Summary
This time, we took a 2.5 hour flight from Haneda Airport to ✈️ Okinawa Prefecture!
Okinawan gourmet food, awamori, canoeing, American-style bars… a 2-day/1-night trip to enjoy the charms of Kin-cho! 🚗✨
*Please note that information and prices listed are subject to change.
Travel Itinerary
1:00pm richamocha cafe（リカモカ カフェ）
First, we came to this cafe, which is famous for its home-roasted coffee and sweets using Kinmu Town’s specialty tarnm.
The store is very American, probably because the store is near Camp Hansen GATE 1. 🇺🇸
And Kanatake Town, which we visited this time, is said to be the birthplace of taco rice!
Here we will have lunch 😋.
Exterior
Menu
Sweets and drinks are popular at this cafe, but they also serve a variety of rice dishes such as doria and taco rice 😋.
Menu 2
Termmond.
Inside the American store 🇺🇸
Interior
Lunch Menu
Lunch ¥600
Ordered veggie taco rice and taimo Termmond!
The hearty taco rice with plenty of vegetables is very tasty with just the right amount of spiciness from the sauce and acidity from the tomatoes 😋.
The tarnm(taro), a specialty here with a sweet taste and good consistency, used in the Termmond in the set, seems to go well with baked goods and cheesecake! 💖.
Kanatake taro & butter cookies ¥350
A cute ice cream with a hint of purple 🍨.
The taro and butter cookies are a perfect match!
Spot Outline
Located in Kanamu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture, richamocha cafe is famous for its home-roasted coffee and sweets made from Kanamu-cho specialty tamu. The store is located near Camp Hansen GATE 1 and features an American atmosphere. Kanabu-cho is also known as the birthplace of taco rice, and you can enjoy lunch at this cafe.
3:00pm Sakiyama Shuzo Sho（崎山酒造廠）
Okinawa is famous for awamori! So next, we will go on a tour of Awamori production.
This is a brewery of Awamori established in 1905, and is famous for Matsufuji!
Exterior
introspection
Pamphlet
Sake brewery tour
First, we will learn about the history of Sakiyama Shuzo Sho.
The name of the signature piece here, Matsufuji, is taken from the name of the second generation “Kiimatsu” and his wife “Fujiko”! Lovely 💖.
The manufacturing process was also carefully written and easy to understand!
koji shelf
This is for the process called milling, which is the process of turning the koji into koji for sake!
Awamori is made from Thai rice!
2nd floor
You can also visit the place where the rice is fermented 👀.
The amount of barrels is amazing and powerful!
The smell of alcohol is spreading.
unblended malt whisky
What a great opportunity to taste the original sake!
Be delicious!
Here they let the fermented rice sit for a long time.
comparing tastes
No. 1 local favorite. 25° Brent Sake, Kuro no Matsufuji 30°, Aka no Matsufuji Brown Sugar Yeast Brewed 30° made from brown sugar yeast and three-day malted rice, etc… We tasted a lot. 🫶🏻
Amazing the difference in degrees and the taste of new and old sake. ❗️
Lots of variety
sale of goods
You can also purchase the sake you have toured the factory and tasted 🎶 on the spot.
Sales 2
Sales 3
Spot Outline
Sakiyama Shuzo Sho, located in Kinmu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture, is an Awamori brewery established in 1905. In addition to a tour of the brewery, there is a tasting corner where visitors can learn about the depth of Awamori and how to enjoy it.
4:00pm Nature Miraikan（ネイチャーみらい館）
Next came one of Okinawa’s largest hands-on facilities for learning about nature!
The goal here is to experience canoeing in a mangrove forest 🛶.
entrance
Canoeing
Program
In addition to canoeing, they also have camping and cultural experience programs!
Red tile roof
A row of canoes
Description.
We’re all ready to go after listening to a good story before getting in the canoe. ✊🏻
It’s reassuring to know that you can take care of it.
Fun♪
There were birds on the shore!
Mangroves spreading all the way
Staff will teach you about mangroves while you enjoy canoeing🎶.
Yaeyamahirugi
short mangrove
Up close, it is very powerful!
Magnificent scenery that makes you feel like you are abroad.
The best view 👀 that can only be seen in Okinawa
Spot Outline
Nature Miraikan, located in Kanamu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture, is an accommodation and hands-on facility in the great outdoors. Visitors can also observe mangrove forests in the adjacent Bikubu River. Visitors can stay at cottages and campsites, enjoy waterside activities, color seasar, and many other hands-on activities. Located only about an hour’s drive from Naha Airport, this is a spot where visitors can fully enjoy the charms of Kanamu Town.
6:00pm Shinkaichi（新開地）
Dinner was served at Shinkaichi, which flourished as a gate town of the U.S. military base!
The streets still look the way they did back then, and are even used as movie locations 🎬.
Spot Outline
Shinkaichi is a downtown area located in Kanamu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture. Located right in front of the U.S. military base Camp Hansen, visitors can enjoy the exotic atmosphere of the town, which looks like a movie set.
6:30pm Kanehachi（かね八）
Hashigozake in Shinkaichi🍻The first place we came to was an izakaya that opened in 2016 and is popular for its fresh fish and Okinawan cuisine!
Exterior
introspection
Cute and unique interior 🎶.
seat
There were tables and a small separate Japanese style room tatami room.
Drink Menu
Awamori as well as a wide variety of other drinks
Drink Menu 2
Rice Menu
Rice Menu 2
Rice Menu 3
Limited, Recommended Menu
And all you can drink.
Orion beer ¥650
After all, I want to drink when I come to Okinawa! I’d like to make a toast with Orion Beer 🍻.
Oden as an appetizer
Tofu Champuru ¥650
The gentle taste of dashi broth is nostalgic. Hot tofu and beer go well together 😋.
