Back Alleys of Okinawa | Walking Tour of Naha's Shotengai

[@andyalbright1991]

Thanks for sharing. I was in Okinawa back in 1972-73 and still miss it so much.

[@marybumpass1374]

Thank you. I was born on Okinawa. My mother is Okinawan.

[@SusanSmith-de4lm]

Me too.

[@lcpltylerhanyzewski]

I was stationed in Okinawa from 2006-2008. You pointed out so many places I've been too. Would love to go back.

[@Ckawauchi35]

It's amazing how cheap the food can be! I lived there for 17 yrs before leaving for CA 30 yrs ago. Sometime late next year, I will be ready to go back, build us a nice suburban home w an organic garden, and retire w my husband. Your wonderful video is making me more and more excited about our move there. Thank you!

[@yokitty6955]

Shinichi-san, thank you so much for posting this video. My family is originally from Okinawa, and I'm itching to return. Seeing the hidden gems of Naha in your video is exactly the way I like to enjoy any new city I visit. Exploring on foot is usually my first order of business after I arrive. Seeing the tug-of-war rope got me super excited, as the Tsunahiki festival has been one of my favorite events to attend in Okinawa since I was a kid. It usually happens the first weekend of October and is part of the Okinawan Festival that brings many Okinawans, from around the world, back to the islands as a sort of homecoming celebration. I last attended in 2019 where over 240, 000 people, of all walks of life, participated in the tsunahiki. Can't wait to explore these side streets, sit in a quiet cafe, and take in the little cat park at the end of your video. Thanks, again! Keep up all of your wonderful explorations. Love them!

[@Shinichisworld]

Hope you can make it back to Okinawa someday. Thanks for watching!

[@mobrien7128]

Lovely video! I love the older shopping area. I also love seeing the cats, too!

[@IranTourism_official]

A nice place to visit! Enjoy your tour

[@jasontheworldisyours]

Impressive tour of Japan

[@davidtan2956]

I love it showing places like i am there so keep up

[@machetv4691]

Natsukashi na, i miss okinawa, been there as a musician in 2004. Thank you for showing this places in okinawa

[@mattihp]

So glad to see Japan. Miss it lots. Thanks for your videos!

[@bradkirchhoff3751]

Why do ppl dislike these videos? It doeent even make any sense to dislike it. Whats to dislike?

[@LycheeGirl816]

Loved the secret garden!

[@buda3d2007]

12:28 I got some good deals on shirts here, yes I to hope they keep it, I like old style shopping places, its reminds me of growing up around places like this

[@irishpixierose]

I found it interesting. I enjoy finding the little nooks and crannies of a place.

[@mikeclarke3882]

Shinichi san...Domo arigato gosaimashita. Thank you for this great video. My wife and I have been travelling to Okinawa almost every year since 1984 and I knew exactly where you were every step of the way. I was only 28 years old on our first visit, now I'm a little bit older, but not much!!! Our last trip was in February 2020, and we only just made it home before covid closed everything down. Naha has changed so much since our first visit but the people are still warm and friendly and the food is still wonderful. Now I have found your channel I have subscribed and will continue to visit. By the way, you were quite right, the red flower was a type of hibiscus. Along with bougainvillea you can see them everywhere. The official plant for Okinawa is however the Indian flame tree, also with bright red flowers.

[@Shinichisworld]

I’ll be visiting Okinawa again very soon so stay tuned for more videos

[@debracantrell1058]

Hello Shinichi good to see a walk through the back alley Okinawa love these walks yes it very interesting love ur story ❤️

[@user-vp5fm3yc2l]

Naha is one of my favorite cities in Japan!

[@rosemarieteasdale9265]

I ENJOY IT AND THANK YOU

[@JW-es5un]

THANK YOU for sharing this. It is so interesting. Today loved you showing us all the different streets. GOD BLESS from INDIANA USA

[@karmesindryade]

Oh, I know how it is when you find beautiful ceramics or pottery or teaware, you check the price tag and take a deep breath. Then you walk around it for hours or days until your heart says "yes" or "no". I just purchased a lovely vintage purple kyusu after I looked at it (and my purse) for 2 weeks. Now I am soo happy that my heart said "yes" and the 200 Euro are (almost) forgotten after the first infusion of wonderful gyokuro. Thanks again for this interesting video - I love your back alley strolls.

