A Cozy Hideaway In An Idyllic Setting of Nakijin Village, Okinawa

I had a chance recently to take a foreign tourist to a rural part of Okinawa, namely, the Village of Nakijin, population of less than ten thousand. The tourist wisely chose a nice, cozy hideaway in a section of the small municipality called "Imadomari." Spread at the foot of hill where Nakijin Castle stands atop, the history of the community goes back to the 12th century. Walk through many of the small alleys within Imadomari Community. Although it is a remote village in a foreign country, you'll feel a sense of nostalgia, as you observe each of the beach community houses surrounded by lush, sturdy "fukugi" trees protecting the residences from the mighty winds of typhoons as well as providing cool shades during the summers.


Hibiscus Inn, the hideaway, is located at the northeast of the community. A beach is just a two-minute walk from the place. Despite the beautiful natural and pastoral setting, the accommodation fee, to my surprise, is kept at minimal.


Click here for the details of their accommodation. 

The kitchen is equipped with practically every utensil.
Buy fresh ingredients at local shops and cook your home-made food away from home.

One of the bedrooms equipped with two single beds, an air conditioner, etc. 

The inn master kept the interior of this traditional room unaltered in order for guests to experience what it is like living in a genuinely traditional Okinawan house.

The exterior of the inn. A large glass fishing buoy in a rope net hangs underneath the traditional Okinawan red-tiled eave. The rusty red bicycle was once actually used at a Japanese post office, now resting here as a decorative item.

The glass fishing buoy hangs near the entrance. A rusty retro lamp shade with bare light bulb creates a nostalgic atmosphere at the doorway on the right.   

This west side of the inn has every charm of a traditional Okinawan house; the red-tiled roof, broad eave, wooden pillars to support the eave, thin glass windows, the wooden shutters, an Okinawan lemon-lime tree on the left...are all part of the characteristic features you can find in many old residential houses in Okinawa.

Direction to Hibiscus Inn from Naha Airport (Click Here to see a Google Map)

Address: 3571 Imadomari, Nakijin Village, Okinawa, Japan

For reservation or inquiry, click here to see Hibiscus Inn homepage in English.

Hokubu Agricultural High School Students and Their Delicious Pork (Okinawa, Japan)

Here is a flyer I obtained at a local convenience store in Okinawa, Japan. The boys and girls you can see on the flyer are a group of students from Okinawa Prefecture Hokubu Agricultural High School, which is more familiarly known to the locals as "Hoku Noh." This school is established in the northern region of Okinawa island called Yanbaru, a name Okinawan people associate with lush forest, clean air, and fresh ingredients.


Hoku Noh has become famous for the work they have done to develop a new hybrid of Okinawa's indigenous pig and Yorkshire, a spices more commonly grown here. The indigenous pig, locally called "Agoo," has been known for long to have high quality meat, but there was a shortcoming of it; a female Agoo pig can give birth to only few piglets and it was both difficult and costly to increase the population of Agoo pigs. As a result, Okinawan livestock farmers chose to farm mostly imported Yorkshire species because of their ability to give birth to many piglets.


Yet, in the age of abundance and with consumers demanding more of varieties than volume, people started looking for higher qualities in pork as well. With a help of instructors, Hoku Noh students successfully developed a hybrid, a kind of pig genetically very close to the indigenous Agoo pig, and they named it "Chaagoo." Chaagoo pigs have good quality meat while gaining the ability to give birth to many piglets. The news of this extraordinary achievement spread quickly among the prefecture people more than a decade ago. Since then, the study of Chaagoo pig breeding has been conducted and as they have fine-tuned the art of breeding, Chaagoo meat market has expanded.


This flyer introduces one of their research efforts for creating yet another market for Chaagoo pork, with the cooperation with a convenience store chain, Family Mart. You can get a taste of delicious Chaagoo pork in a form of hamburger, now on sale at every Family Mart in Okinawa.


