Okinawa - 4 recommended events in January

The popular illumination event “Okinawa Nankoku Illumination 2023-2024” will be held at the Southeast Botanical Garden (Okinawa City).
This year's theme is "Shining Nankoku Flowers". The motifs unique to the botanical garden, such as the magnificent lotus flower illuminations, hibiscus, and jade Kazura, create a world of illuminations unique to Okinawa.

It is a recommended spot for a romantic time with your lover and a romantic time, or to spend important memories with your family and friends!

※In November 2023, he won the "2nd place in Japan in the illumination event category" at the 1st International Illumination Award selected by night view tourists. All staff members participate in the production and installation, and have been highly evaluated as handmade and warm original illuminations. In 2022, it was certified as one of the "Three Great Night Views in Okinawa".

In Okinawa, cherry blossoms bloom around late January, ahead of other prefectures. Therefore, at this time, cherry blossom festivals are held in various parts of the prefecture. One of the earliest festivals where you can enjoy cherry blossoms is the Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival. With the catchphrase "Hitoashi, Osaki", it is held every year from late January to early February at Mt. Yae, a famous cherry blossom spot.

The recommended point of the headquarters Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival is that you can see the cherry blossoms while walking, as well as driving. You can enjoy the Kanhizakura while feeling the clear air on your skin. Yoshino cherry tree (Yoshino cherry tree), a common cherry tree on the mainland, is light pink, while Kanhizakura is dark and vivid as plum blossoms. This flower, which blooms downward, also has the characteristic of being hard to fall.

Mt. Yae is a hill, and if you climb the summit, you can see not only the sea but also Ieshima in the distance. If you point your camera there, you can take a picture of a beautiful picture with the cherry blossoms in the background!
In addition, there is a Okinawa soba specialty store near the entrance of the Yaedake mountain climbing road, and a bakery selling bread and cookies on the mountain path, so you can enjoy mountain climbing and cherry blossom viewing while filling your stomach.

In addition, there are many popular sightseeing spots around Mt. Yae, such as Nago Pineapple Park and OKINAWA Fruit Land. If you plan to visit these spots for sightseeing in Okinawa in January, be sure to stop by Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival.

For those who want to enjoy the traditional performing arts that are unique to Okinawa, we recommend the “buzz of the forest”. This event, which will be held at the Okinawa Convention Center in Ginowan City, will be held in two performances on January 27, 2024 (Saturday).
A recommended spot for such a bustling forest is that you can see a powerful stage where Okinawan traditional performing arts such as Ryukyu dance, Okinawa folk song, and Eisa folk dance. The programs that appear one after another, such as the beautiful dance of women, stick techniques, karate, lion dance by strong men, will not get tired of the viewer! Also, the appearance of a large number of performers dressed in Hanagasa and red costume are spectacular.

And for the ending, you can dance Kachashi with the performers. Kachashi is a hand dance of Okinawa. There is a difference in the shape of the hands when dancing with men and women. Women dance in the shape of a par with fingers aligned, and men dance with both hands in the form of goo. Through Kachashi, you can enjoy the unique experience of Okinawa where the performers and the audience are united and the venue is surrounded by a cheerful atmosphere.

Outside the venue, a “Taste of Taste” (Okinawa product sales corner) will be opened. The stalls sell gourmet foods such as Okinawa soba and Juicy, as well as castella and cakes made from Okinawa's specialty awamori and pine. Enjoy the lively atmosphere of the forest, please enjoy the "buzz of taste".

"If you eat Tida Sansan, don't get it from Okinawa! "Okinawa Flower and Food Festival 2024" will be held in Ounoyama Park in Naha City on Saturday, January 20 and 21 (Sun) in Ounoyama Park, Naha City.
There are a variety of agricultural, forestry and fishery products and processed products from the prefecture, such as the meat market and the seafood market where seafood gathers.

In addition, there are various events related to flowers such as flowering horticulture markets and flower design contests, as well as other hands-on corners, and there are plenty of fun events! You can learn about the charms of Okinawa, so you can have a good time with your family and friends.

How was it? In Okinawa in January, there are several events where you can easily participate in while sightseeing. All of the four events introduced this time are content that makes you feel the unique charm of the local area. By adding these to your January sightseeing plan, you will surely be able to make your sightseeing memories more intense.