CONTRIBUTED BY JENNIFER GILES

If you are looking for a place to become a “regular”, Kitchen Dining Toki in Yomitan is your restaurant. It has a residential location, helpful staff, extensive menu and some extra touches that will keep you coming back.

Our friend wouldn’t stop raving about this restaurant, so we joined him there one night. Their extensive menu has both Japanese and English and is easy to navigate by the photos. We ordered 10 small dishes between the three of us and loved every dish. We are all big eaters and walked out stuffed. The salad, chicken, gyoza and sushi are highlights, and their cheese potatoes are classic comfort food. The dishes were served on classic Okinawan pottery and the glassware was Ryukyu glass. The staff is warm and patient, and are quick to recognize their repeat customers. It is a great place to become a regular and appreciate the local fare, especially the awamori.

They have a broad selection of local brands of awamori and the menu breaks the options down by grade (quality). This mini tutorial is very helpful for a first time introduction to awamori. Connoisseurs can purchase a stoneware jug (several sizes available) of your selected awamori and if you do not finish, the staff will put your name on it and keep it for you until your next visit. When you walk in the restaurant, to your left you will see the shelves full of traditional stoneware jugs awaiting the return of their patrons.

Kitchen Dining Toki has a laidback ambiance. Several evenings a week, an acoustic guitarist plays on the small stage in the front of the restaurant but the noise isn’t loud or imposing. The whole place is family friendly. Don’t be surprised if the owner’s granddaughter shyly toddles up to the stage and makes an appearance with the guitarist to briefly entertain the guests and staff.

I highly recommend this restaurant if you are in the Yomitan area and want to duck into a local place to enjoy authentic local food. We will certainly return, if not for the warm staff, then for our bottle of Awamori sitting on the shelf waiting for us.

Hours: Closed Monday. Open Tuesday-Sunday 5:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Phone: 098-989-9586

Payment: Yen or credit card

Directions: North of Tori Station, South of Cape Zanpa. It is located in a residential part of Yomitan, located on a hilltop east of route 6. Keep your eye out for signs for the restaurant along route six.

Coordinates: 26.415405, 127.735760

Website: http://kitchendiningtoki.ti-da.net (Japanese)

CONTRIBUTED BY MICHELLE BUDZIEN

Are interested in traveling down under, but you don’t know which city to go to? Do you want to maximize your time by seeing as many different cities as possible? Are you ready for a break from backpacking, going to and from the airport to get between cities, and going to a different hotel every couple of nights? Do you want to focus on sightseeing and not go hungry? Then cruising is for you!

After doing multiple extended vacations on our own (think 5 cities in 2 weeks, 7 flights, 5 hotels, etc.), we decided to book a cruise for our big trip down under! It was amazing! We spent 2 weeks in New Zealand and Australia, seeing 9 different cities (it should have been 10, but I’ll explain that later on.)

Travel Dates:  6-23 Nov 2014

We left at 8:50pm on 5 Nov, so it didn’t really count as a travel day. November is the start of their summer season, so we were able to save some money by going before all of the tourists, but we still had fairly warm weather. At the southern end of New Zealand it was a bit chilly, but definitely worth the price!

Airline:  Multi-city flight on China Airlines via Expedia for 2 people, roundtrip, including tax = $1,922

OKA – TPE – SYD – AKL

SYD – TPE – OKA

(Our cruise started in Auckland and ended in Sydney. This helped maximize the time we spent in port versus traveling back across the ocean to end in the same city.) Try to find overnight flights to help maximize your time! We left OKA at 8:50pm on the way there, and left Sydney at 10:10pm coming home.

Visa:  Not required for New Zealand but it is currently required for Australia. We purchased the electronic visa online. It was very easy. Check with the embassy before traveling to make sure nothing has changed.

Exchanging Money:  We used the ATM in the airport lobby. The fee was cheaper and the exchange rate better than the exchange booth.

Deciding Which Cruise to Take:  There are so many cruise lines to pick from, and we personally think they are all quite similar, so we look at price and itinerary. We were deciding between Royal Caribbean and Holland America because they were the main two cruise lines traveling to New Zealand and Australia during November. The deciding factor for this trip was the itinerary. Holland America included less days at sea; therefore, more days in different cities. Holland America definitely had older clientele, but then again, not many young folks have enough leave to spend two and a half weeks cruising down under! We didn’t mind being one of the dozen couples under age 50. We actually made a group of friends that we met up with almost every night after returning from day tours. Most cruise lines offer very similar features, so I think it’s best to look at the amenities of your cruise ship, the year it was built or remodeled, the ports of call, and the price!

What To Expect On Board: Checking into the cruise was a long wait, but once we got on board, we were ready to have fun! We had a nice sized interior room with a couch, TV, vanity, mini-fridge, and decent sized bathroom. (We’ve never paid for a window/balcony, although I was lucky to have a great corner room with a balcony on a cruise with my grandma! Ultimately, it doesn’t give you any extra perks on board (same food, same entertainment, etc.), so unless you plan to spend time on your own balcony, it’s not necessary. We prefer to be on the main pool deck with the music, people, and entertainment.)

Every day the cruise has a jam-packed itinerary! I joked that I was busier than when we’re home. Housekeeping will put the cruise schedule in your room the night before when they turn down the beds. We enjoyed activities like wine tasting, the kitchen tour, Name that Tune, trivia, and horseshoe. The cruise had a great fitness center, which is definitely needed after visiting the unlimited buffets!

For dining, you can pick between multiple buffets, the pool grill, or the dining room. We tend to eat breakfast and lunch at the buffet and dinner in the dining room. Usually there is one to two formal nights for every seven nights at sea. You can look at the menus for each location and decide; sometimes it’s almost the same food so it just depends if you want to get dressed or not! In the dining room, you can pick confirmed seating or open seating, and you can also pick between a set table with the same people every night or change it up each night. We did open seating so that we didn’t have to rush back from our tours. The wait never took very long. We also changed up who we sat with, but it does take longer the more people you sit with. It is nice to meet new people, but sometimes sitting with the same group is nice so you get past the pleasantries and actually have conversation. (Some nights we asked for a table for two so we could enjoy dinner together, but also make it to the shows on time!)

I love the cheesy entertainment, but some shows are a little too much for my husband! There’s an entertainment crew on deck and the cruise flies in special acts for certain nights. Typically, there’s a magician, hypnotist, comedian, and on this ship we had a violinist too. You can catch the early or late showing. Afterwards there is usually a late night club with a comedian, karaoke, or other entertainment. Plus, there’s always the casino. We don’t gamble, but they had a ladies’ night and men’s night with a free game and champagne, so that’s fun to try. There’s so much to do! (And if you have kids, there’s a kid’s room with activities and a teen dance club and more!)

This was probably a lot to take in at once, so read more tomorrow about each port of call!

CONTRIBUTED BY MICHELLE BUDZIEN

Are you interested in traveling to New Zealand and Australia, but you don’t want to have to worry about transportation between cities and packing up all of your luggage to switch hotels? A cruise is a great way to experience as much as possible during a relatively short time! To learn more about how we got to New Zealand and how we decided on this cruise, Cruising New Zealand and Australia Part 1.

Here’s what we did in each city:

 Auckland

We arrived in Auckland a night early so that we could do some sightseeing before the cruise began!

Hotel:  Ascotia Off Queen (booked on Orbitz for $91.24 – 15% coupon = $68.92) Definitely not the quality you’d expect in America, but for the price, it was fine for the two of us.  It was a great location right on the main drag. Small rooms, basic amenities.

Transportation:  The Airbus Express is about $16/person one-way from the airport to downtown.  It’s very easy to use and the bus driver told us what stop to get off at just two blocks from our hotel. Around the city there are a few different public buses that are also very simple.  They organize them in loops, the city circle, inner circle, and outer circle, as well as different numbered routes.  We hopped on the inner circle bus just to get a feel for the city’s edges without having to walk.

It’s a very student-friendly town, with a large university nearby.  Plenty of inexpensive, small restaurants including Japanese, Thai, American, and more.

During our day in Auckland, we walked to the Sky Tower, but decided not to pay to go to the top.  Then we walked across town to Parnell Village.  It was a small shopping street, but nothing too exciting.  Everything is fairly close together, even the cruise terminal is right there! If we had more time, we would have taken a city highlights tour or possibly gone to the Auckland Fish Market or on a harbor tour.

I’d recommend two days in Auckland, but you probably don’t need more than that unless you’re taking day trips out of the city.

Tauranga/Rotorua

8 Nov 2014

We docked at Salisbury Wharf at the Port of Tauranga, which is just a short walk from Mount Maunganui.  You can walk around the small town, there is a beach and a nice hiking trail up the mountain.  We booked a private tour to drive us to Rotorua. (I had researched excursions through the cruise ship, but then found private tour companies that offered the same tours for half the price. Many others did the same.)

