Some background context: I have never scuba dive in my entire life. The first time I did anything close to scuba diving was snorkeling and that was like a year ago at Turks and Caicos. To be quite honest, I was worried for a few reasons: (1) when I went snorkeling, the ocean water often gets into my goggles and the salt water stung my eyes; (2) back in the day when I still studied science as one of my elective courses, I learned that if a person dive too deep too fast, bubbles will form in the brain, and you can die…; and (3) the oxygen tank is heavier than me, and it may crush me.

But here I am in Okinawa, on vacation mode, what’s going to happen? So yes, I decided to go scuba diving, for the first time with a company called Sealovers. The Sealovers Company offers English instructors and pairs one instructor to two newbie divers. We had a group of 4, so we had 2 instructors. What’s really good about this company is that they also help us took pictures for free! So I still have snippets of this amazing experience on my SD card! For more information, you can visit this website.

Originally, we were going to the Blue Cave in Okinawa. The Blue Cave is located near Cape Maeda in Onna Village. It is a natural cave rising up from the ocean that divers can enter. The cave acquired its name from the blue tone created inside and it is a popular sightseeing spot for a lot of visitors to Okinawa. The sun’s ray reflected from the bottom limestone cave creates the distinct blue colour. However, I did not get to go to this Blue Cave because a typhoon was approaching creating strong tidal waves dangerous for all divers. As an alternate, we explored the coral reefs of Okinawa and it was AMAZING.

Off we go to the coral reefs then. Look at those weights tied around our waist! each one is about 5 lb and I had a total of three!

1. Agu Pork and Wagyu Beef

First, recapping from my last post, if you happen to be in Okinawa, you will know that this place, Hundred Years Old House Landlord Ufuya (百年古家大家) is a place you must visit.



While this is a historical site, it is also a place where you can fill your tummies! My family and I were very fortunate to try some of the Agu Pork and Wagyu Beef in shabu shabu style while we were here. Reservations is highly recommended if you want to try this out this type of shabu shabu cuisine at Okinawa. I am already hungry by just looking at the food pictures below…



Additionally, we saw there was another place where tourist ate noodles also with Wagyu Beef or Agu Pork. Reservations is also needed because this place is just super popular. Information about this restaurant is below.



Address: 90 Nakayama, Nago, Okinawa Prefecture 905-0004, Japan
Mapcode: 206 745 056 * 82
Phone Number: 0980-53-0280
Hours of Operations: 11:00AM – 5:00PM; 6:00PM – 10:00PM
Website: http://ufuya.com/en/reserve_form/

2. Fresh Seafood

If you take a look at the map of Japan, you will know that Okinawa is surrounded by the  ocean. This means, there are lots of fresh seafood, and that’s a win for me, because it is at Okinawa where I got to try some new types of seafood, and consumed some of my favourite fresh seafood as well!

Among the different restaurants I went to, these three stood out to me the most:

(A) 海人食堂 (UMINCHU SHOKUDO)
If you want fresh seafood from the ocean, this is the place you must go. This restaurant is located at Iye Port Terminal and it’s ran by the Iye Fisheries Cooperative Association. This restaurant does have a fast food style to it with minimal interaction with the staff. As a diner, you will first order from the vending machines. If you don’t know what you want to order, the menu is on the wall. Simply pick the number on the menu and input it in the vending machine.



After you order, the vending machine will print out some tickets. Bring these tickets to the counter where the staff prepares for the food. Then you will need to find a seat at the restaurant. Seats are first come first serve, and at lunch hours, this place is packed, so try to get there early before the lunch wave hits.



Below are two of the dishes which I took a picture of. #6 and #9 respectively.



Dish #6: Sea Food Bowl contains Okinawa specialty from the dish above are the sea grapes. They look like tiny grapes, texture feels likes fish eggs, but taste like seaweed. Some say there’s a sour taste to it, and I concur. I think, when the sea grapes pop, there’s a bit of sourness to it, but otherwise, it just taste like seaweed with a different texture! Definitely recommend all to try it!



Dish #9: Daily Sashimi Set Meal, comes with whatever is fresh from the ocean that day. Note, the miso soup also taste a little different. I can’t quite pinpoint the taste of it, but it’s on the saltier side, so try it out and let me know how you like it! The black stuff in the middle is also a type of seaweed called Mozuku Seaweed. It is said to be very healthy, but it’s often serve with a sour sauce.



Address: 33 Toya, Yomitan, Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture 904-0305, Japan
Mapcode: 33 792 330
Phone Number: 098-957-0225
Hours of Operations: 10:00AM – 4:00PM
Website:  yomigyo.shimatabi.jp

(B) 山原新鮮組 (YANBARU SHINSEN-GUMI)


Stumbled upon this restaurant on the way back to our accommodation from the Heart Rock. My sister previously saw some recommendation on a website, so we decided we will grab dinner here! And it did not disappoint!

Starting off with free beer and a fresh sushi platter…



Followed by some grilled seafood, and we had to grill it ourselves on this tiny coal stove! It was fun, until the clam shells cracked and the pieces of shell blew up everywhere.



Ending a hearty meal with some hot foods, some fish and beef tongue.



We didn’t need to make any reservations at this restaurant, and it was relatively empty when we were there. Maybe because it was too early? or was it getting late? Not sure, but it is north of where all the activity is, so this may probably be a lunch place as opposed to a dinner place.



Address: 1 Chome-12-2 Gusuku, Nago, Okinawa Prefecture 905-0013, Japan
Mapcode: 206 628 301
Phone Number: 0980-54-0040
Hours of Operations: 11:00AM – 4:00PM; 5:00PM – 2:00AM

(C) 第一牧志公設市場 (FIRST MAKISHI PUBLIC MARKET)
Last but not least, this place was probably the highlight for my taste buds where I ate a variety of seafood, hot and cold.

