{"id":33140,"date":"2016-08-12T09:05:42","date_gmt":"2016-08-12T01:05:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/?p=33140"},"modified":"2018-10-08T11:28:33","modified_gmt":"2018-10-08T03:28:33","slug":"okinawa-travel-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/2016\/08\/okinawa-travel-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Fun Things To Do In Okinawa For A Unique Island Vacation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><i>Heard of Okinawa and not sure if it&#8217;s worth visiting? Here are 11 reasons why Okinawa should be your next travel destination.<\/i><\/p><p><b class=\"special\">M<\/b>ention Okinawa and I bet all your diver friends will start to wax lyrical about the clear, blue waters, arguably one of the best alongside Galapagos and Palau. It\u2019s true; the sub-tropical climate at Okinawa makes diving all year round accessible and is the favourite weekend holiday for Taiwanese and Hongkongers. This laid-back island, with its wonderful beaches, is like Bali or Phuket to the island-hopping Singaporean, except, it\u2019s Japanese.<\/p><div class=\"banner\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">OA_show(5);<\/script><\/div><p>The Okinawa Prefecture, just south of mainland Japan, actually only became part of Japan in 1872. They have different ethnicities, speak very different dialects, and are also very different in terms of culture and cuisine. The late American chef, author and TV personality Anthony Bourdain, who visited Okinawa for his Parts Unknown series, said in an interview that \u201cOkinawa is so different from the rest of Japan; it\u2019s almost a different country.\u201d<\/p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day2-83.jpg\" alt=\"Ryukyu Okinawa\" \/><p>The Okinawa mainland is the largest island making up the Ryukyu chain of islands, stretching from the southern tip of Japan to the northern tip of Taiwan. In fact, the Ryukyu Kingdom, which ruled the islands independently from 15th to the 19th century, had more in common with China than isolationist Japan. Okinawa means &#8220;rope in the open sea&#8221;, an apt description for this chain of islands.<\/p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day1-10.jpg\" alt=\"Military Okinawa \" \/><p>And that\u2019s not all. After the end of World War II, the U.S Military established several bases on the Ryukyu islands. Today, about half of the 50,000 U.S. troops deployed in Japan are based in Okinawa. Imagine what the weekends must be like! If I had to use a dish to describe Okinawa and its culture, it would have to be the Chanpuru, an Okinawa-style stir fry. It typically consists of tofu with some kind of vegetable and a meat, usually <i>goya<\/i> (bitter melon) and Spam (luncheon meat). The term Chanpuru is also derived from the word <i>campur<\/i> (pronounced cham-poor), which means &#8220;mixed&#8221; in Bahasa.<\/p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day1-6.jpg\" alt=\"SilkAir Business Class\" \/><p>Now that you know a little more about Okinawa\u2014also incidentally where Karate originated\u2014you need to know what you can do (And eat! And buy!) on the island. We were fortunately invited by the Okinawa Prefectural Government to visit the island, via one of SilkAir\u2019s chartered flights there in June. We found out what our Taiwanese friends are always raving about.<\/p><h3>1. Shop Like Mad Along Kokusai-dori<\/h3><p>You will start and end your trip from Naha, Okinawa&#8217;s capital and largest city. Naha is also where Okinawa&#8217;s most popular shopping strip, Kokusai-dori, or International Avenue, is. This 1.6km stretch of shopping and eating is where you will find most of your <i>omiyage<\/i> (souvenirs) as soon as you arrive or just before you leave the city. There are also many small eateries serving Okinawan dishes, as well as international coffee chains and rowdy bars. Most Sundays, this road is blocked off for pedestrians only. During our trip, we saw brightly dressed street performers, food vendors, and a mini traditional folk festival. However, it is just as lively during the weekdays, especially at night.<\/p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day5-40.jpg\" alt=\"Kokusaidori Naha Okinawa\" \/><i class=\"special\">Families out on the pedestrians-only Kokusai-dori on Sunday<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day5-38.jpg\" alt=\"Kokusaidori Naha Okinawa\" \/><i class=\"special\">Many photo-taking opportunities in the day on a weekend<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day2-87.jpg\" alt=\"Kokusaidori Naha Okinawa\" \/><i class=\"special\">Multiple floors of 24-hr shopping at the famous Don Quixote (Donki for short) store<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day2-88.jpg\" alt=\"Kokusaidori Naha Okinawa\" \/><i class=\"special\">The crowd on a typical weekday night<\/i><p class=\"special\">Access: Kokusai-dori stretches from the Naha Bus Terminal to the Makishi Station on the Yui Rail, but is a (short!) 1.6km walk.