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Rub & Tug in Naha, Japan

“Why are all the hotels in Naha fully-booked?” Nori asked, scowling at the search results on Agoda.

“I don’t know. What dates are we going to be there again?” I replied.

“On the way in, September 30th through October 1st. Two nights. On the way out, Oct 7th. Just one night and then we fly out on the 8th.”

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Kabira Bay, Okinawa

 After checking all the boxes on a car rental form that I couldn’t read, we squeezed into an older blue van that had a slightly moldy pong. Ten years of wet swimming shorts draining into the seats, I surmised. Well, it was the cheapest rental we could find (at US$120/day!) and Japan just isn’t set up for a family of seven. So we take what we can get.

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Yaeyama Island-Hopping: Taketomi + Hateruma

TAKETOMI ISLAND

On our first afternoon in the Yaeyamas, we took the easy, 15-minute ferry to Taketomi Island, renowned for its strong Ryukyu culture and architecture. I had hoped to cycle along the gravel paths, or at least take a slow water buffalo cart ride, through the traditional village.

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Yaeyama Island-Hopping: Kuro + Kohama

KURO ISLAND

Nori seemed too relaxed the next morning. She wasn’t rushing the boys at all.

“Do you still plan on catching the 9:20 ferry to Kuro?” I asked.

“No!? I thought you said we could catch the 10:30?” she replied, perturbed.

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