A sliding wooden screen leading to a walled garden marks the entrance to atmospheric Mie restaurant in Naha, the capital on the main island of Okinawa. Here, chefs serve up a courtly Ryukyu menu – from black-sesame-coated pork to purple sweet potato – all presented on a flower-like arrangement of red lacquer dishes (top tip: book a private tatami-mat room for Ryukyu’s Beauty, where traditional dance and supper are rolled out in tandem).
For local, fresh and only-in-Okinawa flavours, head to Island Feast Irumutiya, on tiny, white-sand-fringed Iriomote island in the Yaeyama archipelago. The thing to order here is beef; its unique tenderness and flavour derive from the cows’ diet of pineapples, which are also grown on the Araragama Farm and best savoured as fresh juice.
In Shiraho village on Ishigaki, the main Yaeyama island, is Shun ya Banchan, a small independent restaurant serving food that aims to be healthy for both mind and body. (Be sure to book in advance.) Having marvelled at the intricate tableware sourced from Ishigaki, don’t miss the fluffy omelette and tsunagu bento boxes packed with locally grown seasonal vegetables and rice.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Life moves at its own natural rhythm in Okinawa, a place famed for its go-slow culture, healthy local food and laidback lifestyle – factors, no doubt, that have contributed to the region’s status as a global hotspot for all things relating to longevity. From medicinal teas, martial arts and seasonal cooking to a deep-rooted reverence for nature, there are countless ways to tap into Okinawa’s health-boosting qualities.
The power of nature takes centre stage at Island Kitchen Garden Pana, which overlooks Nagura Bay on Ishigaki. Sitting at the café – with views across its lush herb garden to the sea beyond – try teas and dishes created using secret blends of home-grown Okinawan herbs such as shell ginger (considered a longevity booster), turmeric and local sea salt.
AloJapan.com