5 Recommended Spots in Yomitan Village, Home to HOSHINOYA Okinawa!

• Table of Contents
• Yomitan Village Is Brimming With Charm! Enjoy Ryukyu Culture
• Spot 1. Enjoy Beautiful Scenery and Okinawan Cuisine at Hoshino Resorts BANTA CAFE!
• Spot 2. Enjoy the Morning Fish Auction and Hearty Uminchu Bowl at Toya Fishing Port
• Spot 3. Experience the History of the Ryukyu Islands at Zakimi Castle Ruins and Yuntan Museum
• Spot 4. Purchase Souvenirs at the Kitagama Shop in Yachimun No Sato!
• Spot 5. Enjoy Homemade Noodles and Soup at Kinchichi Soba Yomitan Main Branch!
• Head to the Easily Accessible HOSHINOYA Okinawa for Lodging

Yomitan Village Is Brimming With Charm! Enjoy Ryukyu Culture

Yomitan Village, located in central Okinawa Prefecture, is a popular area with many attractive spots, including beautiful natural beaches, Okinawan traditional pottery Yachimun, historical sites from the Ryukyu era, and delicious gourmet food.

This time, we will introduce five recommended spots in Yomitan Village that you can visit while staying at HOSHINOYA Okinawa, a luxury resort along the village's coast.

Spot 1. Enjoy Beautiful Scenery and Okinawan Cuisine at Hoshino Resorts BANTA CAFE!

Hoshino Resorts BANTA CAFE, located next to HOSHINOYA Okinawa, is one of the largest seaside cafes in Japan with approximately 200 seats.

Immediately after entering, the cafe is divided into four areas. The Oyane Deck offers a panoramic view of the horizon. The Seaside Terrace has a path dotted along the beach, making you feel close to the ocean. The Rocky Terrace is cool and surrounded by tropical plants and large rocks. Lastly, the Gorogoro Lounge is where you can enjoy the beautiful coastline while lying down. 

The cafe offers Okinawan dishes such as Pork and Egg Rice Balls, Okinawa’s soul food, and Okinawan Pizza Toast accented by bitter melon and island chili peppers. It also offers a wide variety of drinks, such as Bukubuku (“Bubbly”) Jelly Soda with fluffy bubbles and round jellies and Shikuwasanade made with refreshing shikuwasa citrus fruit and mint.

OLU Grill, located next to Hoshino Resorts BANTA CAFE, is a restaurant serving authentic grilled cuisine. While gazing at the beautiful ocean, you can enjoy their signature OLU Burger (lunch only), steaks, and seafood dishes. 

Another charm of Hoshino Resorts BANTA CAFE is how the atmosphere changes depending on the time of day. For example, you can enjoy the deep blue sea and sky at lunch or marvel at the beautiful sunset over the ocean during dinner. Why not visit several times and find your favorite area and time of day?

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Spot 2. Enjoy the Morning Fish Auction and Hearty Uminchu Bowl at Toya Fishing Port

Toya Fishing Port (Japanese), located about a 10-minute drive from HOSHINOYA Okinawa, is another popular spot.

Picture courtesy of Yomitan Village Fisheries Cooperative Association

At Uminchu Shokudo, located in the fishing port, you can enjoy a Uminchu Bowl or Fisher’s Bowl, a hearty dish topped with seafood. You can also try squid ink soup, which captures the delicious flavor of squid ink, and tempura (made with mozuku seaweed, fish, squid, etc.), a favorite among locals and tourists alike.

Picture courtesy of Yomitan Village Fisheries Cooperative Association

There are also many other ways to enjoy yourself, such as watching the auctions that start at 10 a.m. on weekdays, experiencing large-scale fixed-net fishing to catch a glimpse into the world of fishers, and whale shark diving to get up close and personal with whale sharks in underwater cages. You can also find souvenirs unique to Okinawa, such as sea grapes and mozuku rice bowls at the shops!

