Japan's Okinawa offers a unique culinary experience

By Takehiko Kambayashi Jun 29, 2010, 13:25 GMT

Naha, Japan - Japan's subtropical Okinawa Island often captures headlines for its problems with the US military presence there but it is also well known for longevity and healthy food.

Okinawa offers a unique culinary experience and visitors come to know what Okinawans eat to live long, while it is easy to travel on the cheap here even at a time of euro and dollar depreciation. Restaurants are reasonable and taxies and many hotels are inexpensive.

Many locals frown when they are told the island's economy depends on the presence of the US military whose facilities make up almost 20 per cent of the main Okinawa island. But the island's distinct food has been lucrative as Okinawan restaurants appears to be almost everywhere in Japan, competing with sushi bars and noodle shops.

Coming into the Makishi Public Market (2-10-1 Matsuo) in the centre of Naha, the island's capital, visitors are likely to come up with one question.

'Do Okinawans eat every part of a pig?'

Almost. Okinawans are said to eat everything but the 'oink' and the toenails.

At the market, store staff with an Okinawan accent recommend their pork specialities including pork tongues, Mimiga or sliced pork ears, Tebichi or boiled pig's feet, Chiraga or pork facial skin smoked with seasoning, Rafute (stewed pork) or pork back ribs cooked with brown sugar, seasonings and awamori, traditional Okinawan hard liquor.

Okinawans say pork is simmered for hours, so the fat is boiled off. In addition, they tell you that many of their pork dishes contain a high-quality protein called collagen. Such collagen is included in one of the island's popular menus, Soki Soba or noodles with spare ribs over it, which includes collagen-rich cartilage.

Okinawan cuisine appears to be becoming increasingly popular as more Japanese are smitten with collagen these days.

Moreover, Okinawa is now trying to promote its top brand 'Agu' meat. The Agu is the island's rare native pig and 'Agu' meat is produced by cross breeding with the west breed. They say Agu is suitable for steak, fried pork cutlets and a Japanese hot-pot dish.

Agu Curry (1260 yen - 14 dollars) is one of the most popular items at Cafe Okinawa-shiki (2-31-11 Kume) especially among tourists and young people. The cafe, which exhibits the island's laid-back lifestyle, serves other kinds of curry including taco curry with lunch-menu meals starting from 735 yen.

In addition to pork, Okinawa offers a variety of distinct produce including turmeric, green papaya, island hot pepper and Goya or bitter gourd, a traditional summer vegetable of Okinawa. Goya is believed to help lower cholesterol and blood glucose levels.

Goya Champuru, a stir-fry of Goya, pork, tofu and eggs, is also among the island's most popular dishes.

To try such traditional Okinawan food, you can be dining with the locals at Takara Shokudo (1-7-10 Wakasa) where generous helping of Goya Champuru with rice and soup costs only 500 yen, Tofu Champuru 450 yen and Soki Soba 500 yen.

The Okinawa Prefecture is a chain of remote islands, located 1,600 kilometres south-west of Tokyo. Skymark Airlines Inc, a low-cost air carrier, offers cheap flights starting from around 10,000 yen (in comparison the cost of a bullet-train ride from Tokyo to Kyoto is 13,520 yen).

Unlike the string of pricey resort hotels on the island's west coast, inexpensive lodging facilities can be found almost everywhere in Naha.

Inn Grace Naha (1-19-29 Matsuo) is a favourite place for budget travellers. Singles with shared bath start from 2,500 yen per night, 15,000 yen per week. The room has a makeshift bed, air-conditioning, a TV set, a refrigerator and an internet connection. Inn Grace Naha is conveniently situated near the Kokusai-Dori (which means International Street, the city's lively main street).

Rakuchin Hotel (1-13-8 Tsuji) is a cheap, charming and clean place. Singles with bath and complimentary breakfast start from 4,700 yen. The hotel also has a larger bath for its guests and parking is free.