We visited Okinawa in November, NOT what we expected | Travel VLOG

We visited Okinawa in November, NOT what we expected | Travel VLOG

Today we’re heading to Okinawa, a 
sundrenched archipelago far from Japan’s bustling mainland where Tatishian 
dances with the sea breeze that draws us in with its laid-back island charm. Okinawa 
is Japan but with a soul of its own. [Music] [Music] We are in Okinawa 
and we got the car. [Music] We made it to the room in Okinawa. And this is our room. It is very cute. It’s pretty Okinawa vibes. 
And the bed it’s big enough. We arrived late and with our stomachs rumbling, it’s time to 
dive into the island’s unique flavors. So, we’re heading to Kokoidori, which is Okinawa’s 
lively main street. Lined with glowing signs, the hum of evening voices, and the 
scent of something delicious in the air. We’ve done our homework and have a list of local 
dishes to try. Each one, a small window into the soul of Okinawan cuisine. First up, we have Jimi 
tofu made out of peanuts instead of soy. A plate of fresh melt inyou mouth tuna follows, along with 
strands of sea grapes, the ones we’re most excited about trying. And rafut, a suculent pork belly 
simmered for hours in soy brown sauce and alorei. [Music] Nice texture. [Music] Silky and rich. Nice. [Music] Thank 
you. Thank you. Just done eating our first meal in Okinawa. It was super tasty. [Music] After dinner, we wander Kokoidori, sleeping 
into a few of the many ceramic shops. Shelves lined with beautiful handcrafted treasures. Each 
piece feels like it holds a story. But sadly, our carryons are pretty full, so it’s 
just window shopping this time. Still, it’s easy to lose ourselves among all the colors 
and textures. There’s something for everyone. [Music] It’s Christmas in Okinawa. [Music] We are going to Fifi Parlor, a coffee shop 
with a beautiful view. [Music] Right. Right. So, we just made it uh to our destination. Uh just 
parked the car to go to have our first coffee finally after 1 hour of driving. It looks a bit 
windy, but at least it’s not raining. Fingers crossed that maybe the wind dies down a 
bit and it’s going to be a bit better. [Music] A tuna sandwich with jalapeno and with pepper and a churros with caramel and 
coconut. Everything coconuty. [Music] [Music] [Music] You [Music] are at Hard Rock. [Music] [Music] And just down the road from Hart Rock, we found 
a quiet beach. The kind that feels like a secret. No crowds, just waves, the breeze, and the 
sound of our own footsteps in the sand. [Music] We’ve heard so many great things about 
this shrimp spot we’re driving to, so we’re going to stop there 
to grab a quick lunch. [Music] A bowl of rice topped with spicy shrimp and a 
sweet chili sauce that has us both nodding in quiet approval and shiquasa lemonade. Citrusy, 
sharp, and slightly sweet. One sip and we’re completely hooked. While eating, we spotted 
where we’re going to be driving next. [Music] We just got to super remote area 
looking for viewing point where hopefully we’re going to see the the 
bridge that crosses the island. So, um just a bit of walking from here. Let’s 
see what the view has for us. [Music] Well, we just got to the area. Just a couple of 
minutes of walking. Oo, little bit echo in here. Ah, this was worth it. Oh, it’s really beautiful. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] After a full day of exploring, a 
bit tired and worn down by the wind, we’re ready for something a little more 
familiar. So, we’re driving back to the hotel to drop off the car. And after a short 
walk, we reach the cozy little sushi spot we found on Google Maps. There’s something 
about it that just draws us in. Inside, it feels like stepping into someone’s home. 
It’s quiet and cozy. The restaurant is run by an elderly couple. He’s in charge of the sushi, 
occasionally sneaking a glance at the baseball game playing on the small TV while she’s quietly 
setting the table. There’s just a few seats and a handful of regulars chatting softly over 
their meals. The air smells of miso soup, vinegared rice, and fresh fish. There’s no rush, 
no menu, just trust and tradition. Served piece by piece. And then I decided to try a Okinawa’s 
traditional spirit, which is distilled from long grain rice. It’s served with water and poured 
over ice, which I know only because this kind man noticed my initial confusion and explained how 
to prepare it in the proper way. To my surprise, it tastes a lot like tua, which is a plum 
spirit from Romania. Never in my life would I have imagined I’ll be sipping on twa while 
eating sushi in Okinawa. And yet, here I am. Thank you. Bye. Thank you. Bye. Bye. So cute. I mean, we didn’t expect it to 
be this nice. Yes, they were very cute and very welcoming. We haven’t had sushi 
in in a bit. for sushi and it was really good. They were so nice. They even gave 
us like they asked us for if we’re on our honeymoon and they gave us two additional 
pizzas with tuna which is always good cuz tuna is amazing. Pray that tomorrow we have 
better weather with less wind. So pray for us. We’re on our way to what we hope to be an 
amazing oceanside coffee spot. We are super lucky that it’s not raining, but the wind 
is right there. Well, you see how it is. People are getting married there. I saw a couple. I don’t know if you can see it 
on the video. Here they are. [Music] Uh, one pork egg on. Yes. 
And hot dog with cheese. Yes. Yes. [Music] Have a onigiri with spam. A hot dog. 
Bubble something. Do you remember the name? And the beautiful view. [Music] [Music] The space inside was cozy and thoughtfully 
designed, but it’s only after we finished our drinks that we discovered this 
spot. A peaceful stretch of beach just steps away. We wish we have enjoyed 
our coffee here. The breeze, the sound, and the waves. It feels like a secret we 
stumbled into. It’s one of the quiet gifts of traveling in offseason. No crowds. It truly 
feels like we have this beach all to ourselves. [Music] We arrived at the new place. Something with the 
lighthouse. Let’s see the lighthouse. [Music] [Music] I don’t know if you can see it, but if not, you’ll see it in the B-roll. Seems 
that today the waves are really dramatic and wild, crashing with real force. We’re glad 
to admire them from a safe distance, watching their rhythm play out along the shore. 
There’s plenty more things to see in this era, but between the wind and the cold, we’ve decided 
to move along to our next stop on the map. Cute. This is Cape Mano. Manzamo, sorry. So, 
let’s see the view. But the wind is going crazy. Super windy. [Music] We’re back indoors where we explored the 
decently sized shopping arcade full of local goods, colorful snacks, handmade 
souvenirs, and a few strange surprises. Which one I get, so lame. That is so lame. I don’t like this. 
After getting a rather underwhelming gacha toy, Kosmina is in need of a pickme up. And right 
on queue, we found Okinawan donuts. [Music] Take two with coconut. one donuts. Let’s try the first one 
with the coconut. I know for sure that this is coconut. Really strong coconut 
flavor. [Music] Maybe this one is banana. Tastes nice. Have something. Oh, we did a bit of 
shopping as well. We got a few things for uh for us, for our friends, and for our mothers. 
Uh and uh we’re getting ready to drive to King Tacos and finally have the taco rice, the 
famous taco rice. So, back to driving. [Music] Just drink it. Just drink it. Just drink it. [Music] [Music] Some coke. [Music] Taco rice is the dish we’ve heard a lot 
about, so maybe our expectations were a bit high. It wasn’t anything groundbreaking, 
but it’s comforting and easy to enjoy. Got rid of the salad. It’s a playful mix of American and 
Okinawan influences without being too unfamiliar. [Music] This is our last night in Okinawa, so 
we’re heading out for one final stroll, but just window shopping mostly. But who knows, maybe we’ll find something worth squeezing 
into our carry-on. [Music] For dinner, we stopped at the Nizakaya, looking to check 
off more items on our Okinawan food list. Nice. We haven’t had a chance to try blue 
seal ice cream, but the way they serve potato salad here looking almost 
like ice cream had us chuckling. [Music] It’s not super tasty. Yeah, they get super bitter by the end. Yeah. Looking back, we’ve really enjoyed our time in Okinawa. 
There’s warmth here that stays with you. And while December brought a bit of wind 
and cooler days, we’d love to return. But next time when we can dive into the ocean 
and not just admire it from the shore. Thank you. Hi. They gave us Okino donuts as a present 
at the checkout. That’s pretty sweet.

