamisedo, Chatan-chō, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa-ken 904-0101, Japan

Directions: From Kadena Gate 1

• Turn left heading south on 58
• Make a left turn on 23 heading east
• Go through two traffic lights. Cotton Candy will be on your right just before the next intersection. If you pass A&W you have gone too far. There is parking beside Cotton Candy.

Coordinates: 26.3293016,127.7759301

Website: http://www.cottoncandy-japan.com/?page_id=15&lang=en

CONTRIBUTED BY ORLANDO ANAYA

{Click Photo for Source}

If you are like me and love a great steak, Taiyo Steakhouse is the place for you. I have now been there for dinner with my family and my buddy Mark three times and I can tell you that this restaurant is unlike any in Okinawa. Walking in you can immediately see the difference, the place looks nothing like its predecessor, the Lanai. Every aspect of this restaurant has been revamped to offer a great American style steakhouse experience and in my opinion they deliver.

As we walked in, we were immediately greeted by a well-dressed and amicable host who understands the importance of first impressions. As we were escorted to our table, the staff was warm and welcoming, almost like they were rolling out the red carpet for our arrival. During two of my visits, I had the pleasure of meeting the restaurant manager who was also very warm and welcoming. He clearly sets the example for his staff. As we got to our table and were promptly seated, we quickly realized that although there were other patrons around us, the furniture is set up in a way that we felt a great sense of intimacy and privacy. It’s a welcome change from the busy and crowded restaurants we have come to know here in Okinawa.

The menu selections are right up there with any menu that we would find at a top steakhouse back in the States like Ruth Chris, Morton’s or Charlie’s Steakhouses. The steaks are prime beef; the seafood is fresh, and the bread, freshly baked served with two different types of butter, is delicious. Every time I’ve been there, I’ve had the 12 oz. fillet (Yes! 12 oz. and cooked to a perfect medium-rare) with a delicious mushroom and peppercorn sauce and a side of vegetables. I also ordered the lobster bisque soup (which is exquisite with nice chunks of lobster in it), and a bottle of Italian Barolo. The one they carry happens to be one of my favorites (I may or may not have kept the whole bottle to myself).

I can tell you that without a doubt, the lobster bisque and the filet were both excellent. As good as you could find anywhere. I am looking forward to trying the rack of lamb next time I go; I’ve heard nothing but good things about it.

My wife has had the 14 oz. boneless ribeye steak and the seafood pasta on her two visits. The ribeye was good, but I would recommend the bone-in ribeye over the boneless.

The seafood pasta was my wife’s favorite! The pasta had very generous amounts of lobster, crab, and scallops. The scallops, the manager informed us, are flown in from Tokyo and they were massive! I am a lover of scallops and these were great! For appetizers, I would recommend them all. The crab cake was the first we tried and it was good, but the calamari, beef carpaccio and shrimp cocktail were my favorites.

For dessert, they feature six or seven excellent desserts: crème brulee, molten lava cake, chocolate mousse just to name a few. We have tried five of them and all were excellent. Watch out though, the cold orange liquor soufflé may throw you for a loop if you’re used to a traditional warm soufflé. If you like rich decadent chocolate the chocolate mousse is just that.
The service is also excellent. The wait staff is attentive, incredibly nice and does a great job. We brought out three year old daughter and she loved their children’s menu, although I have to warn you, if you have rambunctious children this may not be the place to take them. For those of you who are price conscious, prices are not cheap, dinner (soup, entrée, dessert) cost about $60 per person, but it’s definitely not as expensive as what you would pay at a comparable restaurant and dining experience back in the States.

There is a dress code for dinner, which is really nice given that there are really not too many places here in Okinawa where you can dress up. For lunch and breakfast the dress code is much more “laxed”. I highly recommend their Sunday brunch; their Taiyo Eggs Benedict are to die for… The poached egg, the twin fillets, the nicely toasted English muffin. They also have traditional Eggs Benedict, as well as pancakes and all of your breakfast favorites.

Overall, my experiences at Taiyo Steakhouse have been phenomenal. From the food to the staff I feel that they have always gone out of their way to make our visits a first-class experience and for that we will definitely keep going back… and often.

