A must-see for newbies to Okinawa! 40+ Kokusai Street shopping, food, accommodation recommendations and map guides

Newbies to Okinawa Free Travel 2024 should check it out! Okinawa Kokusai Street is a lively neighborhood that first-time visitors should not miss. From unique Okinawa handicraft shops to authentic Okinawa cuisine restaurants, there are also various authentic Okinawa products. Whether it's shopping, food, or experiencing local culture, we can meet your needs. This article uses detailed maps and recommended lists to help you easily plan your trip to Okinawa, explore Okinawa Kokusai Expressway, and enjoy the most authentic Okinawa style.

Get to know Okinawa Kokusai Street

Okinawa Kokusai Street is a major shopping and entertainment street in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, known for its vibrant atmosphere and colorful cultural features. This street is about 1.6 kilometers long, extending from Naha Bus Terminal to Makishi Bus Station. The broad version refers to the monorail Asahibashi Station to Makishi Station. It is called the "Miracle Mile" because it quickly expanded after World War II. Rebuilt and prospered to this day.

After World War II, a private company built a theater with the cooperation of the US and Japanese governments, called the "Ernie Pyle International Theater", named after the American war correspondent Ernie Pyle who died in the same year, hoping that people could enjoy entertainment at the time and learn from the war. After walking out, the current "street where the Ernie Pyle International Theater is located" was later renamed "Kokusai Street (Kokusai Street)" to provide a reference for novices. (Asong OS tone)

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▲ Blue is the broad international route; purple is the "Miracle Mile".

The four major business districts of Okinawa Kokusai Street

The main street is clustered with various shops, and there are shopping streets spreading to the left and right, including "Kokusai-dori", "Heiwa-dori", "Market Chuo-dori" and "Daiichi Makishi Public Market". They are introduced as follows:

• Kokusai Dori│It generally refers to the entire main shopping street, with a variety of shops, restaurants and cafes, not only local products and food, but also various products.
• Heiwa Dori│Located near Kokusai Street, there are many local shops, cafes and small shops, suitable for those who like to visit the market.
• Market Central Street (Makishi Kosetsu Ichiba Shotengai)│Full of Okinawa island style, there are all kinds of seafood vendors and products. There are also many fresh seafood, fruits and traditional snacks.
• Makishi Public Market│One of the most popular seafood markets in Okinawa, where novices can find fresh seafood, vegetables, meats and cooked food, it is known as the "Okinawa people's kitchen".

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▲ The light yellow area on the map indicates the scope of the shops, which is very convenient for shopping and shopping.

▲ There are many such quality shops in the market.

▲ Authentic product shop.

What delicious restaurants are there on Okinawa Kokusai Street?

There are everything from traditional Okinawan cuisine to exotic cuisine. It is highly recommended to try local specialties in Novice Village, such as bitter melon scrambled eggs, Okinawa noodles (Soki Soba), etc. There are also some chain restaurants of island cuisine, such as Numu Ramen and JUMBO STEAK HAN'S. (steakhouse), A&W fast food restaurant, etc. There are many dining options in this area at night, and there are many bars and nightclubs to experience the nightlife. (There are other food shop locations not listed at the end of the article, which will be updated regularly)

• Nuanmu Ramen│Famous for its rich tonkotsu soup base and chewy noodles, the restaurant’s fresh ingredients and unique flavor make it a favorite among locals and tourists. It’s crowded during peak dining hours, so remember to get there early.
• JUMBO STEAK HAN'S Main Store│It is famous for serving large portions of high-quality steaks. The restaurant uses fresh and high-quality beef, such as Ishigaki beef from Okinawa, and its signature Big Mac steak. There are also a variety of side dishes and special sauces to choose from. Meat lovers should not miss it.
• A&W Fast Food Restaurant│A classic American fast food chain that specializes in specialties such as A&W burgers, hot dogs and fried chicken, which can be paired with a unique recipe of A&W root beer/root beer. I highly recommend the iias Okinawa Toyosaki branch. The store is brand new and not too crowded.
• Okinawa EIBUN│If you are new to Okinawa, it is highly recommended to eat a bowl of traditional Okinawa noodles. The soup is delicious, the noodles are chewy and the braised pork is super delicious! This is a relatively well-known store with a strong Okinawan style and is quite popular.
• Canteen faidama│It specializes in authentic Okinawa home-cooked dishes. The menu includes island pig cuisine, awamori cuisine, Okinawa noodles, etc. The ingredients are local and delicious. It is a very popular restaurant. It is recommended to arrive at the restaurant early in Xinshou Village.
• イタリア cafeteria ha-na│It is an Italian cuisine restaurant, such as handmade pizza, pasta, etc. It was selected as one of Tabelog's 2023 famous Italian restaurants in 100. The business is very good and you have to go to the store early!
• Hanali Canteen│This restaurant is located in the market and has been open for a long time. It specializes in Okinawan authentic food and the price is very affordable. Many tourists come here to eat Chinese food. I personally recommend its Okinawa noodles!

