8 Nights in Okinawa, Japan - Day 1 and 2

 Wednesday, 13^th Dec 2023

Checked-out of the Hong Kong Regal Airport hotel and walked to the airport – feels so good, no waiting for transport and worrying that we won’t get there in time because of traffic. Lo and behold, we could not check-in at the self-check-in kiosks! We were brought to the service check-in counter and “Maam, the check-in counter for your flight is closed” OMG “Yes, but I need to get on that flight!” Luckily, the lady checked us in phew! So much for staying at the airport hotel! Hah!

Short flight duration with some egg waffles, instant noodles and fried rice on board and we landed at Naha airport. Just before landing the crew reminded that we cannot bring in fresh fruits and vegetables so we ate-up that orange in the bag. True enough the Okinawa canine unit was inspecting all bags at the baggage collection area.

As the OTS shuttle stop at the International Terminal is closed, we had to proceed to our shuttle bus stop located at Domestic Terminal connection area [10A]. A big shuttle bus was waiting for us and brought us to the Car Rental area at Toyosaki.

After collecting the car, we decided to go to the nearest fish market at Itoman Opening 9am-6pm; https://maps.app.goo.gl/LTF4zoyVoShnqvEw5) which is 2.9km further south as we could not wait any longer for sashimi. We bought food (sashimi, Okinawa sea grapes(seaweed), lobster, oyster, half-shell scallop) from the market and sat outside to eat with live traditional Okinawa music. There were a few cats around.

Then we headed towards our accommodation at Maeda, a few stops we did not make along the way

• Tomari lyumachi Fish Market 900-0001 1-1-18 Minato machi, Naha city, Okinawa, Opening 6am to 5pm
• Hoshino Resort Banta Café (Until 5.30pm) 560 Gima, Yomitan, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0327, Japan for sunset view
• Cape Zanpa Lighthouse Close 4:00pm (300 yen) / Biggest Shisha Uza, Yomitan, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0328, Japan

I thought I would see the American Village Ferris Wheel as we pass by Chatan, but we did not, we did see Kadena Air Base and fighter jets flying off from the base.

We arrived at our stay for the night, rested awhile before we headed to Zakimi Castle Ruins as the sky was turning dark. The carpark down South (https://maps.app.goo.gl/6emQ146FhdeFi7Dn8) is the correct one that leads to the ruins. The sun set and we went shopping (and bought dinner) at MaxValu Zakimi which was close by https://maps.app.goo.gl/DKFoM5pphDdWgZ6W9.

Accomodation: 2 nights stay in a condominium unit from Airbnb Ocean Resort Maeda No 201, 712-1 Maeda, Onna-son, Kunigami-gun. Three bedrooms (the girls had their own bedrooms, great), nice onsen-type shower and bath tub, big balcony overlooking the sea with great sunset views. Ahh, this is Life! Great location, within walking distance to the beach and to Cape Maeda.

Thursday, 14^th Dec 2023

It’s snorkeling day! 2 kids are non-swimmers but we are going anyway. I have booked a snorkeling tour to Blue Cave with Sealovers Dive Shop (https://maps.app.goo.gl/eGq67MP5ebSmAM1c7) from KKday. Weather was good so we get to snorkel to the Blue Cave. After a short 5 minute boat ride, we got into the sea and floated, beautiful corals, beautiful fishes……spectacular and the Blue Cave!

The snorkeling made us very hungry. We wanted to eat at a restaurant and nearest was Blue Entrance Kitchen (https://maps.app.goo.gl/dZSyYRVFGJ7XM7Z3A) for tacos, Okinawa style. Not much energy to do anything else, we went back to Ocean Resort.

Tried to wake the kids to go to Southeast Botanical Garden (to feed capybaras and goats) but no takers. They wanted to just stay at the condominium. Address: 2146 Chibana, Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture 〒904-2143 Capybara petting 4 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Goat Island (9.30-5 pm)

So we played by the beach and I explored around the area, went to Cape Maeda.  The staircase down to the sea was closed so I could not see if there were fishes. One can check https://www.maedamisaki.jp/en/ for sea conditions and if the stair case is closed, before arriving.

Night fell and we went grocery and food shopping at another MaxValu, this time at Ishikawa, just to see if there is any difference. Yup there is, prices slightly more expensive and sweet potatoes not that nice, …….sigh.

Go to Okinawa Day 3 and 4