Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Japan Trip: Okinawa

Playing: Ten Days Gone-Jack's Mannequin
Reading: Wherever Issue 1
Hello everyone! I just got back from Japan last night. During my month-long trip, I spent five days on the southernmost island of Japan, Okinawa. Admittedly, Tina and I didn't do a lot of research on Okinawa other than a castle or two plus the aquarium. We just assumed the beach would be easy to get to because that's what Okinawa is most famous for. However, it took us close to an hour to get to Bibi Beach from our hostel, which was two streets over from Kokusaidori
While we were there, we did try taco rice and Okinawan ramen multiple times, since Okinawa is famous for both. The taco rice was decent at most of the places, but you can easily make it yourself at home. Just make tacos and replace the shell with rice. The ramen there was pretty mild in terms of flavor other than the thick slabs of pork belly in it.
We had originally planned to do mostly beach activities, but as I mentioned before, it was too far away, so we ended up visiting a lot of other places like the Tsuboya pottery district. The pottery district is pretty much one long street that leaves you at the mouth of  Heiwa Dori. Although it was nice, it wasn't anything exceptional. I recommend wandering off the main street in an attempt to find the studios of those who actually make the ceramic gifts being sold along Tsuboya's main street. Tina and I were able to find one and the guys working there offered us seats so that we could stay and watch.
Shuri Castle was another super touristy attraction that we visited. It had an incredible view and at 700 yen, I can't complain about the price. Like most of Okinawa though, it didn't leave me speechless. For the most part, Okinawa felt like an extra hot Hawaii with Japanese influences at times.
Churaumi Aquarium was my favorite thing that I saw during our trip there. It had a large variety of sea life and a museum section dedicated to all sorts of preserved fish like megamouth sharks and oarfish. The aquarium is most famous for its whale shark tank, which is incredible and you should definitely go watch during feeding time, but I also really liked the park surrounding the aquarium, which had even more tanks along with dolphin shows. It took us around two hours to get there and cost 6,000 yen round trip on the bus system. It really bothered me that it took forever to get anywhere in Okinawa, since everything was spread out, and that it cost a minor fortune to get places.

19 comments:

  1. Yaaaaay your first Japan post ^___^
    I'm curious how your hostel looked like c;
    The taco rice sounds nice though! Nice
    to hear you've enjoyed the Churaumi
    Aquaurium! I'm sorry to hear you kind you
    had to take long bus trips to get to
    somewhere Xx

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    1. Haha, my hostel was actually pretty sketchy, so I didn't take any photos. If you want to look it up, it's called Kumoji-so Hostel. Luckily for us, it was the only bad hostel we stayed at.

      The taco rice is pretty good and I'm making it tonight for dinner, using the PBS recipe!

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  2. I've watched a korean variety show that featured Okinawa and ever since, I've wanted to visit the place especially Churaumi Aquarium. *___*

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    1. It's a cool place! Just be warned that transportation takes a long time. It's one of those places that you should visit after you've seen a lot of other places.

      The aquarium is definitely A+ though! One of the best ones I've ever visited.

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  3. These photos are perfect! So happy to see you had a nice time there! I miss Okinawa so much, the few years I lived there were amazing.

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    1. How long did you live there? That's pretty cool that you lived there. You probably got to see so much of it.

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  4. omg Okinawa, my parents did their honeymoon there and it looked so beautiful from their phtoos. I would love to go there one day too, lucky you!!! the archetecture and the water looks perfect!

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    1. Really? That's so cool! I guess it's kind of like the Hawaii of Asia, so it makes sense that people for there for their honeymoons (since a lot of people go to Hawaii for theirs here).

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  5. I have wanted to visit Japan since forever. Anyways have fun & Would
    you like to follow each other on GFC, Google+ & Bloglovin? Please lemme know!
    & keep in touch!


    X
    http://subhamrai.blogspot.in/

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    1. Ooh, I hope you make it to Japan one day! It's such a great country!

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  6. Wow! Everything looks like so much fun, very jelly, I would love to visit Japan one day x

    http://melly-go-round.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Hope you get to go soon! It's a fun country and even after a month, I still feel like there's a lot to see.

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  7. I wouldn't have thought of taco rice being popular in a place in Japan! Sounds like a fun place, too bad the beach was so hard to get to.

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    1. It's apparently an Okinawan specialty? My friend, who lives in Tokyo, said that it's becoming popular in Tokyo too. Mostly around young people though.

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  8. amazing pic...I like so much:X

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  9. wow! It's so beautiful! The skies are amazingly serene~~ The taco rice looks yummy too! I'm getting hungry XD

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  10. hiyeee!! your japan trip looks amazeeee!! i've never been to okinawa but i've heard similar to your experience that it's similar to maui or big island lols!

    i love taco rice lols my kind of comfort food.. i just love rice haha

    i'm glad to hear that you tried the kimchee rice and that you and your friends super enjoyed it that makes me so happy!!

    i'm in the states already! we're in north carolina my husbands doing a residency here. i actually joined instagram about a month ago (http://instagram.com/cocobella_ballerina).. and i actually think i won't be blogging anymore.. i just feel like i'm more suited to IG and it's easier for me lols!

    hope you have the most amazing summer before school starts hon!! good luck :p

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