[@thrranger1983]

Lovely walk...I love it...and yes that is a type of hibiscus. Beautiful!

[@Glorien.3babydoves]

Thank you for the wonderful walk around Okinawa. The flower was hibiscus 😀 You were right!!

[@mythopoetic3510]

Lovely video! Makes me miss Okinawa so much💕 Also those red flowers are diego - Okinawa's national flower.

[@joyceyamamoto5452]

I love this place, Shinichi!! A small, hidden park in the city! This is fun!! Exploring.....and amazing to be back! YOU are fantastic!!!

[@butchfajardo8832]

I enjoyed your video! Thanks for doing this!

[@KuroNeko-sh2by]

I remember this park quite well, I taught a old gentlemen thai chi here back in 2005. I think it was 15-20 min walk from Kadena AFB where I TDY from Korea for 20+ days. Time fly's when you have fun and interact with the locals. I've never been to Tokyo so I don't know, but the food are great here. With added Sriracha, they even better. I made a Bibimbap out of a bento I've bought when the old gents approached me. We've talked and shared our bento and after that I taught him thai chi. I've spent $250 on sushi in US where it was $20 here.

[@KoreanWalker777]

Wonderful walking tour!

[@alexcarter8807]

What I love about these is the LACK OF CARS.

[@takedashingen2834]

Yep. I managed to get myself lost down those back streets as well. 😂😂 Love exploring so know what a great time can be had finding new places. Enjoyed your experiance. Thank You. 👍

[@katherineyanagihara2909]

Aloha, thank you for the tour. Very nice to see old time venders. Beautiful day! Take care. Stay safe. Aloha nou.

[@garydell2023]

Interesting and informative. Thank you

[@erinuber2881]

Thank you for the lovely tour! Best wishes to you and Satoshi

[@limkwaimeng6091]

Dear Shinichi-san, my mum and I simply enjoy watching your videos. I appreciate the tremendous hard work or efforts you put in in the making of these videos. Okinawa brings back very fond memories for my mother as she visited the islands with my late Dad thirty plus years ago, immediately after his retirement. Lots of changes eversince in these islands. She likes the very laid-back lifestyle in parts of Okinawa. Brother, anyone can see the results of your painstaking efforts in your videos and another credit to you that you speak good English and clearly too for a Japanese, which is kind of rare. Please keep up the good work,Shinichi-san. God bless! Hayashi from S'pore.

[@Shinichisworld]

Thanks so much for the kind words

[@nikeeweston]

You’re amazing...such an awesome travel explorer. Imagine living around that park. What a find.

[@ศุภชัยสอาดจิตต์-ฐ5ฉ]

65

[@kittypaws3703]

I actually live in Okinawa

[@happyhaunt7974]

Great video, loved the full circle!

[@Angels-3xist]

Fascinating and curious details and exploration. I think this whole area whether it’s domestic or rural or urban or commercial all has such an interesting appeal. There are tons of movies and games all about exploring the environments you don’t. That novelty is always refreshing.

[@hawaiiguy12345]

Haisai! I also took that walk in 2016 but at night. The markets gets really lively in the dark.

[@Scriptor13]

Oh, I love the little, hidden park and the kittens most of all. I DO find your explorations fascinating, Shinichi. Through your exploring I get to see what I consider to be glimpses of the "real" Okinawa--the parts where tourists seldom go. That's what I'm interested in when I travel--the locals and local culture. Thank you for the lovely, informative walk!

[@Shinichisworld]

Thank you

[@willl6551]

hey Scriptor, what you're saying resonates with me. seeing these little snippets of places that aren't as well known but still beautiful in their own right. Check out the video "tokyo by bike" by life where i'm from - full of exactly what you describe in your comment :)

[@balasubramaniambabeitha9125]

@@Shinichisworld a

[@tbrown4080]

It must stay warm in Okinawa even in the winter

[@lisamunoz5677]

I enjoyed this tremendously❤

[@TheSumom1]

Love the walks through side streets of unknown treasures !! Thanks !!

