What is your favorite place on Okinawa?

[dk]

Kinda sad, but it seems like we mainly post our gripes about the island. I tend to fall into this way too often, and it tends to drag me down sometimes. So, on a more positive note, what is your favorite place on Okinawa?

Culturally, I'd say mine are the castle ruins. Each of them are different in their own way, so it's hard to choose a favorite out of all of them. I really enjoyed Chinen Castle (http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=918, apparently the pictures busted...).

Sefa Utaki is pretty cool too.

My favorite place to go let loose is Hinotama Hall down in Shintoshin though. I've been going to HInotama Hall for about 6 years now. Most week though, any Izakaya with the right group of friends is a lot of fun.

So which places on Okinawa do you enjoy the most?

[P_chan]

As far as Izakayas go, I love anzuya. I go to the anzuya in ginowan on 330. They have a drink special where it's all you can drink for 2 hours for around 900 yen.

I too am also a fan of all the castle ruins. Katsuren and Nakagusuku are two of my favorites because of the view. Another one I liked was Chatan castle. I found it with my buddy one day and it was just an enjoyable hike though the woods and through the castle. Oh and Kohgoh Sekirinzan up north is a favorite of both my wife and I. I would recommend going there if you've never been. Taa Taki in ogimi is also a nice place to visit. It's kind hard to find if you don't know where to look but it's well worth it. You get a nice hike up the riverbed and then find a beautiful waterfall. Here is the url to the pictures from taa taki if you want to take a look. http://new.photos.yahoo.com/squallyz06/album/576460762336292336

[dk]

Great pictures man! I really enjoyed those!

Kangoh Sekirinzan is awesome. I went up there about 5 years ago and LOVED it. That place doesn't even feel like Okinawa!

I'm going to have to find my way up to Taa Taki when my daughter gets a little older. It looks really nice.

Yeah, Anzuya is really nice too. There used to be one about a kilometer from my old house down in Naha. I used to get pretty tanked up there. Now, I can't remember the name of it, but there's an izakaya down by my house that has all you can drink Awamori for Y500 and it comes out of a faucet at every table. Dangerous stuff, but a lot of fun whenever I go there.

[P_chan]

well if you ever need directions just let me know. Very simple to find if you know how to get there.

[dk]

Sure thing. I'm wondering if I've been there before just not knowing the name. As long as I've been here, it's hard to think I might have somehow missed a spot!

Feel free to post directions in this thread in case anyone wants to go there. Or post an entirely new thread about it w/ directions.

[DoctorP]

Yeah, Anzuya is really nice too. There used to be one about a kilometer from my old house down in Naha. I used to get pretty tanked up there. Now, I can't remember the name of it, but there's an izakaya down by my house that has all you can drink Awamori for Y500 and it comes out of a faucet at every table. Dangerous stuff, but a lot of fun whenever I go there.

There used to be a Yaki Niku resturant about 1km from my house. They great food, and Y900 for all you could drink. It was great...until some Militiary groups started going there for parties and only eating a little...then staying until closing drinking all they could. Needless to say the place closed it's doors!

[P_chan]

All you have to do is take 58 all the way up to ogimi. Cross the Henan bridge (it has traditional okinawan hats on the 4 corners of the bridge) and take the immediate right at the end of the bridge (heading north). I believe the signs for it are white with blue kanji on them. I know you have to pass a junkyard of sorts right after to take the right off of 58 after henan bridge. You travel about 1km on this road and then it splits. Take the right and eventually you will see a VERY small parking lot with a river by it. Just park and follow the river upstream!

Oh and buy an okinawa explorer book if you don't have one. They have a ton of good info on nice places to visit a lot of people miss.

[TheNoNamedOne]

I like Hamabay no Cha-ya tea/coffee house in the south. I can sit there sippin tea and coffee for hours looking out at the ocean. I really like the rustic feel of the place (a converted container) and that it sits virtually right on the ocean with just a little beach area before the wave break. Great to go there when typhoons are in the area if you like crashing surf sound and white foam.

There is also a pay to enter private beach tucked away off the main road on Ikei island. Up until 3 or 4 years ago hardly anyone found it, but then the owners started advertising it. It is still good, and I like that they don't mind that visitors bring their dogs.

