Looks like a fancy restaurant. . . I paid one coin!

 

 

 

My quest to find inexpensive but still tasty meals led me to this dish:



 

Is your mouth watering yet? Mine sure was when I caught a glimpse of this pasta dish with spicy sausage slices and egg. I was even more pleased to see the price!

One Coin Meal

In Okinawa, as well as other parts of Japan, there are meals referred to as "One Coin Meals". These meals usually come in at or just under ¥500 getting the name from the number of coins required to pay for the meal. Sometimes restaurants have special One Coin Meal days where you can get an entire ramen set, for example, for one coin. Others simply refer to something which can be purchased for one coin as a One Coin Meal. 

So where did I get this meal? Well . . . . Lawson. No need for a fancy sit down restaurant, this was a grab and go! The pasta itself came in at ¥398 which with a drink brought me just under ¥500. Now I am sure that there are some of you out there shaking your head at prepackaged pasta from a convenience store but I have to say this was pretty good. Everything was fresh, sauce was tasty and so was the spicy sausage. The portion was decent size as well, surely more food then you would get at any Italian place for this price.

As for the hubby he went with one of his favorites, katsudon. The meal was the same price (if I remember correctly) and again came in just under one coin after he grabbed a tea. Unlike pasta, katsudon has a few characteristics which can be lost in prepackaged meals. There doesn't tend to be as much juice and the egg is not necessarily the same but every with that being said this meal was very good.

 



 

Overall we both decided that we would certainly get both of these options again especially if we are in a pinch for time and want something other than a sandwich or onigiri.

If these options don't look that great to you don't fret, there are a number of different options available at various convenience stores around Okinawa. For specialty dishes like pasta and katsudon, however, we recommend Lawson or Family Mart.

Have you tried one of these before? Let us know what you thought!

Double Decker

Double Decker is one of the many places on Okinawa that you might miss if you don't know where it is. The Caffe and Bar or what I suppose we might simply refer to as a pub, is located in Mihama's American Village nestled behind the Sega Amusement Building. Just follow the paw prints on the ground and it will lead you to the unique looking entrance.

Double Decker Buss:

The restaurant gets it's name for the double decker buss which is parked right around the corner and retrofitted as part of the restaurant offering tables and booths. The restaurant itself is warm and welcoming. The walls are covered with memorabilia from various time frames and the ceiling is covered with playing cards. The bar itself I can only describe as "what a bar should look like".



Another thing I absolutely love about Double Decker is the staff. They are incredibly friendly and laid back. This is not one of those places where you're going to feel rushed or pressured to finish up and move on with your night. It's a place for relaxing, laughing and enjoying yourself. On a side note I also like how pressed and well dressed the bar tender is. Every time I have gone back it has been the same bar tender, at least as I remember it, and he is always looking his best which in my opinion adds to the ambiance.

Good Eats: 

Ok, enough about the look and feel, let's talk about the food! Double Decker has what I would call an extensive menu, at last for Japan. You're not only going to find bar food here but also a variety of other options for every taste and occasion. You can find options such as Salad, Rice Omelets, Rice Casserole, Rice Bowls, Pasta, Pizza, Sweets and a great deal of Appetizers on the menu. You can also find chicken wings, which were an addition made in recent years, that are absolutely delicious.



 

Portion sizes are that which you might experience at other pubs or bars. They are not too big to enjoy with a beer but not to small to split family style with a friend or two. In fact I would go so far as to say that enjoying this meal family style is the way to go, especially with friends.

Pricing: 

Pricing for Double Decker isn't too far off from what you might get at other sit down restaurants. In fact you could say that it is relatively affordable with your average entree coming in between ¥700 and ¥900 yen. As with anywhere else appetizers range in price depending on what it is you are ordering with some topping off around ¥1000. Overall this is one of those places where a party of 2 can order drinks, dinner and appetizers and walk out for under ¥5000.



