This is kind of a tribute to the last 4ish years but also a guide for anyone here who has some more exploring they want to do. This is a list of my favorites, all of them I can think of. If there are any places I mention that you'd like directions to, or information about let me know and I'll do what I can to help make your stay here as amazing as mine was.
My Favorite:
Festival- Shishimai Festival in Ishikawa. The first year we were here it was at the bull ring in Agena, just a 5 minute walk from our house. Each year after it was moved to a bigger venue in Ishikawa. I haven't missed a year and fall in love with the music, dancing and of course the amazing liondog or Shisa dances. MCCS does a tour for it, but save the $20 a person, take the drive up, it's a free event and a beautiful park on the beach. Take in more than their schedule will allow. This is followed by a close second, the Nago Cherry Blossom Festival. Put on some comfy shoes and start climbing to the top of the Nago Castle ruins. What a beautiful view, with the cherry blossoms, the city of Nago and the East China Sea below you.
Beach on base- Oura Wan Beach on Camp Schwab. A beautiful beach not many Americans know about tucked away in a bay. Cabanas, volleyball, horseshoes, a boat house and water sports... enjoy this beach while you can. If the Funtenma relocation goes as planned the bay will soon be filled in and this beautiful beach will be destroyed. :( Save the dougong!
Beach off base - Uken Beach, aka "Trash Beach" is a great little beach a few minutes from Camp Courtney. It's on the Pacific Ocean side so it's lacking all the coral and sea life you'd want for snorkeling but it's a great beach with jetties to block the waves. This beach also has rentals and such though we've never needed more than we brought with us.
Place to snorkel w/the kids - Maeda Flats hands down! The kids can snorkel and not worry about being too deep, and in just a few feet of water you can see a million tropical fish. Chasing blue tangs and having the angels nip at your fingers was always a highlight for us. Four years here and I've never actually been to Maeda Point- I've heard the steps are not kid/beginner snorkeler friendly so we've skipped it all together.
Place to snorkel w/o the kids - Sunabe Seawall. It's where I learned to snorkel thanks to a friendly national girl who literally took my hand and walked me waist deep and showed me how beautiful the water was just right there. It's amazing what you don't see from looking down at the water that you can see once you put your face into the water. The seawall has tons of hidden crevasses in the reefs where you can see just about everything. I don't know that I ever got tired of snorkeling off the seawall. If you can, do it & bring an underwater camera. You won't be disappointed.
MCCS Tour- The battle sites tour. What was even better than the MCCS one was the tour Chris Majewski did for Brandon's 5th grade field trip of the tour. He does both the school tours & the MCCS tours but offered so much more information during the school tour. I was amazed at the history this island holds. I knew of the Battle of Okinawa. I didn't realize what our troops endured here, or worse, how the Okinawan people were treated and what they were led to believe about the American GIs. I now understand why many thought the suicide cliffs were such a better option for their families. The NBC evening news has a segment called "Fleecing of America", this was a case of the Japanese Fleecing Okinawa. A very emotional tour, and you'll get both sides of the story. This tour includes the Battle of Okinawa Museum on Kinser, the former Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters, Kakuzu Ridge (Hacksaw Ridge is under construction) and Peace Prayer Park. When we went with the school we didn't make it to Peace Prayer Park but instead went to Himeyuri Peace Museum.
Animal Park - NEO Park! I can say we have been to this park easily a dozen times and have yet to get tired of the cute lemurs crawling across our arms to get a yummy treat or trying to keep up with the wallabies. This is the best hands on animal experience you'll find on the island (& maybe anywhere you've been in the world). The only place I'd skip is the additional fee "petting zoo" it's a sad little area. Maybe if we boycott it, they'll stop nursing baby pigs on dogs. The whole park is in essence a petting zoo, why pay to see dogs, and bunnies. You can see those anywhere. A great thing about this park is the price, you can get tickets at the door for about Y600 yen per adult and less for kids but the better option is to go to Tours Plus and pick up an annual pass for a family of 5 for about $15. (I think it's actually $16 but it's been a while since I bought ours).
Agricultural Park - Nago Pineapple Park. (Like how I worded that, "agricultural park" that way I can include "adventure park", "family park", etc.) I have probably spent as much time at the Pineapple Park as I have at NEO Park (maybe even more). For Y500 you get to go on a narrated self propelled pineapple shaped golf cart voyage through a small forest of varying pineapple related plans. After the ride you can stroll through the forest, plenty of great photo ops, then make your way to the shell gallery. Once you've made your way though the shells head on through the winery and cannery. You can watch workers process fresh Okinawa grown pineapples for canning or wine. Follow up all of that fun with something even better... taste testing. Those of you 20 or older can taste 1 or all 4 pineapple based alcohols, 3 wines and a sparkling champagne. Move on through the wine and you enter into a huge shop where everything in the store is offered as samples. Juices, cakes, cookies, pies, tarts, chocolate- yes pineapple chocolate, and even perfume and body lotions. I almost forgot, and as much fresh picked pineapple as you'd like. Taste one, some or all and buy everything or nothing at all. Well before I say buy nothing at all, before you leave the pineapple park you've got to grab a cone of soft serve pineapple ice cream or one of their amazing pineapple cream puffs, they also have sweet potato for those who love the purple potato delights. :) I've got 3 weeks left on Okinawa, there will be one more trek up to Nago before I leave. Anyone care to join me? We can do a midweek get away while the kids are at school. :)
Adventure Park - Forest Adventure, with no competition! Do it, that's what I have to say about this place. Grow to 4'6" if you're not already and Go, Go Go & hurry up and do it. SO much fun, liberating, exhilarating and just awesome. Oh, bring your camera and 100 yen up for a locker or remember to leave everything in your car. Must have empty pockets for this one.
