Makishi Public Market, which was scheduled for reconstruction due to the aging of its building, had its structure demolished in June 2019. The shops inside the market operated in a temporary market for a while, but it finally reopened on Sunday, March 19, 2023. The market was bustling with activity both inside and out on opening day. Here's a report from the scene!

1. The complete picture of the new Makishi Public Market

The newly renovated Makishi Public Market is a three-story building. The first floor houses shops facing the street outside and shops inside the building, with over 70 shops lining the street. The second floor is home to restaurants, with shops lining the walls and a dining area in the center. The third floor features a cooking experience room and a multi-purpose room. With 10 entrances and exits, an escalator connecting the first and second floors, and an elevator, the market has been upgraded to be barrier-free.

The shops on the first floor mainly sell fresh fish and meat, but there are also many shops selling fresh produce, local specialties, and souvenirs. You can purchase fresh ingredients such as fish and meat from the market and have them cooked at the shops on the second floor after purchase. There is an additional cooking fee (starting from around 550 yen) for up to three items per person, and the price varies depending on what is cooked. Please ask at the shop for details.

Since it was the first day of the grand reopening, the building was absolutely packed with people. Every shop seemed busy.

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There are also plenty of souvenirs available. In addition to the standard sweets, you can find seasonings made with island chili peppers, jimami tofu, Daito sushi, sea grapes, and more.
Incidentally, sea grapes can be stored at room temperature for about 5 to 7 days, so you can take them home on the plane as is. They will wilt if you put them in the hotel refrigerator, so be sure to keep them at room temperature.

Outside the building, you'll find a variety of unique shops. There are bars where you can have a drink, fruit shops, shops specializing in po-po (a traditional Okinawan sweet), and even a shamisen shop. The relaxed atmosphere, so different from the inside of the building, is really interesting.

2. Head to the dining area.

Take the escalator in the middle of the building to the restaurant area on the second floor. There are 12 restaurants lined up there.

The second floor has an open atrium in the center, with shops lined up along the walls. Many of the shops serve Okinawan cuisine such as Okinawa soba, steak, champuru, and taco rice, as well as seafood dishes made with fresh fish and shellfish. There are also shops specializing in sata andagi (Okinawan doughnuts) and sweets.
Every restaurant displays its menu outside, so you can check what dishes they offer.

Most shops serve alcohol, so you can enjoy delicious food at your leisure while sipping on Orion beer. As mentioned earlier, you can also have the seafood you bought on the first floor cooked to your liking. This is a unique experience only possible at a market.

We visited for the photoshoot a little after 2 PM, past lunchtime, but perhaps because it was the grand reopening day and a Sunday, all the shops were bustling with activity.

After your meal, please enjoy some sweets. This shop is popular for its fresh juices and smoothies made with Okinawan fruits, and also offers parfaits and ice cream. Enjoy the fruits unique to tropical Okinawa, such as shikwasa, dragon fruit, island bananas, guava, and mango.

3. Basic Information about Makishi Public Market

Makishi Public Market is an 8-minute walk from Makishi Station on the Yui Rail. From Kokusai Street, it's about a 3-minute walk from the entrance to the Market Main Street shopping arcade next to Don Quijote, and you'll find it on your right. There is no parking lot, so please use nearby coin-operated parking lots. There are also two bicycle parking areas, one near the South Entrance and one near West Entrance 4, with a total of 12 spaces. There is no smoking area. There are barrier-free entrances and elevators, so wheelchairs and strollers can enter. Please enjoy the newly renovated Makishi Public Market!

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