So, from among the many attractive items, we will introduce "souvenirs that can only be purchased in Okinawa." We have picked out a total of 16 items that can be purchased around Naha City, including tasteful items that will delight the recipient, souvenirs that only a few in the know will know about, and products that you'll want to buy for yourself. Some souvenirs can be easily purchased at tourist spots such as Kokusai Street, as well as at supermarkets and convenience stores, so be sure to check them out.
*Prices include tax.
*Prices and sales status are current as of January 2024.
INDEX
A souvenir unique to Okinawa that will surely delight the recipient!
- Cute Shisa cookies with a rich buttery flavor
- Sorbet with a refreshing Okinawan flavor
- Chocolate for adults made with the mellow, aged "Kusu" sake
- A classic Okinawan snack with a simple taste
- Elegant Japanese sweets with Okinawan flavors
- Expressing the history of the Ryukyu Islands through sweets
- A good combination of rice crackers and French pastries
- Okinawan fruit spread
- Savvy Western sweets from a long-established Okinawan supermarket
- It remains memorable even after you've finished using it.
Take your dining table to the next level! Okinawa souvenirs you'll want to buy for yourself
- Craft gin packed with the bounty of Okinawa
- The ultimate companion that makes rice and bread taste so much better
- Soul food made easy at home
- A versatile spice unique to Okinawa
- The taste of a popular steak restaurant is now available as a potato snack
- A refreshing drink exclusive to Okinawa that you won't find anywhere else
A souvenir unique to Okinawa that will surely delight the recipient!
If you want to give a souvenir to commemorate your trip to Okinawa, you want to choose something that is immediately recognizable as "Okinawan-like." Furthermore, if the souvenir incorporates "Okinawan-like" elements in a stylish way, the recipient will surely be happy. Here are 10 items that are unique to Okinawa. From sweets to tropical foods, they are all souvenirs that you will want to get your hands on.
Cute Shisa Cookies with a rich buttery flavor
Assorted 8 pieces 1,080 yen / Sold by: Ashibi Company
"Shisa Cookies" are shortbread cookies inspired by the shisa, the guardian deity of Okinawa that drives away misfortune and brings in good fortune, and feature a rich buttery aroma. Not only are they cute in appearance, but they are also made with plenty of Okinawan ingredients.
In addition to "Original" and "Chocolate Chip," there are eight flavors available: "Purple Sweet Potato" and "Brown Sugar," which express the unique taste of Okinawa, "Masu (Salt)," which masu brings out the sweetness of the cookies, "Sanpincha," which has a gorgeous jasmine scent, and the tropical "Mango" and "Shikwasa." The assortment we are introducing this time is recommended because you can enjoy all the flavors in one box.
Shisa Cookies Kokusai Street Main Branch
| address | ： | Sho Building 1F, 1-1-1 Matsuo, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture |
|---|---|---|
| business hours | ： | 10:00～19:00 |
| Regular Holiday | ： | none |
| web | ： | https://shisacookie.com/ |
"Okinawa Sorbet Tropical" with a refreshing Okinawan flavor
3 bottles 1,404 yen / Seller: Gateau Souvenir
"Okinawa Sorbet Tropical" is made with plenty of Okinawan ingredients that have been bathed in plenty of sunlight, and is a new type of sweet that can be carried around even though it is a sorbet. It is sold as a liquid, but you can enjoy it as a sorbet by freezing it in the bottle before eating.
The "Hibiscus" has the vivid color and sweet and sour flavor of Miyakojima hibiscus. The "Ishigakijima Pineapple" contains plenty of pineapple flesh from Ishigakijima's Tida pineapple, which has a gentle sourness and strong aroma, and is characterized by its rich pineapple flavor. The "Shikuwasa" uses juice squeezed with the skin on, so you can directly feel the refreshing aroma and bitter taste of the Shikuwasa.
The eye-catching bottles with their cute tropical colors are sure to be appreciated as souvenirs.
Available for purchase at the Roadside Station Kyoda Yanbaru Products Center and the Washita Shop Kokusai Street Branch.
"MAKUKURU Aged Awamori BONBON Chocolat" is a chocolate for adults made with the mellow, aged "Kusu" sake.
