No Goodbyes to the Sun | Okinawa Travel Guide Part 1 (Food and Attractions)
Although the weather is getting cooler, Okinawa still has warm sunshine and a charming ocean. If you love the southern style, water activities, food, and leisure vacations, this treasure destination for family and couple trips is definitely not to be missed! Next, I will recommend some must-visit attractions in Okinawa. Take notes! ^_^
[Makishi Public Market]
Makishi Public Market, located in the center of Naha City, is one of the largest markets in Okinawa. It has everything you need, from seafood, meat, and fruits to vegetables, making it a feast for the eyes. The market is bustling with activity. We tasted delicious ice cream and Okinawan-style meat snacks here, which were rich in flavor and simply intoxicating! There are also many fresh ingredients in the market. If you can cook where you live, it would be great to buy some and show off your cooking skills in the evening! Enjoy the fun of making your own food!
[American Village]
American Village is a large entertainment and shopping center full of American style, located in Chatan Town, Okinawa Prefecture. Here, you can find restaurants, shops, and amusement facilities, and the strong exotic atmosphere makes you feel like you are on the streets of America. Here, we tasted juicy American burgers 🍔, sitting on the outdoor seats by the sea, enjoying the sea breeze, and feeling like we were in Hawaii 🌺. The burgers were extremely rich in taste, and the meat juice was delicious, making it unforgettable. In addition to food, there are many photo spots here, just like the streets of Europe and America, which will definitely make your photos stand out in your social media and receive countless compliments!
[Ryukyu Mura]
Ryukyu Mura is a theme park showcasing Ryukyu culture, located in Onna Village, Okinawa Prefecture. It has traditional architecture, handicraft demonstrations, and wonderful Ryukyu dance performances. Walking in Ryukyu Mura is like traveling back to the ancient Ryukyu Kingdom, and the strong historical atmosphere is fascinating. There are not only rich cultural experiences but also costume and handicraft experiences. Here, Junjun chose a bright red costume and wore it to wander around the "Ryukyu Kingdom" to experience the charm of traditional culture. In addition, we also visited the beautiful butterfly garden, where there are many rare butterflies 🦋, some of which are hatching, making it especially suitable for students and family study tours, as it allows you to appreciate the beauty of nature and broaden your horizons.
To be continued, stay tuned!
When returning to the city from the Okinawa Aquarium, you will pass by this American Village. The most famous thing here is that there is an American 🇺🇸 military base. On the small building opposite the base, you can spend a few coins to peek at the equipment in the base. You can really see airplanes, armored vehicles and so on. It’s a pity that if you are not a military fan, you can’t tell the models apart.
Its eye-catching symbol is the large Ferris wheel with a diameter of about 50 meters. The American Village has entertainment facilities mainly based on 3D images, an 8-screen movie theater, a shopping mall, a bowling alley, an American restaurant, a recording studio, an entertainment center, an imported grocery store, etc., and there are also complex facilities for sports.
I went there at night, but everywhere was crowded, and it was a fun space just to walk around! There are also many souvenirs for sale, so if you have time, please take your time to walk around😊
American villages mainly concentrate on many individualized shops and some entertainment attractions. Visit the three major signboards of American villages, one: ride the Ferris Wheel, two: watch the sunset beach, three: eat revolving sushi. Unfortunately, the weather is too hot, we abandon the Ferris wheel, the beach is also far-sighted, finally popular revolving sushi is eaten, lined up for a while to sit in the small compartment position, like a comprehensive business district, there are hotels, restaurants (less Japanese, Western food is the majority), cinemas, shopping malls, landmark buildings have a Ferris wheel, it is said that there is a bowling alley. We mainly go to the beach - Beigu Park beach, there are reefs, sand, steps, and most importantly, sunset. You can run by the sea or watch the sea quietly in cafe, wait for the sunset, pick up your cell phone and click one at will. It's a beautiful work!
When we went to the end of November, there was a lively Christmas atmosphere in the whole American village. Okinawa is probably the least like Japan. It's a good choice to visit Okinawa by living in an American village. There's sunset beach. It's very busy near night. There are supermarkets, shops and cosmetics shops. They are very suitable for buying. If you have time, you can take a Ferris wheel and see the night scenery of Okinawa. It's a very romantic place and worth visiting.
I visited Okinawa for the second time. This time I visited all the places I wanted to visit but didn't. One of them is American Village. It is said that the sunset there is also beautiful, but the day we went there was too busy, and we took the baby with us. It was inconvenient. It was already night when we arrived at 3800 yen in the American village by international call. But I was a little excited to see the landmark Ferris wheel there, and I took many pictures for it. In mid-November, American villages are full of lights and colors, full of Christmas atmosphere, the atmosphere is very good, the overall feeling is good, it is worth visiting!
The Ferris wheel can be said to be the symbol of the American Village. It is the focus of attention no matter day or night, attracting the attention of tourists coming and going. The Japanese are really "lazy". You have to buy tickets for the Ferris wheel by yourself, which costs 500 yen for adults and 300 yen for children. It takes about 15 minutes to ride the Ferris wheel once. You can overlook the whole American Village and Sunset Beach from the air. In the square below the Ferris wheel, there are often performances organized by local residents. Although the movements are a little unfamiliar, both adults and children perform very seriously and devotedly, winning rounds of applause.
One thing that needs to be explained here is that you can take a bus from the Asahibashi Bus Terminal to the American Village in the city, or you can take a shuttle bus from the airport's Platform 12. The difference between the two is that the former is unreliable, and the bus only stops at the Ferris wheel, so you need to drag your luggage to the hotel. The second way is to buy a bus ticket on the first floor of Naha Domestic Airport, 800 yen per person is equivalent to 48¥, arrive at the station in advance according to the schedule, and arrive at the hotel entrance in an hour. It can not only guarantee time, but also save energy. The latter is very important! Let's brag about our second hotel, Okinawa Campana Hotel (top-floor barrier-free hot spring). Downstairs is the beach, a barrier-free place to watch the sunset. Our room is a sea view room~ The scenery in the village is very beautiful. I got tired of seeing Japanese people a few days ago. Next, there are blonde and blue-eyed foreign girls... Put down your luggage and go to fill your stomach. The Ctrip WeChat group recommended a beef sandwich shop here. There is also a beautiful night view of the village~