Product development and marketing activities are some of the themes through which those students learn during the three-year period of the high school life. Unlike most other school activities conducted within the school environment, this actual environment will provide them a rare opportunity to experience what it is really like working in a retail business in an actual economic-social setting.


The particular product they developed is called "Chaasan Burger," and sold at 298JPY from Feb. 15 (2011) - Mar. 7. 


The female student team came up with a dessert they aptly named as "Girl's Passion." This sweet features layers of passion-fruit-flavored mousse, chocolate sponge cake, and soft cheesecake in a cup, with passion-fruit sauce and whipped cream arranged on the top. Priced at 230JPY. Sold for the same period.
       

Click the image to enlarge.

Do not miss tasting what the nature of Yanbaru region has to offer.

Nago's Old Curry Restaurant, Tanpopo

I'll introduce this time a curry restaurant in Nago City, Okinawa.

This restaurant, named "Tanpopo"(dandelion), specializes in curry dishes, and most people living in Nago know about the place.

Although it is located on a backstreet and hard to find, it's worth going there.


　　Click here to see Google Map for the location.


Once you go into the right backstreet, you can easily notice the white, barrel roof building, as the other roofs on neighboring buildings or houses are of either flat or triangle-shaped.

Brick walls inside create a relaxed atmosphere. The BGMs they play are always western classical music. Curry is originally from India, yet the music you hear are mostly baroque. Why? Because the curry served at this restaurant is what Japanese people call "European style," meaning the dishes are made in the same manner curry is prepared in Europa. Japanese people compare Japanese style curry with European style, and of course, with original Indian style curry. Japanese style is made with a mixture of flour and curry powder, creating starchy texture. And what I can explain with little knowledge I have is that, in Europe, curry powder is mixed with stew and the result is the rich juicy flavor of meat. My wife who regularly goes to cooking a school told me that the major difference between European style curry and Japanese style is in the use of demiglace sauce. The sauce is added in the former dish, and not used in the later.  

Bar counter with wide selection of wines & local awamori spirits

Garnishes: Fukujinzuke (red), minced pickles (green), pickled shallots (white)  

(Clockwise) chicken curry, lassi, coleslaw, pineapples in syrup, and rice.

Priced 1,400JPY

(Clockwise), seafood curry,  lassi, coleslaw, pineapples in syrup, and rice.

Priced 1,400JPY

What makes the curry served here different from the curry served in other eateries in Nago is the demiglace sauce, which, by definition, makes the curry what Japanese people call Ohfoo style (European style). You can order without side dishes with price range of 950JPY - 1,100JPY.


Opens 11:00AM - 11:30PM. Closed on Tuesdays.

A Way of Cutting and Serving A Mango Fruit (Okinawan Mango)

Are you a fruit lover? Do you miss tropical fruits already in the midst of the winter?

Many people wouldn't normally assume that Okinawa, Japan, grows quite a lot of mangoes.

Mango in Japan? Yes, you've heard it right. Mango is grown in Okinawa, the southern most prefecture in Japan.

This short video shows how to cut a piece of mango. You'll find it is a lot easier in this way to serve or eat this sweet, succulent fruit.

This video is provided by Okinawa Fruit Land, a theme park that features subtropical orchards in the northern Okinawa. This facility also houses a room filled with a lot of Idea leuconoe, a species of butterfly with distinct white & black wings. (It is called the rice paper butterfly, the paper kite butterfly, wood nymph, or tree nymph in English, according to Wikipedia)

The music you hear in the back ground of the video is one of the popular Okinawan folk songs, "Uruma Jima," (Uruma is the old name of Okinawa, and Jima means island.)

    Okinawa Fruit Land location here (Google Map)

    Okinawa Fruit Land HP (only in Japanese)

A Kingfisher, the Hinpun Banyan Tree, and the Kouch River

It happened on the way to my workplace. I was walking on a walkway along the river nearby my office.

