Head to the northern part of Okinawa's main island in the season of gentle autumn breezes. Report on the efforts of various areas that continue to operate even during the COVID-19 pandemic

"Bise Fukugi Tree Line" where time flows quietly

"Bise Fukugi Tree Line" is located in the Bise community in the northeastern part of Motobu Town. Approximately 20,000 Fukugi trees are lined up here, serving as wind and tide protection. In the green tunnel where the sunlight shines through the trees, you can enjoy a tour of the trees by rental bicycle or water buffalo cart.

In fact, this place was also used as a location for the movie "Ito" (distributed by Toho). It is becoming more and more well-known as one of the most representative spots in the northern part of Okinawa Island.

The interview took place around 10am on September 11th. Perhaps because it was a weekday, there were only three or four groups of people walking along the tree-lined street, so there weren't many people. When I spoke to a local woman who lives along the Fukugi tree-lined street, she told me, "Usually, I see a lot of families and other visitors from the morning, but the tourists haven't come back yet."

He also said, "There are a lot of fallen fruits, so we have to sweep the streets every day." This is because bats come to the Fukugi trees at this time of year to eat the fruits. It was a moment when I felt the change of seasons even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bise Fukugi Tree Line

The current state of Kyoda, the number one roadside station in Japan

The roadside station "Kyota" is located about an hour from Naha city via the Okinawa Expressway, just a short distance from the end of the road, Kyota Interchange.

Since opening in 1994 as Okinawa Prefecture's first roadside station, this extremely popular roadside station has been ranked number one in the national roadside station rankings on travel information sites many times, including in 2020.

The reason for its popularity is the wide variety of souvenirs. Not only processed foods such as sweets are available, but also agricultural products shipped directly from producers. Fresh tropical fruits and vegetables from the northern part of Okinawa's main island and the surrounding islands are perfect as a memento of your trip, and many people buy them.

On the day of our visit, the facility was under renovation, but there were many rental cars in the parking lot, and it seemed like the bustle had returned. However, staff member Natsuya Toguchi said that sales have only returned to about 30 to 40 percent of normal levels.

"Because it's a facility that gets a lot of tourists, the impact was inevitably large, but recently we've been seeing more and more local people. I think they may be thinking, 'I want to help the producers by buying their products.'" (Toguchi)

Currently, the shop is taking basic infection prevention measures, such as asking customers to wear masks and installing disinfectant and vinyl curtains. They are also actively posting information on social media such as Instagram and Facebook, in the hopes of attracting more tourists once the situation calms down.

"We are what we are because of our customers. We want to give back to the local people, of course, but also to the tourists," says Toguchi.

Choosing souvenirs is one of the best parts of traveling. If you are planning to visit Okinawa in the future, why not stop by Roadside Station Kyoda to purchase fruits and vegetables grown in the great outdoors of Okinawa?

Roadside Station "Kyoda" Yanbaru Product Center

Many young people gather at the power spot of love, "Tinuhama Beach."

"Tinuhama" is a small beach on Kouri Island in Nakijin Village. It became famous overnight as a location for a JAL commercial.

Kouri Island is also known as the "Island of Love" due to the legend of Kuijima, which is similar to the story of Adam and Eve, but the reason it has become known as a power spot for love is this Heart Rock. The two rocks, formed by erosion by waves over many years, look like a heart when placed together, making it popular among couples.

The day of the interview was a weekday afternoon, but there were many tourists, mostly young people, and it was difficult to walk smoothly even on the footpath leading to Teenu Beach.

Although the number of such visits is smaller than before, many people are choosing this place now that outdoor spaces are encouraged. This place, which is considered a power spot, may be the perfect tourist spot to lift spirits that have been stagnant due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Teenu Beach

Hammock shop "Gajumaru Rock" is gaining more local fans with its takeout service

Kouri Island is a remote island that can be reached by bridge from Nakijin Village in the northern part of Okinawa's main island. Gajumaru Rock, located on this island, has been gaining popularity as an ocean view cafe since it opened in 2018.

The highlight of this restaurant is the terrace seating with hammocks. After enjoying specialty dishes such as Okinawan Agu pork hamburger and cartilage soki curry, you can relax and enjoy the view while swaying in the hammock. This place is also a great photo spot, and has even been used as a location for a promotional video produced by JAL in the past.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gajumaru Rock was closed for about two months from April. At one point, they considered closing down, but reopened in late June with reduced opening hours.

