Located just off Kokusai Street, Okinawa's bustling downtown area, "Yachimun Street" is a popular tourist spot in Naha City known for its pottery. "Uchinaa Chaya Bukubuku," nestled amongst the other shops on Yachimun Street, is a relaxing place to take a break.

In addition to Bukubuku tea, they also offer a wide variety of Okinawan sweets. This time, we'd like to introduce Okinawa Zenzai, which was featured on a certain daytime TV program, as well as their hidden gem, the sweet potato parfait.

1. Departing from Makishi Station, via Sakurazaka, to Yachimun Street

"Yachimun Street" is about a 10-minute walk from Makishi Station on the Yui Rail. Currently, Kokusai Street is the main face of the Makishi area, but after World War II, the Sakurazaka area, which stretches between Makishi Station and Yachimun Street, was a major entertainment district.

If you take the shortest route from Makishi Station to Yachimun Street, utilizing the narrow alleys, you can see the streets that once flourished as a nighttime social hub. The weathered houses and striking old-fashioned signs evoke the atmosphere of that time. You'll find yourself walking through quiet back streets, even during the day, feeling like you're on an adventure.

Soon you'll come to a road embedded with fragments of pottery. Yachimun Street is just ahead.

"Uchinaa Chaya Bukubuku" is located across from the pottery specialty shop Yatchi and Moon. There are also kilns and select shops nearby.

2. A cafe with an Okinawan-style exterior, complete with an attached gallery!

The shop's exterior has a distinctly Okinawan feel. A Shisa (lion-dog statue) sits atop the red roof, and many large ceramic pieces are placed at the entrance. The shop has many windows, giving it an open and airy impression.

Upon entering the shop, you'll first find a gallery of Yachimun (Okinawan pottery). Each piece, exuding the traditional warmth characteristic of Yachimun, is sure to catch your eye.

The fact that you can shop while your order is being placed or afterward is another great feature.

3. "Okinawa Zenzai" which has been featured on television.

The eye-catching Bukubuku Tea, with its cotton candy-like foam, is made by topping a brown rice-based tea with foam created by boiling roasted rice in hot water using a large bamboo whisk.
While it may look unusual, one bite and you'll be soothed by the comforting aroma of rice.

Besides the Bukubuku tea, their other sweets are also delicious. Okinawa has a warm climate even in winter, so being able to enjoy cold sweets all year round is something unique to Okinawa. The signature sweet at "Uchinaa Chaya Bukubuku" is this "Okinawa Zenzai."

In Okinawa, zenzai refers to shaved ice. You can choose between two flavors, brown sugar or matcha, and whether or not to include condensed milk. I recommend the "brown sugar and condensed milk zenzai."

The shaved ice is piled high, about four times the size of the bowl, and is gently drizzled with brown sugar syrup and condensed milk. The colors match the bowl nicely too.

The light ice goes down smoothly without needing a spoon. As soon as you put it in your mouth, the fluffy ice melts, and the fragrant sweetness of brown sugar and the mellow sweetness of condensed milk combine and blend together in your mouth.

It's so delicious that you can eat it all without getting discouraged, even if the portion is large, and the spoon is just the right size, so you won't get a brain freeze.

As you eat, you'll discover plump, perfectly cooked kidney beans and mochi balls hidden beneath the zenzai (sweet red bean soup). It's characterized by its simple, lingering sweetness.

In addition to zenzai (sweet red bean soup), another item I'd like to recommend is the "Sweet Potato Parfait." It features purple sweet potato ice cream and is topped with purple sweet potato paste, making it a hidden gem on the menu where you can fully enjoy the rich sweetness of sweet potatoes.

You can also enjoy how well it pairs with a variety of unique toppings such as chinsuko (Okinawan shortbread), kinako mochi (rice cakes coated in roasted soybean flour), and strawberries.

Why not order a set meal featuring coffee served in Yachimun pottery, with your choice of several varieties? The rich, slightly acidic coffee will soak up the sweet potato perfectly.

Yachimun Street and Uchinaa Chaya Bukubuku are easily accessible by the Yui Rail. Why not include them in your one-day sightseeing plan to fully enjoy Naha?

Yuhei Tonosho, a cyclist and photographer who delves deep into Japan

Born in 1993 in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. Graduated from Doshisha University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Cultural History and Department of English Literature. While working as a salaryman, he is a travel writer who travels all over Japan by bicycle and mountain climbing. He captures and shares the changing seasons of Japan with all his senses.

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