A bright blue of something dashed across over the river. It was truly vibrant cobalt blue. I immediately noticed it was a bird, but it took me some moment to tell what kind of bird it was. Little larger than a sparrow, and metallic blue coated the back and the head. I could see light brown on its underpart. And the bill disproportionately long and large for such a small body. It was a kingfisher, a kind of bird I've never actually seen but on encyclopedias or TV programs.

And before I knew it, the bird dived into the water.

I stood there for a while, being impressed by the fact that we have a kingfisher in the middle of our town.

There is a very famous tree called "Hinpun Gajumau" in Nago City, Okinawa.

   ※To locate Hinpun Banyan Tree on Google Map, click here.

This tree stands in the middle of the Nago Main Street. The Kouchi River runs right next to the tree, and a bridge over the river is a part of the street. The Hinpun Gajumaru stands at that point, where the street crosses over the river.

My office is right next to the tree and the river, so I watch them every day.

Ever since that day, I often see the kingfisher in the river. After I took the photos of the bird, it quickly flew into a space between the bridge and the river bank. I couldn't help but think the old banyan tree is providing a safe space underneath itself for the kingfisher.

The Kouchi River, that runs through the downtown, was at one time very polluted. We have a citizen volunteer organization called "The Kouchi River Restoration Society," and as the issues of sewage treatment have been gradually solved, the river has become considerably clearer.

The fact that I can catch a sight of the bird in the downtown could be considered as a proof of the river's cleanliness. Or, maybe it is the bird's capacity to adapt to the environment that we need to be aware of.

Nago's roadside market, now visitors from China can use 中国银联 (Zhōngguó Yínlián)----UnionPay credit card

I put up this information particularly for visitors from China. China's most popular credit card, 中国银联, or Zhōngguó Yínlián (UnionPay, in English) can be used at Kyoda Michino Eki, or Roadside Station Kyoda. I've been asked by some Chinise visitors about places where they can use the credit card.

Perhaps, I should explain a little more about this facility. Although it says Michino Eki, or roadside station, it's more like a roadside market housed in a large building. In fact, Michino Eki are all over Japan, usually established along national highways and expressways in this country, selling at each facility their own local products. In this particular facility here in Nago City, Okinawa, many local food producers and retailers sell their products. If you are looking for the local products from this region, Roadside Station Kyoda is a good place to go. 

Visitors from Chinia should also be informed that UnionPay credit card can be used only at the casher at the main entrance. Unfortunately, other cashiers do not handle UnionPay card.  So, it will be convenient if Chinese visitors---visitors from other nations, for that matter---still carry some amount of Japanese yen as well.

In case you drive in Okinawa (assuming that you use the Okinawa Expressway), here is the direction. Drive the expressway north and get off the expressway at Kyoda (the last exit to the northern region of Okinawa island). Continue driving north on National Route 58 for about 1 kilometer. Soon, you'll see a road sign just like below. Follow the arrow to the right and you can park your car at the large parking lot. (Google Map Here)

The red-roofed building is not the market building.

The market building is in the back.

Follow the arrows that point to the right.

Parking lot is on the right of the road. (No charge for parking)

 The main entrance of the market building.

UnionPay credit card can be used only at the cashier on the left of La Gare Bakery.

 This sign is posted so small that many visitors hardly notice of it.

The cashier at the main gate. (Market Building)

Nuchi Gusui Restaurant serves delicious local cuisine.

(accepts Japanese yen only.)

Lights Will Not Be On Tonight at the Nangusuku Hill, Nago, Okinawa

A reader of my blog sent me an e-mail, questioning about whether the lanterns hung along the streets of Nago City down town and along the stairs on the Nangusuku Hill side will or will not be on tonight.

I phoned the Nago City Tourism Bureau and they answered me that the lights will be removed today. So, the Nangusuku Hill will be dark after 6:00PM tonight.

I found out that the lanterns were all set up by Orion Brewery Ltd. My office is very close from the brewery, so I visited the brewery's office and asked about the removal of the lights. They told me, they have started removing the lights this afternoon.