Hinterland Tours ($106 ea)

We visited the Living Maori Village “Whakawerawera,” a geothermal hotspot with geysers.  It was very cool, but a little touristy.  The people claim to be living there on top of the earth where the geothermal activity is making the ground around them cave in. We watched a traditional Maori Haka cultural performance too. The tour also stopped at a kiwi plant, we drove through the Rotorua government gardens, around Lake Rotorua, and stopped at Rainbow Springs to see birds, wildlife, and a Kiwi (animal).

Back by the cruise ship, we decided to run up Mt Maunganui.  I’m so glad we did it!  It was only about 1 mile from the ship, and as we started running, we started hearing “bahhh bahhhh.” There were sheep and lamb all around us!  We didn’t expect that at all, and it was so beautiful looking at the harbor and the green hill speckled with white sheep!

Napier

9 Nov 2014

 Transportation:  There’s a free shuttle from the cruise ship into town.  If we wouldn’t have booked our tour, we noticed a cute bike shop where we could have rented bikes to tour the town.  The cruise ship is docked at an industrial port, so you have to take the cruise shuttle or a tour out of the port into town (approx. 1.5 miles).

A1Tours4U Half Day Wine Tour ($63/person)

We had a great tour guide who took us through the city to see the art deco, drove us up into the hillside to view historical houses and a great view of the city, took us to two wineries, and we ending the tour at the famous Te Mata Peak.  The wineries were great. The wine has very few toxins making it easy to drink.  The views from Te Mata Peak are beautiful too! We didn’t get to walk around the downtown area, but it looked very nice and there was a long stretch of beach too. It was a very cute town, I would have liked to spend a bit more time there.

Wellington

10 Nov 2014

Transportation:  Public bus available, but we walked!

From the cruise ship, it was about a 20-minute walk into downtown (very easy).  We went to the Te Papa museum (free entry), a National Museum of New Zealand.  It had very good exhibits.  Then we walked along Cuba Street featuring Bohemian shops and cafes.  We continued on to the Historic Wellington Cable Car.  We took the cable car up to the Cable Car Museum and there were great views of the city.  There’s also a zoo at the top, but we didn’t go there.  Back in the main area of town there’s plenty of shopping.  The city is beautiful and easy to walk!

Other options are the hop-on/hop-off Wellington sights tour, the seal coast safari, or a Lord of the Rings tour.

Picton

11 Nov 2014

Transportation:  You have to take a cruise shuttle from the port into the town.  The town is very small and walkable.

We decided to hike the Queen Charlotte Track.  You’ll see it on your map.  It’s about a 10-minute walk from the town.  The trail starts at a small boat harbor (not for the cruise ship, but for personal sized boats).  There are a few trails that you can take to the top. We just guessed and we were right!  It’s about a 1.5-hour hike to the Queen Charlotte Lookout. We enjoyed gorgeous views of the bay!  All of New Zealand is full of breathtaking views. We jogged back down in about 30 minutes. After that, we walked through the town.  It’s really only about three blocks long by two blocks wide. It’s a quaint town, but there’s not too much to see. Other options are sea kayaking, scuba, or a wine tour.

Akaroa (Christchurch)

12 Nov 2014

Transportation:  The boat can’t fit in the harbor, so you will take a tender to shore.  It’s a bit of a lengthy process, but we managed to get on the 1st tender at 7:10am so we got to shore by 7:40am.  In town, you can walk around or book a private tour.  There are plenty of tour guides waiting at the pier with options.  We pre-booked a tour since we knew we wanted to go sea kayaking here!

We loved our excursion!  We booked a sea kayaking trip with Pohatu Penguin Habitat ($75 each for the early bird option from 8am-11:30am).  Our guide picked us up at the port.  The tour was great!  We kayaked around a bay with dozens of fur seals and penguins!  Of course we forgot our waterproof camera on the cruise ship, but we still got some pictures with our iPhone.  (TIP: Don’t forget your camera!) We kayaked for 1.5-2 hours. The habitat also had baby penguins for which they had built little huts around their farmland. The huts were little boxes but had doorways in and out so the penguins could come and go as they please.

Another option is taking a tour to Christchurch.  Since we kayaked, we didn’t do this, but it was a very popular option for other guests on the ship. There were also Lord of the Rings tours and other scenic options.

Port Chalmers/Dunedin

13 Nov 2014

Transportation:  Public bus (You can pay for the cruise ship shuttle to Dunedin for $10, or take the public bus for about $4.)

The cruise ship docks in Port Chalmers.  They had a huge tent with free wifi right when you get off ship!  Inside the tent there were also lots of tour options.  At first we were going to take the hop-on/hop-off tour, but thankfully we were able to get our money back because we realized the city was very walkable (once you actually get to Dunedin).

We decided just to explore the city by foot.  It was a very windy day and definitely the coldest of our trip.  We visited the Dunedin Railway Station (right in the center of town), walked to the Cadbury World Factory (purchased some delicious chocolate), stopped in at the local Speight brewery, and shopped at a local version of Sam’s Club.  The Cadbury Factory offers tours, but we opted just to buy some chocolate.  (Later we found out they have an option for just a tasting tour that would have been fun.)  It was a nice city (smaller than Wellington but bigger than Tauranga, Picton, and Napier), but very chilly!

Some other options here are visiting the Larnach Castle, the Olveston House, Otago Peninsula (for penguins and seals – this was our backup option if they day prior had bad weather), or taking the Taieri Gorge Railway Tour (scenic railroad).

Unfortunately, our cruise ship was unable to make it to Tasmania due to rough waters in the Tasman Sea.  Instead, we spent two days in Melbourne versus one day.

Melbourne

18-19 Nov 2014

Transportation:  Public bus or tram ($15)

When you get off the cruise ship, they will have a ticket booth in the terminal for you to purchase a public transportation card that is refillable.  For $15, you get one day of unlimited travel.  The next day we paid about $7 each for a 2nd day of travel.  They admitted that it’s not the most efficient system since tourists are forced to buy this permanent public transportation card, but it was easy to use.  You can take the bus from the cruise terminal to downtown (the bus is specifically arranged for the cruise ship), or walk to the end of the harbor to catch the tram into town.

We took the 10:30am “I’m Free” walking tour.  If you haven’t heard of these tours, they’re great.  They offer similar tours around Europe and in Sydney.  Typically, college students will give a 2.5-3 hour walking tour around the town for no set price, just a tip. Our tour guide gave us some great information as she showed us all of the main areas downtown.  She explained Melbourne’s famous street art too (legal graffiti).

After the walking tour, we stopped in the State Library to see the Ned Kelly museum and access the internet.  It’s a beautiful library and we enjoyed the mini-museum upstairs. Back at the main square, Fed Square, the Federal Building has a free TV/media museum in the basement.  The architecture of Fed Square was pretty too.

At night, we took the tram to St. Kilda to see penguins (for free)! Instead of paying go to Philip Island, you can see the penguins here coming back to their nests at sunset at St. Kilda pier!  We saw a dozen or so penguins waddle on to the beach and back into their nests.  It was very cool!  There were a few local volunteers to explain information about penguins (and make sure we didn’t use our flash).

Day 2 in Melbourne: We took the $5 city tour shuttle around the city.  It’s basically a hop-on/hop-off tour bus.  It was fairly interesting and allowed us to see more areas of the city.

War Memorial:  A a very impressive monument just a short walk from Fed Square.  There was a museum in the basement explaining all of the wars that Australia has been involved in.

Other options in Melbourne: Since our port of call in Hobart was cancelled, we wish we would have booked the “In the Wild! Kangaroos and Koalas” excursion here.  It would have been $170 each, but we heard they saw the animals in their natural habitat.  There were also tours to the Healesville Sanctuary and Ballarat Sanctuary.  Other options included the Melbourne zoo, gold rush tour, Melbourne cricket ground, or the Great Ocean Road.

Sydney

21-22 Nov 2014

We found an inexpensive (for Sydney…) hotel on Orbitz ($100) hoping it was as good of quality as it claimed, but we’ve learned that quite a few of these big cities (like Singapore and Auckland) offer 3-4 star hotels that are not the same quality as most 3-4 star American hotels.  The location was fine (Chinatown), but the room was a bit dirty (it definitely needed a paint job, leaky faucet, and cheap furniture).

Transportation:   Public bus (or train)

Buy the unlimited pass!  We didn’t buy it at first, but we learned if you buy their transportation card, it will never subtract more than $15 per day.  We took the bus to our hotel, the bus to Bondi Beach, then the ferry to Manly Beach, and a bus back to our hotel (all for a max. of $15).  You can only put $10 increments on the card, so technically we “lost” $5, but it would have cost more than $20 if we had purchased individual tickets.  You can buy, or top-up, the cards at local convenience stores.

After disembarking the cruise ship and dropping our bags at the hotel, we took the 10:30am “I’m Free” walking tour of the city.  Afterwards, we walked across the Harbour Bridge.  We didn’t not pay for the Bridge Walk, as we thought it was overpriced.  I’ve heard it’s worth it, but we were still able to walk across the public sidewalk and get a great view of the opera house!

