A quick sale on our awesome Oki Hai Calendars!  Just for today, the price will be moved back to the pre-delivery price — $16 for Oki Delivery, $20 for US delivery.

Order NOW!  Price will go back to regular price at midnight, Friday night EST.

Order 2015 Okinawa Hai Calendar

CONTRIBUTED BY ELIZA GROFF

If you’re looking for a fun atmosphere and some real Okinawan cuisine, check out Cha-Bira Dining on 58 near Nago. The colorful awning is painted with jovial drinking shisa dogs. My husband and I got out of our car in the main parking lot to be greeted by lively Okinawan music. The sign of the restaurant is impossible to miss due to its bright orange colors, and serial accent lights lining the top of the entire front of the building.

Inside, it is very casual. The wooden tables and chairs are clean and nicely kept, but there is nothing much in the way of decoration. The walls are painted with large murals of fish, children’s drawings, and an eclectic mix of wall adornments that emphasize the restaurant’s appreciation of marine life, which is an integral part of the Okinawan way of life.

We had been hiking through various trails in the northern part of the island, and we were on our way home to Okinawa City. Ready for a bite, we were pleased to find the service prompt and the food delicious. Cha-Bira offers a limited selection of Awamori, beer and cocktails, but we did not partake since we still had a drive ahead of us. The ice-water was quite tasty, and plentiful. They actually gave us American-sized glasses instead of the tiny 3 sip-size water glasses.

We ordered one tuna-avocado salad and a tasty noodle dish made with really thin Japanese-style noodles. I was impressed with the large size, and quality of the salad, made with fresh mizuna, lots of raw tuna, and lots of avocado. The dressing was a miso sesame glaze, which paired nicely with the tuna. It was one of the best salads I have had on Okinawa. The noodles were unique and also delicious. They were reminiscent of angel hair pasta, only made from rice instead of wheat. This restaurant is very affordable – our meals together cost less than 1,800 yen.

Unfortunately, we did get a bit of dish envy watching two other families order the meal special. Apparently, this restaurant’s specialty is making a pile of fresh vegetables, pork and fish that you cook yourself on a portable grill. It comes out looking like a mountain of food 18’ inches tall, but eventually reduces down to a sizeable meal for four people. This special was 3,500 yen, and looked well worth the meal price.

Cha-Bira also offers many local specialties such as a sushi plate with salmon and umibudo, whitefish and flying fish eggs, the Okinawan “bar food” silken tofu with cucumber and rabbit fish, goya champuru, and various other Okinawan pork, soba and seafood dishes. This restaurant is fun and casual if you are looking for a quick bite to eat, or a relaxing place to drink with pals.

Address: 1398-1 Koki, Nago, Okinawa 905-0025

Phone: 098-054-6300

Directions: If you are driving north on 58 from Kadena, you will pass Busena Terrace Beach resort on your left-hand side.  Drive past the Okinawa Suncoast Hotel in the small town of Koki, and then Cha-Bira is on the right-hand side just before the JA-SS gas station.  If you get to Kyoda Port, you have gone too far.  Or you can navigate there using Google Maps Ap by copying and pasting the phone number (0980546300) into the search bar.

Map Coordinates: 26.5411773, 127.95123060000003

CONTRIBUTED BY MICHELLE CAMINA

Along the northeastern coastline of Okinawa, dotted by sleepy fishing villages and occasional signs pointing tourists towards secluded cafes, sit a unique group of rock outcroppings fifty-four to thirty-seven millions of years old called the Fold of the Kayo Formation.

The Fold of the Kayo Formation was designated by the Japanese government as a Natural Monument September 19, 2012. The “fold” refers to layers of sandstone rock that dip and rise noticeably and quite erratically along a stretch of beach and highway in Teniya, Okinawa. One does not necessarily need to be a geologist in order to appreciate the significance of the area. These rock formations are unlike any you are bound to have come across on island before.

Beyond the rock formations are several “caves” where the sandstone has given way to gravity and tumbled out onto the beach.  In such spots, the rocks weep profusely with waters born from the Teniya River that flow from the mountainside.  This same river feeds two notable waterfalls near Teniya Beach’s entrance, and out into the area’s turquoise waters where Shark Fin rock formations may be easily spotted off in the distance as well.

The placard placed near the beach entrance gives a better overview of the Fold of the Kayo Formation’s geological activity than this novice rock hound could ever hope to give readers. It is worth noting though that the placard highlights trace fossils in the rock formation.

I and my husband trekked a good three kilometers along the coastline looking for these trace fossils (particularly the “snake-like” ones we believed would be the easiest to spot) but were unable to find the specific rock outcropping illustrated in the placard. We did observe evidence of several significant landslides along the stretch of beach the trace fossils were supposed to have been.  And although we are not one-hundred-percent sure that we may have simply overlooked the area we should have been looking for them in, (I can only hope!) we feared the possibility that these trace fossils may have been swept away in one of the landslides.

However, all was not lost!  I managed to snap pictures of a few rocks I was lucky enough to have spotted on the beach that seemed to bear the characteristic “snake-like” pattern of the trace fossils we were looking for.

Location: Teniya Beach, Teniya, Nago-Shi, Okinawa-ken, Japan

Map Coordinates: 26.5676746, 128.13648349999994

Address: 1-71 Teniya Nago-shi, Okinawa-ken, Japan

Directions: Travel north on the Okinawan Expressway to the 9 Exit and make a left onto Route 329. Once you have passed Camp Schwab take Route 331 towards Higashi through the Futami Bypass Tunnel. Keep straight along this road hugging the coastline and passing the Kanucha Resort. You will want to keep your eyes out for a set of white and blue signs that point to “Fold of the Kayo Formation” on the left side of the road. There will be two of these, but take note that each is merely a separate entrance to the same rock formation.  So if you happen to miss the first sign, be sure to look for the second sign immediately after you pass the 40 km road sign and park your vehicle near the road blocks that prevent thru traffic from disturbing the formation.

