Where should I take my German friend to in Okinawa, Japan?

[L in Oki]

Hello everyone! I wanna ask to non-Japanese people about where should I take my German friend to in Okinawa , Japan? It's his very first time to visit Okinawa and also Japan too. He will come to here the end of this year and will stay 4 nights. Apparently, he doesn't have interested in Okinawa and the reason he visit is me.(That's sweet tho) anyway, I wanna make unforgettable memories here that he'll never forget. I'm thinking about going to the aquarium, beaches, castles, illuminations etc. I'm local people but I don't know what's beat to non-Japanese. Could I get your ideas?

 

[mdchachi]

aquarium, beaches, castles, illuminations etc.

I think these are good ideas that should leave him with great memories.

The only thing you didn't mention are WW2 related sites such as the peace museums or caves. Some people are interested in that history and some people are not so I would ask his preferences first.

Also don't forget the food. Good Japanese (Okinawan) food will give him great memories too.

 

[nice gaijin]

Haha I was actually just there

you asked at the right place and time, @L in Oki

Do you know what your friend is interested in? This will make a difference in what recommendations are worthwhile. Here's a few of my top memories. You can also check out "Things to Do in Okinawa" account on Facebook (and maybe instagram) for their own recommendations.

Places to Go, Things to Do:

• Asmui (formerly daisekirinzan 大石林山) - Fascinating geological museum that is free, but it's worth paying to enter and do the hike which takes 30 minutes to 1 hour with an audio guide that is interesting, it provides a nice overlook of Cape Hedo from afar, and some really impressive plant life including some of the biggest and oldest ガジュマル in Okinawa. While you're up there, the viewpoint at the Cape itself is really beautiful and worth checking out.
• I think there are some cool waterfall hikes in Yanbaru but I haven't gotten to them myself.
• If you guys scuba dive, that's an obvious activity you can do for a day, and still get back in time to have a pretty full afternoon and evening.
• Honestly, I think Churaumi is nice, but overpriced for what it is and I'm not really into viewing animals in captivity. I actually loved the botanical gardens at the Tropical Dream Center nearby, and thought that was way better value. There's another botanical garden further south that has a petting zoo, but I haven't been there.
• Likewise, Manzamo is cool and quick if you're passing by, but it's mostly just a photo spot so I wouldn't prioritize it.
• You probably have some favorite beaches, so I won't condescend by recommending any to you
• A friend of a friend makes traditional Okinawan sailboats (sabani) and guides people around the bay in Ogimi. This would be really cool I think. Hentona Sabani ヘントナサバニ｜帆かけサバニ帆漕クルーズツアー
• If they are interested in ceramics I would recommend Yamichun no Sato in Yomitan, and if they like Glass stuff the Okinawa Glass Village in Itoman.
• If they're interested in Okinawa's martial arts, the Karate Kaikan has a really cool museum attached to it
• There are a few tourist theme parks that can cover a lot of basic ryukyuan stuff. I've been a couple of them but Okinawa World is noteworthy for Gyokusendo cave, which is one of the most extensive limestone caves I've been in, way bigger than I expected. The rest of it felt like a bit of a series of opportunities to buy souvenirs. There's another limestone cave further north that might be a good alternative, but I haven't been to that one.
• Kokusai-doori is crowded and full of tourists but it is lively and a bit of a scene.
• Shuri-Jo is still under construction but it's still worth going to and checking out. Even if you don't pay to enter you can still walk around the castle grounds and get a great vantage of the city. There are also other castle ruins throughout the island that are somewhat interesting and offer nice views.
• The Peace Museum and park is very large and can take a couple hours. Himeyuri is much smaller but in my opinion a much more moving story and the exhibit is really well done. Given a choice between the two I would go with Himeyuri.
• The Umikaji Sea Terrace is popular with tourists but it offers a great sunset view and you can watch the planes coming and going from the airport.
• Take them to some utaki power spots
• Onsen or Sento, maybe?

Food:

• If you want to introduce them to Okinawan food then obviously things like Okinawa soba and champuru, but this is also their first time to Japan, so you can also take them to eat standard Japanese foods too. The seafood in Okinawa is exceptional, and reasonably priced.
• Ryoshi Shokudo Obanburumai Sakana Daitoryo 漁師食堂 near Urasoe - kinda dingy at first glance but the food was really good and the portions are SUPER generous and the ojisan was also really friendly
• Mazemen Mahoroba is a Taiwan mazesoba shop near Miebashi station
• On Ojima (奥武島) in the south there's the Oshiro Tempura Shop which has a decent sunset view and very reasonable tempura. As an added bonus, there is a little park on the east side of the island where a bunch of friendly stray cat live, I went several times with some churu from the local market. Next to the park is the Ou Island Seafood Shokudo (奥武島海産物食堂) which had very fresh and excellent seafood.
• Take them to the backside of Kokusai-doori and introduce them to せんべろ in the evening. Also, get a drink at the ビールバー
• It might be interesting to take them to Wolfbrau, near Shuri-Jo. German beer made in Okinawa.
• Take them to an Izakaya, since they probably have not been to one before. Another friend of a friend runs Spice Bar Beberu near Shuri, if you don't already have your own preferences.
• Charlie's Tacos in Koza are pretty good and different. Especially interesting since they are the oldest taco shop in Japan. Also, the arcades there are themselves historic and interesting.
• Bueno Chicken or Rico's Chicken are really good garlic-rotisserie chicken places, part of the legacy of the Okinawan diaspora in South America.
• Taco Rice, of course

OK, that's all I can think of at the moment. Good luck with your friend, please let us know how it goes!