Specialties you can find in Onna Village, where the blue cave is the attraction.

Onna Village is famous for its

How much do you know about Onna Village, a key location for tourism on the main island of Okinawa?

Onna Village is located on the central west coast of the main island of Okinawa and is one of the best resort areas on the main island, with many resort hotels facing the beautiful ocean.

As anyone who has traveled to the main island of Okinawa knows, the main island is vast in area, even for an island.

The travel time required to visit the many tourist attractions scattered throughout the island is a bottleneck, and it is easy to get bogged down in planning a trip.

However, Onna Village, located in the center of the main island of Okinawa, is a popular destination for many tourists, as it allows them to travel to any direction within an even distance.

Onna Village is also a land of several tourist resources, and one of its features is the production of several specialties suitable for souvenirs.

In this issue, we would like to introduce the charms of Onna Village as a whole, while highlighting some of its specialties that you should definitely check out when you visit Onna Village.

 

glass

One of Okinawa's most famous products is Ryukyu glass, a glass craft beautifully processed using techniques such as blown glass.

The manufacture of glass products was introduced in Okinawa in the mid-Meiji period (1868-1912), and a glass factory with modern facilities was built in Naha City in 1909.

It was only after World War II that the form of Ryukyu glass that is widely distributed as a craft today was established.

The glass-making process was devised by reusing beverage bottles from the U.S. military stationed in Japan due to the shortage of materials for glass-making after the war.

The technique of reusing empty beer and cola bottles by melting them down and then hardening them has created a variety of different types of bottles, resulting in a variety of colors that are not consistent but rather appear as vivid colors.

In addition, the fact that air bubbles are mixed in during the reproduction process works in reverse, leading to a unique cool texture.

At first, it was quietly popular as a vessel for drinking awamori locally, but when it began to be sold as souvenirs for tourists, its popularity was ignited.

Today, it has become a major industry in which various traders and craftsmen compete with each other, and it has grown to become one of Okinawa's most famous products.

Onna Village also has many stores selling this Ryukyu glass, delighting the eyes of tourists with its colorful colors.

 

strong Okinawa liquor

Awamori, a distilled liquor made from rice and black rice malt, is Okinawa's most popular alcoholic beverage.

Roughly speaking, this liquor is broadly classified as shochu.

Since it is a very popular alcoholic beverage, many people may have had it outside of Okinawa.

It has a very long history and has been called "saki" in the Ryukyu Islands since ancient times.

Awamori first appeared in official texts as a Ryukyuan alcoholic beverage in 1671, when it was mentioned in a list of items presented by the Kingdom of Ryukyu to the Tokugawa Shogunate.

In Okinawa Prefecture, it is often referred to as "island sake," or sometimes abbreviated as shimaghwa or shimmer.

Once considered an unpopular sake even within the prefecture, it is now highly popular and well-liked both within and outside of the prefecture.

Because of its high alcohol content, many locals drink it with water or soda instead of straight.

Awamori is also served in bars and other establishments as an excellent drink that can be easily rearranged and has a wide range of uses.

It is widely available as a standard item at souvenir shops, so it is fun for those who love sake to buy not one, but two or three bottles of various brands and compare them with each other.

 

traditional handicrafts

Another popular type of Okinawan souvenir is a wide variety of traditional handicrafts, such as shisa and pottery.

In Okinawa, pottery, called "yachimun," has a long history dating back to earthenware made 6,600 years ago.

Importing pottery from Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia has gradually developed the technique into a major industry, with numerous pottery studios located throughout the main island of Okinawa.

There are two types of yachimun: overglaze firing, in which glaze is used, and rough firing, in which no glaze is used.

In addition to the commonly distributed Kamiyaki, Ara-yaki, with its simple warmth, is a traditional craft that is so popular that it has its own enthusiasts throughout the country.

Yomitan Village, located next to Onna Village, is particularly active in yachimun culture, with as many as 64 workshops.

In the area called Yachimun-no-sato, there are 19 independent yachimun workshops, and visitors can experience the depths of the yachimun culture.

Shisa, Okinawa's guardian god and mascot character, is also very popular among men and women of all ages as a classic handicraft.