Bondi Beach:  It’s about 45 minutes one-way by public bus.  It is a big beach with hundreds of people, but since we live on a beach, it wasn’t too special for us.  There were lots of surfers, students, and biting flies.

Back in Circular Quay (downtown Sydney) we took the ferry to Manly.  The ferry ride is beautiful (great for pictures of the bridge and opera house). We walked through the cute town to get to Manly beach.  It was smaller than Bondi beach, but we liked the atmosphere more. There were nice waves for surfing and some shops along the edge.

The Rocks: A beautiful area of downtown to stroll, enjoy the street markets, and eat dinner.  There were lots of food stands and some evening entertainment.

Day 2 in Sydney: Blue Mountains and Koala Park (it cost about $112 each)

I really wanted to pet kangaroos and koalas.  A zoo-like setting, but I really wanted to pet koalas and kangaroos! They also had wallabies, wombats, and other native animals.  Our tour stopped in a small village for lunch before we headed to the famous Three Sisters Lookout at the Blue Mountains (similar to a smaller version of the Grand Canyon).  I didn’t expect it to be so covered by trees (not desert). On the way home, our tour guide drove us through the Olympic Village before we boarded a river taxi back to Darling Harbour.  It was a decent tour for the price.  I would recommend doing some research on tour companies because there were a lot of companies offering the same tour.  We decided last minute and just used the one that our hotel recommended.

Other options in Sydney include the Taronga Zoo, the Bridge Walk, seeing a performance like The Lion King, an Opera House tour, or going up Sydney Tower.

That concludes our whirlwind tour of New Zealand and Australia! We’re glad that we took a cruise and were able to maximize our time seeing so many cities. I hope our experiences give you some insight to help you plan your next vacation! Happy Travels!

CONTRIBUTED BY KEVIN “ELVIS” KING

The interior of the diminutive Buddhist hall was dark and uninviting. The top half of the open entry was filled with thick, sooty smoke attempting to escape confinement within the enclosure. The imposing yet mysterious chamber was too much to pass up, and like a curious cat, I ducked below most of the effuse and entered, all senses alert….

At more than 535 meters (~1,800’) above sea level, Mount Misen (弥山) is the highest peak on Miyajima. It is considered a holy site situated within the World Heritage area of Itsukushima Shrine (the subject of a soon-to-be published blog). On clear days, it affords spectacular views of the dramatic Shikoku Mountains in the distance and the beautifully island-studded, oyster-farming waters of the Seto Inland Sea. A number of Buddhist structures, most of them near the summit, are found here, including the gloomy Reikado Kiezu-no-hi (“Hall of the Eternal Flame”), described above.

My eyes quickly adjusted to the gloom, but not to the smoke of the smoldering fire. The effuse continued to sting my eyes, and the acidic vapor irritated my nostrils. But the scene that assaulted my very consciousness was something out of Tomb Raider meets Indiana Jones (see Tomb-Raiding Angkor for more adventuresome explorations). The ceiling of the space was covered in soot so thick that stalactites were forming, as if to reach down to the Eternal Flame from wince it came.

Buddhism was first practiced here by Kobo Daishi, founder of its Shingon sect and one of Japan’s holiest religious persons. The “Eternal Flame” is a holy fire said to be lit by he himself in 806 and continues to burn here, uninterrupted, even now. The temple structures near the summit all are satellites of the fabulously intriguing Daisho-in Temple found at the mountain’s base on the outskirts of town.

There was no flame visible, only the red-hot embers of a number of logs meant to feed the fire for quite some time. Smoke filled the cavity, tainted the walls black and stained dark brown all the recently hung wooden ema (see Shinto Shrines and Snake Oil Sales for more on this intriguing way of praying). The far recesses of the chamber were home to a whole wall of various statues and figurines, whose meaning was lost on me. We were the only visitors, the silence broken only by the crackling of the fire pit. The full frontal blitz of sight, sound, touch, taste and smell created an ambiance that was transformative.

Water boiled in a large iron cauldron over this fire is believed to provide curative powers over various ailments, and although we didn’t know it at the time, the water is always available for anyone to drink. The flame here also served as the source of the Flame of Peace in Hiroshima’s Peace Park, a pilot light transferred in 1964.

This holy fire, burning continuously for over the last 1,200 years, is designated a Lover’s Sanctuary by no less than Japan’s First Lady of Brides, Yumi Katsura. Seems a logical connection has been made of an eternal flame being akin to the burning passion of eternal love. Yumi, Born in Tokyo, spent time as a young woman studying haute couture while living in Paris. Returning to Japan in the 1960s, she realized there was no bridal industry of which to speak. Seeing an opportunity, Kumi opened her first bridal salon in 1964, and soon after presented the first bridal collection show ever held in Japan and published The bridal Book, the first Japanese book specializing in bridal fashion. Now one of the world’s most prolific wedding dress designers, she has expanded globally, her collections now found in some of the most exclusive stores, such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel and Neiman Marcus.

The Hall itself, however, is a relatively small building. Although the interior is completely unlit and filled with murky smoke, the lure of the eternal flame proves irresistible to most. If you enter, be forewarned: you will smell like delectable beef jerky for the rest of the day, until your clothes are changed and hair thoroughly washed! Of course those leaving locally purchased ema inside are said to be granted their loving wish(es). I, more cynically, believe it’s yet another way religion has found to keep itself – like the eternal flame, self-sustaining.

Jody and I, of course, left our own personal ema within the hall. While more of a declarative statement than a prayer or wish, surely we would not tempt the gods without paying our respects. To them and to our shared Love, both of which hopefully remain eternal.

While the hiking courses to the top advertise a 1½ to 2 hours climb, a more realistic number is probably actually closer to three. That is, if you stop to admire the scenery, check out the temples you might pass along the way, take a few photos, and rest to enjoy a swing of water every now and then. Even taking the ropeway roundtrip, we were still gone for easily 4 hours. Hiking the mountain up and down is clearly at least a full half day’s endeavor. But the true beauty of the area’s national forest, replete with rugged landscapes and giant rock formations, along with the dotted islands floating on the Seto Inland Sea below, are all probably at their most enchanting on foot. Thankfully, for those lacking the time or the willpower, a ropeway (cable car) leads up most of the mountain.

But when the ropeway ends, don’t believe that you’re close to your goal! Getting to the summit and seeing the main attractions that the mountain has to offer will require a consider amount of further walking. The ropeway station near the summit sits more than 100 meters (~330’) lower than the peak, and situated across a small valley. The path climbs and drops and then climbs again. Besides the energy-draining up and down serpentine design of the course, the summit is about 1 km (~0.6 miles) in horizontal travel away.

When you’re in Miyajima, take the time to journey up Mount Misen, if not to the summit, than at least to enjoy Reikado Kiezu-no-hi, either with that special travel partner you might have in tow, or in the hopes of gaining one in the very near future.

Getting Around Mount Misen:

The ropeway station is about a 15 minute uphill walk inland from Itsukushima Shrine or a 25 minute walk from the Miyajima ferry pier. The ropeway ride up the mountain takes about 20-40 minutes, the exact time depending on any delay in ropeway transfer that is required along the way. From the ropeway’s upper station at Shishi-iwa Observatory, it is still at least a 30 minute fairly strenuous walk to the summit. The Misen Hondo (main hall) and Reikado buildings are located along the trail, about five minutes before the summit.

Miyajima Ropeway:

Hours: Daily 9:00 to 17:00 (hours of operation vary slightly by season)

Fees: 1000 yen (one way), 1800 yen (round trip)

CONTRIBUTED BY JENNIFER GILES

We never expected to find such a lovely French fusion restaurant in Okinawa, but that’s exactly what we found in “Auberge” Bonne Chere Raout French restaurant in Onna Village.

French country décor fills the intimate second story dinning room dimly lit by chandeliers. They serve a set four-course dinner menu with a basket of fresh baked bread, an appetizer, a soup or pasta or salad option, two main entrée options and a dessert. Each dish was expertly prepared and beautifully plated with a classic clean French composition. The set menu was around ¥ 2,600 for the standard plating, or ¥ 3,200 for an upgraded entree which includes an additional serving of protein.

A husband and wife own and operate this French fusion restaurant. The husband prepares the food and the wife serves the meals. The wife initially apologized for her English, but did a wonderful job of reviewing the menu and explaining each of the entrees to us. She told us that they grow many of their ingredients themselves in the Onna area. They also make their own jelly for the bread and fruit preserves for the desert topping. We were impressed with the Beaujoulis red wine she recommended to accompany our meal. The house white was also fantastic. They offer Cote du Rhone, a favorite of my husband and mine, as well as several varietals not commonly found on Okinawa. All of the wines were poured generously and reasonably priced at ¥ 500 and up.

They also offer a lunch/brunch buffet option. The menu featured a picture of the spread with five or six entrees to choose from. Certainly a wonderful option if you want to take a break from local cuisine and opt for French.

