A number of years ago, Japan and South Korea were regular routes for our charter airline. Flying mostly to Okinawa and Tokyo in Japan, we would typically depart Seattle around 1 am. Arriving at our destination after a long night of flying, the first I would do was change into the hotel provided Kimono following a soothing hot bath in a small Japanese tub. Naturally, sleeping came next.
Often times the lay-over in Tokyo was short and all we had time for was venturing out to a nearby restaurant or going for some quick but fun shopping. The restaurant was small, family owned and set up with tall chairs by a high bar type of table. The food was inexpensive and tasty. Shopping was usually at the “yen store” and we enjoyed picking up all kinds of small and unusual items we could not find back home.
Okinawa was a different story. Usually with more time to spend there and being a smaller and a more relaxed island, I got to enjoy biking around, visiting beaches, palaces and the wonderful botanical garden.
Biking was truly wonderful. Map in hand and following an asphalt and later a dirt road between buildings and farm lands, I discovered a beach behind fields of vegetables. I parked the bike on the sand and took some sun and a bath in the perfectly quiet day on the beach, near a big hotel surrounded by farm land; such an unexpected place for all of it. So awesome!
One palace anyone coming to Okinawa absolutely has to visit, is the Shurijo Castle, the castle of the King of Ryukyu.
From the 15th to the 19th century, Okinawa was prosperous as the Kingdom of Ryukyu, independent of Japan’s government. The Seiden, an impressive beautiful red building with lots of sculptures, 161 pillars and 60,000 roof tiles was the king’s castle and conveys the prosperity of the Ryukyu’s Royal Court. Una, the large courtyard in front of the Seiden served as the stage for the state ceremonies and cultural events of the time.
If you like nature, the abundance of flowers, plants and fruits along with the fish pond in the Southeast Botanical Gardens of Okinawa are a must see. Tropical flowers are in full bloom in all seasons and you can also taste the tropical fruits in the Fruit Parlor.
Noriko, one of the girls working at the Front Desk in the hotel we stayed at was sweet and friendly. Native of the island, she invited me to the botanical garden as her guest. She had two kids and they came with us. Her daughter was a polite, good looking teenager that looked Okinawan. Her son, a blond, blue eyed 5 year old ( American father in the military) was a cute boy that respectfully bowed in Japanese fashion but looked foreign to the island, yet speaking and behaving like locals. He was a pleasure to watch. I had such a great day with all of them in the paradisical gardens.