CONTRIBUTED BY KAY MILLS    

Unfortunately, my last two weeks in Okinawa were spent preparing for our move to Misawa; you know, the paper work, organizing the move, changing the mailing address, taking care of banking concerns, etc. In other words, a few weeks o’ total STRESS! Fortunately, before I left, I had the opportunity to get a massage – a wonderful way to de-stress and decompress.

My friend encouraged me to try a local masseuse, Yukari Miyagi, who provides an array of treatments for her clients at her spa called Complex. I was immediately taken aback by  Yukari’s appearance. She seemed to be of such a slight build, I thought, “Oh no, I won’t get much out of this experience.” But boy, I was soooo wrong!  She gave me a fantastic, 60 minute deep tissue massage in the privacy of her own home – which is where her businesses is located. In a serenely decorated room with subtle lighting, soft music and incense burning, Yukari began her magic! Her touch was unbelievably strong while simultaneously being tremendously relaxing. I immediately began feeling the tension being released from my neck and shoulders. The atmosphere, along with Yukari’s expert skills, created such a soothing environment, that I found myself drifting in and out of consciousness – I had truly found an oasis amidst the hectic world of PCSing!

After my massage, I continued to pamper myself with a facial. Once again, Ms. Miyagi made me feel relaxed and at ease while she focused on the treatment. I could feel myself being transformed by the experience; by the time she had finished, I truly felt like a new person. I was thoroughly relaxed, yet full of confidence and exhilaration. There is no doubt in my mind, that this is the way to leave the wonderful island of Okinawa! In addition to a variety of services (listed below), Yukari works strictly with women. Her English is excellent and she is extremely pleasant and professional!  My only wish is that I had found Ms. Miyagi earlier during my stay on the island!

Services Include:

*Facial:                            40min/4000yen           60min/6000yen

*Body Massages:             40min/4000yen           60min/6000yen

*Plutonium Course:          20min/10000yen

*Diet course 4sessions:  (counseling and advice what to eat and exercises, etc. including 60min body massage)     24,000yen per month           

Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Payment: Yen only

Phone: 080-3574-4509

Directions: As you exit Kadena Gate 3, make a right. At first light make a left. Go through the next light (at the 329 intersection). Make next left (at Yokohama Tire). Yoshi Apt. building is on the right after Yokohama Tire on right. Yukari is on the 2^nd floor – apartment B 203

Address: B203 Apt. Premeel YOSHI, 6-11-6 Chibana, Okinawa City 

CONTRIBUTED BY KARA PIERACCINI

When I moved to Okinawa, I had grand ideas of getting a job. Seven months, a handful of interviews, and no luck later, I was ready for just about anything to have some adult interaction outside of my house.

My husband had asked our FRO (Family Readiness Officer) for any information, and she mentioned the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. I wasn’t overly excited about volunteering. In my mind, volunteering somewhere meant doing the menial jobs that no one else wanted to do. I didn’t want that; I wanted to do something worthwhile. When my FRO said they reimbursed for childcare expenses, I was sold, no matter what the job!

When I first went to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, I was surprised by how friendly everyone was. They were happy to talk to me and more than welcoming! Even better, their volunteers do a lot of the hands-on work with clients, assisting them with their needs. Two years later, I’m still friends with everyone. This group of people became my support network when my husband deployed, provided wonderful friendships, and gave me meaningful work to do.

If you are unfamiliar with NMCRS, they are a private, non-profit organization that provides financial assistance in the form of interest-free loans to Marines and Sailors. As a volunteer, you can do a few different things.

• Client Service Assistant – A CSA provides receptionist duties, as well as basic loans.
• Caseworker – A caseworker completes loans of all degrees and budget counseling.
• Public Speaking
• Coupon Sorters – NMCRS receives expired coupons from the states. They are sorted and given to anyone who wants them for use at the commissary (coupons are good here for six months after expiration date).
• Knitters/Crocheters – The NMCRS provides handmade baby blankets in the layettes given out at the Budget for Baby classes. This can be done on your time at home.

Childcare expenses and mileage are reimbursed, making it easier for spouses to volunteer. Hours are also flexible based on a volunteer’s availability. You can volunteer mornings, afternoons, three days a week or three days a month. Active duty, spouses, and civilians can all volunteer.

As my family begins to prepare to leave Okinawa, I am so thankful for the NMCRS and the experience and memories it’s provided. I now have something worthwhile to put on my resume for our time here and memories of the great friends I’ve made.

