Okinawa

Konnichiwa!

In early April, we traveled to Okinawa for a Spring Break getaway. We flew from Narita International Airport in Tokyo to Naha International Airport on the island of Okinawa. The flight took about two hours. From there we took a bus for an hour and an half to our resort hotel. On the bus, we passed three or four of the U.S. military bases as well as many American restaurants and shops that we have never seen in or around Tokyo. We were already getting quite a different feel for Okinawa compared to Tokyo! We arrived at our resort and we thought we were arriving in heaven. It was so beautiful, the weather was a perfect 80 degrees F (it felt even better since when we left Tokyo it was 45 degrees and raining) and we were surrounded by the beach and blue ocean. We relaxed and ate for the next two days.

The view from the terrace of our hotel

Jackson is excited! (Jacob is asleep in the chair next to him)

Jackson looking for shells while Jacob and Daddy are out for a swim

Toes in the sand and shells

Playing around the pool

Back on the beach

You can't take my picture!

Ok, I'll take a picture of your brother then!

Jackson buried in the sand (again!)

The boys playing in the sand while Daddy explores the ocean

He found a blue starfish!

Jacob and our resort

After having such a wonderful time relaxing at our beachside resort, we decided to take a day exploring the largest city in Okinawa, Naha. This is where the military bases and the airport are located. We received some recommendations for restaurants and things to do from our military friends, and their friends, and we had a very nice time. We ate this restaurant called Garlic House where everything had garlic on it. We even had fried garlic! It was so good! 

Yum! Our food at Garlic House

After an early dinner, we went to the American Village. It was a huge outdoor shopping area with a big mall, movie theater, many restaurants and a ferris wheel. We saw a Red Lobster, Tony Roma's and many other American restaurants there!

Jackson and Daddy on the ferris wheel in the American Village

Jacob checking out Naha from the ferris wheel

Having some fun at the kids' arcade

We had to have frozen yogurt, which isn't available in Tokyo!

The ferris wheel we rode on

The following day, we had some time before we had to be at the airport so we walked around one of the traditional shopping areas. We've realized most Japanese towns have a version of this and I always love them because you can buy very modern things like electronics here, as well as very local things like souvenirs. I like this one in Okinawa because we could buy local fruit and vegetables and there were even these ladies selling baked goods!

The shopping area

At the end of this street, there was an A&W! We thought it was a must to pop in for a hamburger and root beer float, since the only "American" place we have in Tokyo is McDonald's (actually we just got a Taco Bell a few months ago, but we've never eaten there), but they put ice cubes in the root beer floats and we weren't sure what to think about that! Nevertheless, our lunch really rounded out our trip to Okinawa. We were so happy to go and enjoy the nice weather and visit a new part of Japan.

Next up, Jackson's youchien, or all-Japanese pre-school, experience!

Thank you so much for reading. I love you.

XOL