So, if you are planning to visit the place, visit before 6:00PM.

Also, I should mention that the peak of the full bloom will be over in a couple of days, and the blossoms will start fall off throughout the week. This coming weekend is probably the last chance to see the remain of the flowers.

Cherry Blossom Viewing, Nago City, Okinawa

If you are happen to be traveling (or living) in Okinawa, and the ocean is still too cold for swimming, then traveling to the north of Okinawa is an ideal place to visit, namely for the world-class aquarium in Mobobu (a peninsula jotting out toward the South China Sea from the Okinawa island) as well as for famous pink cherry flower viewing spots at Yayedake, Nakijin Castle Ruin, and the Nangusuku Hill. You can comfortably visit those places in one day (much nicer if you drive), and the weather is perfect today.

For the detail of the Nangusuku Hill, please scroll down this blog and see some of the photos I posted. I also posted a Google Map to show the direction for the Nangusuku Hill.

There will be no traffic regulation today (Feb. 7, Mon.)

Nangusuku Hill, Nago City, Full Bloom This Weekend (Feb. 5-6)

I was just up today (Feb. 5, Saturday) on the Nangusuku Hill in Nago City, Okinawa, Japan. This afternoon turned out to be just beautiful and cherry trees are in full bloom. This weekend is definitely the best time to visit the hill and have a quality time with your family and friends. As I wrote earlier, we are expecting even better weather tomorrow (Feb. 6, Sunday). Do not miss the best season of the Nangusuku Hill.

(If you are planning to visit the hill, please read my earlier blog in which I mentioned about tomorrow's events which are likely to affect traffic conditions.)

A bench near an observation deck on the top of the hill.

For the direction of Nangusuku Observation Deck, click here.

A view from the bench shown above.

Cherry trees planted along the uphill road.

A beautiful color combination of the pink flowers and the blue sky.

This is what we wanted throughout the week.

One of picnic tables you can use for a picnic lunch.

This view adds zest to your lunch.

One of the trails on the hillside.

Mt. Katsu in the distance, on the other side of the city. 

Visitors will enjoy walking while admiring the bully blossomed cherry flowers.

A set of paintings and materials on the bench.

Yes, flowers attract many, including small birds, honey bees, photographers, and painters.

Green moss-covered ground under cherry trees with sprinkles of pink flowers.

What's the weather like in Nago City for cherry blossom viewing?

Good morning, cherry blossom viewers.

The weather up here is finally going to look better this weekend. According to the weather forecast, we still have occasional rains today (as of Feb. 5, Saturday), but the sun will be up as well. So, if you are planning to visit Nangusuku Hill for flower viewing today, it will be a lot helpful if you bring your umbrella with you. The trails can be slippery as well, so choose your footwear that is non-slippery.

Tomorrow's weather looks even nicer. Just a few things that I should inform you about. Tomorrow (Feb. 6) is Sunday; that means a lot of visitors will gather for flower viewing in Nangusuku area. If you are planning to come here by car using Okinawa Expressway, the road may be congested due to Japanese pro baseball teams' camps held throughout the island. Nippon Ham Fighters, a team that holds training camp here in Nago, attracts many fans who are aiming at "Yoo Chan," this season's number one rookie from Waseda Univ. baseball club.

Besides, there will be Nago Half Marathon tomorrow. I post the road map of the half marathon course to help you plan your trip to Nago. Although Japanese is mostly used on this map, the roads indicated with red lines and arrows will be closed between 9:00AM through 12:00PM for runners.

     ***To view Nago Half Marathon course, click here.***

If you are planning to visit Nangusuku Hill, tomorrow, the best time to arrive in Nago City is around the noon if you wish to have a lunch picnic there. Any time after 12:00PM will be OK to drive up the hill and park your car at the parking space on the top.

For visitors who have never been to Nago City, let alone Nangusuku Hill, I posted the location of the place on Google Map. If you scroll down my blog a little, you'll find a piece of information about an observation deck on top of the Nankusuku Hill.