Author: Jiang Hao
Written in front
Tell me about this trip
Travel is to bring closer the distance between man and nature and strengthen the bond of emotional bonds between man and man. Our family travels together every year to discover the unknown world together and enhance each other's feelings during the trip. During the Spring Festival in 2019, my family and I chose the destination of our trip in Okinawa, Japan.
Along the way, we experienced the thrilling moments of the flight, felt the Japanese Ryukyu culture, appreciated the most beautiful beaches in Japan, and tasted the Okinawan-style food, making scenes the most important memories in life.
Okinawa's main island is not big, and it is often within one or two hours of the journey between attractions. Basically, I went to all the important attractions, and I introduced them one by one later. Unfortunately, I didn’t go to the American village. Of course, time is limited, and it is impossible to see everything you want to go on a trip. This travel notes are not written in a timeline, mainly record every attraction we have been to and what we have seen and heard.
Highlights: The early February is exactly the flowering period of Han Feiying cherry . The Han Feiying in Okinawa is the earliest cherry blossom developed in Japan. Avoid the crowds and go to Okinawa to enjoy the cherry blossoms quietly.
set off! On the day we left for Okinawa
, we arrived at the Capital Airport early, sorted out our equipment, went through security checks, and looked forward to the start of the trip.
Okinawa's location is located on the map in the south of South Korea, probably parallel to Fujian. We were on Air China flight. We departed from Beijing in the morning and took less than 4 hours to reach Okinawa Island through East China Sea .
However, as soon as we set off, we gave us a warning. When the plane crossed the East China Sea, it encountered a strong airflow, and it bumped violently up and down, as if it was thrown into the air by the waves and fell down again. At first I thought it was just like this when I went there, so I would just bear it. Unexpectedly, when I returned, I also encountered bumps when passing by a nearby place. None of the water on the small table was spared from being overturned. The flight attendant was a little nervous and asked the passengers to sit in their seats and tie their seat belts. This is indeed the most exciting flight I have ever taken, and I am still a little nervous.
After the calm and quiet, nature shows us the beautiful side. The vast blue sea and the clear beach are visible through the small windows of the plane.
From the flight time, it is probably Ryukyu Islands , that's right, the passengers on the entire flight seem to be amazed by the beautiful scenery.
After arriving in Okinawa, we landed at Naha International Airport, which is equivalent to the southern part of Okinawa Island.
Okinawa Impression
Naha
Our location is Naha City , at the southern end of Okinawa Island, and the sea to the west
Naha is the largest city in Okinawa. Ryukyu Kingdom was also a political, economic and cultural center. The ancient capital of Ryukyu Shuri Castle was built here. Similarly, the starting point of our journey is here.
The important attractions of this trip revolve around this city, gradually heading northward, and running through the entire Okinawa Island.
The first feeling this city gives me is clean:
The air is clean, the sea breeze in the Pacific Ocean blows away all the haze; the city is clean, and walking on the streets, there is almost no garbage, and the whole city seems to be free of dust; life is clean, Japan's diet and daily living standards are very high, especially there will be no unhygienic food.
The local residents of Okinawa are also very friendly. We met a few high school students who came home from school. They greeted us Chinese tourists cheerfully. During the Ming Dynasty, many people from Fujian in our country moved to Ryukyu, bringing them advanced culture and technology. Most of the native Ryukyu people still retain the genes of the Chinese.
The unique Ryukyu culture
Although Okinawa is not a developed city, it once served as the Ryukyu kingdom and has important value and significance in history. When you step into a land, you must understand the history and humanities there, and a cultural journey must never be missed.
Shuri Castle
Shuri Castle is the most important building in the Ryukyu Kingdom. As a vassal state during the Ming Dynasty, it was greatly influenced by the Ming Dynasty and combined the characteristics of Chinese and Japanese architecture.
This is a Feng Shui treasure land where the Ryukyu royal family holds banquets, handles government affairs, and receives VIPs. Toyotomi Hideyoshi , Japan sent 3,000 troops to secretly capture Ryukyu. To fool the Ryukyu king, he could become a vassal king, but he turned around and incorporated Ryukyu into Okinawa Prefecture .