<\/p><h3>2. Buy Seafood Like A Local<\/h3><p>At the centre of Kokusai-dori&#8217;s bustling shopping arcade at Heiwa-dori, one of the many roofed malls with stalls selling everything under the sun, sits the Makishi Public Market. In this indoor market, half of the stalls are dedicated to pork and beef found locally and regionally. Prepare for sightings of vacuum packed pig&#8217;s trotters and skins of whole pig heads. On the other side, you will find ice chests of different kinds of fish and crustaceans caught from the local waters, much like the wet markets in Singapore. Locals buy the parrotfish, groupers, slipper lobsters and tiger prawns home for their own consumption, while tourists have their selections sent to the food stalls on the second floor food court to have them prepared immediately. If you&#8217;re really adventurous with food, try the sea snake soup from here.<\/p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day5-30.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Kokusaidori Mall\" \/><i class=\"special\">Endless shopping indoors at Kokusai-dori, Naha<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day5-33.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Makishi Public Market\" \/><i class=\"special\">Vacuum-packed pig&#8217;s trotters<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day5-36.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Makishi Public Market\" \/><i class=\"special\">Water tanks filled with all sorts of seafood<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day5-32.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Makishi Public Market\" \/><i class=\"special\">The escalator leading to the food court upstairs where you can sit down for freshly prepared sashimi or cooked dishes<\/i><p class=\"special\">MAKISHI PUBLIC MARKET<br \/>Address: Matsuo 2-10-1, Naha, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/>Hours: 8 am to 8 pm<br \/>Access: The market is located in the middle of the Heiwa-dori shopping arcade along Hokusai-dori<\/p><h3>3. Try Okinawan Cuisine<\/h3><p>The food in Okinawa differs quite significantly from the Japanese because of its unique history and climate, and is influenced by China, Southeast Asia, Japan, and the United States. The three main dishes to try are the Goya Chanpuru (bittergourd stir fry), Okinawa Soba (made with wheat instead of buckwheat), and Taco (not tako) Rice, which has ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes and salsa served over rice.<\/p><p>Almost every traditional meal you have in Okinawa will also consist of several side dishes, such as the <i>rafute<\/i> (braised pork belly!), <i>mimiga<\/i> (thinly cut, steamed pig\u2019s ear seasoned with ponzu), <i>umibudo<\/i> (sea grapes soaked in vinegar), and <i>tofuyo<\/i> (fermented tofu).<\/p><p>Pork is king here in Okinawa, whereas beef is more widely consumed in mainland Japan. Almost every part of the pig is used here, and as our tour guide liked to put it, \u201cWe use everything but its voice.\u201d If you\u2019re a fan of pork belly, you\u2019ll do well in Okinawa. <\/p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day1-14.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Goya Bitter Melon\" \/><i class=\"special\">Okinawans think that consuming goya helps in achieving longevity. They do have the longest life expectancy, by the way.<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day2-86.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Umibudo Sea Grapes\" \/><i class=\"special\">Umibudo looks like tiny grapes, but tastes like very crunchy fish roe<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day3-41.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Pork Belly\" \/><i class=\"special\">You&#8217;ll find pork in almost every restaurant in Okinawa<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day2-35.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Soba\" \/><i class=\"special\">Oki soba tastes and looks more like udon and makes a hearty meal. (Ashibiuna)<\/i><p class=\"special\">ASHIBIUNA (SHURI CASTLE)<br \/>Address: 2-13 Shuritonokura, Naha, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/>Hours: 12 pm to 3 pm, 5 pm to 11 pm<br \/>Access: 10 min walk from Shuri Station on the Yui Rail<\/p><h3>4. Experience Izakayas Okinawa Style <\/h3><p>A good place to start off your food exploration in Okinawa would be the <i>izakaya<\/i>. These casual dining places often have a wide assortment of food and drinks, so you can order to share and discover interesting dishes. Depending on the establishment you visit, you may get to sit on tatami mats and dine from low tables, Japanese style. Don&#8217;t be intimated by the menu&#8211;ask for an English menu and order a few items each time so you don&#8217;t get overwhelmed by the sheer number of items they have. Some <i>izakayas<\/i> also offer live Okinawan music, especially in tourist districts like Kokusai-dori in Naha.<\/p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/singaporebrides-okinawa-day2-82.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Izakaya\" \/><i class=\"special\">Bench-style seating surrounded by sake<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day2-80.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Izakaya\" \/><i class=\"special\">This izakaya has awesome retro decor and paraphernalia<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day1-17.