Last year, you enjoyed our coverage of Tokyo. This year, ANA Airlines and Okinawa brought us out to experience Okinawa Prefecture!
ANA’s Inspiration of Japan & Impeccable Service
ANA, which is always awesome. We have tons of experience flying all over the place, but what sets ANA apart is the quality of their people and service.
The Okinawa Experience
We spent our first several days on Okinawa, which is a very different experience from a place like Tokyo. It’s much more like a rural countryside, and very rich in tradition.
Food in Okinawa
Okinawan food is very healthy (maybe more healthy than John P. would like!) with a heavy emphasis on vegetables and not a lot of meat.
Visiting Shuri and Zakimi Castles
There’s a lot of history to be discovered in Okinawa. We got to experience both Shuri and Zakimi castles – both very impressive, and very different!
Gajumaru Trees and Lion Dogs
Two things that stood out to us were the beautiful Gajumaru trees where pig-riding fairies live, and the Shisa lion dog statues that fit into the spiritual history of the island.
Friendly People
The friendliness of the Japanese people is amazing. They were always eager to take our picture for us, and they will wave goodbye to you until you are out of sight.
How Prices Compare
Most things are the same costs as here, except for fish and sushi, which are much less money – very affordable!
Okinawa World and Okinawa Churami Aquarium
Okinawa World is a place that showcases all the cultural traditions and activities of Okinawa. It’s definitely aimed at tourists, but a must-experience stop if you go to Okinawa. The Okinawa Churami Aquarium was very impressive with its huge tank containing whale sharks and manta rays.
The Amazing Hotel Hyakuna Garan
This was an amazing hotel built on a cliff overlooking the ocean, with a private beach below. Unfortunately, we just got to tour it, not stay there. Maybe next time!
Check out all our posts from our Japan trip!