 

Healthy Options: 

You don't have to cringe if you're watching what you eat either. Double Decker has about 4 or 5 salads, among other healthy options, which are not only on the healthy side but are absolutely delicious! Read more about that here.

Don't be mistaken, This is a bar: 

Double Decker is a great place to enjoy dinner and drinks with a loved one but it is not a place for kids. Don't be mistaken by the extensive menu or double decker buss, this is a bar. And no I don't mean like Pub 99 or Chilli's where there is a bar in the restaurant. This is a bar that serves food. There will be smoking and there will be drinking. Does this mean that you will be turned away if you go with children? No. But this is because here in Japan there is a different mentality with izakayas and pubs then there is in the US.

Give it a try: 

Next time you're looking for something interesting to do on a Friday night why not give Double Decker a try?

 

Starbucks Japan: Familiar coffee with Japanese flare.

Starbucks is arguably Okinawa's most popular coffee shop, at least amongst the American community here. Like at other chains you will find a variety of coffee blends as well as specialty drinks which are available throughout different times of the year. One of the flavors comes during spring and brings a Japanese flare to otherwise familiar drink; The Sakura White Chocolate Frappuccino.



The Sakura White Chocolate Frappuccino (or latte if you're looking for something hot) is a tasty treat with a light but distinct flavor.  In fact a few years back when it came out for the first time there was some mixed feelings among the American community. Sakura, as you may know, is another word for cherry blossom. The flavor is sometimes used in sweets in Japan and as I mentioned has a bit of a distinct floral flavor. This flavor can be strange for those who are new to Japan and not familiar with the "natural" tastes that are featured in traditional sweets.



If you want to give the sakura flavor a try you have a few options. Much like other seasonal flavors there is a Sakura White Chocolate Frappuccino as well as a hot latte. The frappuccino has sakura flavored white chocolate flakes on the top which are absolutely delicious. Of course this is not featured on the latte. There are also a variety of different pastries to enjoy as well. In the past there was a danish which featured a sakura mochi center and this year they had sakura flavored cake (Not pictured. I'm sorry I don't know what I was thinking.).

Pricing for these sakura flavored treats are the same as other Starbucks offerings which, as are other specialty coffees, are expensive. It's worth it though especially if you're wanting to try something new or just add a dash of springtime to your next trip to the coffee shop.

If you're tried Sakura White Chocolate Frappuccino let us know in the comments below!

What did you think?

Ocean Expo Park Illumination [Video]

600,000 Twinkling Lights - Itoman Peaceful Illumination

 



For a number of Americans the holidays just aren't the same here as they are in the US. There are, however, some things that can give you a little taste of the holidays while here in Okinawa. One of these things is referred to as "illumination" but you might call it a "christmas light display". These can be found all over Japan and there are various that happen here in Okinawa however this year I returned the Itoman Peaceful Illumination, where I went last year.



Located in the southern part of the island this illumination features over 600,000 lights in various forms. Last year there was a large eagle, this year there was a spectacular huge tent of lights as well as an ocean of lights on which a Japanese style ship was sailing. Everyone of all ages can enjoy this illumination. Young and old stare at the lights in awe.





The highlight of the night is when all of the lights are shut off for a moment and spectators can see just how bright the lights are. Then as the entire crowd counts down the lights go back on and everyone enjoys the rest of the evening. There are food vendors which gives this a matsuri feel as well as pony rides and live performances.









Admission for the event is 200yen and prices vary for other goodies such as hot cocoa, cotton candy and corn on the cob. For me this is a great place to come each and every year. It puts me in the holiday spirit. The event runs at the end of December through the new year which is perfect for those of you who want to add a taste of home to your holiday here in Okinawa.

Okinawa Kids Clothing Swap

There's no way around it, kids grow like weeds. One day you're cuffing their pants because they drag on the ground and the next they are 2 inches too short. Sometimes clothes have barely been worn before it's time to get rid of them because they simply don't fit any more. Wouldn't it be great if there was a way you could somehow put those clothes to good use? Well, it turns out that a group of people had the same thought and created the Okinawa Kids Clothing Swap.

