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Return to Kouri Island: Beaches so beautiful, multiple visits required

On a hot summer day in August, I headed to Kouri-jima, an island off the coast of Okinawa’s Nakijin Village. The last time I went there was five years ago, the weather was cloudy and a little rainy. This time, however, the sky was clear with nothing to block the strong sunlight.

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Tip of the day: Watch out for bus lanes on Okinawa

Commute time can be very stressful for drivers in Okinawa.

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Celebrating Halloween safely with pets

Over half of pet parents plan to dress up their dogs for Halloween, according to a Wag! survey.

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Did you know?: The difference between Japanese onsen and sento

Most foreigners believe that all public baths are onsen, but that’s not true.

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DIY Halloween tips to save money

Halloween may be the spookiest night of the year, but it’s the prices for costumes and decorations that are scarier than any vampire (and they’ll drain your wallet even faster).

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Submit photos for Welcome to the Pacific magazine by Jan. 22, 2025

Have you ever dreamed about having your photo featured on the cover of a magazine?In May 2025, the next edition of our annual Stars and Stripes Welcome to the Pacific magazine will hit the streets, and we’re looking for you, our readers, to help make it the best ever!

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Get spooky on Okinawa this Halloween

Here is a list of Halloween events on Okinawa bases.

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Did you know?: Most of Japanese islands are uninhabited

Japan is made up of 6,800 islands, with the four main ones being Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Among the 6,800 islands, only 400 are actually inhabited.

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Naha Giant Tug-of-War Festival returns to Okinawa Oct. 13

One of Okinawa’s big festivals, the Naha Giant Tug-of-War, will be held this year on Oct. 13.

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Sneak peek! Inside Japan’s ‘Nintendo Museum’ opening Oct. 2

The highly anticipated Nintendo Museum, eagerly awaited by fans worldwide, is set to open on October 2, 2024.