Professional Photography on Okinawa

Exploring Photography on Okinawa

With so much to offer in the way of natural beauty, Okinawa is the perfect place to grab some incredible personal/family photos from some of the very talented artists in Okinawa. From family groupings to individual portraits, these creative artists capture the beauty of both the subjects and the pretty island!

Professional photographs are an excellent idea for graduating seniors, maternity pictures, engagements and weddings, family portraits, personalized gifts, and farewell to island memories.

Two great on-island photographers are listed here:

Kristie Coia:  http://www.kristiecoiaphotography.com/

Airin Owen:  http://airinowen.com/

Other merchandise highlighting the beauty of Okinawa in photograph includes various postcards and books available in the base exchanges and locally, as well as online. These items showcase the iconic scenes of Okinawa, both the natural beauty of the oceans, beaches and floral, and the local beauty of the Okinawan people and festivals.

The books make excellent gifts for friends departing from Okinawa, family members who have not had the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of Okinawa, and personal mementos to keep the beauty of Okinawa alive.

We hope you have many opportunities to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of Okinawa, and capturing the island through photograph is one of the best ways! 

Want to find some great places for snapping photos? Check out our Beach Reviews!

Where to Buy and Sell on Okinawa

The Best Places to Buy and Sell Stuff on Okinawa and Tips for Flea Markets

Looking for a venue to buy and sell in Okinawa? Here are a few easy-to-use must-know venues for finding that new piece of furniture or equipment, selling those books you don't want to carry back to the States, or swapping out your wardrobe!
With a constant flow of military service members coming to Okinawa or leave, there is plenty of items that get sold at the flee markets or online classifieds. You can even find plenty of things in the base newspapers.

On Okinawa, things like furniture, cars, snorkeling or scuba gear and other items can often be found at a good price from a variety of sources listed below. Often someone is leaving Okinawa and just can't take everything with them that they would want, or they don't plan to use it again.

So check out the options listed below before you go our and spend big bucks on a new item.

Okinawa Yard Sales - Website

http://www.okinawayardsales.com/

This website is very much the "Craigslist" of Okinawa! Here residents on Okinawa can post items for sale and make contact with individuals interested in the offered products. Similar rules to "Craigslist" and posting on public internet forums apply: do not post personal information; beware of scams; use common sense and caution when posting, meeting, and purchasing materials.

Japan Update Classified Ads - Newspaper Classified Ads

http://www.japanupdate.com

Often along with local news, Japan Update newspaper contains a section for classified ads ranging through clothing, cars, technology, books, furniture, equipment, services, pets, and others items. The paper comes out weekly-biweekly.

Chibana Flea Market - Source JensensInJapan

Chibana Flea Market - Flea Market

For an exciting adventure of treasure hunting and great-priced discoveries, Chibana Flea Market offers buyers a varying array of products being sold by owners, often at great prices!

Sellers interested in clearing out closets before military moves or just spring cleaning can purchase a spot for $15 for the first and third weekends of the month through Kadena AB Outdoor Rec Center (http://kadenafss.com/chibana-flea-market) and follow instructions for times and setup. This venue is great particularly because of the opportunity to the local community who covet American clothing, beauty products, supplies, jewelry, and misc. materials.

A Few Essential Tips for Sellers:

- Seller slots are set up to park your car and sell out of your trunk, arrive early for a good spot and time to set up. Best spots are those that are close to entrances.

- Bring change in both American and Japanese currency - think breaking $10-$20 and Y500-Y1000.

- Only "USED" items may be sold at Flea Market. Resale of base commissary or exchange products is strictly prohibited.

- A card table, tarp and boxes help display or sort your products for easy purchase.

- Plastic bags are a courtesy to offer buyers something to put purchases into.

- Know that the first rush of people through the gate is a little wild. (Hand gestures and knowing a few Japanese phrases can make your day easier! "Do-zo" - Please (come/look); "Hi-ya-ku-en" - Y100 (one dollar); "Go-hi-ya-ku-en" - Y500 (five dollars); "A-ri-ga-to" - Thank you)

- Bartering is KEY! Be ready to bargain, bundle, or haggle with buyers so you both walk away happy.

- Bring water/snacks for yourself and anyone helping you. Okinawa summer sales can get hot.

- Avoid being asked to "hold" items for people, whether pre- or post-purchase! It is very hard to remember who asked you to hold what for them with so many people coming through. Put a name down on large items if you hold them until the end of the sale or for later arranged pickup.