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is located in building 5674 on Camp Foster, right down the street from the gas station.

Hours: Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Phone: 645-7808

Facebook: Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society - Okinawa

CONTRIBUTED BY SHELL BURGER

Driving past Tonkatsu Taro you would have no idea what they serve, since all the signs are in kanji. Luckily, several of my coworkers have been there and love it. I decided to join them one day for lunch. I had tried tonkatsu once before, but that was when I was first on-island and really had no idea where it was.

The restaurant is very clean and open, and the staff is very friendly. Be forewarned: they don’t really speak English, but they can make out what you order and ask for. For anyone like me asking, “What is tonkatsu?” It is a traditional Japanese food which normally consists of breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet. It can also be different types of meat as well.

The menu at Tonkatsu Taro is pretty extensive when it comes to tonkatsu, and they do have menus with English translations. They also have a display just as you walk in with the different foods they offer. It’s just like the ones that Big Bird tried to eat when he visited Japan in his TV special.

A pork tonkatsu set will run you about 930 yen.  Included in this set is the Pork Cutlet, salad, soup (miso or seaweed), and rice (white or beans). The miso soup and beans rice are delicious. I love finding all the fresh vegetables in the miso soup and the little beans in the beans rice. For the price the set is the way to go, and they ask if you want more salad and rice once you finish the first helping. 

Some of the foods they offer are the traditional tonkatsu pork cutlet, chicken, and shrimp, but they also offer some fish tonkatsu that almost looks like a roll. My coworker that tried the fish said it was very good.

They also have tonkatsu in a pot, which another coworker tried. Basically the meat is in a bowl with sauce instead of being separate on a grate. The grate allows excess crumbs or juices to fall off the meat, keeping it crunchy and tasty.

Once fun thing I had not known about with tonkatsu is the meat is dipped into a sauce.  Just before your meal arrives you will be brought a small bowl with sesame seeds in it and a mortar to grind the seeds and mix it with the sauce.  There are two sauces to choose from the blue jar (or the one with the label) is the hot sauce and the red jar is the mild.  I mixed the mild with my ground up sesame seeds and it was delicious with the pork tankatsu I ordered.

If you are looking to try traditional Japanese style food that is something other than ramen or soba, you should give tonkatsu a try. You never know if you will like something until you try it!

Menu – click to enlarge

Hours: 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Phone: 098-926-3711

Payment: Yen only

Directions: It is just off of Rt 58 in Chatan. Before you get to American Village area if you are coming from Foster. It is located between Rt 23 and Rt 24 on 58.

Address: 2-1-12 Mihama Chatan-cho Nakagami-gun Okinawa

CONTRIBUTED BY LACEE NANSEN

I love burgers. During my last pregnancy I consumed an ridiculous amount of Five Guys, and right in the middle of my nine-month journey we came to Okinawa. After arriving and not satisfying my craving (without having to do a lot of prep work myself), I started searching for the best burger joint. I found a few candidates and thought, yeah, okay, I’ll try it, but only after finding a blog by Mike at Mike’s Ryuku Gallery did I commit to try one. I happened to see some of his history information, and got to browsing. That’s when I found it: a picture of the Burger. He mentions his experiences there and said not only is it the best burger in Okinawa, but it’s the best in the world.

A year after finding this brilliant post, my husband and I took our four kids up to Motobu to try it out. Toto La Bebe Hamburger is a little off the beaten path, but not so difficult you can’t find it if you are headed up to the aquarium or Pineapple Park. It was everything Mike promised, juicy, delicious and HUGE! The thick cut bacon is smoked over cherry wood chips; the avocado is brilliant in color and perfectly fresh. They make their buns every day, and because it’s what they specialize in, they do it right. They have eight burgers on the menu with “potato.” The fries are wedge-style, which normally, I’m no fan, but they make them crispy, golden and sprinkled with salt and pepper. They taste amazing!

My family inhaled the food. My husband and I both had the Avocado Burger with Bacon. We ordered the Bacon Burger for two of our children to share (which was a perfect size for them) and a Child’s Burger for our two littlest to share; again, perfect size.

While I forgot to take a picture of the menu while we were there, map it Okinawa does have one. Parking is also ample, either across the street or just down a few doors.