Spot 3. Experience the History of the Ryukyu Islands at Zakimi Castle Ruins and Yuntan Museum

Another must-see spot is Zakimi Castle Ruins, built around 1420 by the famous general Gosamaru, a commander from the kingdom of Chuzan. This gusuku (castle) was built to monitor forces opposing the king. The intricacy and beauty of the stonework on the castle walls and gates are said to be the best among the many castles in Okinawa. In 2000, it was registered as a World Heritage Site as one of the Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Picture courtesy of Yomitan Village Board of Education, Cultural Promotion Division

Take advantage of seeing the oldest stone gate remaining in Okinawa. This gate is incredibly sturdy and shows the high level of castle construction technology at the time.

Be sure to also visit Yuntanza Museum, which is adjacent to the Zakimi Castle Ruins. The museum offers detailed explanations of the history and structural features of the Zakimi Castle Ruins, as well as displays of actual materials related to the culture and nature of Yomitan Village. The exhibitions will help deepen your understanding of the area.

Picture courtesy of Yomitan Village Board of Education, Cultural Promotion Division

Spot 4. Purchase Souvenirs at the Kitagama Shop in Yachimun No Sato!

"Yachimun" is a Ryukyu word that means "pottery."

The term "Yachimun" encompasses a wide variety of ware, including those with serene tropical designs, beautiful fish patterns, and a stunning blue color mirroring the Okinawan ocean. It’s said this is because yachimun was developed by adopting various techniques from China, Korea, Southeast Asia, and Japan.

Experience Yachimun culture at Yachimun no Sato (Japanese), home to around 20 pottery workshops and studios.

The red-tiled Yomitanzan ware kiln, a village symbol, is a must-see. It is a communal climbing kiln where firewood is burned at the lowest temperature, so flames gradually rise to the top, and heat (1,200-1,300 degrees Celsius) spreads throughout the kiln.

Among the various workshops in Yachimun no Sato, we highly recommend that you visit Kitagama Baiten (Japanese). This shop, jointly run by four potters, sells Kitagama pottery with Persian blue and Asian motifs, colorful Okinawan-style pottery, and other works you will love the more you use them.

Artisans handcraft Yachimun pottery, which means no two pieces are exactly alike. Why not stroll around the village and search for your favorite piece of pottery?

Spot 5. Enjoy Homemade Noodles and Soup at Kinchichi Soba Yomitan Main Branch!

If you visit Yomitan Village, you should definitely try the Okinawa soba at Kinchichi Soba Yomitan Main Branch. There are many delicious Okinawa soba restaurants, but Kinchichi Soba's menu is unrivaled in its attentiveness to its noodles, soup, and ingredients.

Picture courtesy of Kingetsu Soba

One bite and you'll be surprised at the difference in the noodles. They have a chewy, smooth texture and an irresistible subtle wheat flavor!

You can enjoy fresh homemade noodles made from a blend of domestic and Okinawan wheat at Kinchichi Soba. The "bokoboko thick noodles" used in many of the dishes are, as the name suggests, made with an intentionally uneven surface to make it easier to absorb the soup. The unique texture of the thick noodles is also wonderful. The attentiveness of the restaurant, which also mills its wheat, is truly impressive.

The soup, made from eight kinds of fish, including dried sardines, flying fish, and mackerel, is also excellent. One sip will put you at ease with its rich yet gentle flavor. The ingredients, such as the deep-fried tofu topping from a local tofu shop and pork ribs simmered until soft and tender, are all delicious.

They also serve other extraordinary dishes, such as tan tan soba, in addition to standard Okinawan soba. You'll find yourself thinking as soon as you arrive, "When should I go again?"

Head to the Easily Accessible HOSHINOYA Okinawa for Lodging

Yomitan Village has many attractive spots amid its serene landscape, such as beautiful beaches and sugarcane fields. HOSHINOYA Okinawa will make a trip to Yomitan Village even more special. 

All guest rooms are oceanfront. There is an infinity pool where you can feel the sky and sea, a dojo where you can learn about Okinawan culture and a dining area where you can savor Okinawan ingredients cooked with Italian techniques. This makes for a one-of-a-kind stay filled with excitement at every moment.

You can make reservations at their lowest price on the official website, so be sure to check it out. You can also stay at the hotel at a more affordable price than usual by avoiding popular seasons like Golden Week and the summer holidays!

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