A to Z for getting to know Okinawa and PARCO CITY. part 2

The 2nd floor features "THE NORTH FACE/HELLY HANSEN" on the 2nd floor, and "OSHMAN'S" on the 3rd floor, "PARCO CITY" is full of outdoor stores. In Okinawa Prefecture, no matter where you are, the ocean is close by, summers are extremely hot, and typhoons come frequently. Therefore, outdoor wear and gear are essential for daily life.

Even if you accidentally forget hats, rash guards, swimsuits, sandals, waterproof clothing, etc., you can stop by here and get everything you need. In fact, it is quite common to visit Okinawa in the winter and find yourself saying, "I want to wear shorts! But don't worry, these stores have a year-round lineup.

Although there is a monorail in some areas, Okinawa is a very car-oriented society with almost no train service. Many families save their New Year's gift to buy a car. That is why "PARCO CITY" has one of the largest parking lots in the prefecture with 4,000 spaces, and it is free of charge no matter how many cars are parked there! Even if it is raining, you can enter the facility without getting wet, and because it is not as cramped as in the city center, even those who are not good at parking can park with ease. On Saturdays and Sundays, all 4,000 parking spaces are filled with people. By the wayOfficial Sitelists the latest parking lot load in the form of "parking rates," making it easy to schedule a parking space!

As you can tell from the parking lot, the pavilion is surprisingly large. Walking from one end to the other, it is about 5,000 steps! The museum is like a quest, and to conquer it, you should at least decide in advance where to shop and what to eat. However, there are about 250 fascinating stores, so wandering around and getting lost is inevitable. In addition to being huge, the area is also air-conditioned, so in the summer, many old ladies and gentlemen come here to walk around. The fact that this is tolerated makes one feel the depth of nostalgia of "Parco City" and Okinawa.

Ryukyu Astida is a professional table tennis team that belongs to the T-League, a Japanese table tennis league. The team was once led by Japan's top table tennis player, Tomokazu Zhang, and the current face of the team is Maharu Yoshimura, who has won numerous medals at the Olympics. Parco City" is also supporting their activities based in Okinawa, and in 2025, the pavilion was used as the venue for an official match, which attracted 500 spectators. Okinawa is also hot in sports, with Okinawa Shogaku winning the Koshien championship and the Ryukyu Golden Kings of the B-League winning several regional championships.

Okinawa Prefecture has a climate and lifestyle different from that of any other prefecture on the mainland, and as a result, all of its clothing, food, and shelter are imbued with a unique ingenuity and sense of beauty. The "Island Costume Exhibition," which introduces the handicrafts nurtured there, is held regularly at "PARCO CITY. Exhibition" is held regularly at "Parco City" to introduce the handicrafts that have been nurtured there. In this short interview with Sesoko Masayuki and Koichi Kanae, the organizers of this very popular event, we introduce a bit of its charm.

Sesoko: I was originally an editor in Tokyo, and after moving to Okinawa in 2012, I visited many places and interviewed makers. When I compiled them and published a book, I received many comments from people in the prefecture saying, "I didn't know there were such wonderful things in Okinawa. I realized that even the locals were surprisingly unaware of Okinawa, and at the same time, I began to think that I would like to have a place where I could communicate with the makers on an ongoing basis. It was at that time that I happened to get acquainted with Mr. Kanae.

Jinjiang: It was January 2021 when a mutual acquaintance, a designer, introduced us to Sesoko. Around that time, I had just received an invitation to hold an event at Parco City. So, we decided to do it together and held the "Island Attire. From then to now, the exhibition has been held once a year. From that time to the present, we have held this exhibition at a pace of once a year.

Jinjiang: First of all, the products must enrich our lives. In addition, one of our criteria is that the products and artists are ones that we would like to leave behind for the future.

Sesoko: People in Okinawa have not always been economically well-off, so they have been inventive and creative in their ideas to improve their lives by themselves. I believe this is why Okinawa is more unique and diverse than other regions.

Sesoko: Events are strong in their ability to transmit information, but they are over in an instant. However, the products we deal in are things that you can appreciate only when you use them in your daily life. We created this store because we thought it would be better to have a permanent place where people can come and select items whenever they need them, as an extension of their daily lives.

Sesoko: The products we select are not symbolic of “the Okinawa”. It may not look like Okinawa at first glance, but as you continue to use it, you will gradually feel the spirit of the land. Even if you do not recognize them as Okinawan at a glance, you will gradually feel the spirit of the land as you use them. We are sure that you will experience an Okinawa that you do not know yet, and we would be happy if you would extend your visit to our store.