[caption id="attachment_775" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Founded by Annastasia McPherson and joined by Sarah Cardio.
Current coordinators are Kristina Trujillo, Kristy Wells, Elaine Wang, and Courtney Walinski.[/caption]

 

What exactly is the Okinawa Kids Clothing Swap? In a nutshell it's an event that happens every 3 months where you can bring the clothes that your kids no longer have use for and swap with others who have done the same. Great idea right? Top it off with some super organized individuals who run the group and you have yourself a really great program.

It all started in April of 2009 when a military spouse who was stationed here in Okinawa put together the swap. At the time the group consisted of only about 12 people who met to swap clothes on Camp Foster. This, however, quickly grew to the large event that it is today and consequentially needed to move to a larger venue to accommodate all of the interest.

"How do I get started?" 

Before you run into your closet and pull out everything that you would like to bring to the next clothing swap there are some things that you'll need to know. First of all you're going to have to go over to the Okinawa Kids Clothing Swap Yahoo Group and register as a member which you can do by clicking here. This page has boatloads of information for you to read and to get you on the right track to participating in the next swap. You can also check out the Okinawa Kids Clothing Swap Facebook Fan Page  where you can not only get links to important information but communicate with others who are participating in the swap. I myself have check out the Facebook page and WOW! The great people over at Okinawa Kids Clothing Swap also would like to stress that if you have any questions ASK AWAY! They do a great job of giving you all the information you need.

Once you are registered it's time to get all of your clothes prepared for the event. I spoke with the coordinators over at the Okinawa Kids Clothing Swap who explained that this is the most important thing for participants to do before bring clothes to the swap. Premie/newborn through children's large clothing is accepted (sorry they do not accept juniors). You're going to have to sort and label clothing by gender, size and include your last name on each bag. You must double-check for stains, holes, excessive wear, and make sure that all buttons and/or zippers work. It is also asked that you do your best to bring only clothes which are in "like new" or "gently used" condition. Not only will this ensure that the standard of the swapped clothes is high but it also assists the volunteers from having to do unnecessary work.  Once this is done clothes are then dropped off at Kadena Elementary school, in the cafeteria, Friday before the swap (5-6PM) and Saturday morning before the swap (8-11AM). It is kindly requested that those with more than 50 items drop off clothes before 10AM and that those who participate bring no more than 100 items total.

"What can I expect at one of these swaps?"

[caption id="attachment_776" align="alignright" width="300"] This is no little swap. There are LOTS of clothes to pick from![/caption]

After you have dropped off your clothes you are free to leave and return at 12:30 to sign in and receive a credit total for the items you have brought to be swapped. This is done all by volunteers who sort and count your clothes as well as double-check to ensure that clothes meet their "gently used" standards. They will then fill out a form with your name and the total count of items accepted. If your item is not accepted because it does not meet the "gently used" standards you can choose to receive your item back or have it put into a "free" pile. For those of you who are first time swappers and might wonder why what you brought was not accepted the great people of Okinawa Kids Clothing Swap have thought of that. They will give you your items back and show you why they were not accepted.

The swap itself starts at 1pm at which time some announcements are made and then swappers can check out what items are available. Clothing is separated on tables by gender and size which makes things very easy for swappers. The event itself is quite fast paced and by 2:30PM most of the swappers have already checked out. 90 MINUTES! That pretty much means that there is no leisurely browsing once the event gets started so you should probably know exactly what you are looking for!

You can use all your credits at one time or you have the option of having unused credits carry over for 2 future swaps after which they will expire. Once you choose your items you can then go a check out where volunteers will count the items and record the number of items taken. Then that's it! You can go on your merry way and continue on with your day.

Volunteers are always needed!