During World War II, Japan was ambitious to provoke the US imperialist. The Pacific War broke out. The US military attacked Okinawa with a revenge, and did not hesitate to hurt the enemy for one thousand and hurt himself by 800. After the tragic battle, it bombed indiscriminately, almost razing Okinawa to the ground, and Shuri Castle was also destroyed in the war. The US military ruled Okinawa as a strategic base.
After the war, Shuri Castle was restored, and only a few stone gates and a few old bricks were left in the old site, which was basically equivalent to rebuilding them as they were originally. In addition to seeing the restored palace, you can also enjoy panoramic views of Okinawa's city.
Because of the help of the envoys of the Ming Dynasty, Ryukyu was able to progress and develop. In ancient times, relying on the Ming Dynasty and modern times, Okinawa is the most friendly part to China.
From October 26 to November 4th every year, the Shuri Castle Festival will be held here to simulate the scene of Chinese envoys visiting the Ryukyu Dynasty. So this is a must-check-in attraction for traveling in Okinawa.
Ruqiu Village
Although this theme park is called Ruqiu Village, it is not an ancient village, but a scenic spot rebuilt by Japan based on the prototype of Ruqiu houses.
The war has greatly damaged civilization, but the past style of Ryukyu can be seen in this park, and the characteristic buildings and traditional handicrafts can be seen one by one.
Unfortunately, it suddenly started to shower on the day we went and we couldn’t take a good photo.
The more distinctive and most popular is the buffalo pressing sugarcane workshop. You can see the complete production process on site. Many children and tourists are also competing to take photos with the buffalo. Be careful of safety.
The shop along the way can also drink machine-squeezed pure sugar cane juice, which is really so sweet.
There is also a pottery craft workshop. You can first see several big sisters of Ryukyu showing the textile process.
Then there are souvenirs made from various pottery art, such as the locals' favorite Shigandang and Lion style. The Lion is very interesting. The male sticks out his tongue and the female smiles with her mouth closed. In fact, these two cute things can be found everywhere in Okinawa.
Finally, you can buy some small items you are interested in in the tourist souvenir area, or rent Ryukyu-style clothing to take photos.
It is said that there will be some folk performances such as tug-of-war and drum beats in Ryukyu Village. As a result, we couldn’t catch up because it rained, which is a small regret.
Bo Shanggu
The shrine in the city of Naha is one of the eight famous shrines in Ryukyu. It is said to be a shrine with strong spirituality and strong incense, and there are many people coming here to worship every year. I don’t know if I can draw SSR when playing Onmyoji here, hehe.
Compared with traditional temples, although they are worshipped by gods, Japanese shrines can take photos, while traditional Buddhist temples cannot take photos at will. That's why we can take photos inside (of course, when I wanted to take a photo of a witch girl, I was rejected...)
There are also some etiquettes for worshiping. I didn't remember it. Generally, after entering the shrine, I had to wash my hands and meditate, and then go to worship. The steps were to bow, clap, and bow, and I couldn't remember the number of times.
can also give incense money, the best thing is 5 yen, because the speech of 5 yen is similar to "becoming a relationship", but you must not give 10 yen, because its speech is similar to "far-distance".You can also ask for talismans (Yu Shu) to make wishes next to
, such as peace talismans, fate talismans, health talismans, disease talismans, academic talismans, etc., but after making the wish for about a year, remember to come back to fulfill your wishes. If you can't return to the shrine, you must store the talismans in a clean and tidy place. Regarding the gods, you can not believe them, but don’t blaspheme it~
Many Japanese Buddhist habits are similar to ours, and Ryukyu was once a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty and was deeply influenced by Chinese culture. For example, there are also Confucius Temple and Huguo Temple next to the Shrine of the Bosang Palace.
