Date I went: 03/25/2020
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Finally what I've been waiting to do in Japan and Okinawa, go for a nice long bicycle ride really exploring the island! I borrowed a folding bicycle from the accommodation I was staying at, but there are other bicycle rental shops around Naha and Okinawa as well.
Bicycle Route for the Day
In total I went about 62 km with the folding bike that I borrowed from my accommodation. I'd definitely recommend traveling the coastal routes by bicycle, and trying to avoid the middle parts of Okinawa as they are really hilly for beginner bike riders. If you have a decent bike or electric bike I don't think these hills would be an issue though.
Ryuchu (龍柱)
I first passed the Ryuchu statue's on my way to Naminoue Shrine. They were impressive, but they didn't seem like much of a tourist photo op spot.
It's really peaceful riding a bicycle in Okinawa. There were hardly any people on the sidewalks, and not many other bikers as well. I saw as many cats as I did people throughout the day!
Naminoue Shrine (波上宮)
A man was in deep contemplation when I arrived at the shrine.
Naminoue Beach (波の上ビーチ)
Behind the shrine you can find Naminoue beach and a cool basketball court.
The coast ride up to the American village from Naminoue was great, although it was a bit windy. The bridges get a bit narrow, but other than that the path is really wide for the most part! You can spot many locals fishing on this coastal route, or doing their morning exercises. Even though it was close to downtown Naha the waters were really clear!
The beaches were still a bit too cold to jump in the water in March. But the weather was perfect for biking around this time.
I saw some locals playing bball at Araha park so I had to give it a go! I played on the team with the tall guy. His name is Ryuji (I think), about 6'7, and his dad is stationed here in the military like my grandpa was 60 years ago. He's actually half Japanese like myself! And yes we did beat the other two guys in the white shirts. The ojiisan in the blue shirt was their coach apparently, and seemed like a local park legend. He was draining three's like it was no one's business. They were training today for their high school basketball teams so the coach asked if I could join them for some 2 v 2. He wanted me to come next week as well, but I was leaving to Kyoto by then :'(
After balling I continued my way up to the American village and Depot island.
American Village (美浜タウンリゾート・アメリカンビレッジ)
It was pretty deserted in the area due to the start of the covid epidemic. It felt like a mini amusement park here with the colorful buildings and ferris wheel. Usually there are a lot more American military personnel who come down here, but I think they were told to stay around the base at this time. It's nice having Aeon malls everywhere! I stopped at the one here for lunch :D
I then biked my way over from the American village to the Okinawa Athletics park. Going through the middle part of Okinawa is really hilly! It is an island after all.
This is the military base my dad grew up at attending Kubasaki high school. I couldn't enter obviously, but when I come with him next time he said he will show me the high school from a hill you can view it from.
Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom (イオンモール沖縄ライカム)
The apex of the hill came at the largest aeon mall in Okinawa, Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom. There are plenty of food options here and in the area so you can plan to take a long break around here.
Okinawa Soba shop I passed along the way to Aeon Mall.
I have now crossed to the East side of Okinawa's long skinny island and head.
Okinawa Athletics Park (沖縄県総合運動公園)
After crossing over the island I made my way to the Okinawa athletics park. I also found this very unique Okinawan landscape called the Awase tidal flats. It's a nature preservation, but yo can still walk out a bit into the sand area to look around. I saw some people climbing this rock so I also made my way up to have a nice view and get the wind pounded in my face.
Nakagusuku Park (中城公園)
It was getting towards the afternoon now so I decided to head back down to Naha making a stop at the Nakagusuku park and Umikaji Terrace.
It was a tough push up the hills in Okinawa... but I had the luck to see a TV show they were filming around the Nakagusuku park area! I thought it was destiny for a second when I ran into them, maybe this was my moment to be discovered, but they seemed like they were making the production just fine so I continued on my way.
Umikaji Terrace Senagajima (瀬長島 ウミカジテラス)
I finally made it to the Umikaji Terrace at the southern tip of Okinawa! I was dead tired by this point, as I had not ridden a bike in a few years.
In all I was out biking, minus breaks, for around 6 hours or so. I took many breaks throughout the day and had a nice time meeting the locals as well!
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