Hours: 

Weekend Brunch: (Reservations Recommended. Call DSN 622-2020)

Saturday & Sundays 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Lunch: Monday – Friday: 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Dinner: (Reservations Required. Call DSN 622-2020)

Wednesday – Sunday: 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Bar is open daily: 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.,
 Bar Bites Menu served  3:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Phone: 098-954-2020

Payment: All major credit cards accepted

Address: 〒904-2205 沖縄県沖縄市 うるま市栄野比１１８３ TAIYO GOLF CLUB 2F

Directions: (Google Maps Link)

Coordinates: 26.393897, 127.824602

Website: http://www.mccsokinawa.com/taiyosteakhouse/

CONTRIBUTED BY ARIELLE SULLIVAN

We’ve passed this place quite a few times but thought it was a different restaurant and never stopped. Tonight we were looking for something new so we decided to give it a try. We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived!

When you walk in there are long traditional Japanese tables in a big L-shape for large parties as well as a bar-type seating for smaller parties. As soon as we walked in all the staff welcomed us and led us to the end of the bar. There were baseball games on and lots of locals enjoying beers, eating food and watching the game. We went around 6:30 p.m. and people were smoking inside, so if that bothers you, this may not be the best place for you. But, if you don’t mind or are willing to handle it, it’s a great place!

You can see right into the kitchen as they cook, which is something I really enjoy. We ordered taco rice to share, fried cheese, chicken, and something called, “spit pork” yakitori. The pork yakitori came with a raw egg to dip in and they were both covered in a really delicious teriyaki type sauce. All that plus one beer came out to about ¥2,500 so the prices are definitely decent! We were there on a Monday night and there were probably 10 people in there. I bet it’s a lot of fun on Friday and Saturday nights!

The food came out fairly quickly – I’d say typical for Japan, which still surprises me compared to how slow American restaurants are. However, everything was really delicious! So far I’ve been really impressed with every restaurant I’ve been to on Okinawa, but I think this is my favorite Izakaya so far! We will absolutely be back again.

Phone: 098-926-4102

Directions: Take a left on 58 out Kadena Gate 1. Turn right at the road directly after Tennkaippin, right before Obligato (I don’t know the name of this road). Take the first left at the light. It will be about 2 blocks down the road on your left hand side. You won’t be able to miss it since it is all lit up.

Editor’s Note: Indira Indian Restaurant was originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on November 11, 2013; you can read a PDF copy of that original review here. The post below is an updated take on this restaurant, published September 11, 2015

CONTRIBUTED BY: D.A.

My wife and I love Indian curry, and are always on the hunt for new places to indulge on the island. Last week she surprised me by making a reservation for our anniversary at a new Indian restaurant we’d been meaning to try for a while. Tucked away on an unassuming street, it might not be exactly what you picture for a romantic dinner, but for two curry-lovers, it was just perfect!

As soon as we walked in, we were immediately greeted by the hostess, waiters and chefs. I even think the tandoori oven said hello. At that point we knew our experience would, at the very least, be pleasant. Once seated and given menus (complete with pictures and descriptions for those not quite sure the difference between vindaloo and balti), we knew we wouldn’t be leaving hungry either.

Although we aren’t exactly novice Indian food eaters, we still always ask for suggestions on what to order and in this case were very glad we did. Upon recommendation, we started with Malai Tikka, a kebab baked with milk, to create the most melt-in-your-mouth chicken you can imagine. The flavors were perfectly balanced. We also ordered Tandoori chicken, which was both juicy and tender, a surprise to me, as I find Tandoori chicken almost universally dry. The presentation made my wife happy, as they’d put all the cucumbers together in little hearts.

The chef also surprised us with a bean pakora. These fried little morsels had just enough heat for me and maybe a bit too much for the wife.

After appetizers it was on to the true test, the curry! I am very predictable when it comes to ordering curry: if there is some sort of seafood curry on the menu, that is what I’m getting. This time was no different, I chose the fish curry, and to ensure my status as a glutton, I ordered a full side of saffron rice as well as garlic naan.

