I'm NOMADOKA, and I quit my job, left my home, and am now living a short-term life in Okinawa.

Starting in Asato, Naha , and after living in Ginowan , I arrived in Koza.

This article introduces the charms and gourmet information I experienced during my stay in Koza, from the perspective of someone who has moved there!

<Table of Contents>
1. Reasons for choosing Koza
2. A unique townscape that retains both exotic charm and Okinawan character.
3. Stay in a luxurious house on a hill at a great price!
4. Difficulties I've encountered in daily life: There are lots of steep hills.
5. Life in Koza
5-1. Take a stroll while admiring the exciting cityscape.
5-2. What about work? What I realized while battling anxiety
6. Essentials: Car (rental car)
7. Additional purchase: Uniqlo AIRism hoodie
8. Conclusion

Show all table of contents

1. Reasons for choosing Koza

What drew me to Koza was reading online that "Koza is a deep, authentic town."

Also, as I was heading north from Naha, I decided to stay in Okinawa City because it was an essential stop along the way.

2. A unique townscape that retains both exotic charm and Okinawan character.

Koza refers to the central area of ​​Okinawa City, located in the central part of Okinawa Island.

Originally, there was a place called Koza, which became Okinawa City after a merger, but the nickname Koza is still popular today.

What makes Koza unique is the blend of exotic streetscapes and old Okinawan streetscapes.

You'll find American-style cafes alongside traditional Okinawan restaurants, and clean, modern hostels nestled within the shopping streets—a fusion of old-fashioned Okinawa and American culture.

It's a strange feeling, like being in a local area overseas even though I'm in Japan. I can't contain my excitement!

3. Stay in a luxurious house on a hill at a great price!

The place I stayed this time was a house on a hill, very close to the Koza intersection.

I booked through Agoda, and it cost 38,000 yen for 15 nights.

There were lots of rooms, the living room was huge, and there were two bathrooms. There were also two bedrooms.

I was so excited, I felt like I'd become rich!

It also came with a washing machine and dryer, so doing laundry was a breeze.

I lived a luxurious life in a foreign-style condominium that could accommodate two generations of a family.

If I were still living alone in a rented apartment like before, there's no way I could have signed a lease for this place.

It was a moment when I truly felt grateful for the opportunity to live in different places while renting accommodation.

4. Difficulties I've encountered in daily life: There are lots of steep hills.

Because my accommodation was located halfway up a long, steep slope, even going to the convenience store felt like a short mountain climb.

When I go for a walk, I start off having so much fun that I keep walking and walking, but halfway through, fatigue sets in, and by the time I get home, I'm completely exhausted.

In this area, it was difficult to live without a car if you needed to go shopping for groceries or drinks.

Also, the central area of ​​Koza where many restaurants are located is a 30-minute walk away. Because it's uphill, it will take about 40 minutes if you walk slowly.

I wanted to enjoy Koza at night, but I gave up on that idea because I was worried about getting home.

5. Life in Koza

I will introduce what my daily life was like while living in Koza, along with my work life.

We also have gourmet information unique to Okinawa City, so please take a look!

5-1. Take a stroll while admiring the exciting cityscape.

I took walks around the area where I was staying every day.

I saw colorful murals at "Koza Crossroads" and wandered around the Gintengai arcade. The walls were covered with depictions of Okinawan history, like an illustrated scroll.

Charlie Tacos' flagship store is located on Central Park Avenue. I had seen this taco shop on Kokusai Street, so I was very happy to finally find their original location.

On some days, I go to Gon, a restaurant that once held the title of the king of Okinawan soba, for lunch.

In the evening, we toasted at a long-established izakaya (Japanese pub) within walking distance. We had a great time, learning local information about Okinawa City from the owner and regulars.

Okinawa City has a well-developed urban area, but it also has plenty of nature.

You can hear birds chirping, and you might spot a banana tree along the road.

On my days off, I would take trips to find local beaches.

Koza is a town where simply walking around is a great way to sightsee, and you can also enjoy delicious food.

5-2. What about work? What I realized while battling anxiety

What I gained from quitting my job was overwhelming "freedom."

I no longer experience the stress of dragging myself to work every morning, and I can proceed with everything at my own pace.

Instead, I started to be frequently overwhelmed by anxiety.

What makes me particularly anxious is when I issue invoices at the end of the month. I worry, "Will this work continue next month? Or will it suddenly be terminated?"

Sometimes, I'm suddenly overcome with an overwhelming anxiety about what I'll do if I lose my job, and I get surprisingly depressed.

In an attempt to feel even a little bit more secure, I sometimes searched for new job opportunities and applied to as many as I could.

However, the connections you make through impulsive actions born out of anxiety are often only temporary.

In such situations, the people who come to your rescue are those you've committed to and built relationships with.

Sometimes, clients I've worked with before suddenly contact me again, saying, "We'd really like you to take on this project."

The important things are "not to rush and not to be too eager."

I was reminded once again that calmly assessing what is truly necessary for oneself and carefully addressing each task in front of you, one by one, ultimately leads to peace of mind.

6. Essentials: Car (rental car)

A car is an essential item for your stay in Koza.

Before my stay, when I was checking the location of the house on a map, I thought, "It's only about a 20-minute walk to the supermarket, so I can probably walk there."

However, once you actually live there, you'll find there are lots of steep hills! Walking with luggage is quite difficult.

So, I renewed the rental car I had already rented for another month. The price was 26,000 yen, including liability insurance. Getting it for under 30,000 yen with insurance is quite a bargain.

If you don't want to rent a car and prefer to go out drinking, you can easily live without a car in the Koza city center area where restaurants are concentrated.

However, if you want to fully enjoy sightseeing and the local atmosphere, I recommend renting a car.

7. Additional purchase: Uniqlo AIRism hoodie

I pack my belongings into a 19L backpack from Muji and live a nomadic lifestyle.

Therefore, each and every item of luggage must be carefully selected.

In particular, for clothing, "lightness and quick drying" are extremely important.

One day, I heard that Uniqlo had a hoodie in their AIRism line.

I also wanted to wear it as a dress, so I wanted a size 3XL that would reach almost to my knees.

However, there are no Uniqlo stores around Koza, and larger sizes are only available online.

The problem then became delivery for online orders.

I was worried because Okinawa is an outlying island, and delivery might take a long time.

Since my accommodation dates are fixed, I need to pick up my luggage during my stay.

That's where the convenience store pickup service came in handy. I was able to pick up my package in about a week.

If you choose to pick up your order at a convenience store, you can go and pick it up by car even if there's a delay in delivery.

I used to take online ordering for granted, but I've realized that living in rented accommodation makes it much harder to shop online as easily as before.

8. Summary

Life in Koza is incredibly fulfilling, both professionally and personally.

Just looking at the streetscape is enjoyable, and there are plenty of local delicacies to try.

Starting in Naha, I've gradually expanded my reach to Okinawa City in central Okinawa, and I'm becoming more and more captivated by the charm of Okinawa.

At the same time, my desire to travel further north grew stronger.

I really want to go for a swim. That's right, I could go to that place where the whale sharks live... Stay tuned for the next episode!

NOMADOKA's mini-relocation series
Naha/Asato Edition → Ginowan Edition → ★Koza Edition