Join us on our honeymoon as we spend 3 peaceful, food-filled days exploring Okinawa, Japan -in the off-season.

🌬️ While most people visit Okinawa in the summer, we came in November and discovered a quieter side of Japan’s tropical paradise. From secret beaches and oceanfront coffee to cozy izakayas and Okinawan donuts, this was a winter escape full of surprises.

🗓️ **Our 3-Day Okinawa Itinerary:**
Day 1: Arrival, Kokusai Dori, local food tasting (Jimami tofu, Rafute, sea grapes)
Day 2: Quiet beach near Heart Rock, shrimp bowls, Shikuwasa lemonade, sushi dinner
Day 3: Ocean-side coffee, Visiting Okinawan Capes, taco rice, izakaya dinner

🎥 Shot entirely on our honeymoon in November 2024, this vlog blends slow travel, authentic food, and quiet okinawan charm.

👉 Expect:
– Okinawan cuisine highlights 🍤
– Hidden beaches (no crowds!) 🏝️
– Off-season travel tips
– Romantic, cinematic storytelling

—

📍 Okinawa Travel Tips:
– We visited at the end of November – cooler, windier, but with way fewer tourists.
– Renting a car helped us reach quiet spots and to get further, it’s a must in Okinawa.
– If you like cozy, less-touristy vibes, winter in Okinawa might be for you!

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:48 Hotel room tour
01:05 Dinner & Kokusai Dori : trying Okinawan local dishes
03:35 FIFI Parlor coffee & breakfast
04:40 Heart rock & beaches nearby
05:25 Lunch & Kouri bridge secluded viewing spot
07:27 Bise-Fukugi Tree road & beach sunset
08:18 Enchanting Sushi Dinner – Trying Awamori for the 1st time
10:21 Ocean-side Banta Cafe & breakfast
12:35 Capes Zanpa & Manzamo
14:40 Trying Okinawan donuts – Mitsuya Hanpo
16:04 Taco rice at King Tacos
16:58 Snoopy’s Surf Shop & more shopping
17:40 Izakaya dinner

#Okinawa #JapanHoneymoon #OkinawaVlog #WinterInJapan #CouplesTravel #OffSeasonTravel #3DayItinerary #OkinawanFood #TravelVlog