The third Fold of the Kayo Formation sign will be approximately half a kilometer down the road from the first two signs, but on the right. In addition to this sign there are other signs pointing to Teniya (at the time of this posting) that should help point you in the right direction. Follow this road straight. You will pass farmland, an old playground, and a small shrine. As you continue to travel along this road, you will notice that the road will come to the top of a hill and then curve back around steeply. Take the first left that you see as you come down this portion of the road.

Additional notes: The beach area is mostly comprised of rocks (not sand) making the trek treacherous in places that a pair of flip flops would otherwise ruin your feet. Therefore, wear water booties or an old pair of trusty sneakers. Be aware of falling rock and slick algae growing on river and beach rocks. Pace yourself, and most importantly, bring someone along with you in case things get hairy. This is not a day trip that you want to go alone and wind up stranded. Nor is this a trip that families with small children should attempt lightly. Be aware of the tides!

The 2014 calendar was available for purchase in November and December of 2013, and for a limited time in the early months of 2014. Our 2015 calendar is available for purchase now. Purchase one for yourself – or as a gift for others – here.  

This was December’s page:

Kokusai Street 

Photo Credit: Jacqueline Huber

“Festivals galore
Food, fireworks, many blessings
Living in Oki” -Monette Eames

Chatan Hanabi Festival

Photo credit: Ryan P. Burger
rpbphotos.com

Zakimi Castle

Photo credit: Michelle Delaney
madbananaphotography.com

CONTRIBUTED BY ANTHONY CAMINA

It is that time of the year. A time for Christmas carols, sleigh bells jingling and beautiful lights a twinkling. If you thought being on Okinawa meant that you would have to sacrifice these yuletide traditions, then read on for some friendly suggestions. One thing the Okinawa people have embraced over the years is the American concept of Christmas. It is understandable that the warmth of the holiday season would eventually be infectious to the local residents.

The southern parts of the island celebrate Christmas in grand fashion, but I have always found a special charm in Okinawa’s northern areas. Don’t get me wrong, I love taking a stroll through Aeon or San A’s décor and the Southeast Botanical Gardens or areas around Itoman have spectacular exhibitions well worth a visit. If you are like me and take a serious pocket book beating every holiday, then fun and free activities during all the time off are particularly good ways to get in the holiday spirit without turning in to Ebenezer Scrooge. Here a few of my suggestions:

1. Exes Resort’s Kariyushi Million Fantasy

This resort is located directly off Highway 58 just south of the Okinawa Expressway 10 Exit. The resort features well over one million lights throughout the grounds in 11 different illumination areas.

The illumination exhibit is open to the public and visitors are welcome to enjoy the souvenir shops and various cafés and restaurants on the grounds. There are many signs that point out the resort and the entrance is hard to miss as there are parking attendants and grand illuminated archways visible from highway 58. When you drive into the road just tell one of the parking attendants with the glowing traffic wands “illumination” so they know you are visiting for the lights and are not an actual hotel guest. Parking is also free, though you may have a bit of a walk to the main illumination area depending on how crowded it is. I recommend going during a weekday to avoid the Japanese tourist congestion. The display runs from November 29^th to the end of June and can be enjoyed from sunset until midnight daily.

Website: http://www.kariyushi-oceanspa.jp/illumination/index.html

Phone: 098-967-7500

Google Map Coordinates: 26.528977, 127.928923

2. Zakimi Castle Illumination

Zakimi Castle is bathed with vibrant blue, red, and green spotlights for this holiday season. The light cascading across the ancient archways and through the forest creates an enchanting scene well worth your time.

Aside from the colored lights, the fresh smell of the pine trees also adds to the Yuletide atmosphere. The views of the city skyline and stars (on a clear night) are also an added bonus. The castle will be illuminated from November 1^st to January 29^th and can be enjoyed from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Website: http://www.vill.yomitan.okinawa.jp.e.iq.hp.transer.com/events/2014/11/post-366.html (English language button is on the top right corner of the page.)

Directions: Zakimi Castle is located just north of Kadena Air Base in Yomitan. From Highway 58 take either route 6 or route 12 east and follow the white point of interest road signs to the park. Traffic attendants will direct you to the best parking areas.

Google Map Coordinates: 26.406515, 127.742308

3. Kin Town Christmas Displays

The residents of Kin Town are working hard with Camp Hansen to extend friendship and hospitality to their neighbors by setting up a few holiday displays. The most obvious attraction is just outside Camp Hansen Gate 1 and features an impressively tall Christmas tree in the center of a fairly elaborate holiday diorama. This first holiday area is changed to a traditional Japanese New Year’s theme right after Christmas. Kin Town Square, located behind Richamocha Café, also has an impressive array of lights and features a more traditional looking tree. Finally, for those willing to venture away from the base can find another holiday lighted area at the Kin Town spring. For the first two areas, I recommend parking at the municipal parking lot across from Restaurant Karia and adjacent to Camp Hansen Gate 1. The spring can be found north of Camp Hansen Gate 1, just turn right at the turn across the street from the Kin Family Mart and follow the green road down the hill. Details can be found at Camp Hansen’s Facebook Page.

Kin Spring Map Coordinates: 26.454052, 127.928488

4. Ocean Expo Park’s Winter Fantasy

Ocean Expo Park has a brilliant light display located in the main and central area of the park. Christmas music plays throughout the grounds as you enjoy the glow of various aquatic characters all decked out for the holidays.

The dancing fountain in the center of the park is also in the Christmas mood as it is creatively lit up with strategically placed colored spotlights.

The Winter Fantasy runs from Nov 15^th until December 28^th and can be enjoyed from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Directions: Exit the Okinawa Expressway exit 10 and travel North on Highway 58. Turn left onto route 449 and follow the road until you get to route 114. Turn left on route 114 and look for the parking areas to the left.

Website: http://oki-churaumi.jp/en/index.html (English language button is at the top.)

Google Map Coordinates: 26.690599, 127.879454

The opportunities to enjoy Holiday Cheer are abundant and affordable on Okinawa. In some cases all that are needed is the willingness to beat the barracks or base housing blues and to get out and explore. Until I write my next story, I hope to see you all out making your own.