- Don't put out anything you don't want to be offered a price for, and keep an eye on products - unfortunately items occasionally walk off.

Buyers:

Okinawa Travel Guide

- Take small bills - $1, $5, $10's as they are easier for sellers to break than $20's.

- Take water! Okinawa summer sales are hot!

- Know that you will need to carry your purchases to your car. Arrange with sellers how to collect large items during or after the sale.

- SOFA personnel has first pick of items by a half hour. After that, all locals (military and non) have the equal opportunity to products.

- Enjoy the adventure!
Looking for more things to do? Check out our Top 10 Things to do in Okinawa!

Best Locations to Live in Okinawa

Where Are the Best Places to Live in Okinawa?

With all the American military bases around Okinawa, there is a continues flow of people moving to Okinawa. So where are the best places to live if you are moving to Okinawa?

Most people move to Okinawa because of the Military, either they are stationed there, or working as a civilian for the military. Some people also move to Okinawa for a variety of other jobs, like teaching English. No matter what the reason for the move, this guide should give you a better understanding of where to live in Okinawa.

Okinawa Houses By Ricymar Photography

Factors that Go into Choosing a Location

There are a lot of factors that go into choosing where to live in Okinawa. So let's take a look at them to help break things down.

First of all, for the majority of people moving to Okinawa, renting is the best option. Buying a house in Okinawa is a challenging process, with a lot of Japanese laws that can be confusing to foreigners. However, for those planning on staying on Okinawa for an extended time, buying, or even building a house, can be done.

The next important factor is, what do you want to be close to? Okinawa offers a lot of diversity.. There are houses for rent with busy shops in easy walking distance, or quite places on a hillside. You can live next to a seawall, or near a beach. You can choose to live next to a base, or far from them if you desire. So it is important to know what you like. If you want to live close to shops and popular areas, you may have to sacrifice space and money. Living further out in more rural areas will give you more for your money, with a larger house.

Another important consideration for those moving to Okinawa because of the military, is whether to live on base or off. It really comes down to personal preference, and what you feel comfortable with. Living on base is easy, but can be somewhat boring if you don't get out and enjoy the island. Living off base has its challenges too, but one major benefit is during a typhoon, everyone on base must stay inside, while off base the Japanese tend to go shopping.

Of course, different people there are other factors that may be important, so perhaps make a list of important factors for where to live in Okinawa, and use that to help guide your decision.

Now let's look st some of the places to live in Okinawa

Where to Live in Okinawa

We begin by examine some of the more popular areas where American's and other foreigners tend to live. Then we will look at other possibilities.

Sunabe, Chatan, Mihama Area

View of Chatan/Mihama area with Jusco in background

Located very close to Kadena AFB and Camp Foster, this area is popular among the American Military. It has both seawall, and some beaches scattered in between. This area also has a lot of popular shopping places, with many small shops as well as a large Jusco.

Rent in this area tends to be higher than most places around Okinawa(except Naha) because it caters to the American Military. Houses can be found in a variety of sizes, although they tend to be smaller in this area, but with American features. This location is nice for those who want to be close to Kadena or Foster, and enjoy the snorkeling and water activities at Sunabe seawall and the shopping in Mihama.

Yomitan Area
Located north of Kadana AFB, on the west side of the island, north of Sunaba and Mihama area, near Torii Staton, this area is becoming more and more popular. While it is a little further away from the military bases, it offers quieter neighborhoods, great beaches and more authentic feel to living in Okinawa compared to the often Americanized houses around Sunabe seawall.

While rent is typically lower in this area, it depends on the size of the house or apartment, and what kind of features it offers. Many people like living in Yomitan area because it is more quite and secluded compared to other locations.

Kitanakagusuku, Okinawa City Area
Located on the East side of Okinawa, out Kadena Gate 2 and 5, this area is close to Kadena and Foster, while not being overly Americanized. The beaches in this area are not quite as good as on the west side of the island, but one great feature of this area is the Comprehensive Park, which is a huge park located next to the ocean. It has plenty to offer for kids, and adults with playgrounds  walking paths, sports facilities, ponds, and so much more.

Houses and prices vary, but you can typically get more for your money in this area, although it is less setup for Americans. With relatively easy access to the Okinawa expressway, traveling to Naha or Nago from the Kitanakagusuku/Kadena Gate 2 area is very quick.

