When traveling to Okinawa, Okinawa soba is a must-try dish. But why not not only eat it, but also try making it yourself?
At "Taira Seimenjo Kokusai-dori Store," located along Kokusai-dori in Naha City, you can easily enjoy an authentic Okinawan soba noodle making experience. This time, we'll give you a detailed account of the process, the fun of it, and any points you might be wondering about, based on our actual experience.
List of things to do in Naha City
Experience making Okinawan soba noodles at "Taira Noodle Factory Kokusai-dori Store"!
Shuri Textile Museum Suikara | A world of stories about beautiful Okinawan traditional fabrics woven with rich colors
Shuri Dyeing and Weaving Museum Suikara is a place in Shuri, Naha City, where you can see, buy, and learn about "Bingata" and "Shuriori" textiles.
Opened in April 2022, this facility serves as a hub for preserving and promoting Bingata and Shuri-ori, which are designated as intangible cultural properties of Okinawa Prefecture and nationally designated traditional crafts, for future generations.
As a place that connects customers with the artisans who create the products, it also serves as a hub where people from within and outside the prefecture gather, allowing visitors to experience both the "history" and "cutting edge" of Bingata and Shuri-ori, traditional crafts that represent Okinawa.
This article provides an overview of Bingata and Shuri-ori textiles, as well as highlights of the Shuri Textile Museum Suikara.
Perfect for kids and first-timers! For casual beach fun in Naha, check out "mms okinawa"!
Since you're in Okinawa, you'll want to enjoy the ocean to the fullest by doing things you wouldn't normally do, like snorkeling or introductory diving.
If you can enjoy some beach activities near Naha Airport on the first or last day of your trip, you can make full use of your limited time and be very efficient.
Even in Naha, which is close to the airport and has a strong image as an urban area, there is actually a marine spot called "Naminoue Umisora Park" that is the "only" place where you can enjoy snorkeling and introductory diving.
This time, I'd like to introduce "mms okinawa," a recommended shop that offers snorkeling and introductory diving services at Naminoue Umisora Park.
Create your own herbarium at the "yaeee" workshop | Capture your memories of Okinawa in a bottle
A herbarium is made by placing dried flowers in a bottle and filling it with a special oil.
These interior decorations have become popular on social media in recent years due to their ease of care—allowing you to enjoy fresh, vibrant flowers without any maintenance—and their adorable appearance.
This time, I went to "yaeee," a workshop where you can make your own herbarium!
Fill a bottle with star sand, fragments of Ryukyu glass, and plants, and you're sure to relive your memories of your trip to Okinawa.
A one-of-a-kind piece of art created just for you makes a perfect souvenir or gift.
Naha Air Base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force was in a festive mood | I went to the Chura Island Air Festa.
Naha Air Base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force is located very close to Naha Airport.
Every December, the base is opened to the public for the "Chura-jima Air Festa," which features fighter jet flight shows and various other events.
Combined with the fact that admission was free, it was bustling with activity, much like a festival.
To be honest, I wasn't particularly interested in fighter jets, but when I went, I had an amazing time!
*The event will be held on December 10th, 2023. For details, please see below.Japan Air Self-Defense Force Naha Air Base.
The following text is based on my previous visit.
A beachy accessory shop | Experience bracelet making at Ti-da Beach!
Okinawa is a place where you'll have more opportunities to show off your skin, whether you're playing on the beach or swimming in the pool.
At times like these, you might want to wear accessories that will make you stand out from the crowd.
"Ti-da Beach" is an accessory shop that fulfills the wishes of such girls. It mainly sells handmade items and carefully selected goods chosen by the owner, offering unique accessories that you won't find anywhere else.
Among them, the accessory-making experience available in the store is a popular activity.
This time, I actually tried making a bracelet!
Explore Naha's hidden gems by taking a shared sightseeing taxi from Shuri.
When it comes to sightseeing in Naha, the two main attractions are the area around Kokusai Street, which is easily accessible by the Yui Rail, and Shuri Castle.
Are there only two main sights to see in Naha?! No, of course not!
The long history that began with the Ryukyu Kingdom still breathes life into Naha today.
This time, we'll introduce a shared sightseeing taxi that takes you around Naha's lesser-known tourist spots.
Leave the driving and guiding to the driver!
This marks the beginning of a three-hour journey to discover even more of Okinawa's hidden depths.
With the sound of waves as background music, why not try beach yoga on a beautiful Okinawan beach?
When you think of Okinawa, you think of its beautiful sea.
Many people visit for marine sports or cruising, right?
But that's not the only way to enjoy it.
The beach yoga we're introducing today is an activity that lets you fully experience the Okinawan sea.
Just gazing at the sparkling surface of the water and reflecting on your own body can refresh both your mind and body!
It not only has a relaxing effect, but it also offers numerous health benefits.
Let's explore the appeal of beach yoga.