PS: Most Japanese shrines worship gods, such as their Amaterasu; some shrines worship historical figures, such as Tokugawa Ieyasu , Toyotomi Hideyoshi, etc. The soldiers and families who died in the war of aggression are all enshrined in the Yasukuni Shrine that we all hate.
Every nation has its own beliefs and culture. I like to feel and understand their civilization on the way to travel. Good places can be accepted and communicated, and the sinful side needs to be identified and resisted.
Fresh and beautiful natural scenery
What impressed me the most about Okinawa was not the shocking natural scenery. I personally think that besides the beautiful beaches, there are no particularly shocking scenery here. Instead, the fresh sea breeze, beautiful beaches, and romantic cherry blossoms, which seem to be more appropriate to describe it as quiet and tranquil.
Yaege Sakura Nomori Park
The strong cherry blossom culture gives Japan the title of the Kingdom of Sakura. Every spring, the Japanese look forward to the beautiful cherry blossom festival. As the southernmost island in Japan, Okinawa has a warm climate throughout the year. It reaches temperatures above 20℃ at the end of January and early February, and cherry blossoms bloom one after another.
Yaegao is the most famous cherry blossom viewing place in Okinawa. It drives up along the winding winding mountain road. At the foot of the mountain is a dense subtropical forest, and on the mountain are the cherry blossoms to be bloomed.
The cold cherry blossom period in Okinawa is mid-February. When we arrived, it was early February, a few days earlier. At first, I thought I would leave with regret, but I was lucky enough to see the cherry blossoms in bud.
Because it was early, there were almost no tourists on the mountain, and the neat roads were dotted with pink buds. Some cherry trees were more active and the flowers were already blooming.
Think about what it looks like after half a month. The entire hill has been dyed pink, which must be particularly intoxicating.
In addition, Ryukyu is the hometown of karate (of course our ancestors were our Chinese martial arts). Yaege erects a bronze statue of Shangdi Wanwen, one of the three major karate schools.
Want to avoid the crowded cherry blossom festival in big cities and quietly enjoy the romance of cherry blossoms. Yaego in early spring is really the most perfect place.
0,000-seat Mao
Because it can accommodate tens of thousands of people to sit down, it is called Wanzu Mao. Mao is an Okinawan dialect, similar to a meadow, and is a must-check-in attraction in Okinawa. But IMHO. . Actually, I don’t think this mountain is very powerful, because there are many such coastal mountains I have passed through, and it really cannot be compared with the beautiful mountains and rivers in our country. However, the Okinawa Sea is something we can't compare to. It is the most beautiful sea in Japan, and its clear and blueness makes people addicted.
There are many tourists, including Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and scattered European and American. You must seize the position when taking photos.
But! When we went to Wanzumao, it was cloudy, so we didn’t see the most beautiful appearance of the sea at all! But travel cannot be perfect, just like life cannot be without regrets. If you have the chance in the future, go and see it~
Toyosaki Beach
Toyosaki Beach is the largest artificial beach in Okinawa, about 20 minutes from Naha Airport. The sun and beach make this an excellent resort. In addition to the traditional beach, there is also a section of black reefs and green seaweed, which brings another look.
Speaking of Toyosaki Beach, we have to mention Naha Airport, which has both civil and military functions. Because Okinawa has been in charge of the United States for many years, this is the US military's military base, and Japanese Self-Defense Force fighter jets will also dock here. Here I was very sensitive to the actions of the Japanese army, remember history.
Back to the topic, the unique scenery here is that standing on Toyosaki Beach, in addition to seeing flights passing by one after another, there is a certain probability that the fighter jets will be speeding overhead, and we will see the Japanese Self-Defense Force F-15 fighter jets returning.
Just like many things have two sides, feeling the warm sea breeze blowing on the beautiful sunny beach is the military iron sheet prepared for the war moment. What is even more ironic is that they once invaded madly outside and were also destroyed by their opponents. The land under Okinawa's feet was almost covered with blood.
, the heavy history cannot be forgotten. In the peaceful era, just enjoy the happy time.
