No holiday in Okinawa can be complete without visiting the American Village. This large cultural complex is one of Okinawa's busiest areas, with plenty of shops, restaurants, cafes, hotels and much more. It is located in central Okinawa, just 30 minutes by car from Naha city, and it was designed as a Seaport Village in San Diego, USA. What makes the American Village so special is its unique and interesting mix between American taste and Okinawan flavour. The population of the Chatan area, where the village is located, is approximately 28 thousand people and 53.5% of the area is covered by United States military bases. The America theme of the entertainment complex provides a nostalgic feeling of post WWII America for the residents of the bases but also an interesting amusement for locals (and for tourists!). Without further do, let's have a look at the best activities and attraction of this special place! 1. Ride on the Ferris Wheel The symbol of the American Village is also one of the best attractions of this cultural complex. Riding on a ferris wheel is one of the most romantic ways to get an amazing view of the surroundings from its 60 meters height. Especially at night, when the whole American Village lights up, the 15 minutes lap will offer you a great panorama of the coast and neighbour cities. This is the only ferris wheel in the entire Okinawa island and its official name is "Skymax 60". It is located on the third floor of the shopping complex Carnival Park Mihama. At night, the ferris wheel itself lights up, offering a pleasant view also for those who are just strolling around the village. As you can see in the picture above, all the gondolas of the ferris wheel are red and only one of them is yellow! We don't know exactly the reason for this choice, but many visitors consider themselves lucky if they have the chance to ride on that unique yellow-colored one! Below, you will find the ticket prices, but don't forget that if you show the receipt of at least a 500 yen purchase inside Carnival Park Mihama, you can get a 20% discount on the ticket! Price Adults: 600 yen Children: 300 Infants: free (under 3 years old) Phone number 098-936-5351 Hours 11:00 - 22:00 2. Treat your palate with Blue Seal ice cream
3. Play arcade games at Club SEGA If you have a bunch of heavy 100 yen coins in your wallet and don't want to bring them around with you every day, there is no better way to spend them than in the Club SEGA Arcade of the American Village. This place is loud, colorful, let's even say a bit crazy! But most importantly, it is packed with games of every kind. Ufo catchers, car racing games, music games, shooting games... there is no way you will not find at least something you like in here. Check its position on the map! You will recognize the shop from the big red sign with the word SEGA on it. Once you get there, the entrance is free and you will pay only if you want to play! After a good game session, if you never took one, you can try the purikura, a special way of taking photos in a photobooth with the addition of special effects and cute images. They are extremely popular in Japan among teenagers. The photos will be printed immediately, for a nice memory of your visit to the American Village! Price Entrance is free Phone number 098-936-6741 Hours 10:00 - 24:00 4. Relax in Sunset Beach The American Village is not only made of hotels, shops and boutiques, but also nature! The western part of Depot Island is on the sea, and there is a very enjoyable seaside area where to have a nice walk. If you head south, following the plam trees, you will reach a pier and the beautiful Sunset Beach. This beach is very clean and safe, making it a great beach for families with young children. The water is shallow and there is an area protected by a net for people to swim safely from jellyfish and other sea creatures. The beach comes with restrooms, showers and changing rooms; and it is also possible to buy drinks and snacks or to rent a barbecue set. After a day shopping around the American Village, there is nothing better than having a beer sitting on the sand, while enjoying a beautiful sunset in this peaceful beach! 5. Shopping for unique clothes There are so many shops in the American Village that it will be difficult to anyone to resist the urge to do some shopping! The AEON Chatan Shopping Mall will be your departure point, with a supermarket, electronic stores, boutiques, restaurants and much more. After exploring this huge department store, it will be time to wander around Depot Island, where you will find streets full of smaller clothes shops. The traditional kariyushi shirt is a must here, but it is also very easy to find american's latest fashion. Each shop has its unique features, some of them being specialized in one particular item. From hats to bags, from swimsuits to fancy dresses, the shops of the American Village covers every kind of style. The American Village is an exciting area, where it is possible to feel the many sides of Okinawa's culture. Our Northern Okinawa Bus Tour stops in American Village! If you would like to find out more, just click on the link below! You might also be interested in:
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