5 pieces 1,890 yen / Sold by: Fashion Candy
Old sake awamori called "kusu" that has been aged for more than three years. ``MAKUKURU Old Sake Awamori BONBON Chocolat'' is made by lavishly using it.
To bring out the flavor, they blend carefully selected Kusu and Ishigaki salt, made from 100% seawater from Ishigaki Island, with cane sugar from Okinawa Prefecture, and encase it in bittersweet dark chocolate. When you bite into one, the rich aroma of Kusu from within the chocolate fills your mouth.
When you open the luxurious packaging, you will find the Kusu name of each product on the golden wrapping, so you can taste the difference in taste just like comparing different types of alcohol. Please enjoy a good combination of chocolate and aged sake made by a long-established brewery on Okinawa's main island and outlying islands.
Fashion Candy Headquarters
| address | ： | Head Office 2F, 2-21-22 Oyama, Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture |
|---|---|---|
| phone | ： | 098-897-5194 |
| business hours | ： | 9:00～17:00 |
| Regular Holiday | ： | Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays *Closed days may vary depending on the event. |
| web | ： | https://www.makukuru.jp/ |
"Sata Andagi" is a classic Okinawan snack with a simple taste
5 pieces 600 yen / Sold by: Ayumi Sata Andagi
Ayumi Sata Andagi, located on the second floor of Makishi Public Market near Kokusai-dori, is a specialty shop that sells handmade sata andagi. Sata andagi is a classic Okinawan snack with a gentle sweetness and a simple taste that will warm your heart. The shop uses egg yolks produced in Okinawa and a specially blended wheat flour. It has been made using the same method since it first opened, and continues to preserve the flavor beloved by locals.
The secret ingredient, peanut butter, gives it a fragrant and rich flavor. Because it is made only with egg yolks, it doesn't harden even when it cools, and you can enjoy a crispy outside and moist inside when you take it home. It may sell out as soon as the store opens, so the best time to buy it is in the morning.
Ayumi Sata Andagi
| address | ： | 2-10-1 Matsuo, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture |
|---|---|---|
| phone | ： | 098-863-1171 |
| business hours | ： | From 10:00 *Ends once sold out |
| Regular Holiday | ： | Wednesday, Sunday |
| web | ： | https://ayumi-donut.stores.jp/ |
Shurijo Castle Monaka: an elegant Japanese sweet with a distinctive Okinawan flavor
430 yen per bottle / Sold by: Ryubo Industry
Ryubo Department Store is the only department store in Okinawa Prefecture, located in the center of Naha City, near Kokusai Street. Rakuen Department Store, located on the second floor, has a collection of Okinawa's best products, including souvenirs and lifestyle items with stories from all over Okinawa.
The original product "Shuri Castle Monaka" features the beautiful image of "Shuri Castle" by bingata artist Hiroji Kinjo on the packaging, and is a collaboration with Tokyo-based Japanese confectionery manufacturer "Awaya Sobei". The monaka shell, which is modeled after Shuri Castle, has a chewy texture and four types of bean paste filling: brown sugar, salted bean paste and cream, shikuwasa, and purple yam. The ingredients are also carefully selected from Okinawa.
A portion of the sales from Shuri Castle Monaka will be donated to support efforts to restore Shuri Castle, a symbol of Okinawa that was destroyed in a fire.
Rakuen Department Store
| address | ： | 2nd floor of Ryubo Department Store, 1-1-1 Kumoji, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture |
|---|---|---|
| phone | ： | 098-867-1171 |
| business hours | ： | 10:00～20:30 |
| Regular Holiday | ： | none |
| web | ： | https://www.resort-dept.okinawa/ |
Expressing the history of the Ryukyu through sweets “Shulien Zuisen Awamori x Brown Sugar”
2 pieces for 450 yen / Sold by: Dessert Labo Chocolat
The next sweet is also related to Shuri Castle. Dessert Labo Chocolat is a Western-style sweets shop located in Shuri, Naha City. The shop has an open kitchen style, so you can see the sweets being made in the kitchen from inside the shop.
In 2017, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of its opening, the financier "Shurien" was launched, named after a combination of "Shuri" and "Lien" (which means bond in French). In collaboration with food manufacturers around Shuri, four types of financiers were released, which became popular products.