CONTRIBUTED BY AMI EIMERS         

Name of School: Kids Plus 1 drop in Child Care
Address: 1-4-6 chatan, chatan-cho Okinawa  904-0116 Japan  
Phone: 098-989-1575
Email:  kidsplus1@trad.ocn.ne.jp
Website: http//www2.hp-ez.com/hp/kidsplusone

Ages Accepted: 1-12 years old

Ages of Your Kid(s) in this School: 1, 3

What is the current number of students? n/a

Is enrollment open/year-round enrollment or per semester? n/a

Days and hours:

What are the school’s hours?  7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Costs:

What are RATES?

Final Comments or Observations about the School
Anyone ever had a chance to be stationed at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina? Then you probably took advantage of that great place called Play Date – where you could do a drop-in child care session and run around to get errands done. Well, being a wife of a husband that is off island more than he is on island, I was looking for a place that I could do drop-in child care with little to no notice. Finally I found a place! Kids Plus 1 is exactly that. It’s a great place with loads of toys (including a climbing wall). I took my two little shy ones there last week. They wouldn’t let me leave the first 10 minutes; after that my son told me to go and come back to pick him up!

The staff are really great with them and speak a little English. I think they do field trips with kids that are there all day. They offer discounts for multiple children and even long-term rates. This is ideal if you want to go to the gym or Christmas shop without all the baggage.

Directions: Heading south on 58 when you get to the road where Fosters Spot gate is, turn right (towards Araha Beach). At the end of the road turn left and the place is immediately on your left hand side next to AU Phone Company.

Map Coordinates: 26.3084313, 127.76191210000002

CONTRIBUTED BY MINDY MORRIS

From the minute you arrive in Chiang Mai, you will see advertisements for Tiger Kingdom. They are on the taxis, on the buses, on the fliers handed out on the street corners. However, for such a widely advertised tourist destination, I was surprised by the authenticity of the animal encounter.

Tiger Kingdom is set up with large fenced-in enclosures where tigers are separated by size. There are walkways in between each so that if you do not wish to actually go inside, you can still get great pictures of these beautiful animals. There is also a restaurant and a gift shop for those who want a less hands-on experience. You buy tickets in packages depending on the “size” of the tigers you want to interact with. They have “Smallest,” “Small,” “Medium,” and “Big” tigers. I was definitely most excited about the “smallest” tigers. I want to interact with the smallest of everything. Very small puppies? Yes, please. Very small kittens? Absolutely! I’m a sucker for anything that is very small! So that was a no-brainer.

When we were there in 2013, the tickets were priced as follows:

Big Tiger: 420 baht per person

Medium Tiger: 420 baht per person

Small Tiger: 520 baht per person

Smallest Tiger 620 baht per person

Packages:

Big (or Medium) & Small: 840 baht per person

Big (or Medium) & Small & Smallest: 1260 baht per person

All four: 1480 baht per person

After buying your tickets, which they stamp as you enter the designated enclosures, you are free to pick the order in which you use them. Once you decide on an enclosure, you are led through one gate into an area where you trade your shoes for slippers and leave your belongings in a cubby. This helps to keep the tigers from being exposed to anything that backpackers and tourists might track in. (You can bring in your camera, but flashes are prohibited). Then an English-speaking employee preps you on the rules to keep both you and the tigers safe. Some of these include never to touch their heads and, naturally, to follow the instructions of the trainers, only walking, sitting, moving where they direct you. After that you go through a second gate into the enclosure with the tigers. Each encounter lasts between 10-15 minutes.

Tiger Kingdom is the only tiger encounter in Thailand that boasts that its tigers are neither sedated nor restrained. The tigers are only exposed to humans for a couple of hours a day to keep them from being overly stimulated, so the enclosures that are open rotate. There are several dens that contain small, medium and big tigers, but it is worth noting that the “smallest” tiger exhibit can be hit or miss. It is only open when they have tigers in the 2-4 month age range, and if there are only a few baby tigers, it will be closed after the tigers have been interacting with people for a certain amount of time.

We decided on the package with “Big, Small and Smallest” tigers, and visited them in order of their age. Saving the “big” tigers (also the most intimidating tigers) for last. I fell completely in love with the smallest tigers, cuddling up next to them to take pictures. The “small” tigers were a bit more playful and engaging and it was easy to forget that they are, in fact, tigers and could be threatening. They were just so cute, curious and friendly. I believe that these encounters are open to families of all ages.

The “medium” and “big” tiger experiences are only open to adults and children over the age of 15, and it was immediately clear to us why. While we were walking by one of the “big” tiger enclosures, which was closed at the time, a little girl, maybe 3 years old, toddled by holding her mother’s hand. She immediately caught the eye of one of the larger tigers that got up from where it had been perched, lowered itself into a crouch, and began stalking her like prey. Although the family was safely on the other side of the fence, it still made the hair on my arms prickle. Despite what anyone might say about these sleepy felines being drugged … that animal was not sedated.

When it was our turn for the “big” tiger experience, we were prepped again on what to expect and how to behave. The tigers in this large enclosure were all spread out in various stages of catnaps. Tigers (like most cats) sleep for about 18 hours a day. We were directed where to sit, how to pose, where we could pet them and where we could not. It did not have nearly the same feel as the smaller tigers, which we could interact with more freely, but after resting my head on the rib cage of a giant tiger whose heart I could feel beating through my body, I was okay with that!

You are allowed to bring your camera in to the enclosure, but the trainers are not allowed to take pictures for you, as they are required to give their full attention to the tigers. However, you can hire a photographer for 299 baht who will take pictures during each of the encounters for you and put it all on a CD at the end. (Or you can do what we did and just take pictures of each other since only one person is really allowed to interact with the tigers at any given time.)

The only drawback to the whole experience, in my opinion, was that you couldn’t buy a baby tiger in the gift shop afterward. I think our dog would have loved it if I’d brought one home as a souvenir.

Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai

Hours: Open daily 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Address: 51/1 Moo 7, Rim Tai, Mae Rim 50180, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Directions/Transportation (quoted from Tiger Kingdom’s Facebook page): “The easiest way is going by Tuk-Tuk, red cab or Taxi. It’s about 400-800 Baht for the round trip. Driver can wait and stay with you until going back to the hotel or the other places. The best way is let your driver wait for you because it’s difficult and quite expensive to find a car or taxi going back to the city from our place.”