If you are looking for a collection of delicious food, you can go to "Noren Street" and "Kokusai Street Yatai Village". There are many choices. For example, you can eat a variety of delicious food at the same stall to meet the different tastes and needs of elders and children. You can have a drink with the wine. They are the two most convenient food areas we have ever eaten. Finally, the signboards of each store are hung with neon signs and the colorful lights are very eye-catching.

▲ Get ready to go upstairs and explore the delicious food.

▲ I like Okinawa noodles so much that I even bought instant noodles back to Taiwan!

What can I buy on Okinawa Kokusai Express?

There are many shops on both sides of Kokusai Street, selling traditional Okinawan crafts, souvenirs, clothing and local delicacies. Here you can buy glass products, shisa dog statues and colorful rainbow-shaped dyeing. We will first list 7 souvenir shops. Novices can visit and shop in order, as well as other good shops. If you really haven’t bought enough, the last stop is the "Naha Airport Domestic Line". There are also many souvenirs to buy.

• Royal Fruit Palace│Opened in 1991, it sells Okinawan specialties, among which the red taro fruit is the most famous. The entrance of the Kokusai-dori Matsuo store is a traditional Ryukyu Dynasty architectural design. It is suitable for tourists to taste and buy souvenirs and experience the unique food culture of Okinawa.
• Calbee+│Calbee, a well-known Japanese brand, combines local Okinawa ingredients to provide freshly made potato chips and limited-edition products, such as purple sweet potato, Ishigaki salt flavor, etc. We purchased a few packs of burgers to enjoy during our trip!
• Awamori Cang│Specializing in Okinawa's traditional liquor "Awamori". This store offers a variety of Awamori, from classic brands to rare collections, to meet the needs of different enthusiasts. In addition, the store also has professional guides, from introducing the history of Awamori to the production process and tasting, it is suitable for those who want to understand Okinawa wine culture. and people who buy Awamori.
• Splash okinawa│The Okinawa grocery store chain brand has three branches in total. It is based on the concept of "authentic groceries designed in Okinawa" and is paired with refreshing beach vacation colors. It is very suitable for buying small gifts for yourself or relatives and friends.
• ガラスKobo Chang Nanaya│We sell firefly glass jewelry, a specialty of Okinawa, which is made using a special technology that combines silver foil (or phosphorus) and glass. All works are made in our own workshop. We highly recommend the original work "Nanami" that reproduces the various colors of the Okinawa sea. It is worth buying!
• Fumuwu│It was officially opened in 2011 under the original name of Fukuchiya. It uses local Okinawa ingredients for cooking, such as brown sugar from Nakijin Village in northern Okinawa, red taro from Miyako Island, and honey from the central part of the island. These carefully selected ingredients create this unique Okinawa dish. Flavorful.
• Matsubaraya Confectionery│This is a long-established shop that has been in business for more than 70 years. There are more than 30 kinds of Ryukyu desserts in the store, as well as many types of brown sugar. Those who want to buy brown sugar back to Taiwan can come here to buy it.
• スッパイマンショップ│Shangma Confectionery Shop is famous for selling plums produced in Okinawa. It designs a series of plum-related products with the "Suppaiman" logo. It is quite common for Japanese purchasers to sell their dried plums, and it is also a good partner for smokers.
• MELLOWHICH│The fresh pound cake made from nuts and local fruits has as many as 12 flavors and 40 styles of packaging. It is small and cute. We bought some and ate them directly. It was really moist and dense, and super delicious!
• Jiugao Folk Art Store│This is a store dedicated to Okinawa's traditional crafts. It houses a wide variety of handicrafts, such as pottery, dyed fabrics, and wood carvings, all carefully crafted by local artists to fully experience Okinawa's rich culture and history.
• Xinyuan Tile Factory│It is an Okinawa tile factory that has been in operation for three generations. It uses the characteristics of the traditional roofing material "red tile", such as water absorption and volatility, to produce household products, including red tile coasters, fragrant aromatic stones, and handmade pottery by artisans. , accessories, designed with Okinawan cultural characteristics.
• Remark There is an electronic version of the map at the end of the article. Newbies can click on it and it will be directly linked to the Google Map location of the store.