My wife went with the staff’s recommendation and ordered the saag paneer set, a spinach curry with milk and fried paneer cheese. The set came with all of the usual suspects (curry, rice, naan, a salad, and a dessert). Although my fish curry was was the best seafood curry I’ve had on island, I will be ordering the saag paneer next time, and possibly every time! It was just that good. You could put this stuff on cardboard and I would take a crack at it. Creamy, rich, and both sweet and savory at the same time- this dish had it all.

Luckily for us, no cardboard was in sight so instead we got to gorge on some of the best naan I have ever had. The naan hit the grand slam mix of crispy, chewy, soft, and warm. I ordered the garlic naan, while she got cheese naan with her set, so we split both and I cannot imagine doing it any differently. We raved to the waitress so much about the cheese naan, that the chef gave us an up close demo of how he makes it in the tandoori oven. A true skill that I am glad talented men like him have, as I am certain I never will.

We read a sign on the wall that said lunch sets come with all you can eat naan. I’m planning to see just how much I can eat one of these days!

Completely stuffed and thoroughly dosed with authentic Indian beer (which was just one of the little details that added up to make Indira the best curry joint we have found), we were just about ready to ask for our check, when they lowered the lights and the music changed to a low romantic ballad. All of a sudden the whole restaurant was looking at us, as they brought out a beautiful cake that read “The Marriage First Anniversary.” It was such an unexpected and unforgettable gesture. The kind of thing that would never happen back in the States.

Because the cake was so large (and we were so full) we asked our waitress to please cut it for the whole restaurant and staff. It was delicious, so we asked for the name of the bakery, (and I’ll go ahead and share it with you here, in case you are ever looking for a delicious chocolate cake covered in berries: Petit Four 098-973-5784).

Indira would have likely become our go-to Indian restaurant on island based solely on the curry, but when food that good is coupled with service that makes you feel like family, it’s hard to imagine it could ever be replaced as one of our favorites.

Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Closed on Wednesdays.

Phone: 098-989-3555

Payment: Yen and Credit Card

Address: 201-6 Miyazato, Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture 904-2243, Japan

Directions: Out of Kadena Gate 2 head straight down 20 to the intersection of 330 (four corners) and turn left. Proceed down 330 (which turns into 75) for approximately 10km and turn right at 16. Go through the first traffic light on 16 and you will see Indira 200m past the light on the left. If you go through the 5 way intersection you have gone too far. Parking is available if you take the greater than 90 degree left just past Indira and go behind the building Indira is located in.

Coordinates: 26.353454, 127.834744

Email: indiraokinawa@gmail.com

Website: http://indira-okinawa.com/

Editor’s Note: Su Su Soon was originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on October, 2 2008. It was closed for a short time, but has since be re-opened and it is re-reveiwed today for you by Kacey A. Original post is still available if you scroll down.

CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A

I just want to clear up a rumor publicly for you: Su Su Soon is OPEN for business and has been actively and successfully satisfying my taste buds for a while now.

It’s a very small place, with about 5 tables in the main room and a separate room with tatami seating (great place to sit with a small group or with kids); it feels cozy, not cramped. The staff is friendly and cooks up an amazing variety of food.

During the week, they offer a buffet that comes with both a soup and a noodle dish cooked to order. The menu includes 20+ affordably priced sushi rolls, rice bowls, pork and steak dishes; and 5+ pancake dishes. They offer a few alcoholic beverages, teas, coffees, juices and homemade ginger ale.

I personally recommend any of their sushi rolls, the eel & avocado don (rice bowl), or the buffet. You’ll be happy with whatever you order.

Hours: Weekdays 11:30 – 5pm, Closed Tuesdays. Fri, Sat, Sun, Holidays 6pm – 10pm (Last Order 9pm). Weekends & Holidays: Breakfast 8am – 11:30am, Lunch 11:30am – 3pm

Phone Number: 098-936-6237

Payment: Yen

Address: 208-8 Hamagawa, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture 904-0112

GPS Coordinates: 26.330034, 127.748934

Parking: On site, behind building. Limited.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sususoon555

Twitter: https://twitter.com/desususoon

Blog: sususoon.ti-da.net

Original post contributed October 2, 2008

CONTRIBUTED BY AVIVA

This little gem is located off 58 near Gate 1 Kadena. I think it’s relatively new as I have only seen the sign for a month or two. I recently went to lunch there with some friends so we were able to sample several menu items. You read properly – one side of the menu has pancake meals, the other – sushi meals. I can’t think of a better combo!

