February 17, 2021

Winter Strawberry Picking

February 17, 2021/ Brandy C.

We weren’t super crazy about strawberries when we lived in the States. However, now living in Japan, strawberries have become a stable fruit in our fridge when it's in season. Japanese strawberries are smaller and yet more expensive, but the added cost is justified by their superior sweetness. Japanese strawberries satisfy not only your sweet tooth, but also nourish your soul (for real)!

Last week we called many strawberry fields to see if they were open to the public for strawberry picking. All of them turned us down, some even fully booked for every weekend until the end of the month. We called Chura Ichigo and found out they are open to the public without reservations necessary. SCORE! Chura Ichigo is quite popular among my circle of friends because their website has information in many different languages. Choose your cup size (medium is 750 yen, large is 1000 yen), then go into one of the greenhouses where they grow strawberries and start picking! The strawberry fields that I’ve been to in the United States and in Taiwan were outdoors and strawberries were picked from the ground. Here the strawberries are elevated, so you don’t have to kneel down the whole time while picking. It also looks much cleaner indoors.

We were introduced to three types of strawberries:

Yotsuboshi: staff favorite, nice balance of sweet and sour.
Kaorino: our favorite, sweet, plump and juicy.
Koiminori: larger, smells peachy, slightly acidic in taste.

Before picking, the staff taught us how to spot tasty strawberries. First, the leaf cap, or calyx, should curl up. Second, the uglier the strawberries the tastier. Judge not a strawberry by its looks. Indeed we found that strawberries with white stripes/scars are sweeter than those without. With that said, strawberries are squished against the wall and each other inside the plastic cup, and therefore, scarred strawberries get crushed easier, the prettier ones hold up their shape and last longer. Strawberries are in season, from now until the end of April. Strawberry picking is a family friendly activity. You can even enjoy various strawberry desserts at the associated coffee shop next to the strawberry farm.

Location

Chura ichigo
- No reservation necessary except AYCE
- Can contact through LINE
- Offers multiple languages on the website
- 40 minutes AYCE (2000 yen adult, 1400 yen students, 900 yen under 3, elders, disable, free under 3)
- Regular size 750 yen, large 1000 yen
- http://www.chura-ichigo.jp
- Address: Kakinohana-555番地 Tamagusuku, Nanjo, Okinawa 901-0601
Ginoza Strawberry Farms
- Accept credit card
- Address: Kanna, Ginoza, Kunigami District, Okinawa 904-1304
- 50 minutes: 1500 yen adults, 1000 yen 6-12 years old, 700 yen 2-5 years old, free under 1
- https://strawberry.okinawa
Ginoza Ichigo
- All you can eat 40 minutes: 1500 yen adults, 1000 yen students, 800 yen 2-6 years old
- Monday and friday off
- Can make reservation other days
- Cash only
- Address: 1581番地 Ginoza, Kunigami District, Okinawa 904-1302
- http://ginoza-ichigo.net
Tomoya Farm
- Address: 552-1 Kitauebaru, Nakagusuku, Nakagami District, Okinawa 901-2423
- 40 minutes AYCE: 1900 13yrs or older, 1700 yen 7yrs or older, 1400 yen under 6
- Weekend only
- Weekday, reservation only, only in Japanese
- Twitter @tomoyafarmst

Chinese Translation

住美國時我們不是特別愛吃草莓，但在日本草莓季時，草莓一定是我們家冰箱必備品。雖然日本草莓比美國草莓小顆且價格比較貴，但這裡的草莓甜度永遠勝出。不像美國草莓空心不甜又沒汁，吃日本草莓感覺身心靈都被餵飽（UN覺得我形容得非常貼切！）

這週我們終於採到草莓了！上週末我們四處碰壁，打給沖繩每一家草莓園，全客滿，有些草莓園二月週末全被訂光！唯一Chura Ichigo不需預約（草莓吃到飽除外），而且網站有不同語言，也是朋友們最常去的一家。買了裝草莓杯子（中杯750日幣、大杯1000日幣）就能進去工作人員所指定的草莓溫室，這裡的草莓園和我們印象中在美國或台灣不太一樣。以往在傳統草莓園是室外且在地上，採草莓時一定要包得緊緊免得曬傷，但這裡的草莓園以高架培育，不需要一直蹲在地上，環境也比較乾淨整齊。

在Chura Ichigo有三種草莓品種，分別是：

Yotsuboshi：工作人員最愛，有恰當甜度和酸度。
Kaorino：是我們六人的最愛，甜又多汁又飽滿。
Koiminori：比較大顆，聞起來像桃子，但我們覺得比較酸。