Roller Slide park - The most amazing roller slide park I've been to is on the grounds of the former Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters. There are two amazing slides the twist, turn and spiral down the hill. I was looking for a link to the park but only found youtube videos. I have my fair share of those for this park but I only want to post informative links, not videos. If you'd like to see them look up Rollerslide by the JNUHQ (Spell the words out though).
Photo spot - Toguchi Beach or Fukushen Chinese Gardens. I don't think the photos on these links do either place justice. Check them out & bring your favorite photographer!
Tourist location- Kokusai Street -totally 'OMGosh Only in Japan' type of place. Nothing will surprise you like half the things you'll find on Kokusai Street. Make a day out of that street alone. Bring plenty of yen for shopping, food and parking. On many weekends you'll see eisa dancers perform in the street, then there's the many festivals that take place there too. You can't live here and not go to Kokusai St at least a time or two. (I've had more than my share of Kokusai St memories) ;)
... more to come.
Food - will also add soon.
Suggestions? Anyone have a favorite location question you want to ask of me? let me know and I'll add my response here.
And to wrap this up, here is a list of some of the "must see/must do" while you're here on Okinawa. These things may not have made it to my favorite list, but definitely something you've got to check out. First and foremost, get OFF BASE. The island is your adventure and the base simply confines you. This island is amazing, don't let this once in a life time opportunity pass you by.
*Make it to at least one Bull Fight, Ishikawa holds a free one every year, don't pay $20 for MCCS to get you there.
*Head up to Camp Mc Tureous and hang out with a friend while you pass out candy to the local Okinawan children as they Trick-or-treat. They're so cute, and much more polite than 99% of American kids and it's just a great cultural exchange.
*SchwabFest, actually hit up every Camp or Base Festival, there is one going almost every month of the year.
* Explore the Castle Ruins, all of them.
*While up in Nago, during the Cherry Blossom Festival take a tour through the Orion Beer Tour
*While on Kokusai Street find your way though the maze of shops and check out the fish market.
*Head to American Villiage, play in the arcades, ride the Ferris wheel and head over to Dragon Palace and ride a 4D ride.
*Park hop. Okinawahai.com has a list of parks. See them all, then scout out new ones and add to their list
*If you have kids, get them involved in cultural activities. My boys have been in their schools Eisa Club every year and participated in their Ryukyu Festival. Brandon did it in grades 3-5 and now Luke is getting his turn. Couldn't do something like this in the States. Soak it up!
*Head up to Ocean Expo Park/Churaumi Aqurium
*Snorkel
*Go Deep Sea Fishing
* Hike Hiji Falls
*Explore all the dams around the island. Kurishiki is the closest and a great photo location but there are many others.
* When the Okinawa summer is a tad to hot and humid for you, head on down to Southern Palace Sports Complex and hit the ice.
* Go to the Butterfly Garden in Nago
* Okinawa Fruitlands
* Go whale watching- it'll make for an amazing morning/afternoon. Breath taking, I tell ya!
* Go to the Naha Tug O War, it is the largest in the world. If you're lucky you'll be close enough to tug and at the end, take a piece of the rope home for good luck.
* Go whale watching- it'll make for an amazing morning/afternoon. Breath taking, I tell ya!
* Go to the Naha Tug O War, it is the largest in the world. If you're lucky you'll be close enough to tug and at the end, take a piece of the rope home for good luck.
*Head to Ryukru Mura, take in the shows and see how the island was like in the 1800s
*run a marathon, participate in Tour de Okinawa or just sit on the sidelines and CHEER those athletes on. They are doing something amazing!
*Take in the view of Cape Hedo, then travel down the Pacific side of the island to find the many look outs that offer a beautiful view of the most northern point of the island.
* Tour Shuri-jo Castle
* Camp on the beach
*travel off island if you can. Plenty of opportunities available
*get a Cocok's pedicure (at least one)
* Stop and eat at every hole in the wall place, and also every bright lighted flashy place you pass. Don't let fear of the unknown stop you.
* and I would be withholding information if I didn't throw out there the Banana Show. Not for everyone, really NOT for everyone but it's one of those things that words cannot describe (& maybe shouldn't).
A few things I've yet to do, but would love to before we leave:
Parasail over the East China Sea
The Southeast Botanical Gardens
Hike Hiji Falls, (I say do it, but haven't yet) :(
Do you have any suggestions for me?
1 comment:
Love that you commented on the Banana show - only you Denise - only you !!! LOL!!!!
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