Water Buffalo (Shoji Kudaka)
Bios no oka, a.k.a. Bios on the Hill, a nature-oriented theme park in Uruma City, has been my happy place in Okinawa for a long time. A slow ride on a water buffalo cart or gliding across the waters of a peaceful lake by boat at the park has been a nice getaway from stressful daily life.
Though the large park is famous for its buffalo cart, boat rides and orchids, there are other activities I have not tried there. Bios on the Hills is designed like an intricate world of a fantasy role-playing game, so it is easy to visit and not catch all the attractions there in one visit.
My curiosity of what other hidden gems I might enjoy at Bios on the Hill, led me to plan another trip there. This time, however, I enlisted the help of my coworker Saori Tamanaha, a sales representative from Stars and Stripes, and Ai Horie, a Bios on the Hill sales representative, to guide me.
Photo session in Ryukyu costume
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
Trying on traditional Okinawan attire is a popular activity for tourists visiting the island. This activity can range from 3,000 yen or more per person. But, at the park, you can don an outfit of the Ryukyu Kingdom for 1,100 yen (approx. $7.16 tax included) for a 10-minute photo session using your camera or smartphone.
Ryusou is traditional Okinawan clothing similar to kimono, but in more dynamic colors. These colorful robes draw influences from both kimono and hanfu, Chinese traditional attire.
The photo session is available at the Hanaui/Nishimachiya shop, where visitors can purchase souvenirs and try other hands-on activities.
The shop has many options of beautiful, hand-crafted clothing and props like fans, Sanshin guitars, and hanagasa, an Okinawan hat with the motif of a lotus flower, to go with the outfits.
Wearing costumes is not really my thing, but the stage against the backdrop of beautiful orchid flowers made me look arguably better than I would in a normal photo studio. Plus, a giant ornament of a dragon made from plants, was watching behind me. With the legendary creature being a symbol of the Ryukyu Kingdom, I felt like a hero from the past standing near it in my ryusou. Saori also joined me, and we got to pose as a musical duo in our traditional ensembles.
A session with Dr. Fish
Dr. Fish (Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
Dr. Fish (Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
As you’ve traveled around Japan and Okinawa, you may have encountered Garra Rufa a.k.a. Dr. Fish, a unique and fishy way to get a pedicure. Bios on the Hill also offers Dr. Fish pedicures at a small spa inside the same building as the photo studio.
I’ve tried it before at Enoshima Island off the mainland, so I knew what I was getting myself into when I dipped my toes into the spa at Bios on the Hill.
Two wooden bathtubs, one square and another shaped like a boat, accommodate roughly eight people each. The room was decorated with wooden ornaments that made me feel like I was outside in nature and not inside a spa in a building.
After checking in, we were given a “patient’s registration card” that reminded us that there are no refunds after your 10-minute session with Dr. Fish starts. We got to sit at the boat tub and as soon as I dipped my feet in, dozens of Dr. Fishes swarmed.
There were no other customers during our session, so the fish attacked my feet. It was ticklish but it felt nice. Soon, the 10 minutes were over, yet the ravenous Dr. Fishes were not backing down. They could have certainly spent a little more time on my feet, but I called it an end before my cuticles were completely devoured.
For the fee of 550 yen (tax included), this turned out to be a satisfying experience.
Children are allowed to try Dr. Fish, and kids three years and under can use it for free with a parent’s admission. There are other rules and etiquette for a visit to Dr. Fish, so pay attention to signs and staff at the spa.
Intricate ficus trees and orchids at Tounchi
With our feet squeaky clean, we were shown around the park by Horie. In previous visits, I headed straight to Ayaufuniba, the lake for boat rides, or to Ashibiuna, the field for water buffalo cart rides. This time, Horie showed me other spots that are smaller but worth exploring deeper.
Tounchi, a ficus garden, is one I’d overlooked in the past, but this interesting attraction displayed trees in intricate designs I enjoyed browsing. A lot of attention and patience, Horie said, are needed to create designs with the ficus benjamina, which recreate Okinawa gates and houses.
The ficus trees arranged in this manner gave an air of being an Hayao Miyazaki animation like My Neighbor Totoro or Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.
The paths surrounding the area were also adorned with stunning orchid flowers like Oncidium Sharry Baby, which gives off a chocolate-like scent, and other colorful blooms.
According to Horie, the orchids are replaced weekly so there are always blooming orchids present along these paths.
Giant swing and hammock
giant swing (Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
hammock (Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
Bios on the Hill may be a place for me to relax and unwind, but the park also offers plenty of recreational activities to enjoy. Reach great heights on a giant swing at Umuiuna lawn near Lake Thinzumigumi.
The swing is on the bank of the lake, so the ride is a thrill that made me feel like I was throwing myself in the air over the water.
Riding the giant swing very much reminded me of the title sequence of “Heidi, the Girl of the Alps” where Heidi, the heroine of the animation show, rides a giant swing against the backdrop of the mountains of the Alps. Although there are no mountains around the area, swinging over the lake felt equally exhilarating.
After riding the giant swing, we headed to Umachimou, another field by the lake, where visitors can lay in a hammock. In contrast to the exhilarating swing, relaxing in the hammock surrounded by the trees was a nice break.
Goat and Water Buffalo
goat (Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
To end our visit to the park, we dropped by to say hi to the resident goats and water buffalo at the Ashibiuna section. Feeding a little goat with carrots was fun but a little bit of a struggle as the hungry kid tried to snatch all the carrots. The water buffalo was at work diligently pulling a cart with customers on. When I approached the huge animal to take a photo of it, I did not feel any danger. The hard-working animal even stopped for a second as if to offer me a photo op.
Just like my previous visits to the park, my time at Bios on the Hill gave me a sense of happiness, and a kind of satisfaction much different from the ones I would get from big theme parks.
Things to know
GPS Coordinates: 26.421966, 127.796789
Hours: 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (last admission at 4:15 p.m.) Closed on Tuesdays except Jan 7.
Admission: 2,200 yen for middle school students and above; 1,100 yen for those between 4 years old and elementary school age.
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
*For Dr. Fish, the 550-yen admission covers only one person (sharing it with another person is not allowed). Make sure that you don’t lose your shoes and socks. You can eat and drink at the spot but be careful not to drop the food or drinks into the tubs. Smoking is prohibited.