[@georgerought5761]

That Taiwanese tea shop is my fave tea and cake spot when shopping in downtown Naha. Okinawa has had coffee shops for a long time. I visit it every time I'm in town. My Dad was a coffee freak and would buy from a coffee shop on Kokusai-dori back in the '60s. Even then, they had at least a dozen kinds in stock.

[@Shinichisworld]

I’ll make a visit to that tea shop on my next visit

[@birdyberry]

Love watching your amazing channel,i was exchange student lived in Okinawa in 1997 and there's not Starbuck yet!! Ohh thank you that you bring me so much joys in this Vdo :)

[@kimiyemlsmallgardendream8115]

So interesting. Last time I was in Okinawa was 1991 visiting family how it has changed😳

[@nikeeweston]

Shinichi does it so well again, shows you all the worlds in a tiny place and shows you everything, already knows what’s coming up. Brilliant work and great video as per usual. Great advice as always.

[@AnnieDaQueen]

I love your videos, Shinichi! I don't know why there are two dislikes. You are literally taking me on a virtual walk to places I cannot visit due to the pandemic. Thank you so much for your time and effort. Keep up the good work.

[@gr4y1nu]

really appreciate walk around, please do more of those kind of videos when possible

[@asialee6326]

..especially love the small park because of the cats😸😻 interesting walk indeed thank you for taking us with🙂👍🏼

[@chocoball604]

Thnx for the walk! Lots of interesting things to see :)

[@kennethem4753]

I love videos like this. It makes me feel like I am back in Okinawa again. Keep making content please. I will keep watching!

[@winter10x06]

I can’t wait to go back to Okinawa! I come from Philippines, and there is no direct flight going there so I had to do may layover in Fukuoka, and then off to Okinawa the next day. I would do it all over again! So many places I have to explore on that island! It felt like home away from home! I want more sata andagi, taco rice, casa muchi, and the spam onigiri! So good!

[@SusanSmith-de4lm]

I lived near Fukuoka, my dad was in the military at the time. Fond memories. I want to visit Okinawa, as I was born there, it would be so interesting to go back to my birthplace. I've only been there once after I was born to visit my mother's side of the family.

[@winter10x06]

@@SusanSmith-de4lm I hope you get the chance to in the future! I really wanna go back there at some point! Japan 🇯🇵 please open up soon to solo travelers without hassle!

[@littlepear72]

I'll be in Okinawa in March, also staying in Naha. Love your videos

[@markmorgan2058]

Now I have to rewatch all of your walking 📹 so I can map🌐 these places for myself. So much to see its wonderful. Thankyou Shinichi 🌏for all your hard work much appreciated. Take care 👍

[@walkshunter]

That was a great walk! Thank you for showing the hidden places.

[@moxiedawn4370]

What a lovely walking tour. I enjoyed it very much!

[@FinnPumpkin]

Can't wait to see the Stream! Sending love.

[@jmgranat]

Wonderful tour! What character those older streets have! All the best! 😃

[@vqjohnston1]

This is awesome! I’ll have to try catch a premier next time!

[@WanderinginMotion]

very pretty walk - love it! 😊👍

[@kanpaiguys]

Fun video Shinichi!

[@VirtualToursTravel]

Wow! This is so great! I really loved the place! I wish I could go there someday! I really enjoyed the walk! Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful tour! :)

[@gananant1909]

When you asked if "anyone can guess where we are right now" I knew that were right back at the starting point :D I just finished Yakuza 3 which features this part of Naha and really I can see the resemblance between game and reality. Thanks for this awesome video 👍🏻 One day I'll be exploring this myself!

[@marcelfeillafe]

I love this series of videos. We in Melbourne Australia are coming out of our lockdown but unfortunately I can't walk very well at the moment due to health. I love exploring and walked, so have really loved watching your adventures at the moment. I can't wait to come back to Japan one day and explore again. Stay well, and thanks for doing what you do!

[@krissykriss328]

Shinichi if you and Satoshi ever come to Arizona you always have a place to stay with me !!! Much love !!!!