We are now taking thorough basic infection prevention measures, such as installing disinfectant and vinyl curtains in front of the cash register, limiting the number of customers allowed in the store, and disinfecting tables and chairs after customers leave.

They also started offering take-out of popular menu items. Take-out comes with a complimentary drink, making it a better deal than eating in. Thanks to this service, the number of local customers has increased, which the owner, Takada-san, says is very encouraging.

"Rather than being triggered by the Go To Travel campaign, the number of customers has been gradually increasing since September when the state of emergency in Okinawa was lifted. Our relaxing space makes you want to come back once you've visited, so we hope that both locals and people from outside the prefecture will feel free to come and visit us," says owner Takada.

If you are traveling to the northern part of Okinawa's main island, you should definitely visit Gajumaru Rock at least once. The luxurious experience of gazing at the ocean while swaying in a hammock is sure to be a special experience, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gajumaru Rock

Glass Art Ai: Delivering the Feel of Okinawa through Ryukyu Glass

Ryukyu glass is characterized by its vivid colors and bubbles. Among the Ryukyu glass that is popular as a souvenir from Okinawa, the works of the Ryukyu glass studio "Glass Art Ai" located on the outskirts of Nago City are currently attracting particular attention.

Ryukyu glass began to circulate during the period of US military rule in Okinawa, when US military personnel began to order Western-style glass crafts that resembled products from overseas from glass studios on the main island of Okinawa.

Ryukyu glass was often brightly colored to express a tropical feel, due to the preference of US military personnel at the time, and even after it became popular as a souvenir for Japanese tourists, it was often brightly colored. However, Glass Art Ai incorporates translucent, pale colors and patterns, and its delicate style captures the hearts of those who see it.

Glass Art Ai was founded by Sayo Kotobuki, who was fascinated by Okinawa and moved here with her mother from outside the prefecture. With the desire to "capture the scenery and nature of Okinawa on glass," she founded the company in 1998 and opened her studio here in 2010.

The workshop, where visitors can not only purchase glasswork but also experience making Ryukyu glass, is a popular spot for tourists. For this reason, Kotobuki says, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was significant.

"The number of customers has dropped significantly since around April. In the first half of July, when the infection had calmed down, the number of customers had recovered to 70% of the previous year, but the spread of infection has caused many cancellations of experience reservations, and in August the number of customers had fallen to 30% of the previous year. Since most of the customers who came to the store were originally from outside the prefecture, the impact was significant."

What helped them out in this difficult situation was a tourism campaign that was held in Okinawa Prefecture in June. This resulted in an increase in the number of local customers visiting the store. "We were grateful and happy that we were able to show the local people the quality of Ryukyu glass," said Kotobuki.

We want all customers, whether tourists or locals, to enjoy themselves. With this in mind, we are taking basic precautions such as taking temperatures, asking people to wear masks, and providing disinfectant. We also take care to ensure that you can enjoy the experience of blowing hot glass.

"Since customers are most concerned about the part they are blowing into, we attach a mouthpiece to the instrument. After the experience is over, we thoroughly disinfect it and put a new mouthpiece on it. Since we started doing this, I think customers have become less anxious."

Furthermore, they are taking great care to ensure safety and security by limiting the number of people who can participate in the experience and explaining the infection prevention measures in advance. Thanks to these measures, visitors can experience the experience with a smile, which Kotobuki says is a great support for the workshop. They also communicate with people who cannot come to the shop in person through an online shop.

"People who cannot easily come to Okinawa have purchased my works online and given me comments like, 'I felt the Okinawa breeze,' and 'It feels like I'm at home in Okinawa.' That is also encouraging me right now."

Kotobuki continues to create his works with the sole desire to let people experience the beautiful nature of Okinawa. Even if you can't make it to Okinawa yet, why not try picking up one of his soulful works?

Glass Art Indigo

All popular stores are currently facing tough times, but our coverage of northern Okinawa gave us a strong sense that "it was only thanks to the support of the local people that they were able to get this far." If you are planning a trip to Okinawa in the future, why not experience the great outdoors of Okinawa and get a feel for the feelings of the local people through conversations with the store staff? Perhaps this will help you feel even more familiar with Okinawa, your favorite tourist destination.

*Some content was updated on November 20, 2020.

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