These types of events and organizations are great but it's no secret that they don't run themselves. The Okinawa Kids Clothing Swap is 100% volunteer run and organized. This is part of the reason that the event is free to those who want to participate. They also welcome any donations of resources to help keep the event going strong! One of the ways that can help is to volunteer some of your time. Here's that the Okinawa Kids Clothing Swap told us about what it's like to volunteer for a swap:

We will have 3 shifts this swap. Friday late afternoon, Saturday morning, and Saturday afternoon. Friday will be a 2 hour shift for unloading of the stored swap clothes and setup. Saturday morning will be a 4 hour shift from 0800-1200 for clothing checkin, reviewing, and placing on tables. Saturday afternoon will be a 4 hour shift from 1200-1600, and will run the check out tables and assist in filtering out expired clothing, counting items for record keeping, and packing left over clothes back up into our space bag totes.

And just because you're volunteering doesn't mean that there aren't perks:

All swap-participating volunteers receive 10 PREPICKS! This means that if you volunteer, you must be present at 1215 at the swap location to go pick out 10 items to take home before the swap opens. You get FIRST PICKS of all the new swap items, 10 of them, (as long as you have 10 credits to use). This is our way of saying THANK YOU for volunteering and helping to keep our swap running free and smoothly as a service to all military families on Okinawa. We will provide a letter of appreciation and a certificate if needed for your volunteer service hours.

If you are interested in volunteering you can contact the Okinawa Kids Clothing Swap through Facebook.

My thoughts: 

At first glance I loved the idea of the Okinawa Kids Clothing Swap but it honestly wasn't until I took some time to read more into it and talk with the folks over there that it really started to shine. Looking at some of the online resources and seeing the amount of effort and work that has gone into that alone was great but then to hear how much the volunteers put into this and how many people participate really sold me on how great this is which is why I wanted to highlight Okinawa Kids Clothing Swap for those of you who might be reading this blog.

I would also like to add a special thanks to the people over at the Okinawa Kids Clothing Swap who assisted me by answering my questions. You guys are doing a great thing over there so keep up the great work!

Unfortunately I was unable to post this before the last event which happened this month (November 2012), however that give those of you who are interested in participating in the next swap plenty of time to get prepared and read all of the necessary information.

 

Taste of Home: Ice Hockey

Did you know that you can play ice hockey here in Okinawa? I spoke with Blake who plays with the Okinawa Sniperz. He gave me all the information you need to know if you want to get involved with playing ice hockey here in Okinawa. Here's the interview.

ONK: Is this a league or simply a group of people who get together with a common interest?

Blake: It is not technically a league though there are 5 teams that play here on Okinawa in addition to a youth team.  We are the Okinawa Sniperz and the other teams are all Japanese, of which one is for females attending Ryukyu University.  We usually play 1-2 games a month against these teams, and once a year the rink puts on a Haebaru Town hockey tournament.

ONK:  Are there any requirements? (i.e. you must be 18 to play, can women play, is certain gear required)

Blake: To come out and skate you will need full gear even though we are primarily a no checking group, there is contact.  There is no age/gender/skill requirements though if you are under 18 years old you must wear a full face mask.  If you are above 18 it is up to you.

ONK:  Other than personal gear is there any cost involved? (i.e. Membership fees, cost to skate at rink)

Blake: Everytime you skate you must pay 2,500¥. Additionally if you are not SOFA status you are required to pay an annual insurance fee prior to stepping on the ice for the first time.  This fee is roughly 2,000¥.

ONK:  Is there a POC or email contact I can include if people are interested in more information?

Blake: Please use myself as the POC.  Blake Ferngren and my email.

ONK:  How would you describe the experience playing with this group? Competitive? Fun? Learning experience?

Blake: We are a team comprised of all skill levels and ages.  During games we of course are competitive but on our regular Monday night practices it's a just a bunch of people that love to play hockey.  We divide whoever shows up in half and play pick up hockey for roughly 90 minutes.