Special Note from the Author:

I know that zoos can be a hot topic, and there are a lot of tiger encounters in Thailand that I wouldn’t be comfortable giving money to. Those that keep their animals sedated, starved or restrained seem inhumane to me. Tiger Kingdom was the only place that I saw advertising that their animals are neither drugged or chained. Instead they are bred in captivity (another hot topic for some, I know) and are trained and exposed to people from two months old. After doing a little bit of research, I decided that I was comfortable enough with the treatment of the animals at this zoo to buy tickets for a tiger encounter. And I have to say, it was one of the most memorable parts of my trip to Chiang Mai. I loved interacting with the tigers and was very impressed by the staff. There are trainers in each of the enclosures who were genuinely loving toward the animals. I won’t get into whether or not the affection you see demonstrated by the tigers is real, or whether it is simply about who feeds them, but you could tell that the affection on the side of the employees was real. They really do love these tigers.

CONTRIBUTED BY ELIZA GROFF

Far East Engravers is a fantastic local business owned by a former U.S. Marine, employing Okinawan citizens. I use this company to engrave many different forms of glassware, wood, and they even do ink printing on cork. On their Facebook page, Far East Engravers showcases a range of the types of products that they offer, from framing and engraving military awards and going away gifts, to customized Awamori sets or crystal port decanters.

I have been very impressed with the high level of customer service and prompt turnaround on my engraving orders. I have ordered cell phone cases, kitchen hot pads, cigar cases, whiskey/wine/champagne glasses, beer mugs, kitchen containers, and more, all at a very competitive price. They always have my order ready on time.

I even had to place a rush order, and the owner stayed late at night to complete my order for me by the next day! I am not suggesting that you ask him to do that, but I was deeply impressed by his commitment to his business, and his willingness to meet my needs as a customer.

If you need ideas for going away gifts, or anniversary presents, they have a catalog for you to see many different samples. The friendly staff is also willing to offer suggestions and help with product design. I highly recommend Far East Engravers for any custom engraving needs.

Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed Saturday and Sunday

Phone: 090-3790-5977

Address: 3 Chome-1-9 Mihama, Chatan-chō, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa-ken, Japan

Directions: Next door to Obbligato’s on Highway 58. From Kadena Gate 1, go south past 23 and the Family Mart. You will see Obbligato’s on the right hand side. Far East Engravers is in the building south of Obbligatos on the second floor, marked by a white banner with black writing. You have to walk up the stairs on the outside of the south side of the building and behind the building to find the entrance to Far East Engravers.

Map Coordinates: 26.32219915450408, 127.75730178280332

E-Mail: fareastengravers@yahoo.com

Specials: 10% off with order of 10 or more of the same item

CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.

A friend and I were on the prowl for a tasty breakfast in a cute setting where we could talk and hang out for a while. Our usual places were closed. It was a typical Wednesday on the island … we forgot about all the cafes that close this particular day of the week. Both of us remembered recently passing what looked like a new cafe, so we backtracked and checked it out.

We are so glad we did!  Located between American Village and Araha Beach, this place is easy to get to, and well worth the visit. Our immediate reaction was how cute the interior was. It was simply decorated, with a french boutique flair, plenty of light, and even some outdoor bar-style seating.

We were pleased with the menu selection. The Eggs Florentine included sauteed spinach and avocado served over a toasted baguette topped with homemade hollandaise sauce. Delicious! The baguette itself had so much flavor and I was impressed with how flavorful yet light the hollandaise sauce was.

The Veggie Omelette was impressive as well. It was a large omelette stuffed with eggplant, zucchini, onion, bell peppers, cheese and avocados. We both ordered a side of country potatoes, which was a mixture of white potatoes and beni-imo potatoes in large chunks, cooked just perfectly to keep its tenderness yet have an exterior crunch.

We were also pleasantly surprised with the size and taste of the Hawaiian coffee they serve.

Menu – click to enlarge

The second and most recent time I went back, I ordered the Eggs Benedict (I know, I’m really mixing it up). They serve three different kinds: apple bacon, smoke salmon and basil chicken. You get to chose two different kinds or two of the same, if you prefer. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the options.

My dining buddies this day also tried the smoothies, Tropical Sunrise and Berry Berry. Completely different flavors, but after we passed them around the table we were all in agreement they were both fresh and delicious!

Menu – click to enlarge

In addition to these meals I’ve already tried, they have a variety of more egg dishes, pancakes, french toast, sandwiches on homemade baguettes (I can’t wait to try those!), and a few others. Please check out Hale Noa Cafe when you get a chance, and let them know Okinawa Hai sent you!

Hours: Wednesday thru Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Closed Mondays & Tuesdays)

Phone: 050-5257-0396

Menu – click to enlarge

Takeout: Yes

Kid-Friendly: Yes (Highchairs available, no childrens menu)

Payment: Yen Only

Address: 2 Chome-18-6 Chatan, Chatan-chō, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa-ken

Menu – click to enlarge

Directions: From Camp Foster’s Spot Gate, turn left onto Route 130. Go straight through the light, crossing 58. When you come to the T intersection at the next stoplight, turn left. Drive straight for about two blocks, and immediately after you cross the bridge, Cafe Hale Noa will be on your left.

Map Coordinates: 26.3062259, 127.76082329999997

Parking: Attached Lot

Editor’s Note: The Annual Okinawa Burger Festival is held every fall in late November or early December depending on weather. At the time of publication of this article in 2014, the event is scheduled for December 14, 2014.  If you know the date for 2015, 2016, etc. please let us know in the comments and we will update this post!

CONTRIBUTED BY ANTHONY CAMINA

If you’re a burger lover, you’re going to want to commit this to memory: The grandest burger showdown of the year is held every fall in late November or early December in Okinawa. This year, it happens to be right around the corner on December 14th in Ginoza village. Thirteen Okinawa eateries will all be competing for the top position as having “The Best Burger on Okinawa for 2014.”