The atmosphere is calm, cool and quiet. They have varied styles of seating, and it’s not for large parties. Our family of six (with all kids ages seven and under) fit at the largest table. There aren’t any high chairs, but with different styles of seating, something is bound to work for your family. They have couches, traditional Japanese tables and traditional American tables. There isn’t a view; this restaurant is purely about the food, and worth going if you love burgers, simple and flavorful.

The communication is easy if you keep to the menu, but slightly difficult if you want to alter your order in any way. They were so wonderful and kind, and allowed us to add bacon to the burger, with an added charge of course. As far as prices go, they are pretty great in our opinion. The child’s burger, with “potato” is only 600 yen, while the most expensive burger is 980 yen with “potato”. They also take 100 yen off your drink if you order a burger, so 200 yen for a soda is reasonable.

This restaurant, while a pretty good drive away, is absolutely worth the visit, multiple visits in our family’s case. If you love a good burger, this is a must try!

Payment: Yen only

Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Phone: 098-047-5400

Directions: See map pin below

CONTRIBUTED BY ELIZABETH BELGARD

I’m not really a big fan of breakfast. I know that I should be, since it’s “the most important meal of the day” and all that jazz, but I hate mornings. Breakfast generally happens in the morning and, for me, it means that breakfast generally gets skipped so that I can spend a few more blissful minutes basking in the snuggly warmth of my bed. (Yay sleep!) But the dilemma is that some of my favorite dishes are traditionally served at breakfast, (French Toast and pancakes, holla if ya hear me!) which means that I often have to miss out on them. This is why I get pretty excited when I find eateries on Okinawa that serve breakfast dishes throughout the day.

While my husband and I were strolling along the seawall one afternoon, I noticed the sign for a new (to me) restaurant. It was nothing flashy, and I almost walked right past it without noticing what it was advertising. Luckily, my eyes lingered long enough to read it.

Sweet mother of type II diabetes, you had me at, “Pancake Factory,” Kupu Kupu.

“It’s three in the afternoon. You want breakfast? Now?”

My husband clearly didn’t understand that all I could hear was the angelic sound of fluffy, golden hotcakes slathered in syrup and whipped cream calling my name.

We had to try this place out, three in the afternoon or not.

Kupu Kupu’s interior was adorably shabby-chic and comfy-casual; a perfect place for a couple or a family to spend a rainy (or sunny!) Okinawa morning/afternoon/evening. Equal parts nautical and 50s retro, swing music trickled down a small spiral staircase that lead to an upper dining room, splashed with royal blue and sea foam green. Being that it was the middle of the day, the crowd was small and we had our choice of seating. I have heard that they get pretty busy on Sunday mornings, so keep that in mind when planning your visit. Booth, table, and bar seating arrangements were available on both floors. (Outdoor seating was available on the entrance floor.)

Menu – click to enlarge

The staff was, of course, beyond friendly and spoke very clear English.  

One thing on the menu that caught my eye was their use of all organic ingredients. It wasn’t very large, which can be nice when you’re in the mood for simplicity. (Or just in the mood for some pancakes.) Kupu Kupu offered a variety of fillings for the imagawayaki-style cakes, including mashed potatoes, cheese, and apples.

I went with the Apple Pancakes (¥780) and added a side of whipped cream for an extra ¥180 (totally worth it). I absolutely loved every bite. The pancakes were prepared with baked apples sandwiched in the middle and a small cup of apple syrup on the side. (And isn’t that logo just the cutest thing?) I highly recommend trying these. The pancakes might appear to be on the smaller side, but they’re denser than they look and are surprisingly filling.

My husband ordered the “Pancake Tower” (¥1,280), which was pretty much a stack of pancakes with little meat patties and sauce between them. (These are tofu beef patties and thusly taste like tofu beef patties, so do not order this expecting a USDA Angus burger with pancakes for buns! You’re in Asia, not Texas.)

It came with a small salad, a cup of vegetable soup, and a side of fries. He enjoyed it, but it simply couldn’t hold a candle to the wonder of my Apple Pancakes. We ended up scraping my plate clean and leaving most of his uneaten. Moral of the story? Order the Apple Pancakes. (They also come à la mode, if you’re feeling sassy!)

Menu – click to enlarge

Hours: Daily 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Closed on Tuesdays

Payment: Yen and U.S. dollars are accepted.