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We didn't stay here for long, and it didn't take long to catch up with the rain, so we passed by in a hurry. I ate Okinawan-based sea salt ice cream, which is very delicious and must-eat recommendation!
The golden coast is very clean, the clear sea water makes people feel refreshed, and there is nothing but the sea. Oh yes, there are many small stalls selling specialties next to them, and they left after taking various photos by the beach.
Intimate contact with marine creatures
How can we miss close contact with aquarium animals in the Pacific Ocean?
Haiyang Expo Park
This is also a must-check in place when you come to Okinawa, and it may be regarded as the most luxurious park in north Okinawa.
Here you can get close contact with more than 200 water-based Pokémon, oh no, more than 200 fish, and wonderful dolphin performances.
The most popular thing in aquarium is the shark hall. The domineering sharks have earned the screams of tourists.
looked up and there were huge rays "flying" above their heads. Take out your phone and take a photo!
is not only a tourist, but also many Japanese schools organize students to visit here.
Rich scientific knowledge and interesting surrounding souvenirs make this aquarium extremely popular at all times.
Walking out of the aquarium, you can also enjoy the soft beach, tropical vegetation, and colorful flower beds. It is definitely worth visiting here.
Food during traveling must not live up to the food
Travel time is always limited, you cannot see the scenery, and you cannot taste all the food one by one. Japanese cuisine always attracts countless people, including me. Here are a few stores that we think are good and our preliminary understanding of Okinawan diet.
The must-eat for Okinawa is not sushi sashimi, but a bowl of Okinawa noodle
The store is called "たいちそば". I don't understand Japanese, so I translated it online and it turned out to be called "Great Earthquake".
This is our first meal after arriving in Okinawa. It should be a specialty restaurant for group meals. Hidden in a residential area, so it feels like few tourists will go to such places. There are two most representative stone lion guarding the gate outside of
. Some of the areas inside are dining areas with tables and chairs, and some are tatami dining areas full of Japanese style, which are very local. I need to take off my shoes before entering the door, so~This is a delicious lunch, haha.
The most distinctive dish in Okinawa is not sushi ramen, but Okinawa noodle. Unlike the rich soup of ramen, Okinawa noodle is a clear soup made of pork belly and fish, which is super delicious. Noodles are mostly processed with wheat, which is elastic.
The black hair-like seaweed in the side dish is rich in nutrients, and it is refreshing, sweet and smooth, so you must not miss it. Stewed with pork belly for 20 hours and soaked with brown sugar, the taste is sweet but not greasy. Drink the soup first, then eat noodles, and then leave some soup to make rice. It is so delicious.
Japan's service is undoubtedly very polite, no matter the store is big or small, the service attitude is very good. It can also be said that it is the way to survive in this country's service industry. Integrity and service are always the top priority. After eating
, I walked around the shop and found the boat model I like very much, the Okinawa mascot Lion, and the service and props of the Ryukyu people. Anyway, it's a very interesting store.
Super delicious slalom sushi. The chef used to study in Beijing
. The store is clean and tidy and quiet. You can choose your favorite sushi according to your preferences or order according to the menu. Dishes of different colors represent different prices and finally settle together.
Sushi is super fresh, tender and delicious, super awesome, huge eel sushi makes people unable to stop, sushi is excellent in any Japanese restaurant.
I got a cherry blossom tofu. I don’t know why Japanese people like to make cherry blossoms into food and drinks, which is really perverted and unpalatable.
Ba Sheng is a specialty of Okinawa. There are too many types and I can't tell it clearly. Actually, I am not used to drinking this kind of soju. Maybe I haven’t drunk the good variety. It has a certain degree, but it is not as exciting as drinking white wine.
The Japanese have good service attitudes, which is their way of survival in business. Interestingly, Mr. Ikeda, the chef of this restaurant, happened to have studied Chinese at Beijing Language and Culture University , and he can communicate in Chinese without any barriers. It is really not easy for foreigners to speak fluent Chinese.