The reigning champion is the “ToTo La BeBe Special,” which took top honors in 2013, and also happens to be my favorite so far. In 2013, the inaugural year of the festival, the town was expecting 4,000 visitors and was pleasantly surprised by more than 7,000 people showing up.

Because of the massive popularity the venue was moved to the Nou-Son Park, which also houses Ginoza stadium and has much larger facilities. There are no tickets or entrance fees for this event. The way things work at the festival is you visit the vendor of choice which will either sell you a whole or half burger. The latter size will come in handy if you want to sample several proprietors’ burger creations.

When you receive your burger or half burger you will also be given a marble. If you deem the sandwich worthy, you put the marble in the jar with the label of the corresponding food vendor. At the end of the day, the establishment with the most marbles wins.

Parking can be found at the Ginoza Stadium, Ginoza Dome, village offices, or via a shuttle at Ginoza Flea and Farmer’s Market. If you are missing your Five Guys, Fuddrucker’s or In and Out fix then you have no excuse for missing this extravaganza of meat, cheese, bacon, and bun goodness.

Directions: The Burger Fest is just north of the Okinawa Expressway 9 Exit. Just look for the signs for the stadium on Route 329.

Address: 1847 Sokei, Ginoza-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa-ken, Japan

Map Coordinates: 26.481938, 127.972435

Christmas trees are up & stockings are hung, menorahs are ready to be lit, and the rest of us are mesmerized by twinkling lights everywhere. You’re in the holiday spirit… and so are we.

This week we are running a GIVEAWAY! We will be giving ten FREE 2015 Okinawa Hai Calendars to you, our readers. All that’s required is for you to leave your name, email address, and answer an easy question. That’s it! For those of you who are as addicted to social media as we are, you can earn extra entries by ‘liking’ our Facebook Page and following us on Twitter and Instagram.

Of course, if you don’t want to wait until next week to get one of these beauties in your hands, you can buy one right now.

Thanks to all of you for being a part of our community. Whether you’re in contact with us all across the internet or just a quiet reader, we appreciate each and every one of you. Happy Holidays to you all!

 Click here to enter our Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions: Giveaway ends December 18th at 11:59 PM Tokyo time. Open to those with valid US or APO/FPO box addresses only. Winners will be selected by Random.org and will be notified by email; each entrant can enter once and is eligible to win one (1) 2015 Okinawa Hai Calendar only. Winners will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are in no way associated with this giveaway. By providing your information on this form, you are providing your information to the managers of Okinawa Hai alone. We do not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of contacting the winner.

CONTRIBUTED BY MICHELLE CAMINA

Kin Dam Park is one of the newest parks to open in Okinawa. Located just past Camp Hansen, off Route 329, Kin Dam Park offers plenty of scenic walking, jogging, and biking paths for park enthusiasts to explore.

On an exceptionally clear day, one can easily see across Kin Bay to Ikei Island’s signature red bridge or look upon the natural beauty of the Okukubi River reservoir flowing under both the Okinawan Expressway and Kin Bridge at several vantage points within the park.

However, the best vantage point sits atop the Kin Dam Site Office building. It is accessed by climbing a steep set of stairs leading to the building, and then a series of others on the right to the rooftop. Be aware that park employees lock access to the rooftop after 5:00 p.m. so do try to get there early to gain access to this part of the park.

There are actually two sides of the park area to explore. The first side is the dam side proper where one may scale a series of stairs in either direction from a small parking lot and restroom area marked Yamakumo Plaza located directly below Kin Dam’s spillway wall. Water features, mini bridges, benches, and picnic areas abound here. Access to additional parking lots, a second restroom, and the Kin Dam Site Office building are available as well.

The second side of the park area is directly across the road from Kin Dam. From the Yamakumo Plaza parking lot and restroom area one will notice a walking path leading towards the underside of Kin Bridge and parallel the dam’s spillway river containing old remnants of a crumbling bridge and aqueducts. This side is marked as Okukubi River Seseragi Plaza. There are a few more water features and mini bridges to see here.  However, the path ends abruptly near farmland and a dirt road that appears (at this point in time) to still be under construction.

Location: Kin, Kin-Cho, Okinawa, Japan

Map Coordinates: 26.4648913978072, 127.93174920487672

Admission: Free

Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Directions: Get off on the Okinawa Expressway 8 Toll exit and take a left onto Route 329. You should see signs for Kin Bridge and Kin Dam just after passing Camp Hansen’s Gate 2 and driving under a small overpass. Take the first left you see right before the Kin Bridge (do not cross the bridge!). This will lead you to the bottom parking lot and restroom areas off to your left. Access to other parking lots at the top of the dam wall may be found following this same road a bit further down and looking for a sign to the Kin Dam Office building, or opting to turn onto Highway 104 to look for an entrance marked by red and white checkered yellow barrels on the right.

Additional Notes: Since the park is newly developed, there is little shade provided by tree saplings planted throughout the area. So sunscreen, hats, umbrellas, and sunglasses are advised.

CONTRIBUTED BY ELIZA GROFF

We worked up an appetite on our weekend expedition exploring the Nakagusuku Castle Ruins and Nakamura House. While those are both worthwhile cultural visits, our meal at Bangasa in the Plaza House Shopping Center was equally as impressive. Bangasa is a Japanese restaurant featuring both Western table seating and recessed tatami mat seating. We arrived just after 2:00 p.m., which is that weird time when restaurants close between serving lunch and dinner. We actually intended to go to Krishna next door, but they were closed for the 3-hour afternoon break. We got lucky, because right next door was this fantastic café.

As you approach the restaurant from the outside, you see the yin and yang door curtains, meant to brush off the evil spirits as you pass through the doorway. Upon entering, you see a clay dragon pot fermenting Awamori, and a couple of other Okinawan specialty crafts displayed: a crab mural made of sea glass, hand painted Shisa tiles and Shisa statues, pottery flower vases with the openings in the shape of Okinawa, paper cranes, paper umbrellas, horse figurines out of clay, and some signs written in kanji. There is even a spikey shell like those used to ward off evil and bring good luck that are often placed on the gates to Okinawan homes. They also had art for sale on the walls – mostly water colors of traditional Okinwan homes, typhoon trees like those in Bise, and dragon boats in the beru (the Great Wave of Kanagawa) blue water roped to the coastline.

