Search
Category
Area
Season
-
Surrender to Nature and Free Yourself: a Luxurious Retreat Plan that Embraces the Spirit of Itoman's Uminchu Culture and its Abundant Offerings.
1. Experience Uminchu culture in Itoman, Okinawa's top fishing town, which has been preserved since the time of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
2. Experience a ride on a sabani, a traditional wooden fishing boat, which has long supported the fishing industry of Itoman! We set sail towards Ejina Island, an uninhabited island watched over by the sea god Watatsumi.
3. Upon arriving at Ejina Island, where nature remains untouched, we offer a prayer to the sacred island from the boat.
4. Savor the ocean's blessings in Itoman, Okinawa's finest fishing town, all while enjoying a spectacular sunset.
5. Craft your own pair of chopsticks using offcuts of Obisugi cedar, the material used to make sabani boats! -
Stroll Around Ishigaki Island and Enjoy a Traditional Okinawa Sanshin Experience.
In this tour, a local guide will take you to cultural spots scattered around Ishigaki. Not only will you experience playing the sanshin, a traditional Okinawan instrument, and enjoy live performances, but you will also delve into the history and culture of Ishigaki Island by strolling through the city. You'll come to understand how music and dance play an important and meaningful role in the daily life of Ishigaki, giving you a deeper appreciation of the island’s charm.
After the experience and performance, you'll have the opportunity to socialize while enjoying a special lunch box or dessert made with local ingredients from Ishigaki Island. During the sanshin experience and performance, qualified performers who have been active both within and outside of Okinawa will lead the event, ensuring a high-quality experience.
-
Yambaru: the Forest Where Miracles Live Blue Zones Premium
■About the Nature of Yambaru
This region, home to the Yambaru Forest, a World Heritage Site, is the epitome of the Blue Zone of Okinawa. In the villages close to the Yambaru Forest, people benefit from, protect, and live in harmony with the forest. This way of life forms the foundation of their health and longevity. Through this tour, you will learn about the relationship between the forest and the village and explore the vast nature of the Yambaru Forest and the surrounding village.
■About Health and Longevity
One of the highlights of this tour is the opportunity to meet elderly people who live healthily, vibrantly, and happily in harmony with the nature of Yambaru. Their warm and gentle personalities, often sprinkled with Okinawa dialect and a broad perspective on life, are truly charming. At the core of their beliefs is a deep commitment to passing down traditions to the next generation and embracing a life filled with happiness and joy. Through the rare experience of speaking directly with elderly people in the Blue Zone of Okinawa, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the importance of having a sense of purpose and strong determination in life.
■About Meals
Meals are made from Yambaru’s agricultural products harvested by local farmers who grow their own crops in fields or home gardens. The dishes are prepared using cooking methods and seasonings that best highlight the natural flavors of the ingredients. Through agricultural experiences and meals, you can directly experience eating habits of people in Okinawa, such as the consumption a lot of soy products like local firm tofu and plant-based foods. Locals usually only eat until they are 80% full, a key to their long lives.
An experienced English-speaking guide will guide you through this tour, ensuring smooth and safe communication and acting as a bridge between you and the locals. -
New Value Creation and Inspirational Experience Project that Synchronizes Traditional Performing Arts & World Heritage Sites & Animation
1. Explore the history of Katsuren Castle Ruins World Heritage Site
Take a trip to the ruins of Katsuren Castle, which flourished as the ancient capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and explore the magnificent stone walls and ancient remains of the castle, getting a glimpse into the history of the kingdom. This is a great spot for history enthusiasts.
2. Discover traditional culture and performing arts
Guests can enjoy activities up close such as Okinawan bullfighting, which has continued for more than 100 years, and local traditional performing arts like the Eisa, Lion, and Ryukyu dances. There will also be a chance to interact with local residents for a heartwarming time.
3. Indulge in Ryukyu cuisine
The profound flavors of Ryukyu cuisine made with local ingredients symbolize the unique gastronomic culture of Okinawa. Participants will take part in a workshop to learn traditional recipes and try your hand at cooking them.
4. Special tour of sites featured in the 2025 animated film
A must-see for anime-lovers! Sightseeing tours will also be available for the sites featured in "Okitsura: Fell in Love with an Okinawan Girl, but I Just Wish I Know What She's Saying,” which has an anime adapation premiering in 2025. Relive scenes from the anime at the real locations and immerse yourself in the setting of the show. Uruma City is dotted with tourist attractions besides the scenic Kasturen Castle Ruins that boast rich nature and beautiful views. One of the selling points of this tour is that guests can enjoy the natural beauty of Okinawa in a relaxing atmosphere.
This special experience of Uruma City's history, culture, and sub-cultures will surely leave a lasting impression. -
“We have a sea the world loves, but we’re aiming for something more. Certification as a starry sky reserve!” Invitation to a Special Night on Zamami Island: “Premium Starry Sky Photo Tour”
*Normally, you’d only gaze at the stars from land, but on this tour, you’ll be taken out to sea on a boat for a unique stargazing experience! Enjoy the breathtaking sunset over the ocean as the night begins.
*A professional photographer specializing in starry sky photography will capture stunning images of the stars and you, creating a cherished memory you’ll treasure for a lifetime.
*Using special astronomical telescopes, you’ll be guided in observing planets and seasonal constellations that are visible from the southern islands.