Upon entering the small restaurant, you’re greeted (Irashaimasse!) and asked to leave your shoes behind and don some comfy leather slippers. We headed to a large table in a somewhat separate room where we could sit on the floor pillows, but there are about six regular tables inside the main room. There is a bookshelf with several magazines and books, even a couple of children’s books – and a couple of English books & magazines too. There are also a few toys in the larger room, and my daughter was particular to a stuffed cat and a small box that contained buildings, trees and such to make your own village. She was completely entertained until we received our food!

Ice water with lemongrass is offered, and as you can see from the menu, you may order beer, wine, sake, hot or iced coffee (it’s GOOD coffee), tea, mango shake (also excellent, very thick and not too sweet), home made ginger ale, which I’m sure is refreshing, banana milk and other juices. There’s also a “passion frappe” available which I might try sometime soon – it looks delicious!

At our table a couple of girls had that day’s special, a tuna & avocado bowl set, one woman had the maple gorgonzola pancakes (which was topped with apple as well) and made very short work of them – and said it was incredibly delicious, my daughter had the banana caramel cream pancakes (yum!) and I had the bara-chirashi which was also on the lunch special menu. The service was great, everyone enjoyed the homey and peaceful atmosphere (Jack Johnson was playing in the background) and I was so impressed that I took my family there on Sunday for breakfast! So now we’ve also had the “home made bacon and egg” which comes also with a salad and it’s scrumptious!

Su Su Soon is definitely kid friendly (though I apologize, I didn’t look for high chairs…) and I plan to visit again for dinner as THAT menu also looks delicious (see the photo). It’s about on par with the local prices for what you get. Lunch sets are a better deal than breakfasts, in my opinion. The front counter has some trinkets and even some produce for sale if you’d like to buy something. The couple who works there is very nice, and the kitchen is right there in the main room just separated by the counter.

Banana Caramel Pancakes!

Tuna Avocado Bowl!

Hours: Closed Mondays, Tuesday through Friday open 11-2:30 and 5-8 (last seating at 9, closes at 10), weekends open 9am-9pm, closed at 10. Telephone number is 098-936-0237

Directions: From 58 northbound make a LEFT at the light where the Family Mart/Pizza Inn/GI Bill Pay shopping center is (just before Gate 1). At the first light, make a LEFT, it’s on your right side immediately behind a banana yellow apartment building. The driveway to the parking lot is immediately on the right after you turn – it’s small though, only holds about 4-5 cars max. When I met friends they walked from the Pizza Inn lot.

Wanna hang your business on my wall? 

We have a few opportunities for our readers to advertise their businesses in our 2013 Okinawa Hai Calendar.  Your ad will be seen by all the people who purchase our calendar and your ad will be viewed each time they walk past their calendar!

If you are interested, please contact Joelle at advertising@okinawahai.com.

CONTRIBUTED BY HOLLY BATES

It is no secret that Okinawa is littered with castle ruins of long ago. You need only drive ten minutes from Kadena to see one. They spread far and wide from the southern most part of the island to the north. One of these northern sites is the Nakijin Castle Ruins and if you are up for a little road trip, it’s definitely worth it.

A beautiful drive (between 45 minutes to an hour from Kadena) to the north of Motobu in the Nakijin Village, lies a fortress that is recognized as an UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage site. This fortress was the capital of the Hokuzan principality, one of three principalities that made up the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Once you get to the castle, you will park and walk up to a small square. There are a few food vendors and shops. Food is cheap and pretty good as far as snacks and a light lunch. There are also souvenir stores nearby. If you keep walking you will veer to the left and begin to see the outlying wall of the castle. You will notice that there are still areas of the castle being excavated and studied. Some of the artifacts found during these excavations may be seen in the three story museum that is included in your admission fee.