Other Areas Worth Considering
There are several more areas worth considering, including Uruma, Onna, Nakagusuku, and Urosoe. These locations are somewhat further from central Okianwa, with Urosoe and Nakagusuku located between Naha and Okinawa City, and Onna and Uruma located north of Kadena AFB, near Yomitan. They each have benefits and drawbacks, but may be worth investigating if other locations don't meet your needs.

In the end, Okinawa is a beautiful island, and small enough to drive anywhere you want to enjoy it. No matter where you live, there are things to discover in that area and activities to do. There isn't any one 'best' location because it depends on what you are looking for, and what you like to do.

If you need some ideas for activities, check out our Top 10 Things to do In Okinawa, or 7 More Things to do in Okinawa

Be sure to leave a comment with any questions that we can help answer!

7 More Things to Do in Okinawa

Seven More Things to Do in Okinawa, Japan

In a previous post, we highlighted the Top 10 Things to Do in Okinawa and covered a wide range of fun activities including snorkeling, scuba diving, beaches, castles, aquariums and visiting other islands. So be sure to read that post if you haven't already.

But what we found out after listing the top 10, was there are still so many more fun things to do in Okinawa. So here are 7 more things to do in Okinawa to keep anyone happy and busy having fun!

1. Visit Ie Island - Take a trip off the island of Okinawa and enjoy a ferry ride to Ie island located just off the coast of the Motobu peninsula. Ferry rides leave and return throughout the day to a nearby port, and are not very expensive. Activities on Ie include climbing the small mountain in the center of the island, touring the island on mopeds, relaxing at the beach, camping, staying at a resort, visiting WWII memorials, and much more.

Ferris Wheel in American Village Shopping Area

2. Ride the Ferris Wheel - A must do activity that gives a great view of the shops, bases, and water in the area. This slow moving Ferris wheel located next to Jusco in American village, south of Kadena gate 1, is a relaxing ride perfect for the family. And with a ton of shops, restaurants and other tourist attractions surrounding this area, it makes for a great day trip.

3. Round One Sports and Arcade Center - If you are looking for entertainment, Round One is the place for you. It offers an incredible number of different activities ranging from sports to arcade games, chair massages to roller skating.This is a good article that gives more information about the location, and price for round one.

4. Okinawa Pottery Village - Take a tour of the factory and learn how lumps of clay turn into beautiful jars, pots and much more. Located north of Kadena Air Base, it is a unique cultural experience worth exploring.

5. Okinawa Outlet Mall Ashibinaa - if you are looking for serious shopping, this is the place. With typical American outlet stores like Adidas, Levi, and many more, you can enjoy a day browsing and shopping. The Ashibinaa Outlet Mall is located south of the Naha Airport. Get directions and a full list of stores at their official website.

Japan Travel Guide

6. Ikei Island Go Karts - For those looking for some thrills and fast action, check out the go kart circuit on Ikei island. Hidden away on this island just off the coast of Okinawa, but still accessible by bridge, is a full race track with performance oriented go karts. Grab more information about this go kart circuit, including a map of its location, at Okinawa Story. As another option, Okuma Resort also has a go kart track, although not at the same quality.

7. - Visit the Okinawa Children's Zoo - Truly an impressive zoo tucked away on Okinawa near Kadena Gate 2. It offers plenty of the typical zoo animals like zebra, monkeys, hippos, snakes, birds and tigers as well as several other great attractions for kids like the discovery museum, and a large pond. Admission prices are reasonable, and with its location in the middle of Okinawa, it is a convenient afternoon adventure. Get directions and further information at OkinawaHai.

Well, those are seven more things to do in Okinawa. So get out there are start enjoying and exploring this amazing island.

Still looking for more ideas? Visit our Beach Reviews Page or our Things to Do in Okinawa Page to find more information about Okinawa!

Top 10 Things to Do in Okinawa Japan - 2016

An Updated List of 10 Things to Do on the Island of Okinawa Japan in 2016

The Ferris Wheel - Okinawa

Whether you love to get outside and enjoy the sights, or sit down and feast on the food, this list of things to do in Okinawa is sure to have something for everyone.

This list is put together to highlight some of the amazing activities and opportunities available on Okinawa for those who are visiting, or even living on the wonderful island. It is by no means conclusive or all encompassing, but it does contain some of the most popular, and well known attractions on Okinawa.