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Izakaya\" \/><i class=\"special\">Be entertained by live Okinawan music while eating<\/i><p class=\"special\">UMINCHU TAVERN ICHIROYA MIEBASHI EKI-MAE<br \/>Address: 1-1-9 Maejima, Naha, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/>Hours: 3.30 pm to 1 am<br \/>Access: 1 min walk from Miebashi Station on the Yui Rail<br \/><br \/>TOUBARAMA<br \/>Address: Makishi 2-7-25, Naha, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/>Hours: 11 am to midnight<br \/>Access: 1 min walk from Makishi Station on the Yui Rail<\/p><h3>5. Seek Out Hidden Cafes Only Locals Know About<\/h3><p>Take a detour off the main shopping street and wander into the backlanes. Rent a car and drive a little farther from your usual route. Hiding well amongst residential homes and, sometimes, less developed parcels of land, are atmospheric little cafes that serve home-cooked style dishes that are appealing both to the eyes and to the tastebuds. Unlike the izakayas mentioned above, the menu is much smaller so do a little research if you&#8217;re fussy with food. However, the views and ambience usually more than make up for it.<\/p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day2-4.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Cafe\" \/><i class=\"special\">A private garden blocks out the rest of the world<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day2-7.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Cafe\" \/><i class=\"special\">A healthy fruit bowl<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day3-34.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Cafe\" \/><i class=\"special\">Steps leading down to a cafe that looks like a Japanese house<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day3-44.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Cafe\" \/><i class=\"special\">Instagram moments at the cafe<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day4-93.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Cafe\" \/><i class=\"special\">Tatami seating in a quaint little cafe that requires quite a drive inland<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day4-95.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Cafe\" \/><i class=\"special\">Set meals give you the best of everything<\/i><p class=\"special\">CAFE NIFERA<br \/>Address: Tsuboya 1-13-19, Naha, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/>Hours: 8.30 am to 10.30 am<br \/>Access: 5 min walk from Makishi Station on the Yui Rail<br \/><br \/>CAFE CAHAYA BULAN<br \/>Address: 429-1 Bise, Motobu, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/>Hours: 11.30 am to 7.30 pm<br \/>Access: By car only<br \/><br \/>CAFE NANA IRO NO KAZE<br \/>Address: 2511-2 Zakimi Itabarihara, Yomitan-son, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/>Hours: 11.30 am to 5.30 pm<br \/>Access: By car only<\/p><h3>6. Enjoy the Beautiful Waters yet Stay Dry<\/h3><p>The best way to enjoy the island is by driving, so plan to rent a car at the airport. Since you&#8217;re on an island, you know you can get gorgeous views as you drive along the coast from south of the island, where Naha, the capital and airport is, to north of the island, where it is less touristy and more scenic. If you don&#8217;t dive, there are still many ways to enjoy the sea, so don&#8217;t give up just yet.<\/p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day2-57.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Nirai Kanai Bridge\" \/><i class=\"special\">The Nirai Bridge and the Kanai Bridge connect in twists and turns, overlooking Kudaka and Komaka Islands<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day3-11.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Busena Marine Park\" \/><i class=\"special\">Take a trip on a glass-bottomed boat for fishes galore<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day3-20.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Diamond Beach\" \/><i class=\"special\">Diamond Beach is quiet and secluded, good for photo ops<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day3-29.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Cape Manzamo\" \/><i class=\"special\">Facing the East China Sea, Cape Manzamo is beautiful at sunset and you can share the view with the &#8220;elephant&#8221; structure<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day3-70.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Kouri Ocean Tower\" \/><i class=\"special\">Atop the Kouri Ocean Tower sits the Bell of Happiness, a popular spot for couples<\/i><p class=\"special\">NIRAI KANAI BRIDGE<br \/>Address: Aza-Chinen, Chinen, Nanjo-shi, Okinawa<br \/>Access: By car only<br \/><br \/>BUSENA MARINE PARK<br \/>Address: 1-1744 Kise, Nago, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/>Hours: 9 am to 5 pm<br \/>Access: By car only<br \/><br \/>DIAMOND BEACH<br \/>Address: 100 Seragaki, Onna Village, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/><br \/>CAPE MANZAMO<br \/>Address: Onna-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/>Access: 90 min from Naha Bus Terminal<br \/><br \/>KOURI OCEAN TOWER<br \/>Address: 538 Kouri, Nakijin, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/>Hours: 9 am to 6 pm<br \/>Access: By car only<\/p><h3>7. Make Your Own Souvenirs<\/h3><p>It&#8217;s easy to buy souvenirs anywhere in Okinawa, especially along Kokusai-dori. Even if you have not done any research on Okinawa, just a 10-minute walk down the street and it will become very apparent what the most popular souvenirs are. The top items being bought by the Taiwanese and Japanese tourists are Okinawa <i>beni-imo<\/i> (sweet potato) snacks, Okinawa brown sugar cubes, Ryukyu glassware unique to Okinawa, Okinawa Awamori (alcoholic beverage), <i>shisa<\/i> (stone guardians) figurines and Okinawan textiles. In fact, there are a couple of places on the island where you can go to make your own!