Some of the workshops offer hands-on experience in making hachimuns and shisa, so if you include them in your sightseeing tour, you will be able to experience Okinawan culture firsthand.

 

Popular Tourist Spots

Next, we would like to introduce some of the tourist attractions in Onna Village, a popular resort area.

All of these spots are as attractive as they are unbeatable.

 

Blue Cave

Speaking of Onna Village's representative tourist attractions, one cannot miss the Ao no Tsubute (Blue Cave).

The Blue Cave, a sea-eroded cave, faces the sea and is characterized by the erosion of the sea even into the cave.

The reason it is called the "Blue Cave" is the color of its interior.

The blue wavelengths contained in the light are accentuated by the reflection and refraction of sunlight on the sea surface and sea bottom, illuminating the inside of the cave in blue.

There are several caves with the same name and characteristics scattered around the world, including the one on the Italian island of Capri, but the one in Onna Village is one of the most popular among them.

 

Attractions

The reason why the Blue Cave in Onna Village is so popular is because of its very good location.

The Blue Cave is right next to Cape Maeda Misaki, another famous tourist spot.

Many spots such as limestone caves and caves have good views but poor accessibility, but Cape Maeda is easy to visit and has a spacious parking lot.

Not only are there restrooms, changing lockers, and showers to rinse off seawater, but activity tours and equipment rentals are offered at facilities on the cape.

The rare opportunity to enjoy activities such as snorkeling in the cave makes the Blue Cave a popular spot.

 

Directions from Onna Village and Naha Airport

The address of the Blue Cave is 469-1 Maeda, Onna Village, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture.

If you use a rental car, enter the name "Cape Maeda" instead of "Blue Cave" in your car navigation system.

When using the bus, get off at the bus stop "Kuraha" and walk for about 10 minutes.

 

strand of hair on top of the head

Manzamo is a 20-meter-high cliff, a popular location from which to view the East China Sea.

These cliffs are made of Ryukyu limestone, which has been altered by uplifted coral reefs, and even from a distance one can experience the unique and powerful nature of Okinawa.

The cliff top is also not a bleak rocky area, but a spacious area with a grassy lawn.

 

Attractions

The comfort of such a leisurely grass field is famous for an episode in which an old Ryukyu king directly spoke of his admiration.

The word "Manzakage," which means "a field enough for ten thousand people to sit on," is also the origin of the name of the place, Manzakage.

In addition to grass, there are also many tropical plants that grow wild on Manzakage, which is unique to the subtropical climate, making this a spot where visitors can enjoy the greenery of Okinawa.

Looking out over the East China Sea from the top of the cliff, you can enjoy the rich sea that changes color to blue or emerald green depending on the weather and time of day.

 

Directions from Onna Village and Naha Airport

The address of Manzakage is 2767 Aza Onna, Onna Village, Okinawa Prefecture.

As this is a popular spot, if you enter "Manzakage" into your car navigation system, it will show you an easy-to-understand route.

If you take a bus, get off at "Manza Beach Mae" and Manza-Mao is right in front of you.

 

Ryukyu Village

Nature is not the only attraction in Onna Village.

Ryukyumura, a theme park featuring the culture and climate of Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands, is one of the standard spots for sightseeing not only in Onna Village but also on the main island of Okinawa.

It is a highly reputable facility where the attractions of Okinawa are concentrated in several areas, allowing visitors to learn about Okinawa from a variety of angles.

 

Attractions

The first thing that stands out in Ryukyumura is the area that recreates the traditional streets of Okinawa.

Old private houses are reproduced using red tiles that have been widely used since ancient times, many of which are registered as national tangible cultural properties.

Of course, not only the buildings but also the mood was carefully reproduced, and the plants seen here and there are all tropical plants unique to Okinawa.

The sound of sanshin (Okinawan guitar) can be heard from the old houses, and you will be able to experience the feeling of "this is good old Okinawa".

Visitors can also enjoy plenty of singing and dancing, which is unique to theme parks.

Eisa performances, a traditional Okinawan dance, are held every day at regular intervals, and you can enjoy the liveliness and vitality of the performances.

The restaurants serving Okinawan cuisine and the well-stocked souvenir shops are also not to be missed!

