r/okinawa

Hi, I'm now in okinawa. Do you have some suggestions what to do in okinawa when raining?

Hello! I am the costume designer for a play going up in Honolulu. I have zero Okinawan heritage and have been doing a lot of research to do these characters justice. My last real stumbling block is this: at the end of the play the main character is joined by a noro and a yuta. I am having trouble finding details on how to dress them. It seems they both wear plain white kimono/yukata. Noro also has bead necklace with magatama bead, and possibly a fabric panel at the back? Noro also wears either a white strip around the head or sometimes also leaves? I can find almost nothing about what details or accessories a yuta might wear.

Any help any of you might share would be greatly appreciated!

Hello !

I have read several topics here but not sure it applies to my trip.
I plan to come to Okinawa from early to end of october.
So i was thinking to stay like 10 days in Naha and 10 days in Ishigaki. What do you think?
I read also that Naha isn't good for going to the beach and you should book more to the north?
I mean i can book something a bit far from the station as its not a short trip.
So if you have some advices, area names... I would be very grateful ! 😄

Spending a week in Okinawa soon and would love to buy local clothes suited to the summer / warm weather, in prep for some time on the Mediterranean later in the summer.

Any recommendations for where to shop?

Hi!

I'll be solo travelling next month and plan to rent a motorcycle for 6 days. I'm still deciding between staying at one place up north and riding between capes on different days vs at different hotels as I ride about. I understand it doesn't take too long to ride about in the main island. Any recommendations and any must-goes for a biker?

Additional note:Apparently, the source for that information comes from a magazine published 21 years ago, so it may not be very reliable. I’m really sorry 🙇

There’s a reason why a single prefecture ranks just behind those countries. When Okinawa was under U.S. military rule, one of the few meat products commonly available through goods diverted from the American military was Spam. Even today, Spam is cheaper in Okinawa than in most other parts of Japan.

By the way, in Okinawa, a brand called Tulip is actually more popular than Spam.

My partner will be at OIST for 2 months between July and October (exact months to be determined), and we’re currently trying to figure out the best area to stay.

We’re looking for a private apartment for ~2 months and would love some local advice on where to focus our search.

Our priorities are:

• close to beaches / good surfing
• not too far from OIST
• more local Okinawan atmosphere
• bakeries, small shops, izakayas etc nearby
• not completely rural/isolated

We’d really like to experience everyday life in Okinawa as much as possible while we’re there.

We’ve also never been to Japan before, so this is all completely new to us (including how housing works there) so any advice is really appreciated.

So far Yomitan seems like it might fit what we’re looking for, but we’d love to hear from people who know the island better.

Questions:

• Which areas would you recommend?
• Best websites/Facebook groups/local agencies for 1–2 month furnished rentals?

We’ll probably rent a car, so it doesn’t need to be walking distance to OIST.

Thanks so much :)

I am traveling to Okinawa mid-June for a week and wanted to inquire on the GT and Dogtooth fishery there. I have heard a lot about the GT fishing and seen countless diving videos of large schools or dogtooth.

A bit of info to myself; I have been fishing my entire life all around the world so I would consider myself an experienced fishermen, not an expert, but definitely not my first rodeo. Ive caught big yellowfin and GT in the maledives, been spearfishing for wahoo in Mexico, Marlin and wahoo fishing in Cape Verde, and have caught countless other species casting poppers, vertical jigging, spearfishing etc…

My main question is how and where do I get a charter/guide to target dogtooth. Jigging or spearfishing would be my preferred method but Im open to anything. They have been illusive to me and i never manage to catch them even though I have targeted them and tried countless times. Is the dogtooth fishery in Okinawa a big thing or are they not targeted alot?

Any info and guidance would help out alot!

Hey all, so my family is more than probably moving to Okinawa around August or late July. She works for the Army Corp of Engineers so we have quite a bit of perks supporting us. More importantly we are bringing our two kids of which my son had a heart transplant. So if anyone has some excellent pediatrician and cardiologist recommendations either on island or on the mainland that would be great. My wife was recently diagnosed as cancer free so a local OB/GYN that can do or recommend clinics for follow up screenings will also be super helpful.

My wife and I are incredibly outdoorsy so I’m sure we will be active in all that we can. For myself I’m a personal trainer(certified and have an undergrad degree) and giant video game nerd so any recommendations are to satisfy those things that would also be great. Also any hifi/audiophile spots would be cool if not I’m sure areas around Tokyo could satisfy that.

For our kids my son will be heading into second grade this coming year and my daughter will be turning 3 in October. Is there anything we should look out for in regards to them both or just enroll as if he was another foreign kid and find a great daycare for my daughter?

I’m sure I’m probably leaving things out but thanks for any help. Once we get official orders on going we will work on the language and cultural differences (thank god for being anime nerd to help facilitate that).

Hello, I’m planning to snorkel at Tokashiki in late May. Will a swimsuit be sufficient for the water temperature during this time or should I go for a wetsuit?

Hey community!

I'm a German Marine Biologist, Divemaster and Scientific Diver (equivalent to firefighter/police diver in Germany). I worked as a dive guide in Croatia (plus marine bio presentations for school classes and tourists), as a scientific diver for archaeologists in the Baltic Sea and volunteered for a coral conservation NGO in the Philippines.

Now I'm planning Work & Travel in Japan, arriving early September. My Japanese is around JLPT N4 level by end of the year, but not yet certified upon arrival. I've messaged a few Okinawa dive centers — no replies yet.

I know tourism high season is April–July, so I'm arriving in low season (even typhoon season).

Here my precise questions:

1. Which gives me better odds: applying as a DM in exchange for Instructor certification, or arriving already as an Instructor? (general timing, not just for low season)
2. How realistic is finding a job on-site (walking into shops) vs. online beforehand?
3. Is September onward just not worth trying for rec dive work in Okinawa?
4. Is it pointless without at least JLPT N4 proof?

(I know the dive side of things — I'm asking here about Okinawa's local job market, visa timing, and language expectations.)

Any honest advice greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Greetings DivinMarv

Has anyone PCS'd recently with large bags that were maxed out before hitting the "oversize" threshold on the CONUS side? Did you run into any issues at the drop-off counter after customs for the domestic leg to Naha?

I'm coming over in a couple of weeks as a fed civ. Oversized bags are not authorized, so I'm trying to avoid paying any out-of-pocket fees if possible. I need to procure new suitcases since my last set bit the dust, and I want to make sure I don't buy something that will cause issues later.

There is a real chance I am going to be moving to Okinawa in September for work (non military). If I move it will be for a minimum of 3 years.

The company stated they will be helping me with the following:
Visa, flights, relocation, and repatriation, private healthcare, enrollment in Japan's National Pension Plan, and accommodation for down payments, one return flight per year to your home country.

What are some things I should know, ask, negotiate before moving? I feel like somebody will ask, so, I am married with a 3 year old. Wife is okay with moving as long as she doesn’t have to work while we’re there.

Edit: I work construction; the minimum of 3 years is the length of the original project, they want somebody to be there from start to finish. They have a large backlog so I could be there longer if I want but will need to be at least 3yrs.

Are there any local crafts that i should consider getting or stores that sell quality Japanese made products from the mainland?

Heading to Okinawa in a couple weeks time. Where is the best place to hire baby equipment, specifically a cot/bassinet and a light pram?

Taking our 5 month old and staying in Onna. We are hiring a car and looking forward to exploring the island 💙