<\/p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day2-41.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa textiles\" \/><i class=\"special\">Create your own coral patterns using fossilised corals known as bingata dyeing<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day2-38.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa textiles\" \/><i class=\"special\">You can make them into pouches, coasters, even T-shirts<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day3-16.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Beni Imo\" \/><i class=\"special\">Shape and pipe your own beni-imo tarts at Okashi Goten, a popular souvenir store<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day3-79.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Beni Imo\" \/><i class=\"special\">Put your goodies into customised boxes<\/i><p class=\"special\">SHURI RYUSEN<br \/>Address: 1-54, Shuriyamagawacho, Naha, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/>Hours: 9 am to 6 pm<br \/>Access: Take the Yui Rail to Shuri Station, then take the bus to Yamakawa<br \/><br \/>OKASHI GOTEN (Diamond Beach)<br \/>Andress: 100 Seragaki, Onna Village, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/>Hours: 8.30 am to 7.30 pm<br \/>Access: By car only<\/p><h3>8. Do Touristy Things at Places of Interest<\/h3><p>There are actually many tourist attractions in Okinawa, ranging from historical sites to mountain treks to theme parks. Here are a few that you shouldn&#8217;t miss.<\/p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day2-12.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Shuri Castle\" \/><i class=\"special\">Take a picture under the Shureimon at the historical Shuri Castle that can be seen on the commemorative 2000 yen note<\/i> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day2-78.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa World\" \/><i class=\"special\">The 300,000-year-old Gyokusendo Cave at Okinawa World hosts spectacular rock formations<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day3-58.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium\" \/><i class=\"special\">See how many whale sharks you can find in the main tank at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium<\/i><p class=\"special\">SHURI CASTLE<br \/>Address: 1-2, Shuri-Kinjo, Naha, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/>Hours: 8.30 am to 7 pm<br \/>Access: 15 min walk from Shuri Station on the Yui Rail<br \/><br \/>OKINAWA WORLD<br \/>Address: 1336 Tamagusuku, Maekawa, Nanjo City, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/>Hours: 9 am to 6 pm<br \/>Access: 60 min by bus from Naha Bus Terminal<br \/><br \/>OKINAWA CHURAUMI AQUARIUM<br \/>Address: 424 Ishikawa, Motobu, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/>Hours: 8.30 am to 6.30 pm<br \/>Access: 3 hours by Yanbaru Express Bus to Ocean Expo Park<br \/><br \/><\/p><h3>9. Age Your Own Awamori <\/h3><p><i>Awamori<\/i> is an alcoholic beverage unique to Okinawa that any visitor should taste at least once. It is given such a prestige that many buy these as gifts for festive occasions, and the recipients would keep them, sometimes for several years, as <i>awamori<\/i> gets better as it ages. During some wedding ceremonies in Okinawa, the families of the bride and groom would present their own aged <i>awamori<\/i> and then mix them into a new &#8220;blend&#8221; as a symbol of the two families joining together. The blend then becomes the new family treasure. <\/p><p>Chuko Awamori distillery produces high quality <i>awamori<\/i>, as well as their own ceramic urns to preserve and age the<i> awamori<\/i>. In addition, they can also provide customers with customised labels and engravings. The distillery, as well as the pottery studio, is open to public. If you want to, you can buy a bottle of <i>awamori<\/i> (known as <i>kusu<\/i> if aged more than three years) here and keep it in their cavern for aging, then return in 10 years to collect it! <\/p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day5-18.jpg\" alt=\"Okinawa Awamori\" \/><i class=\"special\">Awamori is distilled from water, black koji yeast-culture and Thai rice, and found only in Okinawa<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day5-24.jpg\" alt=\"Chuko Awamori Okinawa\" \/><i class=\"special\">Chuko Awamori makes their own pottery to age their awamori<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day5-28.jpg\" alt=\"Chuko Awamori Okinawa\" \/><i class=\"special\">Ready awamori aging in the wooden cellar<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day5-29.jpg\" alt=\"Chuko Awamori Okinawa\" \/><i class=\"special\">Most customers choose to leave their purchases at the distillery for aging<\/i><p class=\"special\">CHUKO AWAMORI<br \/>Address: 132 Nakachi, Tomigusuku, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/>Hours: 9 am to 5 pm<br \/>Access: 10 min from the airport, by car only<\/p><h3>10. Splurge on Luxurious Hotels and Resorts<\/h3><p>There are all kinds of hotels in Okinawa, ranging from the budget, to the hotel chains, to luxurious resorts. We&#8217;ve visited and stayed in a few of them during our trip, and some of them are really unforgettable. Depending on your budget and purpose of visit, you&#8217;ll definitely be able to find one that will make your stay memorable. On our last night, we stayed at a premium onsen resort that is very popular with the locals!