The walk will take you anywhere from 20-30 minutes. There is a beautiful view from the top and all of the major historical plaques provide English translations. Afterward, head over to the museum and view all of the artifacts that have been collected over the years. The collection is quite extensive. There is also an opportunity to sit in on a presentation and to view videos, although most of them are in Japanese.

It is a great park, very informative and well maintained. A great day trip for a family or to go solo. There are beautiful beaches and things to do within a 10-15 minute drive from the park. Easily accessible and surrounded by the forest, its definite “to do” during your stay on the island.

Hours: 8:00 a.m. ~ 6:00 p.m. (Last Entry)

*Hours may be extended seasonally

*Sections of the facilities may be closed without prior notice due to unavoidable reasons.

Phone: 0980-56-5767

Payment: Parking is free

Adults: ¥400

Elementary through high school: ¥300

Children not yet in school: Free

Address: 5110, Imadomari, Nakjin Village, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, 905-0428

Coordinates: 26.6916548, 127.9273023

Website: http://nakijinjo.jp/english/

CONTRIBUTED BY BRETTE KNAUTE

There was a time, back in my youth, when my car was spotless. The seats were clean, the windows were washed — it even had a wonderful “new-car smell”. Ah the good old days…Those were the days before babies.

Now, my car is “well used”. It serves as our shuttle for adventures to castles and aquariums. It taxis little bodies back and forth to gymnastics and swimming lessons. It’s seen its fair share of nap times and snack times and all kinds of sing along times. It is also covered in lost french fries, goldfish, dried bananas and a million other crumbs that somehow develop a weird stickiness. Even the windows are covered with sticky finger prints. Really… what is with everything toddlers touch getting sticky? Oh and the sand… there is so much sand. On top of everything else, there always seems to be a strong scent of toddler musk. And that is NOT ok.

A few weeks ago it got to the point that I decided we needed some professional help, so I called Time-Wash Okinawa to set up an appointment. I don’t know about the rest of you mama’s out there, but I didn’t have time to drive to a car wash service and wait, so the fact that they would come to me was the biggest selling point.

They have an easy online booking service and were quick to respond to schedule an appointment. Then one glorious morning, they arrived at OUR HOUSE! (Can I get an AMEN from the mamas with babies who need to nap at home?) Our car detailing magician spent 3.5 hours scrubbing the car. It was sparkling and shiny when he was done. Best of all… it smells heavenly in my car now! We might not be going straight for “new car smell” but we’ve definitely got “clean car smell” and that I can handle! I don’t know why I waited so long to call them. He is now on my speed dial!

 

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CONTRIBUTED BY EMILY BUREK

About a year after I arrived in Okinawa I was overwhelmed by shopping off base, especially for natural products and health remedies. Of course, I could order some things online, but I’d have to wait until they arrived- and that was if they were able to ship here in the first place! I don’t mind browsing for products on the internet, but I much prefer to go to a brick and mortar shop and interact with a salesperson and the product. I think it is especially important when it comes to things like essential oils, where the same type of scent can smell different from brand to brand, and be used for so many things.

Eventually, my search for a local shop lead to me discover The Healing Space. This shop sells crystals and gemstones, essential oils, and quality herbs and seeds. The Healing Space, located in Kin Town, has a very cute store with, what I assume is, a healing/teaching/demonstration space in the back. On their website it looks like they offer courses in aromatherapy and body care. (You have to use google translate to get the website in English).

Thus far, I have only been to shop for products and they speak very little English, so it may be best to go with a Japanese friend. I brought an empty package of dried figs that I’d bought at a class through the Facebook group Okinawa Natural Herb Meal and the ladies were so happy to help me. Next time I go, I would like to take a native speaker to learn more about what they offer. They even had a whole wall of perfume-looking bottles that caught my interest as I would love to have a personal blend made!