The recommended flavor is a combination of awamori from Zuisen Shuzo, a historic sake brewery in Shuri, and brown sugar. The subtle aroma of awamori is the secret to its popularity. Awamori is mixed into the dough before baking, and is also allowed to soak into the dough after baking, giving it an excellent aroma and flavor.
Dessert Labo Chocolat
| address | ： | 1F, 4-70-4 Shurikinjo-cho, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture |
|---|---|---|
| phone | ： | 098-885-4531 |
| business hours | ： | 11:00～19:00 |
| Regular Holiday | ： | Irregular holidays |
| web | ： | https://chocolat2007.jp/ |
Shikinaen Rumanpei: A good combination of rice crackers and French pastries
2 types x 3 pieces, 1,500 yen / Sold by Imai Pain
Imai Pain is a bread and cake shop run by a married couple with two locations in Naha City. The couple both had training experience in France, and it was there that they met. They are particular about the selection of ingredients, and their breads and cakes are made with local ingredients, seasonal vegetables, and fruits.
But that's not all they sell. They've also developed "Shikinaen Rumanpei" as a souvenir from Shikinaen, a World Heritage Site located right next to their main store.
Based on Okinawan salted rice crackers from a rice cracker shop in Naha City, this snack is topped with almonds or coconut in a butter and honey sauce and seasoned with salt from Brittany, France, giving it a French baked confectionery florentine-style finish.
The kanji for "Rumanpei" is "Romance Mochi." It is a romantic product that truly blends East and West.
It is sure to please, as it includes a package featuring Shikinaen Garden, designed by Norikazu Yamazaki, a painter who lives in Kudaka Island, Okinawa.
Imai Pain Maaji Main Branch
| address | ： | 12-4, Maaji, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture |
|---|---|---|
| phone | ： | 098-836-3008 |
| business hours | ： | 7:30～19:30 |
| Regular Holiday | ： | Monday |
| web | ： | https://imaipain.com/ |
"Passion Curd" is a spread made with Okinawan fruits.
90g 756 yen / Sold by: Binfood
Bin Food has a store in Nanjo City in the southern part of Okinawa's main island. They use ingredients that are grown using methods that minimize the use of chemical fertilizers, and hand-make brown sugar syrup, jams, seasonings, and more. Their stylish bottles and packaging are also popular.
The recommended item is the "Passion Curd." It is an Okinawan version of the custard-like spread known as "curd," which originated in England, and is made with plenty of sweet and sour passion fruit from Okinawa, as well as eggs from Okinawa. It is a great item to spread on bread or pancakes, and is also useful for changing the flavor of ice cream or yogurt.
In addition to passion fruit flavor, there are also curds made with pesticide-free shekwasha from the Katsuyama district of Nago City and pineapple from Okinawa Prefecture.
Available for purchase at Rakuen Department Store, Bin Food Cafe 'eju (Nanjo City), etc.
"Super Cookies" - a savvy Western-style confectionery from a long-established supermarket in Okinawa
Mini size 8 pieces 1,390 yen / Seller: Jimmy's
Jimmy's is a supermarket and restaurant chain headquartered in Ginowan City in the central part of Okinawa's main island. It was founded in 1956 when Okinawa was under US military rule. Each store is decorated like an American restaurant, and sells a wide variety of Western-style sweets such as original American-style cakes and cookies, breads, delicatessens.
The popular classic product is the "Super Cookie." It is an American cookie with a moist dough, and comes in a variety of flavors, including nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate chips, and is popular for its moderate sweetness.
It is a standard item for locals to give as gifts, and contains three individually wrapped flavors: hazelnut, chocolate, and white chocolate. In addition to the mini size containing 8 pieces, there is also a medium size (containing 16 pieces), a small size (containing 12 pieces), and a pack (containing 5 pieces), making it the perfect gift to distribute to multiple people.
