Visiting Okinawa (Podcast)

August 27, 2023

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Hear about journey to Okinawa because the Novice Traveler talks to Mike de Jong about his visits to this tropical nook of Japan.

Mike says, “To be frank, it’s my favourite place in Japan. I’ve been to Okinawa a number of instances, and I simply adore it there. I simply love the folks, the tradition, the meals, the music. It’s just like the Hawaii of Japan as a result of the seashores there are simply frankly superb. They’re the perfect seashores in Japan. Okinawa is so completely different from mainland Japan, every thing is. It’s nonetheless Japanese. They nonetheless communicate Japanese on the Okinawa Islands. You couldn’t get additional eliminated, both geographically or culturally. The music, the folks, every thing is completely different from mainland Japan.”

Mike begins us within the metropolis of Naha, which is the capital of Okinawa. He suggests native dishes to attempt and likewise suggests studying extra about Okinawan music, together with the three string snakeskin-covered instrument referred to as the sanshin. Some native drinks can have an actual chunk. Habushu is an area sake that has a pit viper within the bottle.

Not removed from Naha is the Shuri Fort outdated palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Shuri Fort. Go to this UNESCO World Heritage website and be taught extra concerning the unique tradition of the island earlier than it was conquered by Japan. Japan has had a big affect on the tradition of the islands. It was when the Japanese took away the weapons from the locals that they developed a type of fight with out weapons that we all know as karate. Study extra concerning the native tradition on the Okinawa Prefectural Museum.

In WWII, the battle of Okinawa devastated the island. Study extra about it on the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum. A monument there paperwork those that died within the battle. The museum and memorial are situated close to the “Suicide Cliffs” the place the battle got here to a tragic conclusion. You may also go to caves that the Japanese used as bases throughout WWII.

Katsuren Fort is one other UNESCO website. The fortress is not standing, however its foundations are nonetheless there.

A few of Mike’s favourite seashores may be discovered within the west within the middle of the principle island on the Motobu Peninsula. You may also discover the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium there, which is without doubt one of the largest aquariums on the earth. Mike loved among the reviews within the space in addition to the kitschy American Village, the place you’ll be able to see the USA by means of the eyes of the Okinawans. Mike loved a baseball-themed bar that centered on Japanese baseball stars.

Mike talks about locations to eat and locations to remain in Okinawa.

He took a aspect journey to Miyakojima for an exquisite snorkeling outing.

Study why Mike retains coming again to Okinawa and why chances are you’ll need to add it to your Japan itinerary.

Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the Concerning the Journey Podcast. In Season 2, journey journalist Oneika Raymond takes us on a journey round North America to seek out out. This time round, she’s picked six cities and 6 fully distinctive experiences. From a Black-owned bookstore in Washington, D.C., to the birthplace of the biggest queer movie pageant.

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