After coming back from France, I hardly travel. Have to save money right? Finally, we decided that we probably save enough for a decent trip and we picked Okinawa. Hooray! Never regret this decision.
I kept seeing advertisement from Jetstar airlines that they fly direct to Okinawa. In the past, there were no flights that fly direct from Singapore. You have to transit at Tokyo, Taiwan or China. But with Jetstar, it look us 5.5hrs to reach the beautiful island of Okinawa. Such short distance, to sit in a budget airline, I really have no complain. And we save time and money in this way.
Okinawa is famous for it's beaches, watch sunset, bitter gourds, pineapple, purple sweet potatoes, pork meat in soup with noodles or grilled pork sliced and Shisa dogs . I love Japan also is that, hotels have washing machine that you can wash by yourself at such cheap price. That's means, we can minimise space in our luggages.
1st day:
- Reached Naha International Terminal
- We choose OTS rent a car service because they open very early so we don't have to wait.
- We drove to ANA International Hotel. We choose this hotel as we wanted to be far from airport which is more town and city. We will slowly drive back to stay near airport for our last few days.
- We get to explore the facilities there. There are many things to do. Examples: Arts and crafts, swimming, sea sports, Submarine activities, take photos, etc. There is no gym though. I realised that many hotels there do not have a gym and I guess they emphasise on water sports instead.
Such nice view of the pool
Our hotel in the background
Submarine experience!
Famous rocks behind for photo-taking
children made a photo frame each
In their pyjamas :) Provided by the hotel.
2nd day:
- Drove to Cape Manzamo, take photo
- Drove to Nago pineapple Park (please try their giant pineapple sundae. Super awesome!)
- Watch Sunset on sailboat at the hotel
- Dinner at Salvatore Cuomo
so many pineapples!
automated, so we just have to sit back and relax
souvenir photo to bring home
talking dolls that you can purchase
Must try pineapple sundae. It's enough for the 4 of us
on sailboat to watch sunset
3rd Day:
- Drove to Churaumi Aquarium/ Ocean Expo Park
- Kouri Island. we climb up to Kouri Ocean Tower to have a spectacular view of Okinawa
- Dinner at Ufuya 100 years old restaurant. They are famous for its unique house, which is now a restaurant and they serve premium pork meat. (Please make a booking as it can get crowded. We didn't book but managed to reached there by 6pm.)
there is an outdoor play area for free!
the road from Okinawa to Kouri Island
Ring the bell, they said
Ufuya restaurant
4th Day:
- Check out and drive to Hotel Nikko Alivila (you can choose Renaissance Okinawa but it was fully booked)
- Visit Cape Maeda which is very near to our hotel
- Went to Cape Zanpa for sunset
- Dinner at Hanagasa (cheap and delicious food)
Bye to hotel ANA
At hotel Nikko Alivila
a church, probably used mainly for wedding
Cape Maeda
Cape Zanpa
Hanasaga which is near our hotel
5th Day:
- Gyoku Sendo (Limestone cave)
6th Day:
- Drove to Kokusai Dori. No carpark nearby so we park at one of the public carpark when we saw one and walked 15-20mins to the market.
- Lunch at Makishi public marketfor sashimi
- Maihama American village and we took the ferris wheel
- if you have time, you can make your way to sunset beach, which is nearby
look for this entrance into the market
selection of seafood
they will bring it upstairs to cook or prepare the sashimi
Maihama American village
view from ferris wheel
7th Day:
- Lunch at Janatei (Supposedly, a place when filming took place)
- Drove to Crown Plaza Harbourview as it is near airport (please note that as we get nearer to town, the hotel rooms get smaller)
- visit Shurijo Castle. (they said is a must-see but we went and the castle is under renov)
- Return car
Lunch at Janatei
Shurijo castle
Bye Okinawa
8th Day:
- Home sweet home
I seriously want to go Okinawa again. I can't stop thinking about it.:D