Available at Jimmy's Naha store and other supermarkets in the prefecture.
| address | ： | 3-8-5 Mekaru, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture |
|---|---|---|
| phone | ： | 098-861-1110 |
| business hours | ： | 9:00～21:00 |
| Regular Holiday | ： | none |
| web | ： | http://jimmys.co.jp/ |
"Okinawa Mint Tin" remains a memorable item even after it has been used up
1 can 16g 450 yen (recommended retail price) / Sold by Blue Link
Blue Link is a company founded by a female entrepreneur in 2020. While thinking about a new business venture, she heard from a friend that mint cans with Hawaiian landscape designs on them were popular, and was inspired to develop an Okinawa version of them. The "Okinawa Mint Can" went on sale in 2022.
The mint tablet tin is small enough to fit in a pouch, and features three illustrations that evoke the image of Okinawa at a glance: Shuri Castle, Route 58, and the wave.
It is an item that suits anyone, as it is reasonably priced, has a cute design that makes it feel special, can be used as a small trinket holder after you've finished eating, and allows to share your memories of Okinawa with the recipient.
In addition to the main island of Okinawa, three Yaeyama versions depicting Ishigaki Island, Taketomi Island, and Yubu Island are on sale in limited quantities.
The mint candy inside is of course produced at a factory in Okinawa, and has a refreshing taste with a hint of peppermint.
Available for purchase at Washita Shop Kokusai Street Branch, Naha Airport Branch, Naha Airport Coralway Shop, etc.
Take your dining table to the next level! Okinawa souvenirs you'll want to buy to take home
If you've come all the way to Okinawa, you'll want to check out some Okinawa souvenirs to take home. When choosing, choose products that incorporate the bounty of Okinawa's nature or that can only be purchased in Okinawa, and enjoy a special feeling that's different from the usual. Here are six items in our lineup that will add a touch of Okinawa to your dining table and remind you of your trip.
Navy Strength Craft Gin: A craft gin packed with the bounty of Okinawa
500ml 3,930 yen / Sold by: Ishikawa Shuzojo
Ishikawa Shuzojo is an awamori manufacturer located in Nishihara Town in the central part of Okinawa's main island. They are particular about producing awamori in earthenware jars, which is now rare, and they also produce and sell not only awamori, but also gin, liqueurs, and moromi vinegar made from the lees left over from the awamori production process.
"Navy Strength" is a type of gin with such a high alcohol content that when the Navy brought it on board their ships, it was said to be able to ignite the gunpowder on board even if the bottle broke and got wet.
It is made with awamori as a base, and uses Okinawa-grown karaki (a type of cinnamon), tankan, and kabuchi to create a fruity and spicy flavor. It is a craft gin with an alcohol content of 57%, allowing you to enjoy a rich flavor. Another feature is that the aroma and flavor change depending on the quality of the harvested raw materials, so you can enjoy different flavors from year to year. In addition to gin and tonic, you can also add orange juice and other ingredients to create a tropical cocktail.
Available for purchase at Sake no Smile Oroku
"Ishigaki Beef Mayonnaise" is the ultimate accompaniment that makes rice and bread taste even better.
110g 1,080 yen / Sold by: Ishigaki Food Lab
Ishigaki Food Lab sells seasonings, jams and other products made from ingredients from the island of Ishigaki.
Ishigaki Island Beef Mayo is a mayonnaise dip made with 100% Japanese black beef raised in the natural environment of Ishigaki Island, and made by adding mayonnaise to beef and beef bone extract.
The minced beef and onion add a nice accent to the flavor. It can be used in a variety of ways, such as baking it on bread, putting it on rice as is, dipping vegetable sticks in it, sprinkling it on salad, or putting it on crackers as a snack. It's a versatile item that can be used in any dining scene.
In addition to the original flavor shown in the photo, the lineup is three flavors: Cheese & Anchovy, which has an even richer flavor, and Honey Mustard, which has a mellow sweetness.
Available at Rakuen Department Store and Ryubo Naha Airport Store
Enjoy soul food at home with ease: "Okinawa soba"
Cup 84g 254 yen (Suggested retail price), Bag noodles 92g x 5 meals 734 yen (Suggested retail price) / Sold by: Myojo Foods
Okinawa soba is the soul food of Okinawans. Many people say that they always eat it when they visit the area. It is so popular that major food manufacturers sell Okinawa soba as an Okinawa-only menu item.