[@My_Japan_Days]

I love Okinawa, it has so many hidden gems indeed! I have visited there twice already since i've started living in Japan. Cant wait to visit again. So much left to explore:)

[@CannibalLecter]

I used to go there every other year from elementary school to highshcool to visit extended family. It's nice to see some of these shops still open since I was a kid. Shinichi, if you read this, and if you haven't gone there yet, I highly recommend visiting the Nago pineapple park. Not sure if you can make a youtube video because idk if they allow videocameras while touring, but either way it's a great place to visit.

[@mmhope9411]

"Shin..... Nantako nantaka" 😆 🤣 The famous word that is used when people don't know what they're looking at or how to explain something! ❤️

[@suginami123]

I’ve been all over the shotengai many many times. Fascinating. It’s endless. Go up inside the buildings. Very bizarre. Sakurazaka has the most incredible cinema in Japan in my opinion. I love this area. At night too it changes. Wow. I know all these places very well. Too much has already disappeared. 2 years ago this whole area was packed with Chinese Koreans and Taiwanese. There are vegan places too. I want to go back.

[@suzanyurdacan9132]

In Turkey we call this red flower Japanese rose🤩

[@brucetownsend691]

This sort of walk is exactly what I do when on holiday. My wife’s brother and his wife live in Naha but I have never been to Okinawa and not sure if I will ever get there. So this tour was very interesting to me. It is the closest I get to travelling at the moment due to the pandemic. Stay safe.

[@theedamametv4653]

Thank you for this video, we went to the exact same spots couple of years ago. The little coffee shop at 9:00 is called Parasol, the owner is super friendly. Please check it next time you go there !

[@Shinichisworld]

I will do that. Thank you

[@garyh1288]

Yes that coffee shop is awesome. Owner John is a super cool guy! Highly recommended

[@ameadowofmoments3332]

There are sooo many cats!! My bf just adopted one there!

[@winter10x06]

I forgot to mention i had blue seal ice cream there almost every day! My top three favorite flavors were salted chinsuko cookie, beni imo and strawberry cheesecake!

[@Shinichisworld]

The chinsuko one is orobably my fav.

[@erlindaruegg7414]

Konichiwa Shinichi-San. It was an amazing walk. Brought back many memories of growing up in Okinawa many years ago. I was there when Mitsukoshi Department opened. Sad to hear it’s closed. My mom is Okinawan and she used to take us to the small shops located in the alley ways to buy local grown vegetables, fruits , fresh seafood and meats. Is that alley way still open?

[@marypolicellphone5055]

Hi again. I really find it interesting that after you walked there you came to the start. It seems like you walked a long way. But when you came to the beginning I noticed it was not that far. Oh on your walk I saw some dresses for I think 500 yen. They were very nice. If I am not mistaken that dress would be more here in WA STATE. Thanks again for your videos. I really like them.

[@score2high]

Mahalo for taking that walk. It brought back memories for my wife and I. But I really liked when you went through that park. I had no idea it was there. I hope you and Satoshi can make another trip to Okinawa soon. BTW, Muteki Matt also posted a video yesterday about Sugar Loaf Hill. He said it was in Naha. By any chance, was that close to the park you walked through?

[@Shinichisworld]

Hmmm I actually didn’t know that the hills had names.

[@paulolima6407]

I don't know Okinawa, but this must be a beach city: the clothes, the threes, the streets, the shops, everything screams beach and a relaxed environment. It's quite surprising to see that in Japan. And it's December! It's like everybody is still in the summer.

[@alexcarter8807]

Oki. and Hawaii are pretty similar

[@Busha69]

Okinawa is Japan's southernmost prefecture...it's a bunch of small islands in subtropical climate (but it actually gets pretty chilly in the winter...well, by Okinawan standards). And as a someone who has had the experience with living in both Okinawa and mainland Japan, it is very different. Okinawa used to be Ryukyu kingdom, native Ryukyu folks have their own culture but there was a lot of influence from China...then they got annexed by Japan...and from WWII up until this point, it's still being occupied by the US military. So all the cultures mixed and that's why it's nothing like the rest of Japan. But btw. this city, Naha, the 'capital' of the prefecture is not a beach city at all. It's right next to the sea but it's so heavily build up, that there is just one tiny beach left. But Okinawa is seen as a beach destination...just, all the nice beaches are up north and the really nice ones are on other islands. It is much more relaxed living there than on the mainland for sure though...I want to move back one day but no matter how nice it feels living there, it's the poorest prefecture of Japan with the lowest wages, so it's better to make the money for Oki retirement on the mainland:')