Got a favorite activity or attraction in Okinawa that isn't on this list? Mention it in the comments below.

Top 10 Things To Do in Okinawa

Here they are, starting with #10:

Peace Prayer Park on Okinawa

10. Visit Local WWII Historical Sites - such as Peace Prayer Park and the Japanese Underground HQ. These two locations, as well as many others scattered around the island, are a worthwhile stop and give a chance to remember the huge battle that took place on Okinawa during WWII. The Japanese Underground HQ is a fascinating place where visitors are allowed to walk the underground tunnels and rooms that served as Japan's military HQ on Okinawa during the battle. Both Peace Prayer Park and the Japanese Underground Museum are located at the southern end of Okinawa, near Naha city and provide unique and personal insights into the war.

9. Take Part in an Okinawan Festival - Including the Cherry Blossom Festival, Obon, Orion, Dragon Boat Races, And the Largest Tug-O-War in the world. Okinawan's love their festivals, and they are scattered throughout the year, and around the island. The Cherry Blossom Festival is held in the spring, when Japanese cherry trees bloom amazing pink blossoms. Travel north to Nago where you will easily spot the large pink mountain, called Nago Mountain, that is covered in Japanese Cherry Trees. It is a fun place to hike and enjoy the picturesque views as well as the festival activities in town. Be sure to look up more information on all the amazing festivals available in Okinawa.

Shuri Castle - Outer Wall

8. Tour Shuri Castle and Other Japanese Castles dating back almost 1000 years! Shuri Castle, located in southern Okinawa, is a fully restored Okinawan castle built sometime around 1300. Nakagusuku Castle Ruins, another Okinawan castle, is conveniently located near the middle of Okinawa, close to Camp Foster, and Kadena AFB. While only the castle walls are standing, it presents an intriguing look at very advanced mortar-less stone building techniques. Both of these castles, and many more scattered around the island, have great views, rich history, and fun outdoor adventures.

7. Take Advantage of the Ocean Around Okinawa with Many Different Water Sports - Like the Ocean? Then Okinawa is the place for you with plenty of water activities including Scuba Diving trips, Jet Skiing, Wake Boarding, Para-sailing  Deep Sea Fishing, Sailing, Surfing, Spearfishing, and much, much more. There is really something for everyone on Okinawa when it comes to water activities. Three activities I enjoy on the island are Skimboarding, Spearfishing and Snorkeling.

6. Shop at the many Malls, Stores, Markets, and Streets around the island - Okinawa is a great place to get out and shop, not just to buy souvenirs  but to get out and experience some Japanese culture. With several older street shopping locations such as Kokusai Street (downtown Naha), Heiwadori (next to Kokusai street) and the meat market (located on Heiwadori) as well as Gate 2 Street and Park Avenue, there is plenty of old style, street market shopping to be had. And for those more interested in a modern shopping experiences, check out Jusco, other malls, and American Village, just south of Kadena AFB Gate 1. It is always fun to go shopping on Okinawa because of the unique and strange items that can be found, and purchased.

Hiji Falls

5. Travel to Northern Okinawa and the Motobu Peninsula - Visit the Churaumi Aquarium, Hike Hiji Falls, Tour Cape Hedo and stay the night at Okuma while touring the north of Okinawa. The Aquarium, which is a major attraction on Okinawa and possibly one of the best in the world, is just one of the many adventures available to those who venture north. Okuma has both an American Military recreational facility and a Japanese resort and are each situated on fantastic beaches with lots of water activities. Don't let yourself be bound to the more populous southern part of Okinawa, take a trip north for a wonderful adventure.

4. Eat Authentic Japanese and Okinawan Food while on Okinawa - There is so much great food to be eaten on Okinawa, I could never list it all, but here are some you don't want to miss: Sushi (and sushi go-round restaurants), Okinawa Soba, Yakitori, Taco Rice, Yakisoba, Fried Rice, and this list could go on and on. The key, then, is to be bold and try as many different foods as possible, settling on your favorites. Many people are surprised when they try Okinawan food, and end up loving it.

3. Scuba Dive or Snorkel Okinawa's World Famous Coral Reefs and Surrounding Islands - Okinawa is one of the best places to get a scuba diving certification because of the low cost, and huge selection of dive sites. For those interested in staying near the surface of the water, take advantage of the clear ocean and snorkel at any one of the fantastic locations around the islands. The coral reef formations are beautiful to look at and the many different types of tropical fish are amazing. And if you want to Dive or Snorkel at one of the top five places in the world, just take a quick ferry ride to the Kerama Islands where the seascapes are unbelievable. One of my favorite experiences was swimming with a giant sea turtle on Zamami Island.

