Kokusai Dori: Okinawa's Most Famous Street

On Wednesday, we joined Brittany, Denise and their young ones to head south to Naha. The gardens we had planned to visit were closed so we headed to Kokusai Street for some shopping in an urban Okinawan environment.

Although it was a weekday, the street was bustling with activity - tourists finding Okinawan souvenirs, shopkeepers displaying their wares and Okinawans conducting business as usual in their capital city. Much like the images of modern Japanese cities you see in the media, Kokusai was rife with colorful advertisements and electronic billboards. The familiar faces of comic heroes and cartoon characters jumped out from almost every surface and in the form of statues for tourists to pose with for a fun photo opportunity.

Further down the street, Denise led us to Heiwa Dori, a side street leading to the Makishi Machigwa (Public Market). At the market, hundreds of stalls sell everything from clothing to fresh fish. It was amazing to see all of the meat and fish on display as well as Okinawan produce and baked goods. We were able to sample Okinawan seaweed, fish cake and sugar cane candy and I bought a bundle of sunflowers to brighten our apartment.

Heiwa Dori - I was glad Denise took us here because I might have passed by and missed a unique adventure.  

One of the many photographic opportunities on Kokusai Street. This one was as Okinawan as it could possibly get - we're between two shisa dressed as eisa drummers while sitting on a goya, the native vegetable that is credited with Okinawan's health and longevity.