[JSSAUCE]

Call me crazy but I really liked the Daei in Naha. So sad to see them gone.

There are 2 great Isakays in Naha which I like. One is Onisan in Matsayama. I'll post back when I get the correct name and spelling from my wife on the other but they are both good.

Joel

[dk]

Oh man. Onisan is great. Man, I haven't been there in a few years. I loved that place when I went.

[JSSAUCE]

I was never a big fan of the Isakays around Naha but when my family took me there I became a fan. We will go at least twice when we are back in August.

Joel

[thistle]

Well, this thread seemed to turn to 'what is your favourite place to eat/drink in Okinawa', there must be lots of favourite places in Okinawa.

I like the 'Nakagusuku castle ' ruins, and also Toguchi beach(though haven't
been there for years, lost the turn off, but plan to find it again this summer!).

[HDR-Japan]

I enjoy so many places on Okinawa, I am not sure I could list them all here. :)

[roxy_skyy]

In all of the places I've lived I'd have to say that Okinawa is my favorite. I loved Germany but I prefer warm weather. I love the beaches here, so beautiful and so blue, but I also love the night life here. (Not to mention the cars, I'm a import addict haha) In Europe everything but the discos seemed to close before 8 o'clock. Here everything tends to stay open later and for the most part everyone seems nice. My friends and co-workers tease me and say their nice to me because I have blonde hair and blue eyes, but I think living in different cultures has made it so that I've come to be respectful in other countries, as well as my own.

[coldnoodles]

Big Dai Chan is the place to go!!

[Bones]

Hey Roxy_Skyy,

You had mentioned that you loved Germany, where were you stationed at?

Spent 7 years at Bitburg Air Base, but had the opportunity to visit a lot of places over there.

Just curious.

NBTP

[ststephen65]

lets see.
BARS:
beach rock 69 in yomitan (now the beach rock village in Nakigin)
Pee Pee Ka Ka in yomitan (now closed)
Mongoose in yomitan (now closed)
Rainbow Bridge in yomitan
Cafe Celluloid in mihama
Gans Bar in yomitan
Milestone in Naha
cafe "G" in Naha
just started going to Himatoma Hall

OUTDOORS
Taa Toki
Aha Toki
"white trash beach" near Oku
"heroin Beach" near Hedo
the yamada steps in yomitan

CASTLES
Zakimi Castle (sunrise is the best)
Katsuren Castle

[Fairlady]

hmm there are a lot of places that I like here. I wish that I could pick just one but I have to say the things that I like that are touristy would have to be the Southeast Botanical Gardens. that is a beautiful palce to be and relax

[Cathleen_38]

East Coast And Rock America. 7/7 club The Zodiac Band with CHIBI and the guys. They totally rocked! I still listen to their CD "First".
I jammed with them too on stage. I still think about them too. Shake My Heart,
Magic Mountainway, Phoenix etc. Shake My Heart rocked!
Okinawa is my most favorite place in the world, I give anything to go back.
That's where my heart is.

[glittle75]

To eat: a small izakya in Naha by Asashi Bashi Station (Don't know the name)
Any spot that has red miso soup
Yoshi Hachi's Sushi joint

To Drink: J-Club in Uroko, Naha
Bar Zone in Naha

Culture: Castle ruins, Aquarium

Others: Pineapple farm up north, Heido Point, Miyako Island, Tropical Beach

To eat i don't mind going to anywhere really that has great food. For drinks i tend to go to All Japanese places, I try to get in by myself and using my japanese, 9 times out of 10 i can get in once they realize i have 3 years of studying the language in me, but if i come up on that one time they are strict to the japanese only rule, ill call a friend and have them "escort" us in the place the first time, make friends with the staff and people that seem like regulars there, then i can more than likely come back by myself. I like going to all japanese places so i can cut down on the rediculous acting americans sightings, and not be grouped into that bracket becuase im a blonde haired blue eyed white guy.