 

Directions from Onna Village and Naha Airport

The address of Ryukyumura is 1130 Yamada, Onna Village, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture.

If you are using a rental car, just enter "Ryukyumura" and the name of the facility into the navigation system, and the route will be displayed without any problems.

When using the bus, get off at the bus stop "Ryukyumura-mae" and you will be right in front of the bus stop.

 

Enjoy a comfortable trip with a rental car!

We'll also make reservations in advance for car rentals, which fill up quickly!

↓Click here for more information.

 

Popular Activities in Onna Village

Next, I would like to introduce some activities to enjoy in Onna Village, which faces the beautiful ocean.

The village offers a wide variety of locations for ocean fun, from man-made beaches that are easy to play on to natural beaches that offer a taste of the original Okinawan landscape.

We invite you to experience a variety of activities.

 

snorkeling

Snorkeling is one of the most popular beach activities.

Onna Village has a wide variety of snorkeling spots.

You can experience it on the beach, in the blue cave mentioned above, or in a wide variety of other spots.

The Okinawan sea has a strong image of coral reefs, but corals are vulnerable to changes in water temperature, and the decrease in their numbers due to mortality and the resulting bleaching phenomenon is a problem not only in Okinawa but also worldwide.

However, Onna Village is actively engaged in coral protection activities under the slogan "the most coral-friendly village in the world.

This makes Onna Village's ocean beautiful and ideal for snorkeling.

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diving

Along with snorkeling, diving is one of the most popular diving activities.

This is a more serious diving experience than snorkeling, wearing heavier equipment and requiring a license.

Although a license may seem a bit of a hurdle, Onna Village is a place where many tours, including those for obtaining a diving license, are offered.

You will not only get a license, but you will also be able to have fun while interacting with the beautiful ocean in a resort environment.

Some people may feel uneasy when they hear that they will be diving deep, but please be safe because diving is said to have an accident rate of 0.011 TP3T and is a risk-free activity if you learn it properly.

How about using your visit to Onna Village as an opportunity to try diving?

 

SUP

Have you ever heard of SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard)?

Although it may not be as well known as snorkeling, SUP is an activity whose popularity has grown dramatically in recent years.

SUP originated in Waikiki Beach, Hawaii.

Local surfers began practicing surfing by standing on the surface of the ocean on surfboards or special SUP boards and paddling forward.

Many people think that standing on the surface of the water seems difficult, but SUP uses a large board, which is more stable than it looks.

And yet, balancing on the ocean surface with the waves provides a good total-body workout and a high-quality exercise effect.

The experience of looking out at the tropical ocean while feeling the swaying of the boat is deeply relaxing for both body and mind, and is sure to be the best resort experience.

 

marine sports

If you are visiting tropical seas, you are probably hoping to enjoy marine sports.

Of course, Onna Village also offers a full range of marine sports.

Banana boats and big mums are always highly popular, as well as water bikes, which are a great classic, and banana boats and big mums that can be towed by water bikes.

Flyboarding, in which water pressure is used to fly through the air, is also popular for its photogenic qualities, and a wide variety of other marine sports are also available, all of which are very painful.

Parasailing tours are also offered, where visitors are towed over the ocean. It is no exaggeration to say that Onna Village is a mecca for marine sports.

Let's make the most of the sparkling blue Okinawan sea with your lover or friends!

 

fishing

One more thing I must mention is phishing.

Okinawa, which lives by the sea, of course has an abundance of locations where you can enjoy fishing.

If you are a fishing enthusiast, why not try offshore fishing in the sea of Onna Village?

If you join a local tour, an umiinchu (a local fisherman) will take you to the best fishing spots by boat, and you can immerse yourself in fishing with a rod and bait provided.

There are a variety of fishing plans, ranging from beginner-friendly experience tours with instruction to advanced tours that require a full half-day of fishing.

Once you have had the experience of biting in the beautiful sea, you will definitely want to repeat the experience two or three times!

 

summary

These are some of the specialties and sightseeing in Onna Village.

Okinawa is not an easy island to savor, but Onna Village has a mountain of attractions that cover a fairly broad range.

When you travel to Okinawa, please use Onna Village as a base to enjoy a variety of Okinawan travel experiences, from local specialties to activities.