So you are thinking about travelling to Okinawa but you are not 100% sure. Pretty understandable, there are so many amazing places in the world! Choosing the right destination for your holidays is definitely not a easy task. As you are already on this page, let us at least give you 5 reasons why we believe you should visit our beautiful island. Maybe, at the end of this article, we will have convinced you to book your flight tickets! 1. The sea The most obvious reason first. Everybody knows that Okinawa is famous for its emerald waters and beautiful beaches. The island stands between the Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea and it is difficult to say which of the two sides has the best waters. The sea of our island is a wonderful playground where to experience all the best water activities. From diving and snorkeling to parasailing, from kayaking to riding a glass bottom boat! The waters around Okinawa are extremely clear, for a great visibility of the coral reefs and the colorful marine life. The sea is definitely a key component of our island, so important that Okinawan people are called "Uminchu" (海人), literally "Men of the Sea"! It will definitely be a key component also of your trip! 2. The climate A beautiful sea surely is an important reason, but what if the weather is not good? Hopefully, Okinawa has a nice warm weather all across the year, making it very pleasant to visit in each season. The climate of Okinawa ranges from humid subtropical climate to tropical rainforest climate. Temperatures in winter are very moderate, with temperatures not going lower than 15°C and staying above 20°C for most of the year. Of course, the best season to visit Okinawa starts in March - April and lasts until September - October. Summer can get particularly hot and we definitely recommend paying extra attention to sunburn and heatstroke. However, being the island surrounded by the ocean, there is always a very pleasant and refreshing breeze even in the hottest days. 3. The food Also known as Ryukyuan cuisine, the cuisine of Okinawa is a special mix between the cuisine of China, Southeast Asia, Japan, and even the United States! It is very meat-based, and pork meat plays a very important role in many dishes. You will find pork meat in Okinawa soba, a local version of the famous japanese ramen. Okinawa also has some local ingredients, like Goya, a bitter vegetable similar to a melon that has amazing health benefits. If you visit Okinawa, you should definitely try the Goya Champuru, a dish prepared by stir frying various ingredients like tofu, eggs, and of course pork meat! Even thought not unique of Okinawa, fish is also a key component of Okinawan people's diet. Every restaurant will serve an amazing colorful set of sashimi. These are just some examples of Okinawan cuisine, but there is much more: Umibudo, Tofuyo, Rafute... you will just have to find them out yourself! 4. The people There is an expression in the Okinawa dialect that says: "Ichariba Choodee". Literally, it means "From the moment we meet, we are like brothers". Difficult to find an expression that describes better how friendly and warm Okinawan people are. It shows that for locals every chance of meeting somebody new has a value and is important. During your trip, you will probably not find many people who can speak fluent English. Even though you maybe do not speak Japanese and might not spend a night drinking and talking with a group of locals, it will be not hard for you to notice how kind and sincere are the inhabitants of this island. Tourists are welcomed with a big smile and are often seen with a good eye. As they say here to welcome somebody: Mensore! 5. The atmosphere A small island in the southernmost part of Japan, surrounded by beautiful sea, where different cultures mixed for many centuries... Okinawa surely has some very unique features and the atmosphere you can feel on the island is one of a kind. Okinawa is Japan... and at the same time is also very different from Japan. Forget about the rush hours of Tokyo, with busy train stations and vagons packed with salarymen. The rythms of Okinawan life are slower and the atmosphere is more relaxed. No wonder that the life expectancy of Okinawa people is so long (one of the longest in the world). The diet surely contributes to this record, but also the low level of stress and the general attitude towards life of local people. Why to feel stressed when you live in an island surrounded by emerald sea and with nice weather all across the year? So, after reading this 5 points, are you a little bit more convinced about visiting Okinawa? We hope so! Maybe, having a look at the bus tours that we offer can be even more tempting for you! Just click on the button below and we hope to see you soon in Okinawa! You might also be interested in:
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