[a_bjyrd]

Personally right now I think my favorite place is Cafe Caracuma. They are a restraunt on top of a cliff with a beautiful view of the water. They grow all of their own herbs and the moment you walk in you are excited to look at the menu and see all of the food they have to offer because the smell is pure heaven. My husband and I ordered three entrees to share just because we wanted to try everything. Awesome Place. I think it is also known by "Thai in the Sky" but not sure

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

Ah! Kurukuma, in Tamagusuku. Nice place :) Food used to be even better than it is now, but some of the cooks must have left.

[okisteve]

Shikina-en Royal Gardens

[ja_Patriot]

Senaga Island, Tomishiro / Oroku.
10 mins. from my home in Naha and yet an oasis. On the road around the island, you pick your own spot for the sound of waves and seagulls, cool ocean breeze, maybe a quiet cigar, some shore fishing and a perfect sunset with the wife, - not necessarily in that order.

[ja_Patriot]

HDR-Japan,
Very nice photography. Enjoyed my visit to your site.

[ness4k]

No doubt that would be my bed.

[DougP]

lets see.
BARS:
beach rock 69 in yomitan (now the beach rock village in Nakigin)
Pee Pee Ka Ka in yomitan (now closed)
Mongoose in yomitan (now closed)
Rainbow Bridge in yomitan
Cafe Celluloid in mihama
Gans Bar in yomitan
Milestone in Naha
cafe "G" in Naha
just started going to Himatoma Hall

OUTDOORS
Taa Toki
Aha Toki
"white trash beach" near Oku
"heroin Beach" near Hedo
the yamada steps in yomitan

CASTLES
Zakimi Castle (sunrise is the best)
Katsuren Castle


Oh man memory lane. I remember the day Beach Rock 69 closed. One of the saddest days of my life. Would love to know more on where it is in Nakigin. Not even sure where Nakigin is :)

So Mongoose is closed now too. Damn I was thinking about going back there
in the near future. Another place I miss is Pokey's but I heard they relocated over in Awase somewhere. Ah those were some good times to be in Yomitan. :D

Actually a few days ago I was paying for my storage down in Yomitan and afterwards took my wife down to where Beach Rock House used to be. Still nothing there but the building and a lot of over growth. How I wish I could turn the clock back and go in there for one last Orion draft and watch the sunset.

[P_chan]

Personally right now I think my favorite place is Cafe Caracuma. They are a restraunt on top of a cliff with a beautiful view of the water. They grow all of their own herbs and the moment you walk in you are excited to look at the menu and see all of the food they have to offer because the smell is pure heaven. My husband and I ordered three entrees to share just because we wanted to try everything. Awesome Place. I think it is also known by "Thai in the Sky" but not sure

Cafe Caracuma is a nice resturant, just not a very good one. The food is kinda expensive and it's really not all that great. The view is nice though!

[Fonze]

Well I know my kids favorite place is Comprehensive park. I like the whole island equally.

[Koopa Troopa]

Cape Zanpa or under the Tomari bridge.

[P_chan]

I really enjoyed madea point, before they remodeled it. It's nice to go snorkeling there with something to feed the fish on a weekday once it's not packed. But now that they cater to the big hotels in the area, it's just about always packed.

I'm also a fan of that rock place up north (dk knows the one I'm talking about). The name of it just slips my mind right now. It's supposedly the oldest part of the island and the home of a goddess.

Taa taki is another favorite of mine. A beautiful waterfall that is often over looked, which can be a very good thing.

As far as castles go, zakimi and nakagusku are some of my favorites. I always thought katsuren has a really nice view.

I'm also a fan of ikei island, but I haven't been able to explore there much.

[Ammoyankee]

I like several of the out of the way spots on the Pacific side on the way north. Several of the dam parks are really nice, we usually have bi-monthly motorcycle gatherings at some of them.

[P_chan]

I've only been to one dam park but it was really cool.

[gtlm2000]

Where is your any favorite place in Okinawa?
It deosn't matter if you like restaurant, shopping place,etc....


I like Naha shintoshinn area where is Omoromach.
There is a lot of shopping place.

http://photo-okinawa.com/photo/IMGP6938.jpg

[CaptainMcLusty]

Any beach. I miss getting drunk and sitting on the beach in the middle of the night.... :(

[gtlm2000]

oh, there were other thread about favorite place. I didn't check it...sorry.