This market, First Makishi Public Market, is deemed to be Okinawa people’s kitchen. It is very similar to the markets you see in Japan, but it is air-conditioned and is very clean! How this place differs from the other markets is that there are two levels – wet market on the first floor, and the eatery is on the second floor. Diners can choose the ingredients on the first floor and then the staff will bring the food up to the eatery on the second floor which would be prepared, and cooked at 500 yen per person (for 3 dishes).

It’s only obvious that the seafood section stood out to me. Look at all the yummy goodies to be prepared!



What stood out to me the most is the yakougai (夜光貝)! And I finally got to try it! Hint: they also sell the shells in Okinawa, but if you are going to eat them already, tell the staff members there and they can clean it for you so you can take it home! As for the texture, it taste like conch.


As for what I ate, oh man, it was totally out of this world. We had two seafood platters, clams and lobster miso congee. Everything was fresh and delicious!



Address:  2-10-1, Matsuo, Naha-City, Okinawa, 900-0014, Japan
Location: Near the International Street
Phone Number: 98-867-6560
Hours of Operation: 8:00AM – 9:00PM (Different by store)
Website: https://kosetsu-ichiba.com/

3. Ice Cream

Okay, so I’ve only heard of ice cream made out of cream, but never heard of ice cream made out of sea salt. In Okinawa, I guess it’s really close to the ocean, almost all their ice cream have sea salt as an ingredient. And in this section, I will talk about all the ice cream I had at Okinawa. Note: it was like 35 degrees celcius everyday, and one ice cream was definitely NOT enough.

(A) CREAMIA
On the first day, when my family went to the Hundred Years Old House Landlord Ufuya (百年古家大家) tourist attraction, we found this place: Creamia. Turns out it is a must-eat ice-cream place in Japan. There are two types of ice cream. The generic soft serves which has green tea or vanilla flavour and another soft-serve ice cream which is extremely creamy and rich in milk flavour. The second choice has an unusual cone and it taste like a cookie. Both ice creams were delicious.



(B) HAAGEN-DAZS
Some great finds in convenient stores were my favourite brand name ice cream, Haagen Dazs. What’s so special about the ones below? Oh, they are just pumpkin and Annou Imo (Okinawan sweet potato) ice cream only available in October! *While quantities last*



(C) SEA SALT ICE CREAM
I think the ice cream I had at Gala Aoiumi (Gala 青い海) was probably my favourite. Soft serve sea salt ice cream. As well as sea salt beni-imo ice cream in a cup. If you are interested about what else is there in Gala Aoiumi, feel free to go back to my previous blog post (Okinawa Adventures).

4. Beni-imo Goods

5. Okinawa Specialties

Leaving Hong Kong after 6 short days, I packed my bags and flew to an island not so far away. Hello Japan!! But this place isn’t so familiar…. Okinawa: the southern most island in Japan, I am ready for some exotic weather, delicious seafood, and a different sceneries from the Japanese Mainland.

In this post I share with you the 7 places I’ve visited while I was here. Hopefully this will inspire some readers out there to visit this beautiful island in Japan.

1. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

First site seeing place while I was in Okinawa was the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. This was pretty big aquarium consisting various levels indoors and a massive outdoor exhibit for dolphins, sea turtles, and manatees.


Last stop was looking at the sea turtles. It was way too hot that day to look at the dolphins! Besides, I’ve already seen the cutest at Ocean Park previously.



Access to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium:
Address: 424 Ishikawa, Motobu Town, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, 905-0206
Mapcode: 553075797
Phone Number: 0980-48-4444
Admission Hours: 8:30AM – 4:00PM
General Admission: 1,850 Yen (Adult); 1,230 Yen (Youth); 610 Yen (Child); Free (child under 6 years old)

2. 百年古家大家

Famous hundred years old house, this place is still intact after so so so many years.




While it is an historical attraction, it is also a place for yummy traditional Okinawa food such as the infamous agu pork and wagyu beef. Both have now became my new favourites for shabu shabu!


Highly recommend this place if you are in for a delicious shabu shabu meal when it’s 30 degrees outside (celcius)!

Access to Hundred Years Old House Landlord Ufuya (百年古家大家):Address: 90 Nakayama, Nago, Okinawa Prefecture 905-0004, Japan
Mapcode: 206 745 056 * 82
Phone Number: 0980-53-0280
Hours of Operations: 11:00AM – 5PM; 6PM – 10PM

* Reservation is highly recommended. You can make your reservations on this website: http://ufuya.com/tc/reserve_form/

3. Heart Rock at Kourijima

After a long delicious meal, and quite a long drive to the Kourijima from the main island, we made it to this natural rock formation! Two hearts shaped by the crashing of waves every day. Mother nature’s and it’s wonders!



Access to Heart Rock (心形岩):Address: Kouri, 今帰仁村 Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture 905-0406, Japan
Mapcode: 485 751 179
Phone Number: 0980-56-2256

More info can be found on this website from the Okinawa Tourist Magazine: https://lailai-web.com/heart-rock/

4. Gala Aoiumi (Gala 青い海)

Next on the list was this little small plaza called Gala Aoiumi where there were various little craft places where tourist get to make their own salt, pottery, or glass cups. Making my own very glass cup has always been on my bucket list, and it was here I got to create my very first glass cup at the Ryukyu Glass Workshop.


First we had to fill out the sheet of paper of what we want to create.