Kokusai-dori Street
Located in the center of Naha City near Naha Bus Terminal, Kokusai-dori Street is the best place in Okinawa for visitors to goshopping and have meals. The 2-kilometer-long (1.5 miles) street is very inclusive: you can find shopping malls, beauty stores, good Japanese restaurants, Okinawan handicraft shops, and even appreciate local folk music. This is also a good area to live in when visiting Okinawa.
Most of the stores here open till very late at night, making it a sleepless street and even busier at night than in the day. In addition, visitors can get close to local culture, history, and customs here. For example, you may come across a couple of half-dog, half-lion statues called lion dog while walking on the street. It is an imaginary creature from Okinawan myths. Usually a couple of lion dogs are placed in front of one’s front gate or on roof ridges. It’s said a couple of lion dogs, one closing its mouth while the other opening it, is able to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck to the owners.
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Special Souvenir to Buy on Kokusai-dori Street: Lion Dog Statues
Food Ingredients in Local Stores
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the small statues are all very cute. Buying a small lion dog statue to put in your house is quite meaningful and delightful.
Local Delicacies and Snacks to Taste on Kokusai-dori Street
Sweet potato tarte cake:
It is made of Okinawan sweet potatoes and always at the top of Okinawa’s best snack list. Make sure you go to Okashigoten Kokusai Street Matsuo Branch, which sells the authentic sweet potato tarte cake.
Royce Chocolate Potato Chip:
You can taste Okinawa’s unique sea salt flavor of Royce Chocolate Potato Chip on the street.
Nanpudo Spicy Shrimp Cake:
You will love this snack if you are into spicy food. You can taste this very crunchy cake made of fresh local shrimps.
Yukishio Chinsukou:
“Yukishio Chinsukou” is a traditional dessert derived from the Ryukyu Kingdom (1429-1879). Since its birth in 2005, it has gained popularity as a quintessential Okinawa souvenir. It tastes crispy at first and then moist. You can buy the featured snow salt flavor of Yukishio Chinsukou on Kokusai-dori Street, which combines Okinawa’s famous sea salt with the dessert.
Unique Liquor:
You will have a chance to try an Okinawan specialty, awamori, which is liquor made from rice, in the bars of Kokusai-dori Street. What’s more, there is another kind of local medical liquor called habushu, in which an Okinawan viper - habu is soaked for years. If you are bold and curious enough, then try it. The taste is quite special.
Recommended Restaurants on the Street:
Blue Seal Ice Cream:
It is the most popular ice cream shop in Okinawa. The ice cream here is creatively mixed with Okinawa local food such as “Yukishio Chinsukou”.
Ramen Restaurants:
On Kokusai-dori Street, Danbo Ramen Restaurant is very popular among global visitors. Although the dishes here are delicious, it may take you quite a long time to wait for a table. So you may book in advance or choose nearby Ryuya Honten: the ramen here tastes as good as in Danbo Ramen Restaurant.
Ryukyu no Ushi:
Try local roast beef in this chain restaurant, which has lots of good reviews on the internet. Remember to book a table before you go. Besides, it only opens from 17:00 to 22:30.
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Wait for Beef on Kokusai-dori Street
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How to Get Here:
Take Bus 120, Bus 190, or Naha Airport Shuttle at the Airport Domestic Terminal and get off at Hotel Collective. Then you’ll see Kokusai-dori Street.Nearby Attractions:
Makishi Public Market:
Makishi Public Market is within a 10-minute walking distance from Kokusai-dori Street. In the market, there are all kinds of sea foodcaptured from Okinawan waters, for example, pufferfish. And visitors can also find the famous Ishigaki beef here. Visitors can buy the freshest sea food on the first floor and have it cooked on the second floor.
Opening time: 8:00- 21:00