Kadena Air Base is located in central Okinawa. Located on Gate Street, which extends from the base, is TESIO, a famous homemade ham and sausage restaurant.

The hams and sausages made using traditional German methods are highly acclaimed in their home country and have won numerous awards. The taste is exceptional, and all are highly aromatic and have a strong meaty flavor.

In addition to the main showcase, there is a grocery corner named “HINETTERY” and a small room with natural wines and sake selected by "LIQUID," a specialty store in the prefecture that specializes in "drinking. The restaurant also has a small room with natural wine and sake selected by LIQUID, a specialty store in the prefecture specializing in "drinking. You can also enjoy an evening drink with snacks and sake at TESIO.

A wide variety of ham and sausages can be purchased in the store, and can be shipped out of the prefecture (1,500 yen flat rate for out-of-prefecture shipping). Hot dogs and sandwiches are also served at the attached "SNACK STAND," making it a good place for lunch. Enjoy a hot dog or sandwich on the outdoor bench while soaking up the warm sunlight. They are really good!

Urasoe City, where PARCO CITY is located, has an area called “Gaijin Houses”. The area is a collection of one-story houses built for U.S. military personnel after World War II. The area is a collection of one-story houses built for U.S. military personnel after the war, which have now been renovated and are home to thoughtful cafes and stores. Folk art and antique stores are of high quality, and popular bakeries and cafes are also concentrated here.

In Okinawa, "flower blocks," concrete blocks with holes in them, are often used at the eaves to prevent salt damage and to improve ventilation. Even in gaijin residences, you can see flower blocks in unique colors and shapes, and it is also a pleasure to look at them.

There are also stores in PARCO CITY that are not advertised loudly, but that make you want to go out of your way to visit them. For example, "Chocolate Jesus," with its culturally rich selections of BoTT and Dime. Jesus," which offers a wide selection of culture-tinged items from BoTT and Dime, and "OKINAWA CERRAD COFFEE BeansStore," which offers a cup of coffee made from rare varieties grown on its own farm in Okinawa and coffee beans from all over the world. BeansStore," and many other independent stores rooted in the local area. Although open to men and women of all ages, there are also many spots that exude the current Okinawan flavor, just like "PARCO" in other locations.

Getting a haircut while traveling is not only a great way to freshen up, but also an excellent opportunity to gather information. The "Walk'in Barber Shop" in Naha is a place where many of the prefecture's trend-setters gather. The staff at the "Walk'in Barber Shop" in Naha is where all the trend-setters in the prefecture gather, so they have a lot of information that only the locals know, and they are always coming up with things that are not in the guidebooks or Okinawa trivia.

Okinawa's barber culture is also influenced by the U.S. military, and there is a deep understanding of fades and classic styles. We encourage you to visit on your first day of sightseeing, rather than just in between sightseeing, as a place to get your grooming done and gather information!

Okinawa is warm throughout the year, and even in December, it is hard to feel the winter-like atmosphere. Even during the Christmas season, it is not uncommon to have high temperatures exceeding 20 degrees Celsius. That is why the city needs a device to lift the spirits a little. Kitatani (not “Kitatani”) is a town in Okinawa. Depot Island (in the American Village) in Chatan (if you don't know how to read it, see the first part of this article to find the answer) has a Christmas store throughout the year, symbolizing the area's character. The tree-like lights twinkle in all seasons, and the photo spot where you can take a picture with Santa is crowded even in the middle of summer. Even the concept of "out of season" is somewhat vague here.

Continuing from the first part, here we come to the Okinawan dialect. Yuntaku“ means ”chatting" or "chatting and laughing," but it is more like sharing time in a relaxed manner rather than simply having a conversation. In Okinawa, there are many parlors (stores offering light meals), facilities, and places with benches in the city, which naturally become "yuntaku" places.

PARCO CITY is no exception, with people sitting and chatting here and there in between shopping trips. People don't just go home after completing their shopping, but rather relax, hang out, and relax again. This leisurely way of spending time will make your time in Okinawa even richer.

If you look carefully from A to Z, you will realize that “SANEI Urasoe Nishikaigan Parco City” is a place that cannot be put away in one word, "huge shopping center.

The location is unique, with the sea in front of it and the base in the background. In addition, the daily life of SANEI, which supports the daily lives of the residents of the prefecture, and the cultural perspective of PARCO, mixed with an American-derived atmosphere, make this place a true "chanpuru" (a kind of "chanpuru" in Japanese). If you go a little further from here, you can come into contact with markets and makers with an even higher concentration of products.

It is by no means a shopping center anywhere. It is a place where you can not only find wonderful things and delicious food, but also taste Okinawa's diverse culture and values all at once.