Hours: Varied but traditional lunch and dinner hours Tuesday – Sunday

Phone: 098-965-3205

Payment: Yen or credit card

Address: 〒904-0417 Okinawa Onna, Kunigami-Gun 61-1, Maeda Japan

Directions: On route 6 near Maeda point

Coordinates: 26.438863, 127.76913830000001

Website: www.raout.com

If you are reading this, you are part of something special. You are part of Okinawa Hai, a group of people exploring exotic new places, eating exciting new food and making new friends. You do all of this while sharing the experiences with others, on Facebook, Instagram, or contributing to our site.

Okinawa Hai is always seeking to build relationships within the community and we want to share our newest adventure with you.

Okinawa Hai and Roy’s Okinawa Hawaiian Restaurant are teaming up to throw a wine and dine event exclusively for Okinawa Hai readers!

Maybe you’ve already dined at Roy’s or have just read the review on Okinawa Hai. At this private event, you’ll have the opportunity to sample a variety of items from Roy’s menu; appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Using local ingredients and unique homemade sauces, Roy’s serves up an original combination of Hawaiian-Euro-Asian Cuisine.

Upon arrival and confirmation of your name on our guest list, you’ll be served Roy’s signature Pineapple Martini welcome cocktail to kick off the party. In traditional cocktail style, there will be both seated and standing tables, allowing the Okinawa Hai community to mingle throughout the evening. A live pianist will be performing as you enjoy the food, 15+ varieties of wine, beer and house cocktails, all included with your reservation.

RSVPs required. Please RSVP at okinawahaistaff@gmail.com. A Paypal invoice will be then be emailed to you. Payment will be required within 3 days of receipt to confirm reservation.

GIVEAWAY

Thanks to Roy’s, we are excited to raffle off a FREE ticket to this event!

To Enter:

• Using the Rafflecopter giveaway below, log in using Facebook or your email address.
• Each task will give you 1 entry into the giveaway. Complete as many as you can for more chances to win!
• The counter at the top of the giveaway will inform you of how many entries you have.
• That’s all! Sit back and relax. Winners announced on February 5th.

Okinawa Hai & Roy’s Rafflecopter giveaway

Stay tuned to Okinawa Hai for sneak peeks, previews and more information. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Hope to see you there!

CONTRIBUTED BY JEANIE ANGEL

When we read an article about this place, we just had to find it! It is so amazing, different from anywhere I’ve had soba on this whole island. My husband loves soba, so that’s saying a lot. When you arrive there is a faint smell of slow burning wood. Smokey. It is a very eccentric place. Inside there are tables and chairs made out of wood and metal rebar. There are 2 tables that would be good for big groups (6-7) and 2 tables that are for smaller groups. They also have outdoor seating, but I wouldn’t recommend it as the smoke is there and doesn’t seem kept up very well, although we did see a gecko out there once.

They sell all kinds of handmade pottery items. Shisa dogs, plates, cups, knick knacks. After asking the woman who seems to own the restaurant, she informed us that her father is the one who makes all the pottery. They don’t offer much besides the Okinawa soba. They make the noodles fresh. We’ve had different noodles offered, buckwheat and goya were 2 that we got to try. They are located on a large piece of land and everything they offer is grown in their own garden. You can view it while you’re eating.

The restaurant has many windows to look out and see the goats, horses and the huge garden where they grow all the vegetables. They do serve goat sashimi along-side the soba. My husband tried it, I did not. I am not that adventurous. He said it was good and not chewy at all as it says on the menu. The first time we went we had different vegetables than the second time. You are served what is in season.

When you order your soba you are offered a choice of dessert: hot coffee, fruit plate or a coaster that her father makes. We always choose the fruit plate because it is always the fruit that is in season and perfectly ripe and delicious. We’ve had things such as kiwi and dragon fruit or sugared Okinawan sweet potato. Both were absolutely delicious. I hope you get a chance to try this one of a kind place.

Hours: 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Phone: 098-054-4605

Address: 694-1 Nakayama, Nago, Okinawa Prefecture

Directions: From Camp Foster Commissary Gate:

Turn right out of the gate and head north on the 58. Follow the 58 into Nago. Follow the signs for the pineapple park. Pass the Pineapple Park and Okinawa Fruitsland on your right. Follow this road up a long and winding hill. You will pass a glass art studio and an old fighter jet of some sort on your left. Shortly thereafter, you will see the small restaurant on your right hand side.

Coordinates: 26.6256266, 127.9662353

CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.

Here you’ll find a list of local events for the month of February.  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!

Latern Festival at Murasaki Mura

February 1st – 7th

Ryukyu Glass Art Indigo Sale
An annual sale on popular hand blown glass products.  Glass Art Ai Co. 211-1 Nakayama, Nago.  0980-53-2110

Tulip Fair
Over 80,000 tulip bulbs in bloom.  Tropical Dream Center, Ocean Expo Park. 424 Ishikawa, Motobu.  8:30am – 17:30pm.  ¥350 – ¥690. 0980-48-3624

Mount Yae Cherry Blossom Festival
Approximately 7,000 cherry trees like the 3km mountain road.  Mount Yae Sakura-no-Mori Park.  Free Admission.

Nakijin Gusuku Cherry Blossom Festival
Cherry Blossoms and night lightings.  Sitting 100 meters above sea level, the path leading to the castle will be lit with candles. Traditional Okinawan entertainment.  Nakijin Castle Ruins, 5101 Imadomari, Nakijin Village. 8am – 9pm, night lighting 6pm – 9pm).  ¥300 – ¥400

Okinawa International Orchid Show
30th edition for the Ocean Expo Park orchid show.  Over 30,000 orchids, events, workshops, and music performances.  

February 1st – 21st

Ryukyu Lantern Festival
The first ever lantern festival held at Ryukyu Mura.  Variety of entertainment, classical and modern music, dancing, food stands and more.  Murasaki Mura, 1020-1 Takashiho, Nakagami, Yomitan.  9am – 10pm daily.  ¥400 – ¥600.

February 1st – March 31st

Dog Run at Azama Sun Set Beach
Half acre grass field surrounded by nature and water for your dogs to run.  Azama Sun Set Beach, 1141- Azama, Chinen, Nanjo. ¥500 first dog, ¥350 for an additional dog.  9am – 5pm.

February 2nd – 4th

Piece of Peace
World heritage exhibit built with LEGO bricks. 3 Part exhibit. Urasoe City Museum of Art. 1-9-2 Fellow, Urasoe.  9:30am – 5pm. ¥500 – ¥650.   

February 4th

Baseball – Chunichi Dragons Practice
Chunichi Dragons professional baseball team practice.  Chatan Baseball Field, Chatan

February 5th

Baseball – Fighters Spring Training
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters practice in Nago.  Kunigami Stadium.  Kuina Eco-Sports Recreation Park.  8-1 Hanji, Kunigami.

2 Star
Live street performance.  Carnival Park, American Village, Mihama. 5pm – 7pm. Free

February 6th

Promenade Concert
Free concert performed by local & US military schools.  Koza Music Town, Otoichiba 3rd Floor.  Starts at 2pm.

February 6th – 7th

Okinawa Flower & Food Festival
Local production and consumption. Flower designs, contest and sales. Lots of local food.  Onoyama Sports Park, 52 Onoyama, Naha 098-86-9446.  No onsite parking, take monorail.

February 7th

KOZA Craft Beer Festival
7 Breweries from Japan will have their craft available for purchase.  Each beer costs ¥500.  Koza Music Town, 1F. Free admission. 12pm – 6pm.

February 8th

Baseball – Chunichi Dragons Practice
Chunichi Dragons professional baseball team practice.  Chatan Baseball Field, Chatan

February 10th

Baseball – Fighters Spring Training
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters practice in Nago.  Kunigami Stadium.  Kuina Eco-Sports Recreation Park.  8-1 Hanji, Kunigami.

February 10 – 14th

Naha Villa Cherry Blossom Festival
Within walking distance of Kokusai Street, about 400 cherry trees line the walkway throughout Yogi Park.

February 13th

2 Star
Live street performance.  Carnival Park, American Village, Mihama. 5pm – 7pm. Free

Wine & Art Night
Okinawa chalk artist Yukiko Sato is offering a chalk art with wine event.  Tickets available on website an include unlimited wine, soft drinks, tapas and art materials.  Ayakari No Mori 1214 Kishaba, Kitanakagsuku. ¥3,000 – ¥5,000. 6:30pm – 9pm

February 13th – 14th

Sakura Zaka Marche
“Small town festival” filling the streets with music and art.  Kibogaoka Park, 3-2 Makishi, Naha.  11am – 5pm. Free admission. Sakurazaka ASYLUM is being held in conjunction of this event.

Sakurazaka ASYLUM
Music, movies, paintings. Over 60 musicians and dozens of other artists.  Tickets available online, advance purchase recommended. ¥4,000 or ¥7,000 for both days.  Sakura Zaka Marche is being held in conjunction to this event.

