artbobo
|
Naha Itinerary - 2006/10/24 02:38
-----Original Message-----
From: Joyce
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 7:18 PM
This is an enquiry e-mail via http://okinawa.com from:
Joyce
We are arriving on the Sapphire Princess Cruise Ship on Nov.1. We are interested in a city tour in a private vehicle with an English speaking guide. We are 4 adults and would need to be picked up and dropped off at the pier where the ship will be docked.
Can you please provide me with contact information or recommendations.
Thank you for your assistance,
Joyce
-----Original Message-----
From: okinawa contact
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 1:23 PM
To: Joyce
Hello Joyce,
Got your message and I don't have a good answer for you yet. I'm looking into agencies that provide the service.
If you want to save money and feel more adventurous, you might consider a tour of Naha city without a guide. Okinawa is extremely safe for travelers.
Taxis are abundant and cheaper than other forms of transportation if you are in a group of 4 and just traveling within Naha city. I'm planning on creating a Naha city itinerary anyway, so let me know if you are interested.
Regards,
--art b.
-----Original Message-----
From: Joyce
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 3:52 PM
To: 'okinawa contact'
Thank you so much for your wonderful and helpful e-mail. We would be most interested in an intinerary of Naha City. Any assistance that you can provide would be most welcome.
Do the taxi drivers speak English and what is the appropriate cost for a 3 to 4 hour tour with some shopping thrown in.
In addition, how far is the port from Kokusai Street.
You have been great.
Thank you,
Joyce
-----Original Message-----
From: okinawa contact
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 10:23 PM
To: Joyce
Subject: RE:Naha Okinawa tour.
Hello Joyce,
I saw the Sapphire Princess in port when I was in Okinawa last week. Big ship. How long is your layover on Okinawa? If you have more than one day, I'll recommend other itineraries. Where did you embark?
Who's in your group and how fit are they? Can they walk a mile?
The two main things to do in Naha are shopping ( Kokusai St. and the Public
market) and visiting Shurijo Castle which is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Both are within a $15 cab ride of where the Sapphire Princess will dock.
Taxi drivers don't speak English. Everyone in your party should have a note written in Japanese with the location of the ship in case they get lost and need to get back. There is no tipping in Japan (a tour guide may be an exception). Taxis are about the size of a Toyota Camry so 3 passengers can squeeze in the back and one in front. The taxi driver controls the rear door so let him open and close it.
I don't know what a day tour would cost but cost of living on Okinawa is not much different than the US. As I said I will try to get you in touch with a tour company if you don't want to wander on your own.
Okinawans are very courteous and friendly but don't know what to expect from foreigners. A smile and hello will go a long way on Okinawa to making your trip enjoyable.
Regards,
Art B
-----Original Message-----
From: Joyce
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 7:36 PM
To: 'okinawa contact'
Subject: RE: Naha Okinawa tour.
Art...........you are just great. Come to Toronto and we will give you the tour of your life. It's a great City. No snow as yet.
We are in Okinawa a very short time.....7:00 am to 4:00 pm. Is there something in particular that we should be shopping for in Okinawa and what do you know about duty free shopping at Sinintoshin??????????
We are embarking in Beijing and travelling for 16 days. This is our second trip to Asia but we are visiting some places that we did not get to 4 years ago (land trip).
Once again, thank you for all of your help. Please let me know if you have any other pearls of wisdom.
Best Wishes,
Joyce
-----Original Message-----
From: okinawa contact
To: Joyce
Subject: RE:Naha Okinawa tour.
The DFS (Duty Free Store/Shop) is a department store by the Omoromachi monorail Station in Shintoshin. This is also a $15 cab ride from where your ship will dock. The DFS mall carries the usual suspects of designer brand goods, Vuitton, Chanel, etc. I'm not sure there is a duty on these things any more but if you buy on Okinawa as a tourist you can avoid the sales tax which I believe is 3% or so. I believe the same applies for the major department stores of Ryubo and Mitsukoshi on Kokusai Street. Next to DFS in Shintoshin is Main Place which is a mall with more Japanese style stores including electronic items.
Shintoshin is about a 10 minute taxi ride from Kokusai Street and Shurijo Castle.
Different people like different shopping experiences. My wife is a craftsperson and we are very interested in Okinawan crafts. The pottery is very good and we think they are a good deal. A small dragon vase by our favorite potter, Isamu Kobashigawa costs about $200 and seems a bargain. Vases by recently deceased National Living Treasure, Jiro Kinjo, cost $500- $5000 and more. The textiles are also renowned but really for the Japanese women who can afford and appreciate $10,000 for a kimono woven of Ryukuan fabric. When I want to splurge I buy a Joufu shirt made of Ryukuan fabric (Joufu means "best fabric/clothing"). It's a Tommy Bahama style shirt costing $300-$500. Hiroko is a tiny store on Heiwa Dori that sells Joufu men's and women's clothing. Mitsukoshi Department store also has a men's joufu department.
Shintoshin is modern Japan. For the souk bazaar tiny stall type of market that will one day disappear from Okinawa, you should experience the Makishi Public Market of Kokusai. There are hundreds of shops. One of the main entrances is Heiwa Dori across from the Starbucks on Kokusai. (Ask the taxi driver for Kokusai Heiwa Dori.) If you stay on Heiwa Dori, it's mostly tourist shops but if you wander to the alleys on the right you'll be in the heart of Makishi market with the fishmongers, food stalls, etc.
One of the nice things about shopping in Okinawa is that you are not pestered like many third world countries. Okinawa is a land of courtesy. There is also no haggling, although if you are looking at purchasing an expensive item or antique you could politely ask if they could offer a better price. A good gift item to take home is bottles of Awamori, Okinawa's potent rice liquor. Unlike fermented Japanese sake, it's distilled and is usually 40 to 120 proof.
At the end of Heiwa Dori (about 250 yards from its beginning at Kokusai street is the beginning of the traditional Yachimon pottery district street. It begins with the Okinawan pottery museum which is an ambience destroying modern building in an otherwise quaint area. The main Yachimon road is about a 100 yards long and ends at a major street with a MacDonalds. Yachimon has about 2 dozen ceramic shops.
Regards,
--art b.
|
Forum