We chose to sit at a Western style table, and we picked our lunches from the kanji picture menu. There was not an English menu, so you have to be a little adventurous, or speak a little Japanese to know what you are getting. Luckily, we were pleased with our set menu orders. I got a cold green noodle soba dish with a raw quail egg, vegetable and shrimp tempura, and some various kinds of sushi. I loved the chewy sweetness of the pickled mushroom sushi roll. They were generous with lunch portion sizes, and the coconut gelée with sprinkles was a kiss of pleasure to close the dining experience.

My husband was pleased with his grilled eggplant rice bowl and inari soba served with sweet egg pudding. We were impressed with the meal prices. Hot tea was included, and our lunch total was 2,100 yen. They also offer set menus for more than one person of various kinds of sushi that looked fantastic.

A note to the cold-blooded – Bangasa is air-conditioned in the Western way; my husband loved it, but I found it to be too cool. Bring a sweater, ladies.

The Plaza House Shopping Center is not far from Kadena Gate 2, Plaza’s main gate or the Foster Legion Gate. If you find yourself in Kita-Nakagusuku exploring the village, going to Okinawa Zoo, or simply shopping at the Plaza House, I recommend swinging by this restaurant on the 3^rd floor.  It was a fantastic, convenient, and casual lunch.

Directions: From Kadena Gate 2, Road 20, turn right (south onto 330). The Plaza House Shopping Center is before you get to 85 on the left-hand side.  Bangasa is on the 3rd floor.

Address: 3-1-12 Kubota Okinawa City Okinawa

Map Coordinates: 26.3197637, 127.79401529999996

Phone: 098-930-1910

Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. (Last order 10:00 p.m.)

Payment: Yen or credit card

CONTRIBUTED BY ANTHONY CAMINA

Charming atmosphere, hospitable owners, and creative craftwork await you alongside some delicious meals at Igokochiya Izakaya. The restaurant is a new addition along the 329 in Yaka and stands out due to the in-house woodworked signs, décor, and furniture.

Both times I have visited, I was warmly greeted by the owner, Mina-san who is very welcoming and speaks a decent amount of English. She is very attentive and is willing and ready to answer any questions about the menu or Izakaya in general. The other owner, Midori-san smiled and waved from the kitchen but is usually busy preparing the meals.

Menu – click to enlarge

The majority of items on the dinner menu are Okinawan-themed with a bit of the owners’ own touches to make things interesting. I ordered the Yakebuta Soba which is a savory onion and leek soup with thinly sliced pieces of smoked pork. If you have been on-island any length of time you may be soba’d out, but I recommend giving this dish a try as it was quite tasty and different enough to stand out among traditional Okinawa Soba.

My wife was feeling more adventurous and ordered the Obanzai set which is comprised of a collection of various serving cups which contained a mini bowl of soba, fried tofu in caramelized potato starch, white rice, egg carrot and lotus root salad, sautéed eggplant,  sautéed mushrooms with pork and cabbage. Both sets were a generous amount of food considering they were only 800 and 950 yen respectively.

After our great dinner experience we decided that “in the name of science” we would return for lunch so we could write a more complete review. Of course a few weeks would go by until this actually happened and after returning we noticed a great deal more English posted on signs and on the menu. It was also very evident that Mina-san had been working very hard on her English as she perfectly described the items on the lunch menu from memory.

My wife had the subata set which was a sweet and sour pork stir fry with onion, bell pepper, and carrots. On the same plate as the stir fry were garlic pasta, potato salad, and salad with sesame dressing. The meal was accompanied by a bowl of white rice and a cup of egg drop soup. It was a ton of food for only 750 yen.

I went with the “special of the day” which happened to be the tempura set. With this set I got tempura, a bowl of sauce for dipping, white rice, pickled sliced plums, and some yummy miso soup. Considering I was stuffed to the gills it was a heck of a deal since my meal was only 500 yen. You can’t even get a value meal that cheap anymore.

If while dining you happen to take a liking to any of the décor in the Izakaya, Mina-san has a showroom filled with handmade crafts that are all for sale. The showroom is worth a look and will give you a chance to walk off a little of your meal before you have to squeeze behind your steering wheel after such generous portions.

Hours: Lunch 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Payment: At the time of this writing, the Izakaya only can accept Yen.

Phone: 09087989045

Directions: From the 6 Expressway exit in Ishikawa drive north toward Camp Hansen. When you get to Yaka you will see a concrete factory on the left. Igokochiya is across the street on the right, or side of the road closest to the ocean. Park under the tall large pavilion.

Address: 2600 Yaka, Kin-chō, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa-ken, Japan

Map Coordinates: 26.442936, 127.847493

CONTRIBUTED BY KASSIE O’DRISCOLL

About two months ago, my friend Manami introduced me to her friends, Wakako & Tsukasa. She told me about their dessert cafe in Naha and how it was famous for crepes. During our conversation, we had a pretty intense exchange about the difference between American cupcakes vs muffins. It was both hysterical and amazing, and by the end of the night I knew I had to find my way to their cafe.

Picture this: A month or so later, I was exploring Naha for some handmade goodness and, naturally, I was completely lost. With hopes of finding the street that my map was telling me existed, I turned off of Kokusai Street down a random side street. There it was, the “Sweets Cafe O’Crepe” sign on the side of the road. I’m not even sure how I remembered that that was the name of the restaurant, but I immediately pulled over! It was destiny!

I got a friendly greeting from Tsukasa when I walked in and I took in all that is O’Crepe. It’s a charming little cafe on the second floor that’s been completely decorated by Wakako. I chose the seat by the big window, where you can look over a small schoolyard and take in the Kokusai area from above.

There’s a small table right with some handmade goods for sale and a nice book that I think was made for their opening anniversary. While I waited for my crepe, I flipped through the book and saw my two friends, Homary and Manami, were featured in the back and had signed it! Super cool!