Three pieces of meat, Nanban ¥650
This one is shiny and voluptuous,
The balance of sweet, salty, and sour is perfect!
Kanehachi roll ¥1680
Another voluptuous and colorful dish!
A sumptuous and satisfying dish containing not only fish but also meat 🐟.
You can eat it as is, or maybe break it up and snack on it little by little!
Spot Outline
Located in Kanemu, Kanemu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture, Kanehachi is a popular izakaya (Japanese style bar) serving fresh fish and Okinawan cuisine. Here, you can enjoy a meal in a relaxed atmosphere while savoring delicious food. Please visit us and enjoy the charm of dishes made with local ingredients.
8:30pm EAST COAST（イーストコースト）
Next is the Music Bar🎶, open only on Fridays and Saturdays.
The store is full of American atmosphere 🇺🇸, I was a little nervous at first, but once I got used to it, it was a lot of fun 🎶🎶.
Exterior
Interior
The lively atmosphere makes you feel like you are on a trip abroad. ☺️
Billiards and darts
bar counter
Menu
It is written in English and priced in dollars!
Menu 2
Heineken ¥500
Looks like a movie set 🇺🇸🎥
I feel like I’m in a foreign country.
Spot Outline
Located in Kanamu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture, EAST COAST is a music bar open only on Fridays and Saturdays. The bar has an American atmosphere, where you can enjoy games such as billiards, darts, and beer pong, which originated in the United States.
9:00pm BeachBox
Lastly, we went to a casual bar that resembles a beach house 🌺.
Counter and table seating
Menu
Beer, cocktails, whiskey…they have a variety of beers, cocktails, whiskey…and awamori!
Moscow Mule 600 yen
Spot Outline
Located in Kanamu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture, BeachBox is a bar that opened on the beach in July 2020. The warmth of the wood interior makes the bar feel open and inviting, just like a beach house. With a wide selection of drinks on the menu, it is a great spot for sightseeing, as it is easy to stop by even by yourself.
10:00am Namisatomirukudo（並里みるく堂）
Breakfast on the second day is served at a popular sweet store run by a taro farmer that makes use of local ingredients 😋.
It is basically a parlor business, but there is also an eat-in space!
Exterior
introspection
Menu
Large menu of crepes and drinks available ☺️
Ryukyu Tea Menu
monaka-ya-purin
They also make great souvenirs!
Taro crepe (cream) ¥250, Taro raw monaka ¥200
The monaka depicts Kin Taamu-kun!
The crepe is the best 😋 with the simplicity of taro cream and fluffy sticky dough.
Monaka is a moderately sweet red bean paste that goes well with the skin of the monaka!
Ryukyu black tea Sunset tea ¥200
Spot Outline
Namisatomirukudo is a fruit ice store located in Kinmu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture. Its handmade fluffy fruit ice and crepes using local tropical fruits are very popular.
11:00am Okinawa Craft Shop Churamunya（沖縄クラフトショップ 美らむん屋）
Next, visit the craft store “Chiramunya,” which offers a variety of traditional Okinawan crafts!
Traditional handicrafts such as textiles, pottery, and Ryukyu glass, centering on hand-dyed Bingata works, are all here!
Bingata is a dyeing technique that developed during trade with China and Southeast Asia✨.
Each item is still individually handmade and all are one-of-a-kind! The colorful products are captivating💖🤤.
The wide variety of Okinawan-inspired designs make them great souvenirs!
signboard
introspection
Hand-dyed Bingata works
Ryukyu glass
Mat dyed with Bingata
Traditional dyeing
change purse
Cute hair elastics
Get this one♪
Spot Outline
Okinawa Craft Shop Churamunya is a craft shop located in Kin-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture. We have a wide selection of traditional crafts such as hand-dyed bingata works, textiles, pottery, and Ryukyu glass. There are also a wide variety of Okinawan designs, making them perfect as souvenirs.
12:00om Cafe Restaurant Choraku（カフェレストラン 長楽）
For lunch on the second day, we went to a popular restaurant where you can taste the famous taro dishes in a location overlooking the ocean!
Exterior
entrance
Ocean view inside the restaurant
seat
You can go outside and the view is great!
Menu
Taro Sweets
present (brought by a visitor)
Suites are also available to take home.
Taro zen ¥1,820
An amazing array of items, including fried taro potatoes, muji soup, prefectural tuna sashimi, and more!
Muji soup is an Okinawan dish consisting of taro stems (muji), taro seeds, pork, and island tofu simmered in bonito broth and seasoned with miso 😋✨.
Doaru kawaii is a traditional dish made by adding taro, zuiki, pork, shiitake mushrooms, and other ingredients and simmering them in broth to make a paste.
There is also a deep-fried dish called doaru-ten, or doaru kawasii!
Other dishes include dengaku, which is made of taro!
Tamo cheesecake ¥330
The cakes are all handmade by a chef trained in England!
Spot Outline
Cafe Restaurant Choraku, located in Kinmu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, is a favorite of the locals. The restaurant has an established reputation for its Okinawan taro dishes, and its location overlooking the ocean is also popular. The most popular dish is the taro zen, which is full of taro.
1:00pm ASBO STAY HOTEL
Lastly, here is a hotel that will be opening soon: 💁♀️
This resort hotel was built on the former site of the Guimbal training ground!
I was given a special little tour of the inside, and it has nice rooms and a bath with an ocean view, and I definitely want to stay there when it opens 💖.
Stylish logo
entrance
Exterior
Spot Outline
ASBO STAY HOTEL is a resort hotel located in Kinmu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa. All guest rooms offer spectacular ocean views. The hotel also offers elegant dining featuring local Okinawan ingredients and one of the few natural hot springs in Okinawa.
Read More