Phone: 080-3229-7352

Website: Kupu Kupu Facebook Page  

Directions: From Kadena- Make a left out of Gate 1. Continue for a short time on 58, and turn right when you see a Chinese restaurant called ToyoHanten. Keep going straight until you reach the second to last intersection. Make a left there and continue until you reach the end of the road. Turn right and you will be on a one-way street. Continue on the one-way and you’ll find the Pancake Factory in the cluster of eateries (including Sushi Zen  and Sea Garden, if you’re familiar with either) right next to the seawall. There is a small parking lot for customers behind Kupu Kupu. To get to it, you must pass up the restaurants, round the corner, and make a right on the first street. Then make another right and you’ll be on the road next to the building. There will be a “Kupu Kupu Parking” sign. Kupu Kupu is located on the second floor, up the white stairs near the sign bearing the name.

CONTRIBUTED BY CLAIRE BRAYCOLLINS

Sometimes, friends and acquaintances commend my “ability” for “just getting out there” and “finding” cool things to do or eat or experience. It’s flattering, but the reality is,  I’m just a master at getting lost, taking random left turns for no apparent reason, venturing out into random neighborhoods, alleys, swales (oops), and a handful of times, private residences…”Sumi Masen, yo!” OOPS DESU. The thing is, I’m low tech; armed with nothing more than my 2010 edition of the Okinawa (Eigo) Yellow pages. Which, I might add, has been on an equal number of occasions, both my savior and the bane of my existence—It’s 2013, y’all… Things change.  And I have an insatiable urge to look, know, smell, taste, try, and see EVERYTHING on this island while we’re lucky enough to be here. Call it wanderlust, FOMO, an inappropriate love of hole-in-the-wall eateries… Whatever.

In any case, some of my most favorite ventures involve meandering in and around the areas EV-ERY-ONE seems to “know” and frequent. So finding wee gems tucked away just far enough off the beaten path to be overlooked by the herd is most entertaining for me. Not to mention yummy!

It was just such a random “I’ve got another 30 minutes alone before I have to collect the kids” venture that I happened upon Olive Berry Café in Chatan.

Alright. I’m a sucker for quaint. And cozy. And “KawaiiiiiII” (one must squeal at least a little when saying this word).  Olive Berry is quaint, and cozy, and so stinkin’ KAWAIII!

Tucked away on a side street in Chatan just minutes from all the hub-bub of Sunabe, O.B.C. is a converted home tucked in behind a sweet little garden at the near end of a side street… 2.654 minutes from Kadena Gate 1. WHO KNEW!? Score.

A fellow Foodie and I went in for lunch two days after I initially discovered the place (and poked my head in…and bought a mini loaf of English Muffin bread that made me stand and salute the Queen’s Majesty when I got home and toasted it). They sell baked goods at the counter, but seem to sell out not long after they open—FYI.

We both ordered sets; which began with a veggie consommé. My photo doesn’t convey how simple, how flavorful, how sublime it was. A cup of comfort.

Next up was a small green salad (what WAS that dressing?! Yuzu…Shallot…UMAMI?!) Accompanied by a tantalizing slice of benimo tarte (quiche-like, but not too “eggy”) and mizuna greens rolled in country ham with a grain mustard sauce.

My Friend had the “Lunch Plate,” which included a few “tastes,” including their curry rice, salad, and house made accompaniments (which change regularly). The toasted pumpkin seeds  we thought were a brilliant addition to the mild Japanese style curry.

I ordered the “Okinawa Style Crab Pasta.” It. Was. Wonderful. The menu described it with a cream sauce; but it was delightfully light—yet rich—and tasted like crab. I mean, it tasted JUST like fresh crab. The “Okinawa” influence, I think (aside from the freshness of the sauce) was that the “pasta” was soba noodle. It was divine. Plate licking good. I totally would’ve put face to plate had I been alone. There are several pastas on the menu as well as a full size curry entrée set, among other things.

The sets come with tea or coffee, but you can opt to add dessert for an additional 200 Yen. Need you wonder? We opted for dessert.  The sampler sweets were delicious and well executed; not ground breaking in their creativity, but truly tasty and pleasing nonetheless.

Olive Berry also makes lovely fresh fruit smoothie drinks and juices which can be ordered with a meal or on their own.

I love this little nook. It’s a wee sanctuary of yummy quiet just minutes off the “strip.” 

Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday, lunch served from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Closed Sundays.