<\/p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day4-67.jpg\" alt=\"ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort\" \/><i class=\"special\">The private beach at ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort popular with families<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day4-60.jpg\" alt=\"ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort\" \/><i class=\"special\">Most rooms come with a view of the beach or the nearby Cape Manzamo<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day4-188.jpg\" alt=\"Uza Terrace Beach Club Villas\" \/><i class=\"special\">Those looking for privacy stay at the luxurious Uza Terrace Beach Club Villas<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day4-183.jpg\" alt=\"Uza Terrace Beach Club Villas\" \/><i class=\"special\">They have very spacious one- to two-bedroom villas with private pools<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day4-195.jpg\" alt=\"Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel\" \/><i class=\"special\">The rooms at the Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel come with adorable spa outfits that you can wear to the onsen downstairs<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xsingaporebrides-okinawa-day5-2.jpg\" alt=\"Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel\" \/><i class=\"special\">If you&#8217;re lucky, you get a room with a view of the airport runway, which is gorgeous at night<\/i><p class=\"special\">ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort<br \/>Address: 2260 Aza-Seragaki, Onna, Okinawa<br \/><br \/>UZA TERRACE BEACH CLUB VILLAS<br \/>Address: 630-1 Uza, Yomitan-son, Nakagami, Okinawa Prefecture<br \/><br \/>RYUKYU ONSEN SENAGAJIMA HOTEL<br \/>Address: 174-5 Aza-Senaga, Tomigusuku, Okinawa Prefecture<\/p><h3>11. Get Married in Okinawa<\/h3><p>If you&#8217;re looking for an island to get married on that is not in Southeast Asia, Okinawa is probably one of the best choices. You can get your chapel AND beach wedding at the same time, do a bit of diving and souvenir shopping, then take off to mainland Japan for your honeymoon. We&#8217;ve got that all worked out for you! For a list of wedding chapels in Okinawa, check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/2016\/07\/wedding-chapels-okinawa-watabe\/\">feature here<\/a>. You can even book them from <a href=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/venue\/chijmes\/\">Watabe Weddings<\/a>&#8216; office in Singapore!<\/p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xagsingaporebrides-okinawa-day4-148.jpg\" alt=\"Aqua Grace Wedding Chapel\" \/><i class=\"special\">Most wedding chapels in Okinawa have their own beach and unique views<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xagsingaporebrides-okinawa-day4-137.jpg\" alt=\"Aqua Grace Wedding Chapel\" \/><i class=\"special\">Each chapel also has a unique design with meaningful details<\/i><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/singaporebrides.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/xcvsingaporebrides-okinawa-day4-81.jpg\" alt=\"Coralvita Wedding Chapel\" \/><i class=\"special\">A view of Cape Manzamo and Okinawa&#8217;s Meoto Iwa (Married Rocks)<\/i><p>In case these 11 reasons aren&#8217;t enough for you, here&#8217;s a video by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.feliciatohh.com\">Felicia Toh<\/a> of what we did in Okinawa. We had a great introduction to the island, thanks to the Okinawa Convention &#038; Visitors Bureau and the Okinawa Prefectural Government office in Singapore.<\/p> <div><div style=\"left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nuFM_ScREXY?wmode=transparent&amp;rel=0&amp;autohide=1&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"true\" mozallowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><hr \/><p>Credit: All images by Evonne of <a href=\"http:\/\/evonnz.com\/\">evonnz.com<\/a> for SingaporeBrides.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Heard of Okinawa and not sure if it&#8217;s worth visiting? Here are 11 reasons why Okinawa should be your next travel destination.Mention Okinawa and I bet all your diver friends&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":33704,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9,8],"tags":[667],"class_list":["post-33140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editors-notes","category-home-travel","tag-okinawa"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A Travel Guide To 11 Fun Things To Do In Okinawa<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Heard of Okinawa and not sure if it&#039;s worth visiting? 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