*A special boxed meal will be provided during the tour, offering an original gourmet experience to complement your starlit adventure.
*At the local planetarium, you can dive deeper into the wonders of the cosmos, enhancing your knowledge and curiosity about the stars and astronomy. -
Listen to the Voices of the Yambaru Forest, a World Heritage Site, on the "Yambaru Experience Tour"
- This is an extraordinary tour unlike any other, where you can fully experience the nature and daily life of "Yambaru," a World Heritage Site located in the northern part of Okinawa Island.
- You can join the local forest road patrol team, dedicated to environmental conservation, participate in their frontline conservation activities, and experience the "symbiosis between people and nature" that defines the Yambaru region.
- The tour is packed with activities, including guided trekking on unexplored routes accessible only by boat and a thrilling downhill mountain bike ride.
- You will also have the opportunity to prepare Ryukyu cuisine using local ingredients while chatting with elderly locals. -
OKINAWA ANIMATION FESTIVAL 2025
Okinawa's First Animation Festival
The OKINAWA ANIMATION FESTIVAL 2025 is a large-scale fan meeting event that will combine a passion for anime with the charm of Okinawa, Japan's southern resort destination. Located in the center of Asia, Okinawa was once a central trading spot known as the “Bankoku Shinryo (Bridge of Nations)" and continues to be visited by tourists from all over the world. Now, anime fans from Japan and overseas will gather in Okinawa to take part in the island's first animation festival.
Laid-Back Vibes x Entertainment
Fans will have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful, world-renowned natural environs and laid-back vibes of Okinawa together with anime staff/actors for the ultimate entertainment experience. The event also aims to promote Okinawa as a hub for the creation and distribution of new content.
Held at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) is a world-leading research facility in Onna, Okinawa with faculty that received a Nobel Prize in 2022. The festival will take place here, bringing Japanese animation to a venue that combines natural beauty with global cutting-edge science and technology.
With a Star-Studded Cast!
The main venue of the OKINAWA ANIMATION FESTIVAL 2025 will feature two days of panels and performances featuring popular voice actors. Stay tuned to our press releases for upcoming guest announcements. -
Ninagawa Mika with EiM: Dancing with Shadows in the Light
Nanjo Art Museum is 5 minutes away by car from Seifa-Utaki, a World Heritage Site in Nanjo City, Okinawa Prefecture that is known as the most sacred place in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It opened in 2021 as an art space surrounded by green forest and the ocean of Nirai Kanai, the sacred land of the gods in Ryukyuan religion. Based on the concept of “beauty exists in life, in living,” it is a scenic art space that transcends the boundaries of traditional museums.
From Wednesday, November 27, 2024 to Friday, May 30, 2025, the Nanjo Art Museum will feature “Ninagawa Mika with EiM: Dancing with Shadows in the Light,” an exhibition that will adorn the museum with artwork by Ninagawa Mika and the EiM creative team.
Nanjo Art Museum will be dyed Ninagawa Mika's color with her photographs of Okinawa on display alongside work that has not yet been made public. Prepare to be amazed by this monumental collaboration between Ninagawa Mika with EiM, Okinawa, and the Nanjo Art Museum.
■Event Period: Wednesday, November 27, 2024 - Friday, May 30, 2025 *Open every day
■Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. -
Weaving the Ryukyu Story on Izena Island: A Tour of King Sho En’s History and Nature Exploration
This tour is designed to immerse you in the traditions, culture, performing arts, and natural beauty of Izena Island, which still retains a strong trace of the Ryukyu Kingdom era. Throughout the tour, local residents, who are knowledgeable about the history and culture of the Ryukyu Kingdom, will accompany you as interpreter guides.
In the "King Sho En Special Guide" tour, descendants of King Sho En's family will personally guide you through the birthplace of the kings who ruled the Ryukyu Kingdom for 450 years. You will also have the opportunity to dress in traditional Ryukyu royal costumes and take commemorative photos.
The "Traditional Festival Experience" allows you to visit sites where island residents still practice sacred rituals and festivals, such as "Shinugu," "Naakuchi" and "Iruchayo," which are used to pray for bountiful harvests and fishing. You will get to experience these time-honored traditions through simulated participation.
In the "Traditional Performing Arts Experience," the island's performers will deliver a lecture through which you can experience "Sho En Drums," a traditional performing art of the island that uses Japanese drums, and the sanshin, a three-stringed instrument.
For the "Nature Appreciation Plan," you can choose between enjoying the breathtaking natural beauty and stunning sea views with a clear kayak experience or a special cruising and fishing experience." -
Walk from Iriomote Island to the Exclusive Private Yubu Island & Enjoy a Luxurious Breakfast Experience
This tour offers a private experience on Yubu Island before regular business hours so that you can avoid the crowds and enjoy a special experience that is all your own.
Participants on this tour will walk on foot from Iriomote Island to Yubu Island on a path usually traversed via water buffalo carts.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast of rice balls made of black and purple rice and served in handmade baskets while you sit on Manta Ray Beach and gaze at the Yaeyama Islands.
Learn about how Yubu Island prospered and developed and about the elementary school that once stood on the island, interact with and feed the water buffalos, and roam freely around the island with a dedicated guide. It's an exclusive and invaluable experience.