nature

Photos by Shoji Kudaka
Read on Stripes.com
Travel
Cuisine:

VIDEO| Okinawa's Kaamiijii a great day trip

Let’s take a visit to Kaamiijii on Urasoe City’s west coast.
Photo and Video by Shoji Kudaka
Read on Stripes.com
Travel
Cuisine:

VIDEO| 3-day Okinawa island-hopping adventure for less than $300

Stars and Stripes Okinawa writer Shoji Kudaka take us on an Island-hopping adventure. Let’s explore the beauty together!
Read on Stripes.com
Travel
Cuisine:

Highly enjoyable things about Okinawa

For a mere freckle on the map, Okinawa enjoys enormous popularity. And despite the land and people being grossly burdened by decades of conflict, like the native prehistoric Sago Palm, the Japanese region’s culture and spirit continue to thrive.
Photos by Allie Whalen
Read on Stripes.com
Travel
Cuisine:

Connecting Kids With Nature

One of my favorite things to do with my kids has always been to just take a walk and see what we can see. I’ve never been the type to worry about a list or a plan.
Read on Stripes.com
Travel
Cuisine:

Nearby Ie Island offers idealic escape

If you’re looking for an exciting day trip or relaxing weekend, head for the tiny island of Ie off the coast of Nago. Nicknamed the island of flowers and sunsets, Ie draws visitors to its shores with beautiful scenery and historic sites.
Read on Stripes.com
Food & Drink
Cuisine: Café

Must-try Kokuraya's Koharu Udon and fresh juices

Sometimes you just have to get away from it all and get back to nature. Café Koharuya understand this, and has carved out a little piece of paradise on northern Okinawa where fresh juice, savory noodles and tasty desserts await.
Photos by Takahiro Takiguchi
Read on Stripes.com
Travel
Cuisine:

Akita: Beautiful castle town packed with natural and cultural attractions

Located in the northern part of mainland of Japan and facing the Sea of Japan, Akita City is a four-hour drive from Misawa Air Base. The city is surrounded by rice fields and mountains and is known as one of the nation’s most important granary regions.
Photos by Nano Betts
Read on Stripes.com
Travel
Cuisine:

Kyoto's secluded gardens you shouldn't miss

Kyoto is like a sprawling open-air museum which captivates by its peaceful demeanor, cobblestoned alleys, and intricately raked sand gardens.
Read on Stripes.com
Community News
Cuisine:

Earth Day every day: Commissaries routinely recycle, divert waste, conserve resources

The Defense Commissary Agency identified environmental responsibility as a major priority in 2005, making environmental management a key part of operations.
Read on Stripes.com
Food & Drink
Cuisine: Japanese, Café

Hamabe no Chaya serves up both coffee and a view

I know we can all get stressed out every day. Swamped with emails, dealing with phone calls, juggling smart phones, tablets and facing endless responsibilities both at work and home can do that to a person.
Everybody needs some space to refresh your mind from time to time.
Read on Stripes.com
Food & Drink
Cuisine: Japanese

My Faves: 5 Instant Noodles you have to try in Japan

Ever since I started working from home about a month ago, instant noodles have become my go-to for a quick bite.
The Death Taco Rice plate at Hapi Tapi in Onna Village is a generous serving of food and plenty of hot sauce. Photos by Shoji Kudaka
Read on Stripes.com
Food & Drink
Cuisine: Mexican

HAPI TAPI’s spicy taco rice hits the spot

It was by accident that we stumbled across Café & Bar HAPI TAPI. On our way back from a snorkeling tour at Blue Cave, we were headed to a sandwich joint in Onna Village, but their parking was full.
Read on Stripes.com
Food & Drink
Cuisine:

Backyard Living: Perfecting your next ribeye steak

Besides a great looking lawn, nothing showcases the backyard quite like a cookout. But anything worth doing is worth doing right.
Photos by Shoji Kudaka
Read on Stripes.com
Food & Drink
Cuisine: Mexican

Must-try Tacos-ya's crispy and unique Tacos

Located near Sunabe Seawall in Chatan Town, Tacos-ya is a small shop located on a backstreet. But what the taco joint lacks in size, it’s makes up in a generously-sized reputation that has made its way around the island.
Read on Stripes.com
Food & Drink
Cuisine: Japanese

13 Curious Things You Never Knew About Wasabi!

Love it or hate it, wasabi is one of the more well-known condiments served with Japanese cooking, most commonly served with sushi.
Read on Stripes.com
Food & Drink
Cuisine: Japanese

A deep dive into Japanese curry

Most of my foreign friends tell me they didn’t know how much Japanese love curry until they came to Japan. Well, not only do we love it, but we actually have a very deep-rooted curry culture.