Payment: Yen only

Phone: 098-926-2550

Directions: left out of KAB Gate 1, take the first right then the first left (there is a purple building—a housing agency, on the corner) follow that side street 3 or so blocks south. The café will have a sign in front, limited parking (you CAN park on the street, just be sure to minimize your use of space for others). For those coming from 58, turn at U-Time/Pizza Inn/Joy Karaoke intersection just in front of Gate 1 KAB.

CONTRIBUTED BY SHELL BURGER

When I first arrived on-island, I was skeptical to buy food and produce off base. After seeing the prices for items at the on-base grocery stores, I was in shock at how expensive some items could be, and figured off-base items would be the same or more. For example, a 5-pound bag of white potatoes routinely goes for about $8.00 or more on base. Seeing that cost, we decided to switch from a potato to rice family. I blamed the crazy costs on living on an island, however, a friend encouraged me to check out a local farmers market, sharing with me all the great deals she found. I was off with directions in hand, and once I found her stand, I was surprised to see the prices off base were a lot better than on base. Sadly, it took me about six months to stop buying produce on base and find a couple of farmers markets I now go to weekly. I can normally walk out with multiple bags of items, including apples, bananas, potatoes, lettuce, and much more for around 1,500 yen.

Although the idea of going off base for groceries or produce can be scary, the items you can get will be worth the adventure. You won’t have to worry about items going bad within a day or two, and farmers markets and vegetable/fruit stands can be found all over the island, at fixed locations or just on the side of the road. Prices vary by seller, but they are all pretty reasonable, and sometimes you can find a stand that offers items you want for a killer deal. For example, last week I went to a new farmers market and got a bundle of six avocados for 300 yen.  Avocados out in town normally go for 100 yen each. I definitely snatched that up and made some yummy guacamole. Nothing beats fresh and homemade favorites. 

Some locations have English-speaking employees, but most don’t. So make sure you know what you are looking for or just be adventurous and try a new item or two. You never know what gem you will find. One of my favorite haunts is located in Awase, just off of Route 20 past 329. Most static farmers markets seem to only be open Monday through Saturday, as friends and I have found out the hard way. Since there are so many great stands, I ask you to share your favorites and help open others’ eyes to the possibilities of buying produce from the local economy. I look back now and wish I had not waited six months before buying local produce.     

CONTRIBUTED BY AMY MADDOCKS

Want to see a beautiful island with friendly faces, loads of history, and untouched by tourism? According to folklore, Kudaka Island is considered sacred. It is said that the deity who created the Ryukyus, Amamikiyo, descended here first and introduced multi-grains essential for life (rice, wheat, millet grains, and beans). It is also said that the goddess created Kudaka to reflect the beauty of heaven, and that the first Ryukyun people were created here.

The island’s perimeter is only 7.8 kilometers, but filled with natural wonders and an abundance of green.  It is home to many utaki, a sacred place where gods were enshrined. They use the Utaki for religious ceremonies, festivals, and rituals. In the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom, the island’s men would become fishermen, and the women would become priestesses.

There are many sacred areas on the island, including areas where people are forbidden to enter. One beach in particular, Ishiki-hama, is said to be the place where the deities descend in their ship from a celestial place where all life originates.  If you do choose to tour the island, please remember the entire island is considered holy. So loud voices, disrespect, littering, etc. would be frowned upon. 

To get to the island, you must take a short ferry ride (15-20 minutes). Then, you can choose to walk around the island or rent bicycles.

At the port where the ferry takes you will be the bicycle rental store, along with a gift shop and a few places to eat. You may want to pack a lunch just in case the shops aren’t all open. Their hours change according to the day and season. There were the classic Okinawan vending machines available, but no snacks.

Kudaka Island is also known for serving Irabu Jiru, or sea snake soup. We weren’t that brave and just ordered traditional Soba, but we were lucky enough to see the sea snakes being harvested.

They have specialized in the process since the 16th century. They catch the sea snakes by hand when they come to the shore to lay their eggs, then they dry and smoke them over several weeks. We were walking by a Utaki when a local gestured to us toward a shack. He was very proud as he showed us the process by which they catch, store, and smoke the snake. At the café we noticed many people ordered the soup—it must be delicious, but I’m a wimp!

Another treat we came upon during our walk was passing by the local school. All of the students were outside doing yard work (I love that the students help take care of their schools!) and they took the opportunity to practice their English skills with us. Everywhere we went on the island we were greeted with friendly smiles and warm faces. It was truly a unique experience that I’m thankful I was able to enjoy.

