KAZUKIN loves Okinawa.

American Village and Blue Seal

What I especially love is American Village.

That unique atmosphere. The seaside scenery. The colorful buildings.

Just walking around gives a huge feeling of being on a trip.

Colorful buildings and palm trees at American Village
American Village. Even when it's cloudy, it's somehow just fun.

And the Blue Seal ice cream you eat here.

It's truly exceptional.

Really.

The storefront of the Blue Seal Depot Island Seaside shop. A neon sign and menu board
Blue Seal. I was drawn right in.

Why does Blue Seal taste so good in Okinawa? It's supposed to be the same ice cream, but eaten at American Village it somehow tastes several times better.

KAZUKIN in an aloha shirt eating Blue Seal ice cream by a window at dusk. “It's so good my jaw is melting♪”
Lamplight, the sound of waves, and vanilla. I need nothing else.

I think it's because the Okinawan air, the sea and the sense of freedom are all added as toppings.

A Blue Seal float set on a windowsill overlooking the sea
Blue soda drunk while looking at the sea is unfairly delicious.

Okinawa's sea is photogenic, basically always

I love Okinawa's sea too.

A highly transparent, sparkling sea. If you take a photo, it's basically always photogenic. Even a casual shot turns out great.

And it's beautiful again when you dive.

The sea seen from the surface is nice, but the world when you dive is something else. There are fish, light streams in, and just floating is fun.

The moment a dazzling beach suddenly leaps into view from a car window while traveling is irresistible too.

“Ah, I've come to Okinawa.”

Scenery that makes you think so keeps coming into view, over and over. Just driving along is fun. It feels like the trip has already begun before you reach your destination.

The food, the sanshin, and the awamori

The food is great too.

  • Sea grapes
  • Island rakkyo
  • Soki soba
  • And goya champuru

Even if I don't crave them that strongly normally, once in Okinawa I somehow want to eat them. It's mysterious.

The time spent drinking awamori while listening to live sanshin at an izakaya is also the best.

That atmosphere is hard to find elsewhere. There's food, there's awamori, there's the sound of sanshin, and the easygoing time flowing through the place.

That is irresistible too.

Closing the day: a canned beer on the balcony

And to close the day.

I step out onto the hotel balcony and drink a canned beer while listening to the waves.

This really is the best.

It doesn't have to be fancy alcohol. A canned beer from a convenience store is fine. In fact, that's what's good.

Recalling the sea I saw during the day, feeling the night breeze, hearing the sound of waves.

“Ah, tomorrow is Okinawa too.”

The time when I can think that is unbearably happy.

And surely, I'll want to go again

KAZUKIN loves Okinawa.

I love the sea, the towns, the food, the music, the night air.

And surely, I'll want to go again.

That's what Okinawa is like.

KAZUKIN

沖縄いいよね

KAZUKIN Rating

  • 🏝️ Trip feel of American Village — ★★★★★
  • 🍦 Exceptionalness of Blue Seal ice cream — ★★★★★
  • 🌊 Transparency and photogenic-ness of the sea — ★★★★★
  • 🎶 Finishing with sanshin and awamori — ★★★★★
  • 😢 Rate of return visits since Covid — ★★☆☆☆ (want to go again)

This article is a personal opinion and travel record. KAZUKIN LAB has no relationship with Blue Seal. I'm just a Blue Seal fan. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

The illustration is an image based on KAZUKIN's experience. It may differ from real stores and products. It is not an official manufacturer image.