February 14th

Ryukyu Symphony Orchestra
Music Town Sound Market, 3F, 1-1-1 Ueshi, Okinawa City. 3pm Curtain, 4pm Performance Starts.  ¥1,000 – ¥2,000 including one drink ticket.  098-932-1949

SNG
Live street performance.  Carnival Park, American Village, Mihama. 4pm – 7pm. Free

February 15th

Baseball – Fighters Spring Training
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters practice in Nago.  Kunigami Stadium.  Kuina Eco-Sports Recreation Park.  8-1 Hanji, Kunigami.

Baseball – Chunichi Dragons Practice
Chunichi Dragons professional baseball team practice.  Chatan Baseball Field, Chatan

February 19th

Baseball – Fighters Spring Training
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters practice in Nago.  Kunigami Stadium.  Kuina Eco-Sports Recreation Park.  8-1 Hanji, Kunigami.

February 20th

Baseball – Yomiuri Giants vs. DeNA Exhibition
Exhibition game in Naha.  Okinawa Cellular Stadium. 42-1 Onoyama, Naha.

Baseball  Chunichi Dragons vs. Chiba Lotte Marines
Exhibition game.  Chatan Baseball Field, Chatan ¥1,000 – ¥2,000

JRM Okinawa
UFO crop circle, photo exhibition, alien costumes, comic books, dance performances.  Carnival Park, American Village, Mihama. 1pm – 6pm. Free

February 20th – 21st

Chuba Kwacchii Festa
A gathering of popular restaurants from central Okinawa.  Will run in conjunction with the Okinawa Marathon.  10am – 5pm.  Okinawa Comprehensive Park.  Free.

February 21st

Nakano-machi Yakarazu
Prefecture musicians, Ryujyu dancers, actors, comedians, and street performance people perform in a variety of shows.  Music Town Sound Market, 3F, 1-1-1 Ueshi, Okinawa City. 5:30pm Doors, 6pm Show. ¥1,500 – ¥2,500. 098-932-1949

Baseball – Yomiuri Giants vs. Hiroshima Exhibition
Exhibition game in Naha.  Okinawa Cellular Stadium. 42-1 Onoyama, Naha.

Baseball  Chunichi Dragons vs. Chiba Lotte Marines
Exhibition game.  Chatan Baseball Field, Chatan ¥1,000 – ¥2,000

JRM Okinawa
UFO crop circle, photo exhibition, alien costumes, comic books, dance performances.  Carnival Park, American Village, Mihama. 1pm – 6pm. Free

February 22nd

Baseball – Fighters Spring Training
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters practice in Nago.  Nago Municipal Stadium.  21 Century Forest Park.  2-1-1 Miyazato, Nago.

Baseball – Chunichi Dragons Practice
Chunichi Dragons professional baseball team practice.  Chatan Baseball Field, Chatan

Bullfighting
Lunar New Year Bullfighting.  ¥3,000 Men, ¥2,000 Women.  Uruma Ishikawa Multipurpose Dome, 3302 Ishikawa, Uruma.  1pm.

February 26th

Uchina Music Festa
Live music festival.  Details to be announced.  Music Town Sound Market, 3F, 1-1-1 Ueshi, Okinawa City. 5pm Doors Open.  6pm Start.  ¥3,000. Contact uchifes.contact@gmail.com for inquiries. Tickets available for purchase on website.

2 Star
Live street performance.  Carnival Park, American Village, Mihama. 5pm – 7pm. Free

February 27th – 28th

Yomitan Pottery Festival
A yearly event located at the JA Farmers Market Yun. 2346-11 Kina, Yomitan.  10am – 7pm.

February 28th

YellowSoul
Live street performance.  Carnival Park, American Village, Mihama. 12pm – 7pm. Free

Okinawa Food Flea
Local food, local crafts, local entertainment.  Read about a previous Food Flea on OkiHai.  Free. Bring Yen for purchases. Ginowan Marina. 12pm – 6pm.

Illuminations

Zakimi Castle Ruins: 708-4 Zakimi, Yomitan.  Daily 6pm – 9pm. Free.  Weather dependant.
Stardust Fantasia: Kanucha Resort, 156-2 Abe, Nago.  Daily 6pm. ¥3,000 at event, ¥2000 in advance.

Ashibi Winter Elegance: Ashibina Outlet Mall, 1-188 Toyosaki, Tomigusuku.  Free. Illuminations until February 14th.  Snowfall at 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm.  Illumination show at 6pm, 7pm, 8pm. Daily. 098-891-6000

Tonan Night Decoration: Southeast Botanical Gardens. Illuminations until February 14th. 5pm – 10pm.  Admission ¥1,000 – ¥1,800. Annual passes available.

Yaese Park Nighttime Lighting: 170 lanterns light up the cherry trees.  Yaese Park. 6pm – 9pm. Free.

Other

It’s whale watching season!!!

CONTRIBUTED BY KEVIN SIMPSON

­Mr. Susumu Irie owns a business called THAIMON relaxation massage, down the street from Camp Hansen at 330 Kin Town, Okinawa.  He offers massages late evenings due to this being his second job.

Both professional and intuitive, Mr. Irie provides deep tissue massage, deep tissue oil massage and Thai traditional massage. Appointments are available in 60 minute, 90 minute or 120 minute intervals. Price ranges between ¥ 4000 and ¥ 8000 yen with an additional fee for outcall service/travel expense. He provides a quality professional massage to men and women, as well as a men’s only waxing service. If you prefer a massage in the comfort of your home or hotel (off base only), he also provides an outcall massage service.

Mr. Irie works the knots out of my shoulders and back very well. Leaves me loose and mobile after every session. Has a very comfortable space with soft meditation music playing in the back ground.  Welcoming atmosphere, offers a cool cup of tea before every session as he takes note of my concerns and specific areas to work on. I don’t enjoy the pain old age brings me, but I do look forward to him kneading it away.

Hours: 9:00 p.m.- 12:00 a.m. (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat)

7:00 p.m. -12:00 a.m. (Sun & U.S. Holidays)

12:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. (Wed)

Phone: 090 9658 8367

Payment: Cash only, Yen or USD

Address: 330 Kin Town, Kunigamigun, Okinawa

Website: http://thaimonokinawa.wix.com/thaimon

Email: thaimonokinawa@yahoo.co.jp

Directions: 

The 2016 calendar has been available for purchase since November 2015. If you don’t already have one, get one now!

The photo on January’s page was taken at Kakazu Takadai Park.
Photo Credit: Stephanie Gonzalez

CONTRIBUTED BY MICHELLE BUDZIEN

Do you live off-base or are you getting ready to move out into town? We love living off base, but, you will have more bills to pay! Thankfully service members authorized to live off base receive a utilities allowance so that should cover your monthly electricity, gas, water, and trash bills; however, you still have to pay them.

There are a few options for paying bills out in town.

• Before you sign the contract, negotiate with your housing agency to include the smaller bills (gas, water, and trash) in your rent. (Note: If all of your utilities are included, electricity too, the government may take away your utility stipend. Talk to your administrative department for clarification (IPAC/PSD).
• A local service that will pay your bills for you. This is helpful because many housing agencies only accept yen (cash) so you cannot link your bank account or credit card automatically to the housing agency; however, the service will link to your checking account and automatically convert your dollars to yen and pay all of your local bills. There is a fee though. As of December 2015, the service we used charged a basic fee of $6 per month, a consumption tax of $0.30, and a bank processing fee of ¥210.
  1. We did this for two and a half years for convenience. I did not want to have to go to the bank to get dollars (typically you can only take $500 out at the ATM), then go to an exchange business (to get the best exchange rate), and finally drive to your housing agency to pay your rent.
• Pay bills yourself.
  1. You can easily pay all of your utilities at a local bank, Japanese post office, or convenience store (Lawson, Coco, or Family Mart). It is super easy! After receiving your bill in your local mailbox, take it to the convenience store counter, they scan it, and you pay. They typically do not accept credit card, so you still need cash, but it is simple and you likely pass by one of these stores daily.
  2. For rent, you will likely have to go to your American bank, then exchange the dollars to yen, and take it to your agency. If your agency is nearby, that probably is not too much of a hassle.

Why we pay our own bills now? I work closer to home now, so it is easier for me to get to the bank and housing agency, but the main reason is the cash savings! I should have done this sooner! Although it seems like a service may only cost approximately $8 per month ($96 per year), that is not the case. They use a different yen conversion rate. For example, on our most recent bill, the exchange rate used by the service was 119. The actual exchange rate was 121.63, but I’ll round down to 121. ¥2 does not seem like much, but our rent is ¥230,000. With the service, we paid $1,932.77; however, on our own we would have paid $1,900.83. That’s a difference of $31.94, plus the ~$8 fees, for a total of $40 (approximately $480 per year). The exact savings will fluctuate monthly depending on the exchange rate you can find, but most likely it will be in your favor to pay on your own!

CONTRIBUTED BY BRIAN SULLIVAN

I discovered Fe-Nu Yoga last summer. Before, I casually hopped around yoga studios in Japan and California, unaware of the type of yoga I was practicing, discovering some positive benefits and change, but never really inspired enough to continue for very long. Fe-Nu studio and Tsutomu Sensei are changing this, increasing my motivation and ability to develop and maintain my own practice, at my own pace. How do Fe-Nu Yoga Studio and Tsutomu Sensei stand out?

