Northern Okinawa is not so densely populated, full of picturesque scenery, making it a frequent weekend escape for me and UN. My friends and I stayed overnight in Kunigami Town over MLK weekend. The town seemingly entered a day’s rest immediately following sunset. Melody of babbling brooks and howling winds filled the night. For dinner, we charcoal-grilled freshly caught fish wrapped in getto leaves. We might have disturbed the town’s quietness with our rambunctious chatters and laughters over board games and movies.

Daisekirinzan

https://www.sekirinzan.com/
Tickets: 1200 yen (adults), 550 yen (children), 900 yen (elders)
Address: 1241 Ginama, Kunigami, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-1422

It is believed that the goddess who created Okinawa first landed here, therefore considered by locals a sacred site. The outline of Daisekirinzan (mountain), when viewed from a distance, resembles that of the Bddhist goddess Guanyin lying down. This area is part of Yanbaru National Park. Cape Hedo, the northernmost point of Okinawa, is visible from the observatory here. Here is also the home of the biggest Banyan tree in Japan. Along the hiking route, you will discover hoof tracks of Okinawa wild boars, you may even spot Yanbaru chicken! Special thanks to Park Manager of Daisekirinzan, our friend E and her friendly coworkers for the educational guided tour. This March you can join the “Seven Mysteries of Daisekirinzan'' guided tour led by the Park Manager himself, see the intertwining Irukanda, naturally-forming crystals and learn about Okinawa geography, culture, and history! Come here to clear your mind, and also for a chance to meet Japanese celebrity!

Okinawa Cacao Factory & Stand

http://okinawacacao.com/
Address: 521-1 Hama, Kunigami, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-1415

We must have driven up and down Route 58 at least a dozen times in the last year and a half, but this is our first time stopping here. Never knew there is a chocolate shop here. They sell Okinawa flavored chocolates such as getto leaves and Awamori (snake sake).

Shimabukuro Meat Shop

http://shimabukuroseinikuten.com
Address: 93 Oyakawa, Nago, Okinawa 905-1146

In this butcher shop you may find sausage, skewers, and various organs. Additionally, you can purchase horse meat and deer meat. There’s a similar butcher shop nearby where we live, but the clean freak in me always hesitated going in. Plus I don’t know how to order what I want in Japanese. This time I went with my friends and I loved it! It’s a lot cleaner than I imagined, and doesn't smell like raw meat. I especially recommend their goat soup, not very gamy, and the portion is very generous. We purchased three people’s serving, but fed five and with plenty of leftovers. Writing this post makes me crave for goat soup again!

This long weekend trip to Northern Okinawa with friends made up for not being able to travel to mainland Japan. Okinawa is now in a state of emergency again, the Governor of Okinawa recommended everyone to refrain from staying out past 8pm, and all of the restaurants and shops comply by closing at 8. Praying that everyone stays safe, until next time!

Chinese Translation

沖繩北部依山傍水，是我和UN週末很喜歡來的地方。人口不像北谷和那霸擁擠，大多以務農為主。長週末和朋友們一起到北部國頭村一帶，太陽下山後非常安靜，村裡的人似乎已進入休息狀態，幾乎聽不到任何吵雜聲。我們在住宿的陽台烤肉，朋友E帶來沖繩食材月桃葉（getto leaves））烤魚，大家聚在一起吃飯看電影。

大石林山

https://www.sekirinzan.com/
門票：1200日幣（大人）, 550日幣（小孩）, 900日幣（敬老）
〒905-1422 沖縄県国頭郡国頭村宜名真1241

那裡有川普石，快去找吧！沖繩有名的聖地之一，據說是沖繩女神最初降臨的地點。山形從遠方看去像是觀音躺著的圖像，也分成地上界和天上界。這區是山原（やんばる）國家公園，從大石林山展望台能眺望到最北邊的辺戸岬，還有日本最大的榕樹。照著路線走能看到沖繩山豬走過痕跡，聽說還能看到山原雞！這次行程非常感謝大石林山所長、朋友E和同事們的詳細解說和翻譯，讓我們一起探討古人在大石林山這帶的生活習性。有許多至今還無法解答像是正對東邊的朝拜石頭是人為還是自然現象、石頭排列像是古人在進行某種儀式等等的景象。今年三月會推出”大石林山的七種不可思議”導覽，大石林山所長會帶你去看血藤、天然水晶，讓你在這不止看風景拍拍照，還能學到好多沖繩地理文化歷史！除了陶冶身心靈，另一個一定要來的原因：有機會見到日本超紅明星！

Okinawa Cacao Factory & Stand

http://okinawacacao.com/
〒905-1415 沖縄県国頭郡国頭村浜521-1

遊走58號路上一年多，第一次在這裡停下。從來不知道這裡有家超有名巧克力專賣店，客人源源不斷。賣的是沖繩限有口味像是我們拿來烤魚的月桃葉和玻璃缸一定有一隻蛇的泡盛口味。我們買了月桃葉口味黑巧克力，現在邊寫日誌邊吃。

島袋精肉店

http://shimabukuroseinikuten.com/
〒905-1146 沖縄県名護市親川93

精肉店有點像是台灣菜市場裡的肉舖或是美國butcher shop，和名字一樣專賣和肉相關的食物，有香腸、烤串、內臟類，也有比較特別的馬肉和鹿肉。每次經過家附近的精肉店都好想進去，卻很怕味道重，也不知道如何買。這次和朋友一起，我愛到不行！沒有印象中肉店的餿味，凌亂但乾淨，愛喝沖繩羊汁的我非常推薦這家精肉店賣的羊汁，不會有太濃腥味，而且份量大到誇張。三人份的羊汁多到能餵飽五人還吃不完。寫完好想吃羊汁啊！