2. Eat at CoCo's Curry - Possibly the Best Restaurant in the World - While I have known a few people who didn't like CoCo's Curry, the vast majority of people I know loved it. What is CoCo's Curry? It's a restaurant chain in Japan (and spreading to America, slowly) that serves curry on rice, with a number of different toppings available. You get to choose how spicy the curry is, as well as how many grams of rice you want to eat. It is hard to say what makes CoCo's Curry so good, but it is one of those places you have to go and experience for yourself. Learn more about this place by checking out our Review of CoCo's Curry.

A Beautiful Secluded Beach

1. Go to the Beach - Okinawa has beaches everywhere and they tend to be a hub of activities, food and shopping that cannot be missed. There are several popular beaches near the middle of the island, including Tropical Beach, Sunset Beach, Araha Beach and Kadena Marina. These are great beaches to go to if you are looking to mingle with lots of other people. But if you want a more private beach, take a drive north and follow the coast of Okinawa. You will quickly find beach after beach with almost no one else around. Enjoying a beach all to yourself is very relaxing, and easy to find on Okinawa.

Bonus Activity - Go Ice Skating! Yes, even on tropical Okinawa, you can go Ice Skating at Southern Hill Sports World near Naha. This Indoor ice skating rink has plenty of public skate sessions with skate rentals. If you are looking for a unique activity  or are missing the cold of a snowy country, then enjoy a few hours of ice skating. Learn more about ice skating in Okinawa.

This top 10 things to do in Okinawa was put together to encourage everyone visiting, or living on Okinawa to get out and see more, do more and enjoy more of Okinawa.

Hope you found some new ideas for things to do, and be sure to post a comment with some of your favorites.

In case you're still looking for ideas, check out 7 More Things to Do in Okinawa!

Pictures from Okinawa - Beaches and Ocean

Amazing Pictures of Okinawa

Okinawa Beach

These are a collection of pictures from various places around Okinawa, mostly of the beach or ocean. There truly is plenty to do and see on Okinawa, it just takes an adventurous spirit.

Check out our Things to do on Okinawa page, if your looking for some ideas!

While there are beaches almost anywhere you look, some of the best beaches and coral formations are on the small island around Okinawa such as Zamami and Ikei.

Some of these islands you can drive across bridges to, while others require a ride on a ferry.

It is certainly worthwhile to explore the many beaches on Okinawa to discover some of the hidden gems the island has to offer.

Hope you enjoy these pictures, and that they offer inspiration to take an adventure of your own.

Fishing boat in the calm ocean near Kadena AFB

Beautiful coral and blue ocean on Ikei Island

A view of the amazing water around Okinawa. This is at Zamami Island

Engrish - When technically it is English, but it still doesn't make sense

Perfectly Blue Ocean off the coast of Okinawa

Okinawa in Japanese Kanji Characters written in the sand

Looking for more on the beaches around Okinawa? View all posts related to Beaches on Okinawa

Vending Machines in Japan

Japanese Vending Machines are the Most Unique in the World

Small Coca-Cola Machine

Vending Machines have become more and more popular around the world for selling not just drinks, but almost anything. Japan is one of the world leaders in vending machine technology, and use. But I don't want to focus on all the different types of things you can find in Japanese vending machines or the flat screen TVs that are showing up in them, I just want to give an overview of the incredible variety of drinks available at nearly every street corner

Don't Be Afraid to Try Something Different from a Japanese Vending Machine

For the majority of Americans who visit Japan and Okinawa, the small kanji symbols mean next to nothing, let alone describe what is in a drink. So it would be easy to pick something like Coke, and never try any of the other drinks with odd bits of confusing English framed by possibly important Japanese words.

But some of my favorite drinks have been just that kind.

So when you see a long line of vending machines, don't be afraid to take a chance and try something that looks fun. The drinks in Japanese vending machines range from relatively normal Coke and Pepsi products to tea, coffee, and even health and energy drinks.

And yes, Japan does sell Budweiser from a vending machine.

 An example of the huge variety of drinks available. With so many options, it is often hard to pick which drink to try. But get out there and go for it, you might just find a new favorite refreshing beverage.