Araha park beach is conveniently tucked behind the Hamby Town San A in Chatan. This Okinawa beach is a family spot that many refer to as Pirate Ship Park because of the giant wooden play structure fashioned after an old ship. The zip slide and climbing ropes offer fun for the kids. The beach features soft sand with a roped-off swimming area, restrooms, and picnic tables. Araha park beach is near a shopping area featuring snacks, drinks and air conditioning.
Directions from Kadena Gate 1:
-Take a LEFT to head South on 58 from KAB Gate 1.
-Pass the Camp Lester hospital gate and take a RIGHT at the 2nd light onto 130.-Take a LEFT at the next traffic signal.
-Pass Nishimatsuya (pink and white building with a White Rabbit on the sign) on your left.
-Look out on your right side for a pink diamond shaped sign that says Arapana on it. Take a RIGHT just after the Arapana sign for beach parking. (If you pass San-A on your left you have gone too far.)
Note: If the parking lots here are full there is an additional parking lot. You will have to go back the road you just came on passing Nishimatsuya on your right. Shortly afterwards you will see a canal with white guardrails. Make a LEFT on the far side of the canal, proceed to the end of the road, and make a RIGHT into the parking lot.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Kaeleigh Likes to Sing Shout at the Devil
Kaeleigh loves to sing Shout at the Devil. This is so funny and she is only two years old. I wonder why she acts like the devil...now I know why.
Okinawa Cherry Blossom Festival
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7Lc4l1KuQY Check out my video of the cherry blossom festival!
Best known for its cherry blossoms Nago Okinawa hosts the earliest Sakura (cherry blossoms) and hanami (cherry blossom viewing) in Japan. There is plenty of action, and numerous photo opportunities, at the Nago Cherry Blossom Festival, which takes place at several locations. Nago Chuo Park is the festival’s open space, while other activities take place at the special stage in Sakura Park, the Nago Main Crossroad, and at Nago Fishing Port.
Some of the festival highlights include performances by local schools brass bands and cultural performers such as Eisa dancers and taiko drummers. Parades, karaoke competitions, carnival games, and food vendors are also part of the attractions.
Nago central park is filled with 20,000 Taiwan cherry trees that bloom deep rosy-pink flowers causing the celebrations to start. Many festivals goers climb high up the observatory where an amazing view of the emerald green ocean together with the pink cheery blossoms can be taken in.
Other people simply spread out a picnic blanket or tarp under the trees that resemble cotton candy and have a few drinks and some food with friends or family. In most parts of Japan hanami (cherry blossom viewing) is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years, it represents the end of winter and the new life of spring. The cherry blossom only last for one week or sometimes less depending on the weather, this short lived beauty is of great cultural importance to the Japanese and serves as a main reason for the festivities.
Directions: From Naha Airport take the Okinawa Expressway, exit at Kyoda the last exit. Continue north toward Nago. Once in Nago, turn right onto Route 84 under the walkway. On your right you will see Orion Brewery. Turn left at the brewery and take an immediate right. During cherry blossom season and on the days of the festival it is advised to park well away from the park both for cost and to allow for an easy escape when leaving.
Best known for its cherry blossoms Nago Okinawa hosts the earliest Sakura (cherry blossoms) and hanami (cherry blossom viewing) in Japan. There is plenty of action, and numerous photo opportunities, at the Nago Cherry Blossom Festival, which takes place at several locations. Nago Chuo Park is the festival’s open space, while other activities take place at the special stage in Sakura Park, the Nago Main Crossroad, and at Nago Fishing Port.
Some of the festival highlights include performances by local schools brass bands and cultural performers such as Eisa dancers and taiko drummers. Parades, karaoke competitions, carnival games, and food vendors are also part of the attractions.
Nago central park is filled with 20,000 Taiwan cherry trees that bloom deep rosy-pink flowers causing the celebrations to start. Many festivals goers climb high up the observatory where an amazing view of the emerald green ocean together with the pink cheery blossoms can be taken in.
Other people simply spread out a picnic blanket or tarp under the trees that resemble cotton candy and have a few drinks and some food with friends or family. In most parts of Japan hanami (cherry blossom viewing) is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years, it represents the end of winter and the new life of spring. The cherry blossom only last for one week or sometimes less depending on the weather, this short lived beauty is of great cultural importance to the Japanese and serves as a main reason for the festivities.
Directions: From Naha Airport take the Okinawa Expressway, exit at Kyoda the last exit. Continue north toward Nago. Once in Nago, turn right onto Route 84 under the walkway. On your right you will see Orion Brewery. Turn left at the brewery and take an immediate right. During cherry blossom season and on the days of the festival it is advised to park well away from the park both for cost and to allow for an easy escape when leaving.
Roller Derby in Okinawa
I started playing roller derby in Okinawa in October 2010. We started a team called the Kokeshi Roller Dolls. Since then, we have grew tremendously. Check us out at http://www.kokeshirollerdolls.com/!
www.facebook.com/bashass Check out my facebook page! Be a Fan!
www.facebook.com/bashass Check out my facebook page! Be a Fan!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Toys R Us Awase
Toys R Us in Awase is an interesting experience. Anytime you visit a store in Okinawa it is interesting. My favorite thing about going to Toys R Us is the other stores in the building. There is a very cool shoe store that the kids love where you can get squeaky shoes, there is a grocery store, and of course there is toys r us. This Toys R Us is not like the one in Naha. It doesn't have a Babies R Us in it, but it does sell some baby stuff.
From Kadena:
Go out Gate 2 and drive straight. Follow road (22) until you reach the 329 intersection. Take a right toward Awase. Drive until you reach a large McDonald's on your left; take a left at this intersection. Follow road for about ½ km; Awase Shopping Center is the large building on your right.
From Camp Foster:
Take a left turn out of Sgt Major gate (where Westpac is) and keep going downhill and curvy roads. You will pass the expressway above you. You will also pass a big intersection Hwy 329 (you are heading towards the water on the other side of island) and beyond this big intersection, Hwy 81 (the road you've been on since leaving out of Sgt Major gate) becomes Hwy 227 and you still keep going. This is the same road going to Comprehensive Park. You will pass a high school on the left, the Prefectural Sport stadium also on your left, going past under a "bridge", look to your right and you will see Comprehensive Water Park on your right side and keep going straight. You will turn LEFT at a light called Awase intersection. Halfway through this big road you will see a San-Ei with ToysRUs next to it. If you see a McDonald's on the right and the intersection Hwy 329 then you have gone too far.
Directions to Toys R Us in Awase
From Kadena:
Go out Gate 2 and drive straight. Follow road (22) until you reach the 329 intersection. Take a right toward Awase. Drive until you reach a large McDonald's on your left; take a left at this intersection. Follow road for about ½ km; Awase Shopping Center is the large building on your right.
From Camp Foster:
Take a left turn out of Sgt Major gate (where Westpac is) and keep going downhill and curvy roads. You will pass the expressway above you. You will also pass a big intersection Hwy 329 (you are heading towards the water on the other side of island) and beyond this big intersection, Hwy 81 (the road you've been on since leaving out of Sgt Major gate) becomes Hwy 227 and you still keep going. This is the same road going to Comprehensive Park. You will pass a high school on the left, the Prefectural Sport stadium also on your left, going past under a "bridge", look to your right and you will see Comprehensive Water Park on your right side and keep going straight. You will turn LEFT at a light called Awase intersection. Halfway through this big road you will see a San-Ei with ToysRUs next to it. If you see a McDonald's on the right and the intersection Hwy 329 then you have gone too far.
Toys R Us Naha Okinawa
Toys R Us Naha
My family and I love to explore the island. We always went to the Toys R Us in Awase, but one Sunday I found myself bored and wanting to get out and see stuff. We decided to go to the Toys R Us in Naha. The Toys R Us in Naha is in a Co-Op building so there are lots of other stores including a place for the kids to play.
Directions to the Naha Toys R Us:
Take 58 south to Naha. After traveling over the second overpass, get into the left lane. Turn LEFT at the Uneoya intersection at the Bay-Meiho Pachinko Parlor. A Birkenstock store will be on your right across from Uenoya street. Follow the road about a kilometer, past a Sports Depo and a UNIQLO strip mall on your left. The Co-Op (apple sign market) and Toys R Us/Babies R Us share the 1st floor of the same building. Free parking is either directly in front of the building, or in the parking garage within it.
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