In December 2013 we embarked on our first trip to Mainland Japan; we explored Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka in 6 days. I know it's been a WHILE since that trip (lol!) but I've decided to share more of our travel itineraries with you! We visited shrines and temples, learned all about Hayao Miyazaki's animation magic, traveled at 320 km/h on the shinkansen (bullet t[...]
During our last year in Okinawa, my husband and I found a new hobby, collecting Okinawa pottery. It all started when we visited the Tsuboya Pottery Festival in Naha and we both found a few pieces we absolutely loved. After that, we decided to switch out our cheap dinnerware for pottery and we are so proud of our collection. I've shared a bit about my pottery[...]
The day before our movers came we drove down to Naha to finally visit the Naminoue Shrine. The name means "above the waves" shrine and you can't really tell why when you first visit the shrine. You have to walk in a circle towards the back of the shrine, up a bridge and you'll see it at the top of a cliff, accompanied by an amazing view!! Naminoue is the[...]
One of the last Oki adventures that I brought my big camera out to was our afternoon at the Busena Marine Park, inside the Busena Terrace Beach Resort in Nago. We went with our neighbors and their two kiddos for the glass-bottom boat tour and the underwater observatory! The day was absolutely perfect and all of the greens and blues in these photos make me mi[...]
Just like the 10,000 Eisa Festival, I had been wanting to experience bullfighting in Okinawa ever since we moved to the island. We didn't make it until two months before our move, but I'm so glad we got to experience it! I admit I was skeptical about going to see a bullfight, as I guess a lot of people are because thoughts of Spanish bullfights come to mind.[...]
After our last trip to mainland Japan in June, we had about 3 months to enjoy as much of Okinawa as possible before our move. We went to the beach countless times, visited cafes with friends, sang karaoke, experienced an Okinawan bullfight and two festivals, ate all the delicious food and finally visited the Naminoue Shrine. On the first Sunday of August,[...]