Senseless, fluffy language does not happen here.

“Lift your soul to the sky and let your roots grow into the earth, grounding your compassion and fostering your connection with the world and the people around you” – language like this, which I found in the majority of my yoga classes in the past, usually left me distracted, baffled, and turned off from the practice. Don’t get me wrong, Fe-Nu is all about the love and connection, but for me, it’s presented in a more authentic and honest way.

Consistency

In Ashtanga yoga, students are led through the same poses every session and each pose is held for 5 breathes. I thrive off the predictability, which allows me to focus more on my breath rather than trying to figure out which pose I’m supposed to get into. It slowly becomes second nature. Also, this consistency has made it easier to measure my own progress and gives me a baseline for checking-in with my body daily.

Fe-Nu is part of the Ashtanga lineage

Tsutomu Sensei is a student of Nancy Gilgoff who traveled and lived in India starting in 1973 and a student of Pattabhi Jois, the founder of Ashtanga yoga. This means tons of knowledge and stories in class, which is truly a privilege to be a part of. In fact, yoga teachers from mainland Japan and around the world fly in to Okinawa to learn from Tsutomu. He’s been teaching for 12 years and teaches worldwide. This is the real deal.

Egos are left at the door

Don’t infer “the real deal” to mean beginners are not allowed, because even a sloppy yogi like myself is given a warm welcome. At Fe-Nu, advanced students sit beside beginners as equals. There are some incredibly skilled students in class, but the ratio of beginners to advanced, is balanced and the environment is far from intimidating.

English speaking

Though I’m usually the only Westerner in class, Tsutomu Sensei and all of his assistance speak perfect English. This makes the class that much better, allowing me to be exposed to Japanese language and culture, without the fear of being left hanging.

Hands on adjustments and Q&A discussions

All classes, with exception to Mysore classes, start off with a group discussion. You learn a lot about the practice this way, and for me, the more I understand the practice, the more connected I feel, which strengthens my motivation to practice. Also, Tsutomu Sensei and his assistants walk around the room making adjustments to every student, rather than visually demonstrating each pose. This allows me to feel the proper way to hold a pose, which sticks in my memory longer.

If you’re currently practicing or have been thinking about it for a while, you’re missing a prime opportunity to learn from one of the best by not coming. Though I can’t make the journey to Naha every day, Tsutomu Sensei and the community he has built, is well worth checking in on as often as possible. Also, once a week in the evenings, Tsutomu usually has a class in the Kadena or Okinawa City areas.

What I like about Fe-Nu and Tsutomu Sensei the most, is that I’m continually reminded of the abilities and knowledge that already exist inside of me. Students here do not become dependent, needy followers of a teacher, but instead leave with more desire and ability to continue a practice that will ultimately become their life-long teacher.

Schedule: Visit the Fe-Nu Website and click on “Studio Class”

Location: Visit the Fe-Nu Website and click on “Access.” If a class is held at a different location than Naha, it will be noted in the “Studio Class” section with a link to the location.

CONTRIBUTED BY OKI SOCIAL

Where to Dine on Valentine’s Day 2016 In Okinawa

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Oki Social went on a hunt around the island to look for romantic spots for folks who wish to dine out on Valentine’s Day in Okinawa. Here is a list we put together for you. Make reservations early. If you can’t secure a table for this special day, be creative and remember:

“Love is when you into someone’s eyes and see everything you need.”

Warren’s Place

Featuring: seafood gumbo, steak, smoked chicken, and powdered beignets.

Website: http://warrensplace.jp

Phone: 098-966-8418

Payment: Yen, Dollars, Credit Card

English Menu Available: Yes

English Service: Yes

Address: 476 Seragaki, Kunigami-gun, Onna-son 904-0404, Okinawa Prefecture

Parking Available: Yes

Taiyo Steakhouse

Read our Taiyo Steakhouse review here on Okinawa Hai

Featuring: seafood and steak

Website: http://iju.okinawa/restaurant-taiyo-golf-club/

Phone: 098-954-2020

Payment: Yen, Dollars, Credit Card

English Menu Available: Yes

English Service: Yes

Address: 〒904-2205 沖縄県沖縄市, うるま市栄野比1183, Taiyo Golf Club 2F

Parking Available: Yes

Sam’s By The Sea

Read our Sam’s By The Sea Okinawa Hai review here

Featuring: Maine lobster. Steak.Hawaiian style cooking and cocktails

Website: http://www.sams-okinawa.jp/by_the_sea/en_index.html

Phone: 098-937-3421

Payment: Yen, Dollars, Credit Card

English Menu Available: Yes

English Service: Yes

Address: 1-41-15 Awase Okinawa City, 904-2172

Parking Available: Yes

Roy’s Okinawa

Read our Roy’s Okinawa review here. Don’t forget our Roy’s & Okinawa Hai reader event here later this month!

Featuring: Ocean view dining. Japan fusion. Cocktails

Website: http://roys-okinawa.com/

Phone: 098-923-3002

Payment: Yen, Dollars, Credit Card

English Menu Available: Yes

English Service: Yes

Address: Okinawa-ken, Nakagami-gun, Kitanakagusuku-son, Route 85, 〒901-2305

Parking Available: Yes

Sea Garden

Read our Sea Garden Okinawa Hai review here

Featuring: Ocean view dining. American style cooking with local ingredients

Website: http://seagarden-okinawa.com/

Phone: 098-962-2775

Payment: Yen, Dollars, Credit Card

English Menu Available: Yes

English Service: Yes

Address: 沖縄県中頭郡 北谷町港15 シータイムビル2F

Parking Available: Yes

Transit Cafe

Read our Transit Cafe Okinawa Hai review here

Featuring: Ocean view dining. Amazing drink menu. Seafood. Japanese fusion

Website: http://www.transitcafe-okinawa.com/transit/index.html

Phone: 098-936-5076

Payment: Yen, Dollars, Credit Card

English Menu Available: Yes

English Service: Yes

Address: 2-220-2F Miyagi, Chatan, Okinawa

Parking Available: Yes

Asian Herb Cafe Kurukuma

Featuring: Hill top ocean view dining. Homegrown organic vegetable. Thai fusion.

Website: http://www.nakazen.co.jp/cafe/

Phone: 098-949-1189

Payment: Yen, Credit Card

English Menu Available: No (photo menu available)

English Service: No

Address: 沖縄県南城市知念字知念1190

Parking Available: Yes

Main Dining Fanuan

Featuring: Japanese fusion. Western style cooking.

Website: http://www.terrace.co.jp/en/busena/restaurants_bars/fanuan.php

Tip: Check website for dress code and age limit for children

Phone: 098-051-1333

Payment: Yen and Credit Card

English Menu Available: Yes

English Service: No

Address: 2F, South Tower, The Busena Terrace, 1808 Kise, Nago City

Parking Available: Yes

Resort Cafe Kai

Read our Resort Cafe Kai Okinawa Hai review

Featuring: Ocean view patio dining

Website: http://www.kai-web.co.jp/resort_cafe_kai/

Phone: 098-840-6333

Payment: Yen, Credit Card

English Menu Available: Yes

English Service: No

Address: 豊見城市豊崎5-1

Parking Available: Yes

Steak House JAM

Read our JAM’s Steak House Okinawa Hai review here

Featuring: Tropical theme dining. Local ingredients. Couple special.

Website: http://www.kai-web.co.jp/resort_cafe_kai/

Phone: 098-965-2626

Payment: Yen, Dollars, Credit Card

English Menu Available: Yes

Accept Dollar: Yes

English Service: Yes

Address: 1518 Fuchaku, Onna Village

Parking Available: Yes

Sunset or Night Dinner cruises aboard the Moby Dick

Featuring: Cruise dining. Course menu.

Tip: Sunset and night cruises available. Two days in advance reservation.

Website: http://www.westmarine.co.jp/mobydick/dinner_cruise.php

Phone: 098-866-0489

Payment: Yen, Dollars, Credit Card

English Menu Available: Yes

English Service: Yes

Address: 2-1 Tondocho, Naha City Naha Pier Waiting Area 1F “West Marine”

Parking Available: Yes (paid)

Looking for more? How about a pre-Valentine’s day celebration?

While romantic dinner, chocolate and roses are terrific ideas for Valentine’s Day, just in case you want something more or different to spice up this special day, we have some events listed to attend on the island with your other half. Check it out on Oki Social.

This post originally appeared on OkiSocial.com; we have received permission to republish it here. You can also find the Oki Social Group on Facebook.

CONTRIBUTED BY MINDY MORRIS

When I first started working at a school on base, I often found myself almost hypnotized by the lashes of one of the teachers I worked with. I knew I should be listening to her as she shared lesson planning ideas, but I couldn’t stop watching her blink! Every time I talked to her I walked away wondering how anyone could be blessed with such thick, gorgeous eyelashes. Then one day, she caught me staring. “I have a total lash crush on you,” I admitted. She winked at me and said, “I’ll share my secret with you later.”