Naha's only sandy beach, "Naminoue Beach": Access and Facilities
Okinawa boasts numerous beautiful beaches, but Naha, Okinawa's largest city, only has one beach suitable for swimming due to its airport and port located along the coast.
The name of that beach is "Naminoue Beach".
Although it's an artificial beach, it boasts a wide expanse of fine, powdery sand, making it safe to walk barefoot.
You can easily walk to the beach from the city center, making it a great option for city dwellers without a car.
Furthermore, using the Umisora Tunnel, you can reach Naha Airport in about 10 minutes by car, allowing you to enjoy the ocean at the end of your Okinawa trip.
This time, we'll give you a quick overview of Naminoue Beach.
Strolling through Sakaemachi Market, a deep and nostalgic drinking district in Naha!
Hi there! ♪ I'm happy every day as long as I have delicious food and drinks! I'm an office worker living in Naha.
When you visit Okinawa as a tourist, how do you spend your evenings? During the day it's scorching hot, but at night, many people are tempted by the tropical breeze and end up going out for some fun.
While Kokusai-dori, with its neon lights that twinkle late into the night like a city that never sleeps, is certainly appealing, this time we'll venture a little further from Kokusai-dori to Sakaemachi Market, a somewhat dubious-looking bar district.
Sakaemachi Market offers a nostalgic atmosphere that makes you feel as if you've traveled back in time to the post-war reconstruction era. Why not take a stroll and explore the deep side of Okinawa?
I visited Ikutouen, a long-established pottery studio on Okinawa's Yachimun Street, and took a tour of their workshop and tried pottery making.
Ikutouen, located in Tsuboya, Naha, the center of Yachimun (pottery), is a long-established pottery studio in Tsuboya, which boasts a history of approximately 300 years.
Ikutouen produces and sells a wide range of products, from classic Yachimun pottery featuring traditional fish and plant motifs, to designs that blend seamlessly into modern dining tables.
Using Ikutouen tableware in cooking classes (the cooking class is shown here)hereI used it (from) and headed straight to Tsuboya after the cooking class to visit Ikutouen.
After touring the workshop, I participated in a pottery workshop run by Ikutouen.
There are plenty of other tourist attractions besides Shuri Castle! A leisurely stroll through Shuri.
The fire that broke out at Shuri Castle on October 31, 2019, sent shockwaves throughout Japan.
Shuri Castle, a symbol of Naha and a major tourist attraction, was beloved by many.
Currently, reconstruction work is steadily progressing, and from June 1, 2020, a portion of the area (free access) will be reopened.
Preparations are underway to allow visitors to see the progress of the reconstruction efforts in the future.
Chapter 1 of this article provides a detailed report on Shuri Castle before the fire.
I apologize for the confusion, but for the time being, I would like to leave it as it is so that it can be compared with Shuri Castle after its reconstruction is complete.
For sightseeing plans around Shuri Castle, please refer to Chapter 2 and beyond.
The evening sky over Naha, as seen from the western Azana, remains just as it was in the past.
Let's reflect on the former Shuri Castle and look forward to the day when we can visit again after its reconstruction.
I participated in the popular Naha Machima-i tour, "What is this? 25 Mysteries and Wonders of Okinawa!"
"Machima-i" is a walking tour of Okinawan towns with a local guide.
Now, these events are planned and held in various locations throughout Okinawa, including Ishigaki and Miyako, and have become a popular tool for Okinawa tourism.
This time, I participated in the most popular course at Naha Machimaai: "What is this? 25 Mysteries and Wonders of Okinawa!"
Driving around Okinawa in a tuk-tuk! I couldn't help but smile wryly at the intense stares from oncoming traffic.
A tuk-tuk, also known as a baby taxi or tricycle, is a three-wheeled taxi that serves as a common mode of transportation for ordinary people in Southeast and South Asia.
It's a vehicle that resembles a motorcycle with a covered bench seat attached to the luggage rack.
Tuk-tuks are not something you see very often in Japan, but apparently you can easily rent one and ride it in Okinawa.
In that case, Okinawa Lab's approach is to immediately try it out.
*Notice of relocation of Okinawa Tuk-Tuk Naha store*
Okinawa Tuk-Tuk Naha branch has already relocated to Okinawa City.
Please note that the following information is based on an interview conducted in January 2017.
Experience terror and laughter all at once! A report on my experience at the "Okinawa Omoro Haunted House"
For many people, the image of a "haunted house" is primarily associated with fear, and therefore, many may not have the opportunity to visit one.
Amidst all this, rumors have surfaced that there's a haunted house at Hapinaha, located on Kokusai Street in Naha, where you can have an "interesting" experience.
This time, we'll report on our actual experience! We'll thoroughly dissect the mysteries of this "fun haunted house"!
*Notice of HAPI NAHA Closure*
It is with great regret that we announce that HAPI NAHA closed its doors at the end of June 2017.
Below is some information about "HAPI NAHA" from when it was in operation, for those who have fond memories of it.
