The next morning, the three of us woke up feeling refreshed and headed to the hotel dining room for breakfast. We chose a table with a view overlooking the beautiful sea. The vibrant blue ocean, which we couldn’t see clearly the night before, spread out before us in breathtaking beauty. The humid heat of the last night seemed to have disappeared, and we felt fresh in both body and mind, as if we were one with the beautiful scenery.
Breakfast was buffet-style, and the colorful display of dishes was a visual treat. There were many Okinawan specialties, all of which were very delicious. The kids enjoyed not only classic Japanese dishes but also special Okinawan menu items. My younger child and I picked up the traditional Japanese breakfast of rice, natto, and miso soup, while my older child enjoyed bread, corn soup, and a dessert made with Okinawan purple sweet potatoes.
When choosing hotels with breakfast, I always select those that offer a buffet style. This way, both the kids and I can take the dishes we want in the amount we like, and if we don’t have much of an appetite, we can choose accordingly. I also enjoy taking my time to sip coffee afterward while thinking about what to do for the day.
Okinawa Famous Aaquarium vs Private Beach?
However, on the second day, we were unable to do what we had planned. Although we hadn’t made a reservation, we intended to drive to the Churaumi Aquarium (美ら海水族館)and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. However, it wasn’t due to car trouble, someone feeling unwell, a lost wallet, etc, …
While having breakfast with the view of the hotel’s private beach stretching out before us, the kids were ecstatic, exclaiming, “We want to go to the beach first!” So, before heading back to the room, we stopped by the beach, and they enjoyed dipping their feet in the crystal-clear water. However, that little taste wasn’t enough—they immediately wanted to change into swimsuits and return to the beach.
Thinking it would be a shame not to enjoy such a beautiful sea, I decided that an hour wouldn’t hurt, and we could still visit the aquarium afterward. But as soon as the kids, now in their swimsuits, waded into the water, they were completely captivated, laughing and splashing without a care in the world, and they absolutely did not want to leave.
Some parts of the beach’s water were enclosed with nets as a precaution against jellyfish, ensuring that guests could enjoy playing safely within the protected area. The kids seemed as if they could play endlessly in that safe zone, never growing tired of the fun.
The Beautiful Sand of Okinawa’s Sea
Despite everything, the water remained crystal clear, and the expanse of white sand stretched out beautifully—a view we could gaze at forever. We were fortunate with the weather as well.
The white sand on Okinawa’s beaches is primarily made up of crushed shells and coral fragments, washed up from the ocean. This composition gives it a light, almost white color. My eldest child washed out an empty plastic bottle and filled it with this sand to bring home as a keepsake; it still sits proudly in our living room.
My children were completely absorbed, playing in the water endlessly. No matter how many times I reapplied sunscreen, it quickly washed off in the sea. I noticed several other kids wearing rash guards, and in hindsight, we should have followed suit. Sure enough, the kids ended up with quite a sunburn.
Before we knew it, it was lunchtime, so we had lunch at the hotel restaurant. I suggested going to the aquarium afterward, but the kids insisted they wanted to return to the beach to play. Since it was their first time experiencing such joy and focus, I didn’t want to interrupt them, so we decided to head back to the beach. As the sun beat down, I kept an eye on them while searching for shade, carrying sunscreen and drinks with me.
Dining at an Izakaya
As evening approached, we decided to head back to our room for a rest. Although the hotel had a pool, no one seemed to be using it. With such a beautiful beach right in front of us, it felt somewhat out of place to use the pool.
For dinner, we chose an izakaya right in front of the hotel. Although izakayas are primarily drinking establishments, most of them also offer a wide variety of food, so the kids could enjoy their meals as well. For a moment, I thought, “Is it okay for minors to enter?” but seeing many families inside put my mind at ease.
The menu featured a variety of Okinawan dishes. While I had seen some Okinawan products at the convenience store the day before, this was my first time experiencing properly prepared Okinawan cuisine.
The kids each chose their desired dishes and ordered cola and Shekwasha (シークワーサー) juice to go with them. I ordered a beer first and then some small side dishes like fried chicken and French fries that paired well with the beer and that the kids could enjoy as well. Additionally, since we were in Okinawa, I decided to try sea grapes (海ぶどう), jīmamī tofu (ジーマーミ―豆腐), and champuru (チャンプルー). I was a little surprised that the kids enjoyed trying some Okinawan foods during this trip.
Conclusion
Today was simply a day spent relaxing by the sea. If we had stayed in Okinawa longer, we likely would have had several days like this. I remembered spending an entire day doing nothing but lounging on the beach when I visited Hawaii in my younger days. In the end, we didn’t make it to Okinawa’s famous aquarium, but that was just fine.
After dinner, we took a stroll along the beautiful beach at sunset. The hotel had a well-maintained walking path, making it enjoyable to walk and providing many picturesque spots for photos. We returned to our room feeling satisfied and welcomed a peaceful night.