That afternoon she came by the classroom and gave me Sana’s card. My life hasn’t been the same since. I’m not kidding you. From the day I discovered Petals Eyelash Extensions, I spend almost zero time getting ready in the morning. I have naturally light features, so for most of my life I refused to leave the house without mascara on. I remember once in high school not having enough time to put mascara on and all day people asked me if I was sick. That was pretty much the last time I did that. Now I wake up every morning with long, thick lashes and somehow that makes the rest of my make up routine seem almost unnecessary, unless I’m feeling extra fancy!

Eyelash extensions are applied lash by lash to your existing lashes to give you longer, thicker, darker lashes while still maintaining a natural look. These soft, synthetic lashes are highly customizable, so you can choose both the length and the curl of your new look. I personally always go with the C-curl and I’ve tried lengths varying from 7mm to 10mm, though my favorite look (and my go-to now) is 7mm transitioning to 8mm at the corners of my eyes. Sana will work with you to help you discover what best compliments your eye shape and color.

Your first visit is $70, which you can pay in cash or with a credit card and every visit after that is $25 if you go every 2 weeks, $40 if you go every three weeks, or $55 if you go monthly. Everyone sheds their natural lashes at different rates, so its completely up to you how often you visit.

Hours: By appointment, closed Sunday and Monday

Phone: 090-9721-9333

Payment: USD, all major credit cards

Address: 420-1 Ihei, Chatan, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa-ken 904-0102

Directions:

From Kadena Gate 1- Turn left (south) on 58. Turn left onto 23 and continue up the hill. You will see the sign for Coco’s Curry while you’re still pretty far away from the restaurant, you should turn right at the light just before you reach Coco’s. If you hit Coco’s u-turn and head back to the light. Go down that road just 100 meters or so, until you see a Chinese Restaurant on your right. Turn into the Chinese restaurant’s parking lot and park in the garage behind it. 

Coordinates: 26.326238, 127.76434470000004

Website: https://www.facebook.com/Petalseyelash

CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.

Cafe Nicoli is not new to Okinawa, nor should it be new to you. However, our last write up (which you can still find at the bottom of this post) was back in 2011 and since then, Nicoli has expanded into 4 shops! The newest location, which I recently stumbled upon, prompted this post.

The newest location is in Koza, Okinawa City, adjacent to a farmers market I frequent. It’s in walking distance of Kadena AB Gate 2, making it a pretty easy place to find. There is a paid parking lot across the street or you can illegally park on the street along with the rest of the neighborhood. The risk is up to you; neither Okinawa Hai or I are promoting your acts of rebellion.

Cafe Nicoli’s claim to fame is their scones, “American” muffins, and smoothies. In addition, they offer cookies, an assortment of sweet breads filled with savory ingredients (bacon, beans, cheese), and of course, a great selection of coffee and tea. If it were up to me, I would eat every single oreo treat. EVERY.SINGLE.ONE. They even have green tea oreo scones! After eating all of that, you’ll need something to wash it down. Nicoli has over 15 different types of smoothies, including, but not limited to, acai, raspberry yogurt, peach milk, black sesame oreo, caramel coffee, mocha, etc.

Cafe Nicoli located in Ganeka, Ginowan has limited seating, but Koza is strictly take out. If anyone knows about the other locations, please leave the information in the comments.

Cafe Nicoli (Ganeko)

Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Daily

Phone: 098-897-5807

Address: 3-4-6 Ganeko, Ginowan

Coordinates: 26.254648, 127.755000

Blog: http://niconicoli.ti-da.net/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cafenicoli

Brocante (Ginowan)

Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Daily

Phone:  098-943-3981

Address: 792 Uchidomari, Ginowan

Coordinates:  26.273343, 127.731721

Twitter: https://twitter.com/muffinBROCANTE

Nicoli (Mihama)

Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Daily

Phone: 098-989-1505

Address: 2-4-8 Mihama, Chatan-cho

Coordinates: 26.316218, 127.759305

Nicoli (Koza)

Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Daily

Phone: 098-989-7150

Address: 1 Chrome-15-8 Chuo, Okinawa-shi

Coordinates: 26.336886, 127.799851

CONTRIBUTED BY ASHLEY MORALES

Nicoli Front

While lost on my way to Seminar House one day, I came across a friendly bakery on the corner of a busy street. Stopped at the red light and in between loads of cars, my eyes gravitated toward the tiny building and I pondered how I would park in front of the building. I found out after a second visit that this place has its own small parking lot around the corner (large enough for two vehicles).

Nicoli Inside

Café Nicoli is a fabulous little bakery, which is nestled on a corner between a busy industrial road and a feeder road. It is famous for its scones. Some of the scone flavors offered are cocoa, plain, caramel, cheese and tea. There are other snacks that this café sells, such as pound cake muffins. Café Nicoli also offers a variety of fruit smoothies and hot and cold tea and coffee.

Nicoli Scones

The staff is very friendly and you can sit in the café while you sip your smoothie and take a bite of a scrumptious scone or a staff member can take your order to go so that you can savor it at home instead.

Nicoli Jams

Directions:  Instead of traveling down route 330, past Futenma, I visited by way of the expressway. More expensive, I know, but I passed traffic and saved time. Here are directions to Nicoli by the expressway: Get off at exit 2. Turn right onto route 330, north. When you come to the first large intersection with a bridge overhead, turn right. You will see Café Nicoli on the corner.

Phone:  098-897-5807 ‎

CONTRIBUTED BY JEANIE ANGEL

We are always excited to find something different on Okinawa, as we have been here for almost 3 years now. This place was a great change of pace. It is a type of ramen, but it is unlike any of the others we’ve encountered here.

They do serve a typical salt-based ramen, but it isn’t what they’re known for. You can order the soup hot or cold. We prefer hot, although I have never tried the cold. If it is anything like the hot soup, I’m sure it is delicious.

After deciding which temperature of soup you prefer you choose what size noodles you want; regular, medium or large. Regular is a pretty impressive serving size and satisfies most everyone we’ve taken there. You can choose what add-ons you want also. They have soft-boiled egg, bamboo shoots, thinly sliced onions, and many many more.

When your soup is served to you, it comes in two bowls. One with only noodles (made in house fresh daily) and one with the soup base and all your extra toppings. There are a slew of different sauces and flavoring ingredients on your table to change the taste of your soup to your personal liking. There is vinegar, chili oil, fruit vinegar, wasabi, and others.

After you’ve perfected your broth you are supposed to dip your noodles into the broth and slurp them down. The broth is thicker than most ramen and sticks to the noodles so you can really taste it on the noodles even though you’ve only dipped them for a couple of seconds. Also, the broth is stronger tasting than most ramen I’ve had.

Once you have finished all your noodles you can order some rice (offered sizes are small, medium, or large) and dump it into the remaining broth. There is a pitcher of “light soup” on each table to add to your broth/rice mixture. It makes the soup taste completely different. It is as if you have a whole new bowl of soup!

They do serve ice cream for dessert and have 2 high chairs available. I believe it to be a good place to take kids even though it doesn’t have a kids menu. You can easily order a larger noodle serving and a few extra toppings and share with your little one. They also have child bowls, forks and spoons. They also do take-out.

GT Tsukemen

Hours:
Weekday lunch: 11:30am-3:00pm Dinner: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Weekends and Holidays: 11:30am-9:00pm

Payment: Yen

English Menu and Take-Out Available

Address: Eaglelodge 1F, 458-1 Ihei, Chatan #904-0102

GPS Coordinates: 26.326138, 127.76496420000001

Directions from Kadena Main Gate: Turn left out of the gate. Take the first left onto 23. The restaurant is on the first floor of the Eagle Lodge on your left hand side in the first grouping of buildings you see. Parking available.

CONTRIBUTED BY HANNAH CURTIS

From the very first time I saw a picture of Anettaichaya I knew we HAD to go there; not only did the food look delicious and the views amazing but they had hammocks too. Quite possibly the perfect combination for an enjoyable, relaxing meal.

We arrived just as they opened and had our pick of places to sit and there are quite a few to choose from; an open air deck overlooking the Motobu peninsula, a couple of small tiki huts containing cushions to lounge back on and even a hammock!

The inside of the cafe itself or even outside the cafe on the wrap around porch which contains a few hanging chairs!

Of course we opted for the tiki huts which was most relaxing and made even more enjoyable by the beautiful sunny winter day.

While the menu isn’t overly extensive everything looked and sounded amazing, and between our family of 4 we got to try a decent portion of the menu.

Matt ordered the pho and it was very tasty with packs of flavor, while I settled on the Chicken Gapao Rice, which had a nice amount of spice to it, but definitely not unmanageable if you don’t like spicy foods.

Our girls both got French toast; one ordered the coconut & cinnamon, while the other went for French honey toast which came with ice cream & cream and a firm favorite by us all.

If you order a set you also get your choice of drink from tea, coffee or a variety of juices.