▲Officially produced shopping map. (► Click here to download)

▲ There are many stores selling this kind of blue jewelry, so it is recommended to choose the brand! (I bought it back to Taiwan, but it broke once I took it with me)

▲The pound cakes are small and delicate, so you can buy one or two to taste without any burden.

▲ There are many handmade, additive-free jams in the market.

▲ The Ishigakijima spicy oil from Hengin Restaurant is super easy to use and is a "must buy in Okinawa".

▲ One of Okinawa’s famous seafood.

▲ There are many shops selling these kinds of products in the market. They collect common must-buy items in Okinawa, and you can also get a full tax refund.

▲Specializes in selling handmade items by local Okinawan artists.

What’s delicious on Okinawa Kokusai Street?

Such as coffee shops, ice cream shops, Okinawa rice balls, etc., suitable for tasting when traveling to Okinawa during the summer vacation. The weather is hot and the appetite is not good, so you want to eat something cold, appetizer or snack, especially if you are traveling with children, eating small and frequent meals will make you feel better. The itinerary is much easier, and many Japanese young people come here during the summer vacation. It is their own Kenting. There are many people shopping in these shops, and they have good online reputation.

• Blue Seal│This ice cream brand originated in the United States and took root in Okinawa. The store offers a variety of unique flavors of ice cream, such as Okinawa brown sugar, red taro, and pineapple. There are also small shops in the market for sale. You can buy it in Xinshou Village! (Little Burger likes this one)
• Fontana Gelato│This is a popular handmade ice cream shop that uses local fresh ingredients to make various flavors of Italian ice cream. The taste is similar to Blue Seal. I recommend ordering the signature "Rainbow Ice Cream", which is delicious and has a rich texture. (Wendy likes this one better)
• newQ│The store design is based on lemon-yellow windshielders. It is also a very photogenic store. It sells desserts similar to red bean cakes, but the more recommended one is pineapple-flavored ice cream. It has a seating area, which is suitable for walking around and getting tired. Wanted to take a short rest.
• Fukusuke's Tamagoyaki│Handmade Tamagoyaki is golden in color and soft in texture. You will see it when you walk into the market.
• the Sea フルーツかき冰専店│It is a fresh fruit shaved ice shop that uses local seasonal fruits, such as mango, pineapple, passion fruit, etc., with a delicate taste and rich fruity aroma.
• C&C Breakfast│We use ingredients delivered directly from Makishi Public Market to make a rich and varied breakfast. Fruits, nuts, and vegetables are super healthy, as well as a variety of freshly brewed drinks. For those who value the quality of breakfast, this restaurant is highly recommended!

▲ It must be said that there are many ice cream shops in Kokusai Street, so there are many choices!

Okinawa Kokusai Street accommodation recommendations and itinerary

Because this 1.6-kilometer-long street is home to many shops, shopping malls, Makishi Public Market and restaurants. There is a monorail passing along the road, and there are many car rental companies in the north. Whether you rent a car and drive around Okinawa or go to and from the airport, it is very convenient for Xinshou Village! After arriving at Naba Airport on the first day, most of the time afterwards, I went to the car rental company to pick up the car and prepared to drive to Okinawa by car. It is recommended that novices plan the "Okinawa International Pass" for the first 2 days and the last 1 day.

• When making your first trip, you can familiarize yourself with the environment of Okinawa, so you don’t have to worry about taking your children to eat at Kokusai Street.
• Before returning home on the last day, stay near Kokusai Street, which is convenient for you to buy souvenirs or replenish goods. It is also suitable for returning the rental car.
• In the middle of the trip, I ran north and south, whether it was to America Village, Aquarium, Kouri Bridge, Pineapple Garden, Senaga Island, DMM Aquarium, etc.

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Okinawa Kokusai Street•Okinawa Kokusai Street

• Official website: https://naha-kokusaidori.okinawa/tw/