Myojo Foods has also been selling instant Okinawa soba exclusively in Okinawa for many years. The noodles are thick and chewy. The soup is a classic Okinawa soba broth made from a blend of bonito, kelp, and pork, and is full of umami yet has a refreshing taste. The cup type also contains a special shichimi spice mix made from island chili peppers, allowing you to easily enjoy the taste of Okinawa.
The packaging for the cup and bag noodles features illustrations of bingata patterns and shisa lions, giving it a Okinawan feel. It's Okinawan food you'll want to stock up on at home.
Available for purchase at supermarkets, convenience stores, etc.
A versatile spice unique to Okinawa: “Miyakojima-produced chili pepper pickled in awamori (kusu). You have to have this.”
50g 880 yen / Seller: Miyakojima Tokimeki Selection
Miyakojima Tokimeki Selection is run by a farmer in the Ueno district of Miyakojima City. They stock Miyakojima-grown agricultural products such as mangoes, passion fruit, and purple sweet potatoes, as well as processed products, miscellaneous goods, and cosmetics, and they also operate their own shop on Miyakojima.
One of the most recommended is "Koregusu", a classic Okinawan spice made by soaking island chili peppers in awamori. It is popular to use it for Okinawa soba, but it is also a versatile item that can be used to add spice to soups, ramen, gyoza, and more.
The item sold at Miyakojima Tokimeki Selection is made by soaking island chili peppers from Miyakojima in awamori, also from Miyakojima. This is a dish that retains its spiciness and flavor until the very end. Also, while the chili peppers are red in color, you can continue to use them by adding 30% awamori, making it a sustainable product.
Available for purchase at THE OKINAWA SHOP in IIAS Okinawa Toyosaki
The taste of the popular steak restaurant is now available as a potato snack "Jack's Steak House Potato Snack"
45g 210 yen / Sold by: Jack's Steak House
Jack's Steak House is a long-established steak restaurant that opened in 1953 under American military rule. The store retains the atmosphere of ``Okinawa back in the day,'' with menus in both English and Japanese displayed at the front of the store. This restaurant is extremely popular both inside and outside the prefecture for its delicious steaks and hamburgers.
In 2021, Jack's Steak House released a souvenir called "Jack's Steak House Potato Snack." Mashed potatoes are mixed with domestically produced non-glutinous rice and baked. These potato chips have a firm texture and a punchy black pepper flavor, making them a snack for adults that goes well with beer.
Not only can you eat it as is, but we also recommend trying different sauces and condiments like steak to try out your favorite "flavor changes." It is sold at Jack's Steak House stores, so please take it home after your meal.
Jack's Steak House
| address | ： | 1-7-3 Nishi, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture |
|---|---|---|
| phone | ： | 098-868-2408 |
| business hours | ： | Around 11:00-22:00 |
| Regular Holiday | ： | 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month, New Year's Day, and Obon on the lunar calendar |
| web | ： | https://steak.co.jp/ |
A&W Root Beer (Can) is an Okinawa-exclusive drink that offers a refreshing taste you won't find anywhere else.
355ml 111 yen (reference price at time of purchase) / Seller (importer): Marumasa Shoji
A&W is one of the most popular hamburger chains in the United States. It first came to Okinawa in 1963 under U.S. military rule, and has since expanded only within Okinawa Prefecture, with the exception of a brief period, and has become a popular fast food chain for Okinawans.
A popular original drink that you can try at A&W is "Root Beer." It literally means "root beer," but it is a non-alcoholic carbonated drink. It is a blend of more than 14 kinds of medicinal herbs and herbs, and while it has a complex flavor, it also has a flavor similar to coke.
Root beer has many fans due to its unique and addictive taste, and canned versions that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere are sold at souvenir shops throughout the prefecture.
The refreshing taste of root beer you can drink at the store is the same. Just opening the can will remind you of the scenery of A&W in Okinawa. This drink is imported directly from the United States.
Available for purchase at supermarkets, discount stores, Naha Airport Coralway shops, etc.
From classic products that are loved by Okinawans, to new souvenirs that have just appeared. Why not choose a special item that can only be purchased on the tropical island of Okinawa? Use this as a reference when choosing souvenirs for various occasions, whether it's for a special someone or a treat for yourself!
Originally posted: March 10, 2023
*Some content has been updated on February 12, 2024.
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
