Food & Drink

A genuine world of their own, the local foods of Okinawa prefecture draw on a deep cultural and historical heritage, finding inspiration through Chinese and Southeast Asian influences.

If you’re a Japanese food fan, you may have heard of okonomiyaki; a Korean food afficionado—chijimi. But Okinawa also has its own version: hirayachi.

Makishi Public Market is recognized as a go-to place to buy fresh seafood, meat, pickles, and souvenirs.

Mainland Japan’s food culture continues to migrate to Okinawa, and every year new Japanese chain restaurants pop up on the island. Even items that were unique to the mainland like “Ehoumaki,” a sushi roll eaten on the day of Setsubun, are now common on Okinawa.

One of the enduring images of Japanese food is of course sushi, which in a way you could call one of the world’s first fast-foods!

When speaking of Japanese food, many foreign visitors will think of dishes that make use of high-end beef, such as Kobe beef.