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Articles

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  Okinawa - Farewell rainy season, Hello beach parties!

  Attention all: Okinawa’s rainy season has come to an end, and the blue skies and warm waters are beckoning you! It’s officially “beach party” season. In Okinawa, a “beach party” refers to a BBQ on the beach.

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  Step into a tropical paradise at Okinawa’s Southeast Botanical Gardens!

  I decided to check out the Southeast Botanical Gardens on Okinawa’s main island, and boy am I glad I did. Filled with palm trees, baobab trees, and 1,300 other varieties of tropical and subtropical plants, the open-air paradise was as good as it gets.

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  Let’s eat Yagi(goat) ramen at 「Menya An」in Naha city, Okinawa!

  「Menya An」specializes in Ramen and Okinawa style soba.

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  Yamamotoya Honten: Nagoya’s famous miso-nikomi udon specialists!

  Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture is well known for its unique cuisine known as Nagoya meshi. My favourite dish is, hands down, their miso-nikomi udon (thick udon noodles stewed in miso broth)! I couldn’t wait to head to one of the area’s most recommended miso-nikomi udon shops: Yamamotoya Honten. They have a number of locations, but I decided to visit their Esca shop which is situated under Nagoya Station.

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  Taiwan Maze soba is a big hit in Japan! Here is a Mazemen speciality shop in Okinawa!

  Taiwan Mazesoba is very popular in Japan right now! Though the name is Taiwan Mazesoba, they say it originated in Nagoya. It was invented when the preparation of the minced pork didn’t turn out as hoped.

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  My Iejima, Okinawa rum distillery tour!

  I hopped on the ferry departing the main island of Okinawa for Iejima, which was 30 minutes away. My final destination: a tour of a certain rum distillery on the island of Iejima. I had heard that Ie Rum Santa Maria has a fabulous reputation and makes their rum from sugarcane, so I was eager to check it out!

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  Enjoy scrumptious gyozas and drinks at Dandadan Sakaba in Tokyo!

  Expanding rapidly across the Tokyo area, Nikujiru Gyoza Seisakusho Dandadan Sakaba is an izakaya chain that is sure to satisfy your taste buds! I, a major fan of gyoza, decided to give the Ogikubo location a visit the other day. Don't worry; the details are coming right up!

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  Okinawa – Challenging Level 50 Spiciness! Soup Curry Shop “Ajitoya”

  I visited the soup curry shop “Ajitoya,” near Okinawa’s famous sightseeing location Shuri Castle! Soup curry is a Hokkaido specialty, where rice is soaked in a smooth curry soup base. According to the shops Hokkaido-native owner, authentic soup curry is extremely popular with Okinawans!

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  Shokudo Karika—Enjoy Nepalese curry on the white beaches of Okinawa!

  It's time to head to Nanjo City, Okinawa's Niihara beach! Why? For Nepalese curry at Shokudo Karika, of course! Come grab your piece of paradise; there's the blue sea and sky, white beaches, and delicious curry awaiting you.

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  Hotel Ocean in Naha, Okinawa has a buffet with the world’s best selection of Okinawan cuisine!

  Located along Okinawa’s most famous shopping street, Kokusai-dori, you’ll find Hotel Ocean. With a buffet regarded as having “the world’s best selection of Okinawan cuisine,” if you were planning on trying the local grub, this is a stop you won’t want to pass up. Keep reading to hear all about the fabulous lunch buffet experience I had there.

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  Delicious Shoyu Char Siu Ramen by Menya 7.5 Hz, Representative of Okinawa Ramen! (With information on the branches of Menya 7.5 Hz in Osaka and Tokyo)

  Menya 7.5 Hz, a famous restaurant specializing in cooking Takaida ramen (a representative of Osaka ramen), opened its first branch in Okinawa in March 2016. Attracted by its growing fame in Okinawa, I came to enjoy the gourmet food.

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  Okinawa’s popular 24-hour diner: Highway Shokudo

  Naha City, Okinawa's Highway Shokudo is popular among locals and tourists alike for its low prices and large portions.

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  Why not try Hiyashi Cyuka at 「Sankakuten」, a popular restaurant in Naha Okinawa?

  During the summertime, I always have a strong craving for Hiyashi Cyuka.

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  Pork and spring onions make a perfectly delicious Hiyashi chuka. Go visit 「Menya An」 in Naha city.

  On the hottest days in Summer you might not feel like eating a bowl of hot Ramen. That is why many ramen shops serve「Hiyashi chuka」 in the Summer.

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  Kadekaru’s wonton ramen: The most beautiful ramen in all of Okinawa!

  Kadekaru is known across Okinawa for their delicious wonton ramen. Naturally, I just had to try it.