A hip guide to Okinawa. A trip that touches tradition, fashion, and nature.

Eating is one of the best parts of traveling, so you don't want to miss out on anything. Then, let's go to restaurants where local people also gather. I found all the places to be very tasteful, including the atmosphere of the restaurant, the staff, and the customers.

Bean-to-bar," in which the entire process from purchasing cacao beans to manufacturing chocolate is done in an integrated manner, is popular because the flavors of different cacao beans can be enjoyed depending on their place of origin. What "TIMELESS CHOCOLATE" expresses in addition to this is the unique Okinawan flavor using locally produced brown sugar and island pomegranate. Owner Masayuki Hayashi sees the potential of brown sugar in particular, and says that he would like to introduce the terroir of brown sugar to the world in the future. The café attached to the store offers chocolate, cacao-based drinks, and ice cream. The store is a place where visitors can discover anew the charm of Okinawan sugarcane.

Takeuchi: I never realized that even the same brown sugar from Okinawa has such different personalities. The chocolate drink was rich and delicious! I also learned a lot about running a cafe.

When I asked one of the locals for good Okinawan soba, he told me about Kinchigi Soba. When I went there, I found a long line of people waiting for lunch even though it was past lunch time. After trying it, I was convinced of its popularity. The taste was completely different from the Okinawan soba I had eaten before. The noodles are homemade fresh noodles made from domestic wheat and "Okinawa wheat, Shimamugi Kanasan" and have a chewy texture. The soup stock is made from eight kinds of fish knots, including bonito, mackerel, and flying fish, with no chemical seasonings, and is so light and delicious that you can't stop drinking it. Don't forget to order the juicy Okinawan takikikomi-gohan.

2BOY: It was shockingly the best Okinawa soba I have ever had! The use of ginger instead of red ginger as a condiment was also a nice touch, as they are particular about not using chemical seasonings.

Aloha Blossom Inn / Long Beach Gallery has a cafe on the first floor. The name "Margiche Coffee x Bagel" means "luxurious in the margins of the day" and is a perfect way to spend your time. Coffee x Bagel" is the perfect place to spend the day. The blissful moment of drinking coffee from a mug made by Mr. Sato of ORRS while looking out at the ocean view is exceptional, and can only be experienced here. Six types of bagels are available, including one made with red potatoes, a specialty of Yomitan Village. After viewing an artist's exhibition, soaking in the afterglow while enjoying a cup of coffee and a bagel will make the remainder of your day even more luxurious. Aloha Blossom" shirts, which are not available by mail order, are also available for purchase, so visit even if the gallery is closed.

With many foreign residents, Chatan-cho looks like a foreign country. Just walking through the streets gives you an exotic feeling, but if you also want to enjoy the taste, go to "Big Knot Clothing & Cafe. Chicken over rice, the soul food served at New York street stalls, is the signature menu item at this restaurant, which also offers fish over rice and shrimp over rice. The background music is New York hip-hop, making you feel as if you are in the area. The restaurant's apparel store is adjacent to the restaurant and sells street brand "BLAQ FLAVOR" and Okinawan cuisine. The store is also a cultural store that is involved with the street brand BLAQ FLAVOR and Bigknot Records, a label that features artists based in Okinawa, and is an active participant in the Okinawan street scene.

Tenuhama, located in Yomitan Village, is a quiet little hole-in-the-wall spot with a white beach stretching for about 1 km. When you get tired of playing there, we recommend spending a relaxing time with a cup of coffee at "PEOPLES" located at the end of a sugarcane field. The owner, Kota Aragaki, used to work for a major coffee roaster in New Zealand, and there are glimpses of his experience on the menu. From the popular Oceania coffees such as Piccolo and Flat White to cheese scones, a staple of New Zealand cafes, the shop also offers Okinawan-style brown sugar caramel latte and scones.

Daidoji Temple: The menu was fresh with New Zealand and Okinawan flavors. It was a comfortable place for locals to hang out.