Hours: 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Closed Sundays and Japanese Holidays

Phone: 098-968-8772

Address: Okinawa Expressway, Kin, Kin-chō, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa-ken 904-1201, Japan

(Or copy and paste: きんの月ヒーリングスペース  4250-2 Kin Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture 904-1201)

Directions: Leaving Kadena Gate 2, head straight to the Koza Intersection. Turn left on to the 330, take this down until you hit the 329. Turn left on to the 329. Take 329 all the way to Kin. Once you are in downtown Kin, the building will be on your right, across from Hansen. Parking is right in front of the store or on the street.

Coordinates: 26.4632246, 127.92547569999999

Website: http://www.kintsuki.net

Link for Okinawa Natural Herb Meal: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Okinawaherbmeal/

CONTRIBUTED BY INORI HAYASHI

Editor’s Note: Okinawa Hai has partnered with Inori Hayashi, to provide a new monthly series written in a local voice. Our hope is to address some of the issues we all encounter while living abroad from a Japanese perspective. Inori-san grew up in Japan, attended an international school in Kyoto, and then moved to New York to attend college. She is married to an American military member and has a unique and thoughtful perspective that we are thrilled to feature here! Her posts will be published on the third Monday of every month.

 My father taught me the Japanese saying “Ichigo Ichie” when I was a child. It is a saying in Japanese tea ceremonies; it means to treat each other (the client and the host) with loyalty, sincerity and good faith, on the foundation that the encounter only happens once in life. Each interaction is unique on its own and will not be repeated or replicated again. Whether the gathering is short or long, it is significant to cherish every moment because it will never happen again in the same way.

I arrived in Okinawa two years ago. Upon arrival, I met one military spouse, and she told me that she did not make friends because of PCS – that there is no point in investing in friendship when people come and leave all the time. This idea did not sink in to me until very recently.

I would like to write about Kacy whom I met through my mother. Kacy is an empowered, wise and beautiful mother of two beautiful children. She has a heart as deep as an ocean. She laughs like there is nothing to worry about in the world. She weeps for unfortunate strangers. She is loud, but she is also sensitive and keen to smallest details. I love her for her strong sense of justice and ethics – along with her occasional pirate-like cussing. She also sings “My Only Sunshine” so softly and beautifully that her babies fall asleep. Eventually and unexpectedly, we became close friends. She also happened to be a military spouse like me. How often do we encounter something or someone special unexpectedly? How wonderful it is to have someone so precious and meaningful in life!

It was last month when I finally understood why that first military spouse said what she said about PCSing two years ago. Kacy’s time finally came, and she had to leave Okinawa. The sense of loss did not hit me until she got into the elevator at the airport and I could not see her anymore. It was then I realized that I never wanted her to leave the island. It came so fast, too fast. I missed her intensely.

It is true that Okinawa is different without her, but Okinawa has become a better place with her memories. More importantly, she enriched my life, and that is a permanent experience. She will always be my good friend. To apply Ichigo Ichie, yes, I knew that she was going to leave, but I am glad that I spent every moment with her with everything I could give – time, care, friendship, respect and trust. The interaction I had with her will never happen again in the same way – but what’s important and will always be constant is that it happened. I am also confident that I will meet her again.

We never know what comes out of a relationship. It sometimes feels hollow to invest into something that will be gone the next day. We often feel fear to lose things that we have. But what do we miss out when we conserve ourselves from possible heartache and pass on chances to meet people? Jodi Picoult in Handle with Care wrote, “I wondered about the explorers who’d sailed their ships to the end of the world. How terrified they must have been when they risked falling over the edge; how amazed to discover, instead, places they had seen only in their dreams?” What are we good for if we do not reach out for opportunities that enrich our lives? We should not be afraid of building new relationships even with unavoidable future because surely, every encounter is Ichigo Ichie.

For all you parents looking for a preschool that suits your kids, we’re hoping to add a little something to aid in your search. Parents of children who attend various preschools on island have filled out a series of questions about the schools for the benefit of the rest of us. We welcome more than one voice on each school since everyone has a different experience, so please feel free to add in your two cents in the comments.

If your child attends a school that has not been reviewed on this site, please contact our Submissions Manager for the template.