After having a delicious chocolate, rice flour crepe with tasty fresh fruit, I vowed to bring my friends back here the first chance that I got! Luckily for me, that chance came up just a few a week later. Yay for me!

The second time around, we had time to enjoy lunch AND dessert – what a concept! O’Crepe has three lunch set options: a pork sandwich, green curry, and an omelet that are all made by Tsukasa’s mother. With the set, we got shrimp spring rolls and a pumpkin potato salad. You can also choose from coffee or tea.

I ordered the pork sandwich, which was a nice combination between salty bacon and fresh veggies. It was on a crunchy baguette with a light mustard and was just enough to leave me satisfied.

My friend, Michelle, let me try her green curry and I was happily surprised. It wasn’t the typical Japanese curry. Instead, it had a coconut milk base (so we think) and was light! Interesting and oishii!

Then, to my delight, everyone was given a miniature crepe for dessert. My friends were surprised that it was a rice flour crepe and loved that there was a little crunch within the filling. Also, can we just talk about how tiny that fork and knife are?! Adorable!

Overall, both trips to O’Crepe have left me happy and eager to return! I will go back every chance that I get!!

Address: 沖縄県那覇市松尾2-6-12 2階

Phone: 098-868-3113

Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Closed Wednesday and the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month

Map Coordinates: 26.2146651, 127.68675889999997

The giveaway is over. Ten lucky Okinawa Hai readers have won a FREE 2015 Okinawa Hai calendar. If your name was among one of those lucky winners, we have emailed you with the address you provided. Please respond promptly so we can get it to you quickly.

If you didn’t win a calendar, don’t panic! We still have more for sale.

Order yours here before they’re gone.

CONTRIBUTED BY MICHELLE CAMINA

By far one of the nicest places on island to get one’s PT on is Onna Village’s Akama Athletic Park.

The park features (at the time of this writing) all new facilities.

In addition to a combined track and soccer stadium that sits separately from Onna Ball Park stadium, there is a wide soccer field overlooking the beautiful Onna coastline.

Telephone poles aside, the view of Tancha Bay’s turquoise waters are breathtaking from several vantage points within the sports park. The scenic Sekiryo mountainside backdrop behind Onna-son Samsung Dome is equally beautiful. The dome is situated on the easternmost side of Akama Athletic Park and perched above a large parking lot abutting the aforementioned facilities.

There are gazebos to picnic at and laze in the shade.

There is also a mini circuit course where one may do pull-ups, leg raises, planks, and a weird foot conditioning exercise (you would have to see it to understand) that focuses on stimulating certain pressure points in the heels.

But in this writer’s opinion, the best feature of Akama Sports Park is the soft rubberized running path encircling both stadiums and a parking lot. There are altogether four designated paths one may choose to run depending on the intensity of the desired workout. And each path takes full advantage of the scenic views of the coastline, mountainside, and river that feeds into the picturesque moated area nearest the track and soccer stadium.

Hours: 8:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.

Address: 7441 Onna Onna-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa-ken, Japan

Directions: From Kadena Gate 1 turn right onto Route 58 and travel north to Onna.  Once in Onna, look for an elongated white sign with blue lettering on the left-hand side of the road.  It should read “Akama Athletic Park 600 m” with an arrow pointing to the right.  There is an additional sign not too much farther down for the 7 Okinawa Expressway Toll Road in Yaka.  Take a right at the light going towards the toll and look for the entrance to the park on the right.  If you have made it all the way to the toll road itself you have gone too far!

Map Coordinates: 26.4717348, 127.84085879999998

Additional Notes: Bring sunscreen, bug repellent, a small hand towel, and ¥ for Dydo machine drinks.

CONTRIBUTED BY MEGAN WATERS

Awase Sanchome is my favorite ramen spot on Okinawa. A bold statement, I know. But having sampled about a half dozen ramen spots around the island, I can say with some confidence that this place is the best. Sanchome is set up as a typical ramen shop: a bar that seats 6 or so, and a few tables that in total can accommodate about 20.

It’s a true locals place; my husband and I go at least once a week, and we’ve only ever seen two non-Japanese people there besides us. The owner is a very sweet woman who is a big fan of jazz music, which always plays over the speakers, and American paraphernalia, as seen by the various decorations of U.S. license plates, old signs for Route 66, and toy locomotives. Although the staff does not speak much English at all, there is an English menu available and so we’ve never had any difficulties with communication.

Now, on to the food. On the menu are three choices of absolutely delicious, piping hot ramen—salt, soy, or miso broth, with the usual fixin’s—which range from 600-700 yen. Toppings can be added to any soup for about 100 yen—hard-boiled egg, extra pork, extra niri (dry seaweed), corn, extra noodles, spicy miso, etc.

In addition to the ramen, Sanchome serves excellent gyoza made with local pork and a superb green dipping sauce that I believe is made from shikwasa (citrus similar to a lime). You can also order kimchi, which has a really nice kick to it but isn’t overly spicy, either a small dish for 100 yen or rice topped with kimchi for around 450 yen. There is a limited selection of drinks, including beer. My favorite meal is the miso ramen with an egg, and a side of gyoza or kimchi depending on how hungry I am.

If I have a craving for ramen (which is often), no other shop can satisfy. I think it’s all in the broth. I have such an obsession with this place that I recently googled ramen recipes to see if I should just start making it at home. Turns out that good ramen takes 15 hours to make. Now I know why it’s so delicious, and I’m just going to leave this one to the experts.

Finally, Sanchome offers reward cards, which is really useful for me: purchase 5 meals and your 6th bowl of ramen is half off.

Hours: Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Dinner 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Closed Tuesday dinner and all day Wednesday

Payment: Yen only

Phone: 098-934-0155

Address: 〒904-2172 沖縄県沖縄市泡瀬3-39-15

Directions: From Foster Legion Gate, once out the gate, turn left onto Route 330. Follow 330 for 3km until you come to the intersection with Route 85. Turn right on 85 and stay on this for 4.3 km (down the hill, through the tunnel, and into Awase). At the 4km mark is the intersection with Route 20/85. Don’t turn; keep straight through the light. Awase Sanchome is 0.3km further down on your right. You’ll see a black/white/red sign with both kanji and “Awase Sanchome” and a little parking lot with four spots. If the lot is full, just park on the street.