For more information on the island and experience, you can click here or here.

Directions:  Take Highway 329 heading south (you can take the Expressway if you choose—take Exit 3 to get to the 329). Turn left at the Highway 331 intersection. Stay on this road until you see the sign for Azama Port. Turn left at the port sign then follow the road to a dirt parking lot. Parking is free. Purchase your ferry ticket (around 1,400 Yen for roundtrip) and check the times. The last ferry of the day is usually between 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., depending on the season, so don’t get stuck missing your ferry back!  They do have lodging, but it’s by reservation only. 

CONTRIBUTED BY TRISH KAPRIELIAN

What do steak lovers, vegetarians and ramen lovers all have in common? They can all eat at Stripe ramen! It’s a new ramen shop on 58 by Lester. When I entered the store, it was clean, bright and had rap/R&B playing on the radio. You order through a vending machine, but it has pictures, an English translation next to the vending machine, and one of the employees helped us.

They have four types of ramen: steak, vegetarian (tomato), spicy vegetarian and soy broth. I went with their specialty, soy, and my husband got the steak. Both were quite tasty and I don’t think I’ve ever seen steak in ramen before! The sets sell for around 1,300 yen and include a very small side, ramen and a drink. 

Once we got to the table, I looked through the menu and saw they offer more sides and steak with rice. Also, it looks like if you order the vegetarian ramen, you can get risotto instead of noodles! Ok, ok, ok…so how was the taste? VERY good! The steak was cooked to order and the gyoza was fresh. I enjoyed my soy broth and the steak ramen, too. We plan to go back to try the tomato-based ramen as well. I almost want to go back and just order the sides since those sound so good. Words can’t express how much we enjoyed stripe ramen!

The owners said they’re from Tokyo and wanted to bring Tokyo ramen to the area. They’re closed Monday, but are open for lunch and dinner on the other days of the week.

Hours: Sunday, Tuesday-Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Lunch) & 6:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. (Dinner – last order at 10:00 p.m.)   Friday-Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Lunch) & 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. (Dinner – last order at 10:30 p.m.)  Closed Monday.

Click to enlarge

Payment: Yen only

Phone: 098-923-2227

Directions: Make a right out the main gate of Lester. It’s between the Family Mart and McDonald’s on the right hand side of the road.

CONTRIBUTED BY AMY MADDOCKS

Get ready to be “wowed,” my friends—or at least impressed a bit. If you haven’t heard of Melody Road yet, you are missing out! Up north in a little town called Futami, in Nago City, there is a section of the road that has had lines cut into the concrete that play a song if you drive over them at the right speed. The village is very proud of this road, as you will plainly see by the loving care they have taken of that particular strip of road, going so far as to decorate the concrete barrier on the side with beautiful flowers and plants. 

The tune you will hear played comes from a love story. As it is told, a man and woman sing of love and trials, and how they long to be together forever. The song begins by describing a beautiful place between a mountain and the sea, and it is here that the couple wishes to be married and spend eternity together, forgetting about war and hardship. This place was called Futami. The song was written by two Okinawans who were forced to leave Itoman and relocate during the war. They settled in Futami and the folk song, called Futami Jowa, was created. In November of 2012, 67 years after the original song was created, Melody Road was open to the public. 

To hear the song, make sure you are traveling north (the grooves are only on one side of the road) and drive at around 40 KPH. The song begins at the blue music symbol painted on the road, and there is a small dirt turn-around right next to the music symbol if you are traveling the opposite direction and need to turn around. Make sure your windows are down and you’ll be able to hear the song. If you are like me, you’ll turn around and do it several times! Also, we noticed while we were parked in the turn-around location, that you can even hear the song being played as other cars drive by. Another treat for the senses! 

As a last little bonus, if you are a Geocacher, we placed a cache in the area so you would be inspired to get a cache, hear a little music, and be a part of something extraordinary!

Directions: Take highway 329 north into Nago City, and then turn right onto highway 331. After you pass through two tunnels, take your first left. You’ll need to pass the song and turn around in order to hear it. If you are a Geocacher, follow your GPS and it will lead you to the starting point!

For a more detailed article on the history of the song, go to http://www.mapitokinawa.com/2013/01/melody-road-futami-nago-city.html