Okinawa - 5 recommended events in February

Speaking of Okinawa in February, the spring camp of the professional baseball team. One reason why Okinawa is chosen as a campsite is that it is relatively warm and comfortable even in winter. Since it is held at stadiums around the prefecture, such as Okinawa Cellular Stadium Naha, Ginoza Village Baseball Stadium and Chatan Park Baseball Stadium, it is possible to easily visit while sightseeing in the prefecture.

The recommended point of such a professional baseball camp is that you can see the practice scenery of the baseball team and practice games up close. Professional baseball fans can spend a blissful time because you can watch the players who are active in the Japanese ball world free of charge. Not only fans, but also those who have not yet been captivated by professional baseball, may be moved by the generous fan service of the players.

Depending on the stadium, goods from the baseball team camping at that location are sold. There are various types of goods sold, such as uniforms matching with players, T-shirts with a wide variety of color variations such as light blue and pink, and towels with team mascots. You can use it as you like, such as using it during a camp tour or taking it home as a memory. Of course, it is also perfect as a souvenir for sightseeing in Okinawa.

In Okinawa Prefecture, Yachimun (pottery) events are held several times a year in various places.
Among them, "Yomitan Yachimun City" has more than 20,000 visitors during the two-day event period, making it the largest pottery event in the prefecture.
All the workshops that open the store are located in Yomitan Village, and some products are sold at a discount of 2-3 normal prices, so many Yachimun fans from inside and outside the prefecture visit.

If you have the workshop you are looking for, it's better to go out early on the first day and make a selection slowly.

In Okinawa, cherry blossoms bloom around late January ahead of other prefectures. Therefore, at this time, Sakura Festivals are held in various parts of the prefecture. The first festival to enjoy cherry blossoms is the Motobu Yae-dake Cherry Blossom Festival. It is held every year from late January to early February at Yae-dake, a famous cherry blossom spot, with the catchphrase "Hitoshi, bloom".

The recommended point of such headquarters Yae-dake Sakura Festival is that you can see the cherry blossoms while walking as well as driving. You can enjoy Kanhizakura while feeling the clear air with your skin. The common cherry blossoms on the mainland, Yoshino cherry tree (Yoshino cherry tree), are light pink, while the cold scarlet cherry blossoms are dark and vivid like plum blossoms. This flower that blooms downward also has the characteristic that it is hard to scatter.

Mt. Yae is a hill, and if you climb it, you can see not only the sea but also I Eshima in the distance. If you turn your camera there, you can shoot a beautiful piece of cherry blossoms that stand out against the sea!
In addition, there is a Okinawa soba specialty store near the entrance of the Yae-dake 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 a number of 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 Yae-dake Sakura Festival.

"Yogi Park" is about a 15-minute walk from Kokusai Street. It is known as a famous cherry blossom spot among the locals. In such Yogi Park, the "Naha Sakura Festival" will be held in February. The recommended point of this event is that you can enjoy about 400 Kanhizakura trees. You can enjoy cherry blossom viewing and walking while watching the cherry blossoms characterized by bright pink color. You can also see folk song, Eisa folk dance, and hula on the special stage. The collaboration between cherry blossoms and traditional performing arts in Okinawa is a must-see!

In addition, there are booths that sell toys, booths that display and sell flowers and trees and plants, and provide horticultural consultation, so people of all ages can enjoy it.
There is a steam locomotive that is statically preserved in Yogi Park, the venue for the Naha Sakura Festival. This was presented in 1973 by Japanese National Railways staff for children in Okinawa without railways. The appearance of the locomotive shining black is truly a masterpiece!　Yogi Park, where you can enjoy cherry blossoms as well as the history of Okinawa, is a recommended spot for families.

A special tour will be held in January and February to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the completion of the Fukuchi Dam, the largest dam in the prefecture in Higashimura, northern Okinawa Prefecture. On the first sightseeing boat dedicated to dam lakes in Okinawa Prefecture, you can infiltrate into the World Natural Heritage Area registered in 2021, and experience the magnificent dams up close, including the rich nature of Yanbaru Forest. The unique charm of this tour is that you can learn the history and role of Fukuchi Dam while receiving explanations from staff during the tour of the dam facility! You can tour the hydroelectric power generation facilities that are not normally open to the public and the dam downstream leak observation tunnel, so be sure to take this opportunity to participate.

How was it?　The real pleasure of sightseeing is to experience unique to the local area.
If you are thinking about sightseeing in Okinawa in February, please try incorporating the events introduced this time into your plan.