Naba’s popular chain restaurant
Naba’s very popular Japanese chain restaurant and Fengting chose this store after buying and buying. The popular store in 3A department store is clean and tidy, and the chain store should look like it, so there is no need to say anything more. I don’t know why I couldn’t find other pictures, but I found a few pictures on my phone, and the other dishes could not be posted one by one...
Sushi is delicious, and indeed there is almost no undespicable sushi in Japan. I ordered a steak rice, and I have to say that the rice in Okinawa is very delicious. The steak is just right and there are not many highlights.
Eel rice is delicious and very plump. The soba noodles with sauce are very refreshing.
What impressed me most of Japan is that most service industries and catering industries have very good service attitudes. This may be their way of survival, or a habit they have cultivated since childhood. In short, it gives people a good feeling, and good things are certainly worth learning from us.
Self-service barbecue restaurant with a good environment
An Okinawa barbecue restaurant with a good environment, because I really can't find anything that is worth mentioning, haha. . . The Japanese design on the
sign is very Q, with a spacious hall inside and a long row of dining tables.
Beef and pork are rich in variety, and there are all parts. When we went there, it happened to be during the Spring Festival. There were also big pig's hooves in the store, which also met the Year of the Pig. The meat is relatively tender and clean, but it should not be the high-quality meat in Japan, after all, it is a buffet.
In addition, there are ice cream, etc. Okinawa's sea salt ice cream is very famous, but unfortunately this restaurant is not a small disappointment, it is just a delicious cone. Japanese ice cream melts very quickly because they do not add solidification powder. Of course, the less this kind of thing is added, the better, so you should hurry up and eat it.
is generally a well-known buffet restaurant, without much surprise, but nothing big is wrong.
Return to nature vegetarian restaurant
A buffet restaurant mainly focuses on vegetarian dishes, and the signboards are full of vegetables. The environment is clean and tidy. You need slippers when entering the store, not tatami, but dining tables and seats.
Unfortunately, as a carnivore, the material is not very attractive to me, so I forgot what I have and didn’t take pictures of the dishes.
What impressed me most was the curry rice, which was very delicious. I ate three or five bowls, and I specially prepared the rice. Secondly, the desserts are very delicious, and there are few disappointments on the side of the desserts and ice cream.
Vegetarian dishes may not be easy for me to accept, but the environment and cleanliness of this store are unquestionable. Friends who like vegetarian food can consider it.
Shuri Tianlou, which is rich in Ryukyu colors, is
The local restaurant with Ryukyu characteristics is estimated to be held many banquets, with a huge hall with a long table throughout the whole venue.
There is also a singing and dancing performance in Ryukyu in the middle. Maybe the culture is different, so I can't accept it.
One of the themes is a reflection of the ancient story of Ryukyu women working and farming.
There is also a story about aristocratic women that may be told. Guessed through costume props. . .
Naha City Street Shooting
Naha
GodiVA
Pokemon Store
Super cute Pikachu
Verious monster transforming
High popularity figure
Ace , Sab , Luffy, good love
Children's four-wheel drive car memories~~~~~Run! Tornado Charge!
The Yuguozi Shop in International Tongyi Street
Must-eat snow salt ice cream
Tips
Climate
Okinawa has a subtropical marine climate, with an average annual average of 23℃ and can also be maintained at around 20℃ in winter. When we went there it was early February, the highest temperature could reach 26℃ during the day and the lowest temperature could be around 18℃ at night, which was very comfortable.
Dressing
Due to the high temperature, it is generally enough to wear short-sleeved or thin long-sleeved single clothes. Sometimes the sea breeze is strong, so preparing a thin coat is enough. There is no complicated road, just wear comfortable travel shoes. In summer, you can bring a pair of slippers to the shore and step on the sand.
Recommended in the season
Okinawa mainly sightseeing in the city and feeling the cultural atmosphere of Ryukyu. The Shuri Castle, Ryukyu Village, etc. mentioned in the article are all good. To experience the natural scenery, you can go to Yaegao, Manzamao, and the beach. However, the sea water is still very cool in January and February, so it is not suitable to rush into the sea.
