Source: Nelo Hotsuma
If you’re looking for some shopping time, there are downtown stores and shop around Okinawa. Make no mistake about this it’s a great place to shop if you’re a tourist. There are also many Okinawa restaurants if you get hungry shopping.
1. Shop at T Galleria Okinawa
The T Galleria Okinawa has around ten thousand square meters of shopping floor that offers more than 135 types of brands. The place is worth the visit for the shopping addicts. In fact, there discounted items available that range from 30 to 40% cheaper than price retailed in other stores in Japan.
Information
- Local name: T Galleria Okinawa
- Hours: 9am to 9pm
- Open: Monday to Sunday
- Address: 4-1, Omoromachi, Naha city, Okinawa Prefecture, 900-0006
- Telephone: 0120-782-460
- Parking Area: 400 cars, Free
- Access: Approximately 30 minutes from Naha Airport
- Website: http://www.dfs.com
2. Go to the Okinawa Outlet Mall Ashibinaa
This outlet mall is located in the Toyosaki area very near the Naha Airport. This mall has around sixty outlet shops. This includes some luxury brands and popular products. There are also affordable casual items like footwear, accessories, sporting gears, baby clothes and a lot more. You, your partner and family will enjoy shopping here.
Information
- Local name: Okinawa Outlet Mall Ashibinaa
- Hours: 10am to 8:30pm
- Address: Okinawa Outlet Mall Ashibinaa, 1-188, Toyozaki,Tomigusuku-City,
- Okinawa Prefecture, 901-0225
- Parking Area: 1000 cars, Free
- Access: 15 minutes from Okinawa Expressway via Tomigusuku I.C. by Car, around 2 minutes walk from nearest bus stop, Outlet Mall-Mae
3. Shop at the Kokusai Street
This is a 1.60 km. shopping avenue from the Prefecture Office in the North Exit Intersection and from the Asato 3-fork Road Intersection known as the Miracle Mile. This was once a devastated wartime land. It has since recovered rapidly and uniquely. You can find many souvenir stores in Kokusai Street.
Information
- Local name: Kokusai Street
- Hours: 9am to 8pm
- Open: Monday to Sunday
- Address: Makishi, Naha-City, Okinawa Prefecture.
- Access: Around 15 minutes from the Tomari Port by automobile
4. Visit some stores at the Heiwa Street
Enjoy this place even on rainy days. This arcade situated between Tsuboya Yachimun Street and Kokusai Street. The entrance at the Kokusai Street part is right in front of the Okinawa Mitsukoshi. You get to see many souvenir stores, T-shirt stalls, and handicraft stores at the street. There are also Okinawa style food carts.
Information
- Local name: Heiwa Street
- Address: Yubinbango900-0013 Naha, Okinawa Prefecture Makishi 3 -Chome, 3-7
- Phone number: 098-863-1621
- Hours: 9am to 8pm
- Open: Monday to Sunday
5. Go to the Makishi Public Market
This market is filled with a lot of Asian stores. It has a vibrant market atmosphere for a lot of energetic merchants and workers. The market is actually divided into sections namely meat, fresh fish, and vegetable sections. There are around 130 stores doing business in this public marketplace.
Information
- Local name: Makishi Public Market
- Hours: 8am to 8pm
- Closed: Fourth Sunday every month
- Address: 2-10-1, Matsuo, Naha-City, Okinawa Prefecture
- Access: Takes around 10 minutes from the Tomari Port
6. Visit the San-A Naha Place
You can enjoy a local shopping experience in San-A Naha Place. This area is covered by the Omoromachi station of the Yui Rail from the route 58. The iconic landmark shopping mall of San-A Naha Place actually has a grocery supermarket, specialize stores as well as a film theater. You’ll also see a Uniqlo branch, Best Denki, and MUJI store.
Information
- Local name: San-A Naha Place
- Address: Yubinbango900-0006 Naha, Okinawa Prefecture Omoromachi
- Telephone number: 098-869-3192
- Access: 25 minutes from Naha Airport by car
- Hours: 9am to 8pm
- Open: Everyday
7. Shop at the Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom
The Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom is an enjoyable shopping experience you can’t miss in Okinawa. It is adjacent to the Omoromachi station, so you’ll not miss the spot. There are lots of great awesome fashionable stalls in the mall and you’ll be glad there’s not much traveling shopping distance to cover.
Information
- Name: Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom
- Address: Okinawa Prefecture Omoromachi 1-3-31 Naha Shintoshin west wing 3rd F
- Phone number: 098-869-3192
- FAX number: 098-869-3193
- Access: 25 minutes from Naha Airport using automobile; 10-minute walk from the bus station square via bus stop
8. Get desserts at Okinawan Sweets JahanaKippan
The JahanaKippan goes way back to a sixth generation business of a clan that specializes in original Okinawan sweets. They use locally grown winter melon and citrus fruits. The JahanaKippan sweets are also made by hand every day. It is sold mainly at the family store situated near Kokusai Dori.
Information
- Name: Okinawan Sweets JahanaKippan
- Address: Okinawa, Naha, Matsuo 1-5-14.
- Access: Located near Kokusaidori in the middle of a covered market entrance and the City Government Offices.