CONTRIBUTED BY MAE MARTIN

Name of the school:  Educare Montessori International Preschool

Address: Address: 1427 Adaniya, Kitnakaguzuku, Nakagami-gun Okinawa Japan 901-2316

Directions: It is 5 minutes from the Camp Foster Legion gate. When you come out from the Legion gate, go straight through the first stoplight. You will pass two more traffic lights and then the preschool will be on the right after the Panda Chinese restaurant.

Phone: 098-927-3076

Email: educaremontessoriokinawa@yahoo.com

Website: www.educaremontessorijp.com

Ages Accepted: 6 months to 5 years

Ages of Your Kid(s) in this School: Two Years

Admissions/Enrollment

What is the current number of students?  23

Is enrollment open/year-round enrollment or per semester?Enrollment is all year-round

Does my child have to be potty-trained to attend?  No. When my son started at the school, he wasn’t potty trained. The school was very helpful and helped me when it came time to potty train my son. They start potty training kids at the age of 2 at the school.

Can I bring my child in for a pre-enrollment visit?  Yes. The staff is very friendly and informative. I visited the school multiple times before I enrolled my son into the class.

Days and Hours 

What are the school’s hours? They are open Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Is the school on a Japanese or American schedule?  The school observes American holidays.

How flexible is the school with pickup and drop-off times? They prefer kids to be dropped off and picked up during the schedule kids are enrolled in, although they are flexible with parents’ schedules. They prefer to be informed about changes to schedule ahead of time. From my experience, they are always available and willing to work around my schedule.

Costs

What are the registration fees?

One – time payment of ¥ 5,000 for the registration

What are the tuition fees?

They are currently ruining a promotion which will continue until the class size has reached 30.

(Full Time)                                       Promo Price                        Regular

Plan A              6AM – 6PM                  ¥ 40,000                                  ¥ 47,000

Plan B              7AM – 5PM                  ¥ 38,000                                  ¥ 45,000

Plan C              9AM – 3PM                  ¥ 28,000                                  ¥ 35,000

(Part Time- 3 days a week)

Plan A              6AM – 6PM                  ¥ 30,000                                  ¥ 36,000

Plan B              7AM – 5PM                  ¥ 28,000                                  ¥ 34,000

Plan C              6AM – 3PM                  ¥ 25,000                                  ¥ 30,000

If any, what are the assessment and school supplies fees?

Baby Class (Happy Class) –   Free supply fee

Toddler Class (Faith Class) – Full-time ¥ 15,000 Part-time, ¥ 10,000

Preschool 1 and 2 (Hope and Love Class) – Full-time ¥ 20,000, Part-time ¥ 16,000

Are any discounts offered for referrals, siblings, volunteering, working there, etc.?  They give discounts on siblings and referrals. Also I know that staff and teachers are given discounts for their children.

Is there a late-pickup fee?  15 minutes beyond your contract time will be a charge of ¥ 500.

How and when does the school require payment (in yen, dollars, etc.)?  Payments are made in yen; however, dollars are also acceptable. The dollar amount depends on the exchange rate on the day tuition is paid. Tuition is due between the 1^st – 5^th of the month.

Parent Involvement and Interaction

Does the school encourage spontaneous visits from parents? Yes.

How do you communicate with parents?  They provide daily report diary, weekly behavioral management report, and monthly calendar of activities. They encourage a dialogue between parents and teachers upon parents’ preferable time.

Is there a daily report or other process for informing parents of what children did during the day (naps, BMs, snacks, etc.)?  Yes. The daily report diary is included activities, notes for parents, potty time schedule, meal record, and more.

Are there parent/teacher conferences?  Yes. They always give a notification and an update one month before the conference, but they are available for one on one meetings. They are very good with communication. I always talk to teachers every day when I pick my son up. They make us feel like a family.

Classroom Structure and Size

How are the kids grouped?  Kids are grouped according to their age.

What’s the teacher-child ratio in each group?

Baby room (Happy Room):    6 children to 1 teacher/ 1 assistant

Toddler room (Faith Room): 12 children to 1 teacher/ 1 assistant

Preschool 1 (Hope Room):   16 children to 1 teacher/ 1 assistant

Preschool 2 (Love Room):   20 children to 1 teacher/ 1 assistant (soon to open)

How many full-time teachers do you have? How many assistants?   Currently, they have 4 full time teachers and 3 assistants.

