Important Update 2009-10-04
Our online shop is in stand-by. We are planning to change our product line.
We will let you know about any future development on the blog.
Shuri Castle (Shurijou)
This castle is located on the top of a hill in the Shuri area (Naha, Okinawa Honto), 120 meters above sea level .
This is the largest castle ever built in Okinawa with 350 meters long and and 200 meters large.
The castle is circled with inner and outer walls which have a defensive function and are used to separate the King family from the rest of the population.
It also has several gates in each of the walls including the main outside wall gate, Kankaimon, which was destroy in 1945 and restored in 1974.
It also features the stone gate of Sonohyan-utaki, erected in 1519 by King Sho Shin and registered as National and UNESCO heritage.
Historians found out that a former castle was built during the 14th century at the same place.
It seems that Shuri Castle was built by Sho Hashi, the founder of the Sho dinasty, who had control over the newly created Ryukyu Kingdom. The building was used as the King main residence.
The castle was destroyed and rebuilt many times since its first appearance. At the end of World War II, the Castle was almost completely burned down. It was rebuilt in 1992 based on photographs, historical records, and memory.
Beach parties
One of the favorite activities in Okinawa is to party on the beach.
It’s very usual for colleagues or friends to meet up during the week-end on a beach to relax, make a barbecue as well as have a few drinks.
When you are not eating you can go swimming, snorkeling, playing football or simply have a nap.
In some places you can rent a table with sun umbrella and even a barbecue!
The beach located next to the American Village is very popular and very convenient.
Beach party is a really important cultural element of new generation in Okinawa.
Whenever you are living on the Islands or just visiting, try a barbecue on the beach and enjoy a nice and relaxing day!
Maeda Point
Maeda Point is probably the most popular place in Okinawa Honto for diving and snorkeling.
Located on the East coast near Uruma and not far from the Ryukyu Village (a tourist attraction featuring Okinawa culture), this spot is popular for its numerous and colorful fish as well as for its corals. Some corals are reintroduced on the area.
Famous for its Blue Cave, the place features beautiful landscape and crystal clear waters. The sunset there is simply unforgettable.
This is a very convenient place where you can find a restaurant, seating area, toilets and showers, a parking lot…
You can reach the waters thanks to steep concrete stairs. Once near the water, it’s recommended to have shoes as many sea urchins are present along the shore.
In case of wind or waves it’s not recommended to swim in the area as it can be dangerous.
Kokusai Dori
Kokusai Dori or Kokusai Street (means International Street) is a 1.6 km long street located in the center of Naha. It goes from the Asato area to the Prefectural area which include Palette Kumoji and the City Hall.
It is served by monorail at both it’s extremities and by bus all the way.
It is a very straight street with a lot of souvenirs shops, restaurants, bars, clothes shops and more !
What use to be a simple road between swamps became one of the biggest attraction and the heart of Naha, especially in the evening when the lights are on and street merchants and musicians fill the sidewalks.
It gets its name from the former Kokusai Theater which was located nearby.
On Sunday from noon to 6pm the street is car free and invaded by various artists.
About half way, Heiwa Dori and Ichiba-hon Dori come across. They are long pedestrian streets covered by a roof all the way. You will find a lot of shops there as well.
At the end of Heiwa Dori is the Tsuboya area with many traditional ceramic shops.
Ukon products
Ukon are Japanese products made from tumeric (Curcuma Longa) a plant which belongs to the ginger family.
This plant mostly grows in India but also in other areas such as Southeast Asia and Okinawa.
Curcuma powder, used in South-eastern and Middle-eastern cuisine, is prepared from the rhizomes which are boiled for several hours and dried in hot ovens.
In Japan and more specifically Okinawa, tumeric is used for drinks and tea.
Ukon drinks are usually presented in small bottles and are used to fight tiredness and hang over.
Ukon tea is used for its medicinal properties.
In India and South-east Asia it is used as an antiseptic and an antibacterial agent.
In some places as Pakistan, Afghanistan or Okinawa, tumeric tea is very popular and used for its anti-inflammatory properties and to fight digestive disorders.
It is also used in some cosmetic products such as sunscreens and to dye clothes.
Important Update
From the 18th of August 2009, we stop delivering any kind of food or drinks overseas.
They are many documents we have to fill in order to send food or drinks outside Japan.
In addition each country has its own procedure and documents which make the sending even more complicate and time-consuming.
Note that we still send other kind of products anywhere in the World !
We are sorry for the inconvenience.
Goya (Bitter Gourd)
Goya (Momordica charantia) called bitter melon or bitter gourd in English is a tropical and subtropical vine of the Cucurbitaceae family (like cucumber).
This very bitter fruit is common in Africa, the Caribbean, India, Southeast Asia, China, Taiwan and Okinawa. Goya is not usually used in mainland Japan.
There are many different species which vary in size.
The fruit is usually eaten unripe when the skin is green and the seed and flesh white as it becomes more bitter as it ripens.
When a goya is ripe, the skin is getting yellow and the seeds red.
This refreshing fruit is widely used for its medicinal properties as it contains a lot of vitamin C.
China and Taiwan inhabitants use it since ever in their traditional medicine to treat skin problems as well as digestion difficulties or rheumatisms.
Goya can be used in many different ways: fried, dried, in soup or tea.
The most famous Okinawa’ dish made from goya is Champuru which include fired goya with pork and eggs. Eggs make the dish less bitter.
We have different kinds of products made from goya as goya chips, goya chanpuru zuke, goya sanjo and goya tea.
New categories and products in the shop!
We have recently added new categories in our shop…
Snacks:
An interesting selection of snacks from Okinawa.
You can now try chips and crackers made from Beni Imo, Goya, Shima Rakkyou and even Okura.
We are also very happy to add the most popular snack on the islands: the Tenshi no Hane
Tea:
Another new category where you will find tea bags for every taste: Goya, Hibiscus, Aki Ukon cha (turmeric), Uchin cha and even a pack with different kinds of tea.
Okinawa Diet:
In this category we have selected from our catalog some food, drinks and tea which are particularly adapted to the famous Okinawa Diet.
Ukon Drinks:
Efficient to fight tiredness or hangover, Ukon drinks are used everyday by locals.
One of them even contain snake extract !
American Products:
Some American product which are used daily in Okinawan cuisine but rare anywhere else in Japan.
We hope you enjoy the new products !
Okinawa Culinary
Food in Okinawa is different from the other prefectures ones in Japan, because of the difference in culture and climate between Okinawa and mainland Japan.
Some of Japanese ingredients don’t grow in Okinawa. Food was influenced by Taiwan and Kagoshima which are closer.
Surprisingly, local people don’t eat a lot of fish despite the fact that Okinawa is surrounded by sea.
After Ryukyu was taken part in Kagoshima, some Japanese cuisines were introduced and Okinawa soba (a very popular and well known dish) was created . Also, dishes from Brazil, Hawaii and the Philippines were introduced and took root here thanks to people who emigrated from Okinawa to there.
After world war II, US armies brought processed food that made up original Okinawa food, such as canned pork based recipes and taco rice.
Pork is one of the most favorite ingredients in local food.
The use of pork started because of historical reasons. The Ryukyu Dynasty tried to build favorable relations with China and whenever they hosted banquet for the trade group they cooked a lot of pork.
Since then pig farming spread all over Okinawa.