Every February, professional baseball teams hold their annual training camps in Okinawa, bringing a different kind of excitement to the area. Practice sessions are open to the public, allowing people to easily watch professional players up close. If you're lucky, you might even bump into professional baseball players (or celebrities visiting the camp) around the stadium or in town. In addition, there are events organized by the teams and local communities, and limited-edition camp merchandise is sold, making professional baseball camps actually full of hidden delights.
This time, I went to the Chunichi Dragons' spring training camp being held in Chatan Town, so I'd like to share the excitement of the camp in Okinawa and offer some tips on how to enjoy it.

<Table of Contents>
1.Let's go and watch the practice.
2.Let's buy some limited edition goods as souvenirs.
3.Let's enjoy Okinawan cuisine!
4.Let's go visit a professional baseball training camp.

Show all table of contents

Let's go and watch the practice.

The Chunichi Dragons' first-team training camp is held at Agre Stadium Chatan, located right next to Mihama American Village.

Practice sessions are generally held from 9:00 to 17:00, and apparently some players stay until around 18:30.
At the stadium entrance, there are signs with information for visitors and the day's schedule, so it's a good idea for first-time visitors to check them out.

▲Overview of the Chunichi Dragons' training camp▲

▲Schedule for the day▲

▲Practice location map▲

There was a practice game in Urasoe in the afternoon that day, but there were still people watching at the stadium in the morning.

▲Unreserved seating▲

▲It was cloudy, but few people were wearing outerwear▲

▲This closeness is something you can only experience while camping▲

Let's buy some limited edition goods as souvenirs.

The Butterfly Square, which serves as the stadium's entrance area, will feature camp-exclusive merchandise and food trucks.

▲Merchandise on the road side, food trucks on the stadium side▲

Merchandise is sold under rows of blue tents, the team's signature color. Items include camp-exclusive uniforms, towels, and keychains. There are also Okinawan-style versions of the mascot character, Doala, and Doala-themed Okinawan souvenir sweets, making them rare and recommended souvenirs from your Okinawa trip.

▲Be sure to check out the limited edition merchandise featuring designs of the Dragons and Okinawa▲

▲Stickers and keychains▲

▲Doara plush toy in Ryukyuan attire... Rare!▲

▲Sweets are versatile as souvenirs from Okinawa or as gifts for camping trips ▲

Let's enjoy Okinawan cuisine!

This food truck primarily operates in restaurants in Chatan Town. The menu, which includes hamburgers, pizza, and poke, has a somewhat international feel, yet still retains a distinct Chatan character.

A classic event known only to those in the know.

Don't miss the one-off events, such as fan service sessions, that take place during the training camp.
Fan service varies from team to team, including autograph sessions and sticker giveaways, but the Chunichi Dragons have an annual tradition of serving Okinawan cuisine, "Inamuduchi" (a local Okinawan dish similar to pork soup). They also occasionally hold impromptu autograph sessions. It's lucky if you happen to stumble upon one of these special events!

▲Inamuduchi will be served on February 8th, 2025. Provided by the Chunichi Dragons Chatan Supporters Association▲

Let's go visit a professional baseball training camp.

A total of nine baseball teams will hold their training camps in Okinawa in February.
Chatan Town, in particular, boasts a large free parking lot around Agre Stadium Chatan and is easily accessible by bus from Naha and Naha Airport. Furthermore, Mihama American Village and Sunset Beach are right next door, making it easy to combine Okinawa sightseeing with a professional baseball training camp.
If you're traveling to Okinawa in February, I highly recommend visiting a camp!