What is the school’s educational philosophy?  Educare Montessori International Preschool provides a home-like setting and learning environment filled with developmentally appropriate materials to provide experience that contributes to the growth of self-motivated, independent learners.

Is the school program developmentally-based or does it have an academic focus?  Montessori based curriculum is provided; however, children are given diverse activities where they may explore and learn.

Is there a playground for the children to play on?  The big vacant blue room is their playroom, but there is a playground behind the school building where they hold their Friday Fun-day at the park.

What do the children do on any given day?  They have structured Montessori curriculum with various activities on each subject. Curriculum involves Language and Arts, Mathematics, Geography, Sensorial and Practical Life Exercises where they do lots of activities.

Are there extracurricular activities or field trips?  Yes. They offer varieties of activities for parents to choose from. This month, they offer a swimming program which I signed my son up for. For this year’s summer program, they provided activities such as karate class and Eisa dance class.

How does the school discipline children?  Children are free to do anything appropriate within the ground rules of the school community, but are redirected promptly and firmly if they cross over the line. Adult intervention is done immediately and they remove the child from the situation. If the child is out of control and is unable to respond to redirection, the teacher chooses to have the child to sit quietly in “time-out” which does not last more than 5 minutes. Maximum punishment for misdemeanor is a “NO PLAYROOM/ NO PARK” policy.

How does the school comfort children?  They give a lot of hugs, talk to the child, and give children eye-to-eye contact to regain self-esteem. Another unique approach is making the child a classroom helper for the day.

Final Comments or Observations about the School:

Since my son has started going to Educare Montessori International Preschool, we have seen a lot of improvement. He now wants to help with chores and shows me new skills he’s learned from the school. Every time we drive past the school, he will ask if he can go. I am thankful my son enjoys his time at the school and I also like how the teachers and staff communicate with parents. They listen to my needs and requests and they always fulfill them. I am fully satisfied with the care my son receives. Most importantly, they never make me feel like I have missed out on my son’s daily activities.

Directions: It is 5 minutes from the Camp Foster Legion gate. When you come out from the Legion gate, go straight through the first stoplight. You will pass two more traffic lights and then the preschool will be on the right after the Panda Chinese restaurant.

Address: 1427 Adaniya, Kitnakaguzuku, Nakagami-gun Okinawa Japan 901-2316.

CONTRIBUTED BY ARIELLE SULLIVAN

This place is basically straight out of a fairy tale. I’m pretty sure Hansel and Gretel walked by this place every day, and I’m not 100% sure that there aren’t fairies flying around or that we don’t walk straight into a different world when walking through the sliding doors.

If there is a heaven on Earth, this is it. Right across the street from a spring and tucked away in a small Yomitan neighborhood is small, unassuming Bakery Suien.

There are a few tables, though one of the chairs is typically taken up by the resident cat, taking a nap.

There is a wide variety of breads to choose from including cinnamon sourdough, coconut, organic options and so many more I couldn’t even begin to remember them all. Behind the counter are the loveliest ladies you will ever meet. They are kind and helpful and dressed exactly as you would imagine a baker to be dressed. They’ll happily ring up your order and make you the perfect cup of coffee to go along with it.

The little shop is decorated with dried plants and flowers, small book shelves, an antique sewing machine, and beautiful light fixtures. Outside, the ivy is creeping along the walls of the building and the trees hang overhead making a sort of alcove.
Down the road is a neighborhood donkey who will allow you to pet her and will happily eat tall grass or any other veggie out of your hand. Careful to keep your distance from her teeth, though! If any of you are geocachers, which I hope you are, there is also a geocache hidden around there. It’s truly a delightful little area to explore, eat and meet a donkey. Enjoy!

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

CLOSED: Mondays and Wednesdays

Phone: 098-958-3239

Payment: 

Address: 367 Zakimi, Yomitan, Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture

Coordinates: 26.4048184, 127.7419632

Website: http://www.suienmoon.com