Introducing Okinawa!

This one and a half minute long promotional video "IS JAPAN COOL? OKINAWA," was created by "ANA Global Channel." It introduces popular sightseeing spots, as well as the food and culture of Okinawa.

Tourists travel from all over the world to Okinawa for its beautiful beaches, delicious food and comfortable climate.
For those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and relax both body and mind, we highly recommend a trip to Okinawa!

There are so many places to enjoy your time in Okinawa.
Not only is there the popular main island but there are also many beautiful, smaller islands such as Ishigaki island (石垣島, ishigakijima) and Taketomi island (竹富島, taketomijima) where you can spend your holiday relaxing in the sun.
In this article, we'll introduce popular sightseeing spots and delicacies we recommend you try on your trip to Okinawa! Be sure to follow along with the video!

The Top Sightseeing Spots in Okinawa

・Islands to visit on your trip to Okinawa
The smaller islands off the mainland of Okinawa are a great place to go to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life in the city.
All of the islands are abundant with nature and the scenery is unbelievably beautiful.
We highly recommend Taketomi island, Ishigaki island, and Miyako island (宮古島, miyakojima).
All are fantastic places where you can take part in fun activities, such as banana boating, scuba diving, parasailing, or walking along the sea floor (an activity known as "sea walk" in Japanese).
You can take a look at these water activities from 0:15 in the video. Don't they look exciting?

Photo：Sefa-Utaki

・Historic sites to visit in Okinawa
There are numerous spots in Okinawa steeped in history, such as Sefa-Utaki (斎場御嶽), Shuri Castle (首里城, shurijou)and Choju no mura (長寿の村).
We highly recommend visiting Utaki, which is known for being a power spot in Okinawa.
It's a very mysterious and fascinating place where people often go to say prayers.

Recommended Sightseeing Spots in Okinawa

Photo：Churaumi Aquarium

There are many spots in Okinawa to enjoy with the whole family, such as Churaumi Aquarium (美ら海水族館) and International Avenue (国際通り) (known in Japanese as Kokusai Dori).
International Avenue is home to the biggest shopping district in Naha (那覇) and is a place where you can enjoy eating out, shopping, or buying souvenirs.
It's definitely a place worth visiting if you plan on travelling to Okinawa's main island.

Okinawan Cuisine and Souvenirs

If you would like to try Okinawan cuisine, we highly recommend ordering some Okinawa Soba (沖縄そば) or Goya Chanpuru (ゴーヤチャンプル).
Agu pork (アグー豚), with its characteristic high quality fat, is another dish we recommend you try during your visit to Okinawa!

You can see these dishes in the video at 0:45.
Okinawa's famous shochu "Awamori" (泡盛) makes a great souvenir for family and friends!

Areas We Recommend to Enjoy the Best of Okinawan Cuisine

Photo：public market, Okinawa

For those looking forward to experiencing Okinawan cuisine, we highly recommend visiting the public parket.
The public market, also known as Nahashi no daidokoro (那覇市の台所) which translates to "Naha City's Kitchen," sells fresh fish, pigs feet, shimarakkyo (島らっきょ), goya, and other popular Okinawa foods.
It's popular with both locals and foreign visitors.
There's also a dining area in the public market where you can enjoy trying Okinawan cuisine.

However, please take note that the public market is currently under construction and has been temporarily relocated to the nearby "Nigiwai Hiroba" (にぎわい広場) (rebuilding of the public market is due to be completed by March 31st, 2022).

Summary of the Okinawa Sightseeing Video

We hope you enjoyed learning about the popular sightseeing spots introduced in this promotional video, and taking a look at the beautiful scenery of Okinawa.
More information regarding Okinawan culture, such as Hari boats (ハーリー), the Sanshin (三線) and Kachashi (カチャーシー) is also included in the video making it a must-see for anyone who has yet to visit Okinawa!

【Official Website】Okinawa City Hall
https://www.city.okinawa.okinawa.jp/english/