Finally starting to wake at around the same time as the sunrise, which for now is helpful, as we have an early flight to catch at Fukuoka airport. We grab our bags, check out, and catch a taxi over to the airport. We ended up arriving about an hour before we were even able to check in, so our first stop in the meantime was of course, the closest convienance store. I get myself a coffee and steamed pizza bun to snack on while we wait.
Eventually the terminal opens and we’re able to make our way down to our gate until boarding. The whole process was pretty quick, as we’re just flying domestic. One hour long plane ride over the oceans and islands later and we’re touching down in Naha airport on Okinawa island, Okinawa, Japan.
Okinawa island is the largest island in the Okinawa prefecture, which consists of an archipelego south of the main islands of Japan, stretching all the way to near the coast of Taiwan. While offboarding the plane, we’re hit with a wave of tropical humidity and heat. It’s about 32 degrees and sunny as we catch a shuttle from the runway to the airport.
Getting around Okinawa can be a bit difficult, especially compared to other areas in Japan, without a vehicle of your own. So we catch a ride over to a car rental company for just that, and start trying to navigate the narrow, winding roads of Okinawa. The downside to this is that you’ll need an international driver’s license, and be able to adapt to driving on the left hand side down very small streets. Our first stop, which around halfway from the city to where we’re actually staying, is Cave Okinawa, located close to the middle of the island.
One hour and a couple wrong turns later and we pull up to the entrance. Okinawa is well known for it’s caves, which have a long history with the islands, including during World War 2, where they were used as shelter for civilians. The cave is quite wide for a cave, with enough room to easily walk around for the full length of it. Many rock formations, stalagmites, and streams go through the length of it, climbing out of the cooler underground climate back into the heat at the other end.
Another hour and a bit on the road and we eventually end up in Motobu, the town where we’re staying. Motobu is coastal town with a population of around 12,000 people. We drive down what in other countries would be considered an alleyway and park the car at our place. A small traditional house, comprised of tatami mat floors and a fully wooden interior. The place is scalding when we first get in, so we turn on the AC and find nearby food.
We go down to the water and find a food stall just selling garlic shrimp boxes. If a place only has a couple items on their menu, it’s usually a pretty safe bet that they do those items well. We both get a box, grab a drink at a vending machine, and take both home to eat. It was a delcious meal, consisting of well-seasoned rice, vegetables, and of course, the shrimp, and filling enough to makeup for the lack of any real meal prior (steamed pizza bun aside).
With a day primarily consisting of transit out of the way, we spend the rest of it hanging out and exploring our place. Before long, the sun has set and we’re packing it in for our first night in Okinawa.