- Specialties to buy: Tougatsuke and Kippan
- Price range: 1000 to 5000 Yen
- Telephone: 0988673687
- Business hours: 9am to 7pm
- Website: http://www.okinawasweets.com/shop/
9. See some art at Mitsuo Kokusai Dori
Mituo Kokusai Dori is a must see for all art buyers in Okinawa. Every tourist and first-time visitors should go here. The place is popular near Kokusai Dori. It is extremely famous for various art pieces, art works, and crafts. If you like something unique and special, buy some souvenirs here.
Information
- Local name: Mitsuo Kokusai Dori
- Access: 3-minute walk from the Kencho-Mae monorail station.
- What to buy: Crafts, art works and art pieces.
- Address: Naha, Okinawa Prefecture 900-0000, Japan.
- Phone: +81 98-863-2755
- Hours: 9am to 8pm
- Open: Monday to Sunday
10. Buy gifts at Okashigoten Japanese Confectionery
Some people expect the place to be serious if you see the exterior. The building was actually carefully constructed similarly to a temple. However, there is a cafe, restaurant, and bakery. The place is a colorful, artful, and modern shop. Okashi Goten is an awesome place to be delighted from the sweets.
Information
- Local name: Okashi Goten Onna
- Store genre: Souvenir sweets store
- Specialties to buy: Japanese sweets and Okinawan-style confectionery.
- Address: 100 Seragaki, Azi, Onna-village, Okinawa. 904-0404
- Access: 15 minutes from Japan Okinawa Onna Village Seragaki 100
- Phone number: 098-982-3388
- Hours: 8:30am to 7:30pm
- Open: Every day
- Website: http://www.okashigoten.co.jp/
11. Drop by at the Mega Don Quijote Ginowan Store
The Don Quijote Mega Ginowan Store is known to be the”Palace of Amazing Prices”. This business is known to be one of the largest discount stores in Japan. They have everything from branded high-fashion designer items to daily items. This discount store actually has more than twice the area size of typical shops.
Information
- Local Name: Mega Don Quijote Ginowan Store
- Genre: Discount shop
- Address: 7-7-12 Oyama, Ginowan, Okinawa 901-2223
- Access: 16-minute drive from the Okinawa expresses Nishihara IC
- Phone: 098-942-9911
12. Know something about Masahiro Awamori Distillery
This is located around 15 minutes south of the airport if you ride a car. It was founded in 1883. You can see the see creation process of Awamori distillery. You will also learn the history of the business. At the second floor, you will collection displays of original vintage Awamori. Some even have 50 years of age.
Information
- Local Name: Masahiro Awamori Gallery Higa Distillery Inc.
- Address: 5-8-7 Nishizaki-Cho, Itoman-shi, Okinawa
- Business Genre: Souvenir store
- Access: 15min drive to south from the airport
- Hour: 9:30AM – 5:00PM
- Closed: Open every day except New Year’s day
- Parking: Spaces for 20 cars and vehicles
13. Visit the Michi No Eki Yuiyui Kunigami
They have hot-selling Kunigami doughnut and Inobuta soba. The place is alongside route58. It has a distinctive red tiled roof. The place is pretty spacious inside. You can see a wide range of good selections of souvenirs and goods. You can also see a great display of the awesomely stuffed Yanbarukuina. This is a protected species.
Information
- Local Name: Michi No Eki Yuiyui Kunigami
- Address: Japan Okinawa Kunigami Village Okuma 1605 “Roadside Station” Yuiyui Kunigami
- Phone number: 0980-41-5555
- E-mail: kunjan@yuiyui-k.jp
- Hours: 9am – 6pm
- Website: http://www.yuiyui-k.jp
14. Go to the Okinawa Store Heiwa Dori
The Okinawa Store Heiwa Dori is an awesome shopping place. The location is a good tourist attraction in Okinawa. There are great gift ideas like crafts, item, accessories and wares. For the entrance, look for a large arched green sign. You can see a Japanese kanji letters on the sign.
Information
- Local Name: Okinawa Store Heiwa Dori
- Genre: Gift and souvenir ideas
- Address: 3 Chome-5-7 Makishi, Naha, Okinawa Prefecture 900-0013, Japan
- Hours: 9am to 7pm
- Open: All year round except major festivals
15. Get pots at the Tsuboya Pottery District
This is a marvelous center to shop for Okinawan pottery. This can be traced ever since the Ryukyu Kingdom period. You will see different pottery workshops in the area right now. There is even the Tsuboya Pottery Museum which illustrates the techniques and history of ancient Tsuboya pottery. The place is around 410 meters south of Kokusaidori Street.
Information
- Local Name: Tsuboya Pottery
- Address: 1 Chome-21-14 Tsuboya, Naha, Okinawa Prefecture 902-0065, Japan
- Access: 10-minute walk from Asato Station, around 410 meters from Kokusaidori Street
- Hours: 10am to 6pm
- Closed: Mondays, December 26 to January 3
- Fees: 315 yen
- Website: http://www.edu.city.naha.okinawa.jp/tsuboya/j-top.htm
Enjoy your travel in Okinawa. You should not forget to buy authentic souvenirs and gifts. This can quickly remind you of your journey and visit in Okinawa when you go back home.
Have a good trip and travel!