Map Coordinates: 26.3147174, 127.8344194

CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.

click photo for source

 Want to catch the latest flick? Here’s a list of theaters around Okinawa, with links to their websites for current and up-to-date playing movies and their showtimes.

Base Theaters

Camp Courtney 622-9616

Camp Hansen 623-4564

Camp Foster 645-3465

Camp Kinser 637-2177

Camp Schwab 625-2338

Kadena AB 050-5865-3095

MCAS Futenma 636-3890

*Need help calling DSN numbers? Check our post here.

Admission (current as of 12/2014):

Prices listed below are the ticket price range; prices depend on the theater, movie, 2D or 3D experience, and show time. In general, 2D matinee tickets cost less than 3D movies in the evenings; some theaters charge more for tickets to newly released films. Check each theater’s listing for exact pricing on the movie you want to see.

Adult: ranges from $4 – $8

Child: ranges from $2.25 – $5.25

click photo for source

Local Theaters

Admissions fees for local movie theaters will vary depending on the theater, time and show. For current information, please check with the theater directly.

Mihama 7 Plex, American Village, Chatan. 098-936-7600

Cinemas Q, Sanei Naha Main Place, Naha. 098-951-0011

Southern Plex, Haebaru. 098-835-6600

Cinema Palette, Naha. 098-86904688

CONTRIBUTED BY ANTHONY CAMINA

To most Americans, family-friendly and Kin town are not synonymous terms. There is a new establishment in Kin which is hoping to dispel that misconception by offering a delicious oasis of creative flavor in an atmosphere that caters to patrons of all ages. This culinary delight is Café Del Cielo which sits high above the 329 and overlooks Kin town and Camp Hansen.

The unique perspective of Café Del Cielo adds to the laid back beach cottage in a tree house vibe of the entire establishment. The interior of the Café is also very spacious and even has child-friendly amenities such as high chairs, an impressive playroom, and even a crib.

All the child-friendly items would not amount to much if the food was not able to impress, and fortunately it delivers on many levels. My wife and I noticed the signs and decided to park in the municipal lot adjacent to Hansen gate one and pop over for dinner. I will have to admit that the name of the Café is a bit deceiving. I was really expecting some version of Mexican or Spanish cuisine but was surprised that the menu mainly contained western or Italian-themed food.

My wife ordered one of the dinner courses, which range from rib steak with onion sauce to chicken stewed in red wine, to name but a few. We ordered the lamb chop with blueberry sauce since we were feeling adventurous. The dinner was a no-kidding five course meal. It consisted of an antipasto, any pasta on the menu, main dish, salad, and desert.

The antipasto was an avocado and tuna tartar in which the tuna was marinated in a way that gave it a savory flavor.

We ordered the puttanesca as our pasta dish and it was very good, but a little on the spicy hot side. If you like heat to your food than this is your dish.

The lamb chops were perfectly cooked. I personally am not a fan of the gamey-flavored meats like goat or lamb, but the blueberry sauce and rosemary did an impressive job in neutralizing a lot of the wild taste.

Next up was a tomato and pepper salad with garlic vinaigrette, which may sound very exotic, but was very tasty.

The course ended with a cup of coffee and a benimo tart which both hit the spot.

It is also worth mentioning that the course sets come with a beverage of choice and can be a glass of wine, beer, or mixed drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). My wife and I are not big into alcohol and just ordered iced teas. All this food was fairly priced at 2700 yen. Honestly, I have to say that you will not find a better course set offered anywhere in the area; it even rivals the upscale options over at Jack’s Place on Kadena.

I was not as hungry that night, so I just ordered the cream sauce omurice (smoked chicken and mushrooms). The portion size was generous to say the least. The egg omelette was perfectly cooked and the cream sauce was absolutely fantastic. It was a hearty plate of smoky, creamy goodness which I will definitely be going back for. This plate was also a very good value at only 750 yen and comes out very fast from the kitchen.

Once again, in the name of science, we returned for a sampling of the lunch menu. You can order anything off the dinner menu for lunch but the real value is in the lunch sets. You have the option of ordering the pasta or omurice as a lunch set for 850 yen.

My lunch started with an onion soup, house salad, carbonara penne pasta, drink and desert. Everything was just as flavorful and artfully presented as the dinner dishes, but at a fraction of the price.

My wife got the lunch special, which was the Ahi Poke Don set. It was a tuna avocado concoction on a bed of semisweet rice that was fresh, bright and healthy.

I also have to make special mention of the brownie desert served at the end. It was probably one of the best I have had to date. The texture was silky smooth and the chocolate had just the right amount of sweetness to balance with the taste of the cocoa without overpowering the dish. It was sweeter than most Japanese desserts, but not as sugary as most of the artery petrifying confections found on base.

The owner of Del Cielo is Naoya Masaki-san, who previously worked at Camp Hansen’s Palms and Gold Hall in Kin. After lots of hard work and savings, he finally decided to realize his dream and set up a shop of his own in Kin Town. He is completely self-taught and makes nearly every item from scratch, which is impressive when you consider this requires not only cooking but baking as well. Naoya-san speaks very good English and is very attentive and charismatic.

He and his staff also provide impeccable customer service and work hard to ensure patrons have as perfect a dining experience as possible. The casual atmosphere and near four star quality food will make this writer a regular of Café Del Cielo for a long time to come. See you there!

Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. weekdays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. weekends. Closed New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Takeout OK.

Payment: U.S. dollars or yen. No credit cards.

Phone: 098-968-2844

Website: Café Restaurante Del Cielo

Address: 4250-1 Kin, Kin-chō, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa-ken, Japan

Directions: From the Okinawa Expressway Exit 8 go north toward Camp Hansen. Just before getting to Camp Hansen Gate 1 is a gated municipal free parking lot. I recommend that you park here. Café Del Cielo will be across the street from Camp Hansen’s main gate, about a half block north of the main crosswalk.

Map Coordinates: 26.454014, 127.917026