Yanbaru Living Culture in Okinawa’s Blue Zone

📍 Time: Start (Village Orientation Walk): 16:00 Duration: 1 hDistance and journey time (approximation): Naha – Yanbaru: 2 h by car

The private transfer will pick up guests at the airport or hotel reception in Naha. It takes approximately 2 hours to get to Yanbaru.

Arrive in Yanbaru and meet a villager guide who will act as a host for the stay that will lead guests on an adventure into the heart of Okinawan culture, nature, and hospitality.

In Yanbaru village, empty private houses have been renovated into luxury villas that maintain the style and layout of the former homes. These sustainable hotels have created a new local business model that allow residents preserve and share their local culture.

After checking in, the villager guide will explain the house history and lead guests on a walk through the village. This orientation tour is a perfect way to discover the history and scenery of the village.

Dinner is served at the villa in the form of a simple and healthy DIY BBQ of chicken and local vegetables. 

Overnight in Yanbaru 

Inclusions:

🍗 Dinner

📍 Time:Start (Cooking experience): 08:00 Duration: approx. 2 h *including pick-up/drop-off, and transit timesStart (Bashofu experience): 10:00 Duration: approx. 2 h *including pick-up/drop-off, and transit timesStart (Sabani experience): 14:00 Duration: approx. 2 h *including pick-up/drop-off, and transit times

Begin the morning with a traditional Okinawan cooking experience using a wood-fired stove in the villa. The villager guide will assist with the food preparation and guests can learn traditional cooking methods. When complete, enjoy a tasty home cooked breakfast served on beautiful Okinawa pottery. 

Next, the villager guide will drive guests to Oogimi village to witness the remarkable local handicraft of bashofu, the traditional method of weaving banana leaf fibers into textiles. This disappearing craft produces thin cloth used to make light kimonos perfect for Okinawa’s heat and humidity. Experience this fascinating process up close and learn how a few remaining weavers are keeping the tradition alive.

Today's lunch features ingredients that offer a glimpse into the secrets of Okinawan longevity. Dishes are lovingly prepared at a warm, rustic restaurant using fresh produce grown by local grandmothers. Enjoy a special seasonal meal crafted with locally sourced ingredients to fully savour the blessings of nature.

In the afternoon, board a traditional Okinawan wooden sailing boat for a relaxing ride over the waves. Originally used in Okinawa for practical purposes, the sabani boat evolved from a single-tree canoe to wood-joined construction due to forestry protection laws. Meet the shipbuilder and see how he is preserving the cultural legacy of the seagoing Okinawan people. 

Tonight’s dinner is vegan Okinawan cuisine at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Yanbaru
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Distances and journey time: Yanbaru – Naha Airport (100 km): 2 h

Start the day with a healthy breakfast featuring locally made bread delivered to the villa. 

After checkout, say goodbye to Yanbaru Village. A private transfer will take to the Naha Airport.

Optional Extension : Resort Stay at Busena Terrace
On the way back to Naha Airport, extend the time on the island with a few days at a locally-owned Okinawan resort on one of the Island’s most celebrated beaches.
Wake up to the sound of waves, and fall asleep under the twinkling stars. Enjoy a blissful holiday where guests can leave behind the everyday hustle and bustle, and find peace for both mind and body.
Speak with a Travel Consultant for more details.

Inclusions: