A Day Trip to the Capital City of Naha in Okinawa, Japan

Here's something you don't see me do very often.  

Today, Doc Graff and I went to the big city, just in case it decided to rain.

Right off the International Avenue (Kokusaidori) they have a covered shopping mall.

The shops run air-conditioning and it feels great, after you've been out in the August humidity.

 We went through the meat market and took a few photos.

 Then, hit the fish market to shoot some of those colorful fish on ice.

Looking at all that food makes a person hungry so, we grabbed a quick lunch.

After eating, Doc knows we better get moving or, I'll fall asleep so, we left the city.

Naha wasn't very far behind us when I remembered I had some more business to do.

Probably, twenty years has gone by since I last stepped into this place.

They have the awesomeyummiest ice cream in the world.

I know.  That ain't a word.  But, it should be.

And, I really didn't need a scoop of strawberry cheesecake ice cream.

So, I had two.

Back up in the neck of the woods I call home, we had to break for coffee.

Richamocha Cafe was my temporary office for a few months so, I had to stop by and say "Hi".

The gals working in there know how to make a mean cup of coffee.

All my photos from the big city are developed and, I never even took my afternoon nap.

Maybe, on the way home I better stop off somewhere and have a beer !

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Note: Richamocha Cafe recently was reviewed by me on TripAdvisor.

Stop on by sometime and see all the reviews done by RyukyuMike.

Naha The Capital City of Okinawa, Japan (Photos)

It isn't the largest Capital City I've seen but, Naha Okinawa has everything you'd expect to see when you go to any big town and maybe, a few things that would surprise you.  Here is a six photo sneak preview.

There's the OLD, like this wooden-framed, tile-roofed Mom and Pop Store which sells pottery.

There's the NEW, like the International Avenue (Kokusai-dori) with all the trappings and traffic you'd find in any city.

Fashion Shops where women can look at dummies wearing the latest over-priced garments.

There are all sorts of foods to eat, fast food, slow food, foreign foods, steak houses, noodle and ramen joints, cookie and candy shops, health food and junk food.  I like the local food.

Music?  Of course, every city has some sort of music and Naha has it all.  You can hear the latest Pop, Hip Hop, Jazz, Japanese Rap, or whatever they call that stuff young kids do.  Or, you may here some American 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and even newer stuff being piped through speakers in any one of the hundreds of stores, restuarants, coffee and tea shops lining the streets.

But, when I put on my Sunday-best to visit the city, I like to get off the main drag and stir up some of the local talent, like this Zukeyama Dude, I met.  He's playing a Sanshin but, it's not like the typical Sanshin (samisen) you've seen me post here, before.  This is a Sanshin made from an old cookie can.  It's called a Kankara Sanshin.

One of the things every Capitol City around the world should do is CLOSE DOWN MAIN STREET EVERY SUNDAY AFTERNOON LIKE WE DO IN NAHA OKINAWA, JAPAN.

That way, everybody could forget about spending all their money on over-priced junk and and get out in the street to do important stuff, like jumping jacks, or something, the way these girls did for the camera.

There's plenty more to see in Naha but,  I guess, I'm turning into more of a stay-at-home-traveler so, I don't get down that way very often.