The former foreign residences here have been renovated into cute little retro shops. The old houses and colorful streetscape give the whole place a vibe a bit like Taiwan’s cultural and creative parks. It’s a great place to slow down, stroll around, and discover unique little shops. There are clothing boutiques, cafes, specialty coffee bean shops, drink shops, and even a camper van rental company run by people from Hong Kong. Every shop has its own style, so there are plenty of pleasant surprises just from wandering around. However, it gets quite hot on sunny summer days, and there isn’t much shade in the neighborhood. I recommend stopping for coffee or dessert and taking a break before continuing to explore. It’ll be much more comfortable that way.
It’s also fairly convenient to get here by car, with paid parking available in the neighborhood, though some shops don’t have their own parking spaces. Also, most shops don’t have restrooms, so I recommend using one before coming and taking your time exploring. Overall, it’s a great place to spend about 1–2 hours taking a leisurely walk, snapping photos, having a cup of coffee, and experiencing a different side of Okinawa’s laid-back lifestyle.