[@billsventure]

Wow not the Okinawa I remember. I was there Dec. 1951 to Nov. 1953. Some of the large landing crafts from the war where still on the beaches. The people were very friendly, and the stores in town you could get a beer, not in U.S. at 17 ha ha.I see the video's of Okinawa now and would like to take a trip there.Probably won't happen tho.

[@honda24]

Hiii from japan 🇯🇵 I like 👍 the video

[@jereza1311]

Thank you. I enjoyed that a lot but wait, my feet are swollen!

[@tabbyzhauls]

For the first time ever my home town grocery store called food Lion has sushi bento boxes I was like omg yes finally I think I tried to buy everything they had I was so excited that they had gotten bento boxes in .

[@Shinichisworld]

That is cool! I hope they were good

[@marypolicellphone5055]

Hi I really like your blue mask.

[@PREPFORIT]

This was a great walk. I hope that the indoor market stays open for many more years. I am so thankful for modern GPS and Google Maps. Or I would be lost for sure : )

[@babsr8479]

Interesting that there is a tiled floor, like you would see indoors. Nice little park walk. Are all those cats homeless?

[@JasonPullara]

hello strange japanese man, I don't know if you have ever been there, but I think the island of Ogasawara would be a cool place for a video like this. Ohmura Beach looks like beautiful from the google maps images.

[@michellehernandez4174]

The shady treelined street looks like Mexico City!

[@londonpelen9157]

Wow HIDDEN STREETS OF JAPAN I like mystery of it all 🤔

[@1981cherokee1]

Can you check out these old Japanese ramen push carts on the street. They are elderly Japanese men who could very much benefit from you highlighting them. Plus their ramen looks delicious!!!!

[@walktuber4074]

I watched this

[@MultiSmootie]

What is the name and address of that Taiwanese Tea Store?

[@good2us1]

It's a hibiscus flower.

[@christopherross8358]

UCC Coffee is better than Starbucks. 😋

[@みねよしお]

国道58号線を走りたい🚗💨💨💨

[@alexcarter8807]

When I've street performed (trumpet) I'd have people walk up and take video or photos, and the ones who did NEVER dropped a tip! It's very strange. I think the reason they never-ever tip is because in the old days, film and film developing was expensive so they were already "spending" a fair amount of money on you. But come on, people, photos and videos are nearly free to make now.

[@abefrohman1759]

When Justin see’s this he will be questioning you “so did you pet the cat? how long did you talk to the cat?”

[@astroboy3507]

Yes shinichi I do remeber that vid the lady shaking the sign in front of your face!!!! 🤦‍♂️😔 Yes it's graffiti called tags and throw ups!!!✌ Can't beat old skool Japan!!!

[@dayla8634]

The plate that you really really wanted. You said the price was 7000 yen. Then a few seconds later you said 700 yen. I had to rewind :P

[@buda3d2007]

Starbucks is a curse word in Australia

[@damokinawa1291]

Wow so many subs ….

[@fujiwaramichaelm6686]

Is it true there are Okinawans agitating for autonomy or freedom so they can get rid of the bases? If I recall, Okinawa had their own kingdom before Satsuma invaded them.

[@score2high]

I'm not sure how big the movement for independence is for Okinawa. But you might was to check out Rob Kajiwara's KZbin channel. He has a lot of info about Okinawa and talks about it and the history.

[@fujiwaramichaelm6686]

@@score2high Thanks...

[@alexcarter8807]

Robert Pilger film: America's Coming War With China has a good section on Okinawa. It's divided roughly in thirds, one part on Kwajalain, one on Oki. and one on I dunno something else but it's excellent.

[@fujiwaramichaelm6686]

@@alexcarter8807 Thanks Alex.