{"id":83901,"date":"2021-09-08T18:24:57","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T09:24:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=83901"},"modified":"2021-09-09T11:56:47","modified_gmt":"2021-09-09T02:56:47","slug":"yomitan-things-to-do-traditional-village-meet-the-locals-okinawa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/yomitan-things-to-do-traditional-village-meet-the-locals-okinawa\/","title":{"rendered":"Yomitan-son: Visit a Traditional Village and Meet the Locals in Okinawa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Mensore!<\/em> When you travel to Okinawa Prefecture, you will hear this word often. Mensore<\/em> means “welcome” in the Okinawan dialect, but it is not only a polite greeting, it is also an intrinsic part of the Okinawan culture and way of life. A good example that reflects this concept is Ichariba chode<\/em>, an Okinawan proverb that means “Once we meet, even though by chance, we are family”. It is said that Okinawan people are open-minded and relaxed people, and those who leave Okinawa always end up coming back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Okinawa prefecture is made up of some 160 islands with a subtropical climate and a diverse ecosystem full of hidden gems to explore. But there is much more to Okinawa than breathtaking sunsets, pristine waters, idyllic beaches, and lush vegetation<\/a>. The archipelago is also home to a unique history, delicious cuisine, and distinctive traditions and culture. On Okinawa Island, the prefecture’s main and largest island, there is one place that is blessed with all of these features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This place is Yomitan-son (‘son’ means village in Japanese), a traditional Okinawan village where you can delve into the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom, meet the locals, and experience their unique way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Naha (\u90a3\u8987\u5e02) is the capital and largest city of Okinawa prefecture and tends to be one of the main reasons for tourists visiting this city. But Okinawa is home to many hidden treasures outside the capital that are worth visiting. I was once told that Naha is like an Okinawan-style Tokyo and that it is necessary to leave the city to discover the real Okinawa. During the drive from Naha to Yomitan Village, I could verify this statement. As we leave the city behind, the cityscape is replaced by fields of sugar canes swaying in the air, Japanese fast food franchises by local restaurants with their unmistakable Orion beer lanterns, and instead of tall buildings, the skyline is an infinite and turquoise ocean<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nYomitan Village, the Most Populated Village in Japan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n