When we were leaving we made the comment to the owner how it was such a beautiful setting with great views, and he mentioned to come back just before the sun sets as it is truly breathtaking.

While we will have to save that for another time I can definitely imagine it being very beautiful.

Anettaichaya

Hours: everyday from 11.00 – sunset (lunch is from 11.00 – 14.00)

Phone: 098-047-5360

Payment: Yen only (no credit cards)

Address: 60 Nobaru, Motobu-cho

GPS Coordinates: 26.6675423, 127.90039150000007

CONTRIBUTED BY INORI HAYASHI

“This is what we do; we team up with people who have similar mindsets and rescue abandoned animals because we believe that every little life matters,” said the lady at the animal hospital I work at. She brought in a little kitty that was dying outside. The tiny white kitty with orange spots seemed so weak and fragile. The kitty was so immature that the veterinarians could not tell its gender. Later on, he/she was named Piper. With all the support by the veterinarians, animal technicians, and rescue team, Piper fought for his/her life bravely. Even though Piper did not survive, it was astonishing how all people involved – veterinarians, animal technicians, rescue team, and other people who financially supported Piper’s medical treatment – came together in hope of Piper’s recovery.

Recently, I experienced how wonderful the network for rescued animals here in Okinawa. I work as a bilingual medical desk at an animal hospital. For unexpected reasons, I decided to take in this stray miniature dachshund who was strolling on the street by himself. I knew I could not keep the dog long term, but I wanted to try finding his owner or at least a foster family. With his big eyes open, he looked both lost and excited. I was also excited because it was my first time to actually be responsible for a dog; I have only had cats. “This is going to be interesting,” I told the animal technicians and the veterinarians.

It was fun in the car because dogs have such personalities. It felt like I was driving with a little person. I even gave the dog a temporary name – Coconut Rum. I could tell that he was curious and looking forward to the place he was being taken to.

I have no clue why I thought it was going to be easy. The real struggle started when I got to my apartment. My apartment was a mess from my two cats battling each other throughout the day; the garbage can was flipped, and somehow pieces of toilet papers were scattered throughout the living room floor. As I put my palms against my face, Coconut Rum ran into the living room scaring away the cats. Both of my cats’ fur stood up for this vicious intruder into “their” home, and this was just the beginning. Numerous cat punches and attack attempts were made by my cats while the new dog was daring himself to explore this new place. It was impossible to catch my cats all tensed and feisty, and Coconut Rum’s adventurous and ambitious spirit did not help either.

This is not working out as I thought; I grabbed my phone and contacted a lady who is familiar with animal rescue teams in Okinawa. I already had contacted the police office, city hall, and animal shelters. I also made posts looking for the owner on numerous websites both in Japanese and English. Who would help me? I felt hopeless and lost; nobody was looking for a miniature dachshund that fit Coconut Rum, and it is such a commitment to keep a dog even temporarily.

This lady I contacted worked a miracle. She made countless posts on Facebook. Within an hour, I had more than four people who were interested in fostering the dog and one family who wanted to take him in if the owner did not claim him. I was astonished by how amazing the animal rescue network is in Okinawa. There were Japanese locals who responded to my posts and told me that they would also try to find the owner as well. The sense of the community was there; people were there to help this poor lost Coconut Rum. They responded to my help and made actions because just like the lady told me, they believe that every little life matters. The next day, Coconut Rum was given to a loving family. How quickly everything proceeded and how so many people were involved in the process was unbelievable.

Companionship between people and dogs has no cultural boundaries. Members of the animal rescue team come together to help animals in unfortunate circumstances – whether they are Japanese or Americans. In Okinawa, there is a great network for animal rescue that you can rely on when you need help. Even though this island has people with multiple cultural backgrounds, the heart that cares for every little animal is the same. Okinawa ranks the fourth prefecture in the number of killing abandoned dogs and cats in Japan. I hope that we can work together to make the island happier place for both animals and people and decrease the number of killed animals each year.

Your Okinawa Hai Content Editor with her own Sunabe seawall rescue kitty, Wasabi. Adopted via OAARS in 2009, he’s lived on Kadena AB, and stateside in Colorado, Nebraska, and now North Carolina. He is clearly not a fan of his mom dressing up like him for Halloween, but… Crazy Cat Lady gonna Craze.

If you’re looking to add a four-legged fur-baby to your family, consider adopting an Okinawa rescue before heading to the pet store. Not only will you save money, you’ll also help save a life.

Okinawa Rescue Resources: 

Karing Kennels
OAARS
Doggies Inc

If you know of other Okinawa-based animal rescue/pet adoption agencies, please leave their name and link in the comments!

Another day without diving. Come on weather, straighten yourself out! #OkinawaHai #Okinawa #Sunabe #Ocean #IslandLife #Japan #DailyOki

A photo posted by Okinawa Hai (@okinawa_hai) on Feb 15, 2016 at 8:48pm PST

Follow us on Instagram: @Okinawa_Hai

CONTRIBUTED BY LOUISE DUPUY

Matcha (pronounced mat-cha) is a finely grounded green tea. It’s from a special type of crop, special in the way it’s farmed and processed. Shade grown three weeks prior to harvest, with stems and veins removed during processing.

Traditional oriental tea ceremonies (Japanese, Chinese) focus heavily on the preparation, serving, and drinking of matcha. This was it’s original and traditional use. Modern tastes have seen the modest matcha powder be used in a larger variety of foods and drinks, from soba noodles and confectionary, to ultra trendy, ultra modern coffee house drinks. Let me share with you my top matcha treats.

Matcha Kit-Kats

Let’s be honest, Kit-Kats are pretty groovy all by their lonesome. In Japan, flavoured Kit-Kats are hugely popular, coming in a surprisingly wide selection (sakura, cheesecake, rum raisin, sake, beniimo, to name but a few). My favourite is of course the matcha variety. Happily, these are available year round (some are seasonal, like the sakura ones), and they taste great. They have a sweet taste, but it’s not overwhelmingly sugary. An odd thing to say about a chocolate bar but they’re actually sort of refreshing! If you want to dip your toes in the matcha pool without diving in head first, these are a good first stop.

Matcha Doughnuts

Another sweet treat, this time the doughnut gets the matcha make-over. Jack In The Donuts in Aeon Rycom’s food court gave the humble ring doughnut a shiny, green veneer. The result? Divine! Sugary sweet with a green tea flavour mixed in makes for a winning combo. I love these as an occasional indulgence (it’s a good sugar kick after a long hike around Aeon Mall and all it’s many shops!)

Matcha Latte

A modern twist aimed at a younger generation, the matcha latte is a mainstay in many local and chain coffee shops. In my opinion, the best on island can be found at Key’s Cafe on Highway 58. Have it hot or cold, regular or large. It comes iced (if cold), with a generous topping of whipped cream, finished off with a sprinkle of matcha and served with a smile. Wonderfully refreshing, enjoy it in-house (Key’s Cafe is popular with local students for studying, due to it’s serene atmosphere, toned down decor and plug sockets at almost every table) or grab it to go.

Matcha Milkshake

This sounds far out, but hear me out. Climax Coffee not only offer the usual matcha lattes, but milkshake too. A thick, creamy shake with strong green tea undertones comes served up with a heap of whipped cream. Again, surprisingly refreshing for a thicker drink, it’s a perfect cooler for a hot day. Don’t drink it too fast though, or you risk a strong brain freeze!

Matcha Shortbread

Slightly sweet, slightly savoury, this is an odd but tasty combination. The shortbread flavour hits you first, rich and buttery, then you get an aftertaste of the matcha. It’s pretty good, and at just under 200 yen from Lawson’s, it’s a cheap snack to boot. I would team it with a hot cup of tea, perfect for those odd cold days.

Matcha Corn Snacks

Another quirky taste, matcha covered corn snacks. They have an overwhelming matcha taste, mostly because the corn chip is coated in a thick layer. More savoury, so if you don’t have a sweet tooth these might suit you. I love matcha, but I did find these a little overpowering, so maybe share the bag with another matcha lover.

Honourable Mentions:

If I named every type of matcha related item out there, we would be here all day! So here’s a little shout out to some of the other matcha-inspired loveliness. See if you can find it!

Pocky: Japan’s most famous candy also comes in matcha flavour.

Roll cake: Swiss roll cake in matcha flavour? trust me, it’s divine. Key’s Cafe often have it, though it’s not a daily staple, sadly.

Chips: even the humble potato chip gets a green dusting. Various brands do them, you can get your hands on them at most convenience stores (Lawson’s, Family Mart).

Chocolate bars: if you can find these, stock up! Matcha chocolate is heavenly. Creamy chocolate taste with an infusion of green tea, it’s a taste best tried rather than described.

Finally, for any chefs or bakers out there, why not buy some matcha in its raw, powdered form, and cook up your own concoctions? You can buy it from supermarkets (like Kanehide), and even the Daiso (100 yen store) does small sachets.

Any suggestions I’ve missed? I’d love to hear about your favourite treats!