採草莓前，工作人員教我們如何採和辨別好吃草莓（非常重要！）草莓瀏海（頭頂綠葉）翹起來，且越醜越好吃就是秘訣。的確長得不是特別漂亮的草莓比較甜，但我們發現草莓在杯子裡會稍許碰撞，醜的草莓比較容易軟，漂亮的草莓則能保持樣貌。現在正值草莓季，大概約四月時會結束，很適合全家一起來，採草莓後還能在附設咖啡店吃甜點。

沖繩草莓園資訊

Chura ichigo
- 不需事前預約（吃到飽除外）
- 可用LINE聯繫
- 網站有多國語言
- 40 分鐘吃到飽 (大人2000日幣、學生1400日幣、兒童900日幣)
- 中杯 750日幣, 大杯1000日幣
- http://www.chura-ichigo.jp
- 地址：Kakinohana-555番地 Tamagusuku, Nanjo, Okinawa 901-0601
Ginoza Strawberry Farms
- 收信用卡
- 地址：Kanna, Ginoza, Kunigami District, Okinawa 904-1304
- 50 分鐘吃到飽: 大人1500 日幣, 學生 1000 日幣, 小孩 700日幣
- https://strawberry.okinawa
Ginoza Ichigo
- 40分鐘吃到飽: 大人 1500 日幣、學生 1000 日幣、小孩 800 日幣
- 週一和週五公休
- 可事先預約
- 只收現金
- 地址：1581番地 Ginoza, Kunigami District, Okinawa 904-1302
- http://ginoza-ichigo.net
Tomoya Farm
- 地址：552-1 Kitauebaru, Nakagusuku, Nakagami District, Okinawa 901-2423
- 40分鐘吃到飽: 大人 1900 日幣、學生 1700 日幣, 小孩 1400 日幣
- 只開週末，週間僅供預約制
- Twitter @tomoyafarmst

February 12, 2021

5 Farmer's Market I Love in Okinawa

February 12, 2021/ Brandy C.

Welcome to Okinawa! If you’re new to the island, welcome to Brandy’s List! A few weeks ago I was chatting with a friend who is about to move to Okinawa. One of the topics was where I shop for groceries. San-A, Big Express, Kanehide, Co-op, Ryubo are all popular chain supermarkets in Okinawa. Allow me to introduce some local super markets that are similar to farmer’s markets in the US and others that remind me of market places in Taiwan.

JA Okinawa

www.ja-okinawa.or.jp/fm/market/
Address: 字登川２６９７−２, Okinawa, 904-2142

When we first moved here, I attended some Japanese cultural classes on base, and one of the classes was on local grocery shopping. Our teacher took us to JA, and introduced us to local ingredients and ways to prepare them. JA is Okinawa’s farmer’s market, you can find them everywhere here. I shop at JA often because they have some of my favorite Okinawan vegetables.

Happy More

happymore.jp
Address: 1 Chome-11-247-1 Shimashi, Ginowan, Okinawa 901-2213

Can’t talk about supermarkets without mentioning Happy More, a favorite of me and my friends! Their yams and tomatoes are fresh and sweet, also worth noting is their freshly squeezed juice. Getting to Happy More requires superb skills navigating through the narrow alleys of Okinawa, but I always come away fully loaded. Their reward card lets you accumulate points that you can use for redeeming juices.

Banana Stand

www.facebook.com/BananaStandOkinawa/
Address: 2 Chome-9-2 Chibana, Okinawa, 904-2143

Every military spouse knows this grocery store! Banana stand is mostly patronized by Y plates (US military affiliated license plates), but you do see locals shop here sometimes. At the peak of the pandemic last year, grocery shopping was one of the few remaining joyous tasks to look forward to, because Banana Stand became a place of random rendezvous between friends. As its name suggests, you can always count on them carrying fresh bananas here. Their vegetables are affordable and portions are generous, but occasionally you may find some duds. Great if you are a vegetable connoisseur.

Yumeseika

Address: 5 Chome-21-4 Misato, Okinawa, 904-2153

Like Banana Stand, another favorite of military spouses! During persimmon season, UN and I would come here at least twice a week to stock up on persimmons and we would just eat our hearts out. Japanese persimmons are plump, juicy and sweet. They even have freshly squeezed juices and smoothies!

Hallab

hallab.pecori.jp
Address: 3 Chome-4-1 Mekaru, Naha, Okinawa 900-0004

Similar to Happy More, they carry lots of organic foods. At first I was attracted by online photos of their interior design, and I decided to come and take some pictures. But I ended up finding sauces with no additives! I’m hooked! They carry only seasonal ingredients, including raw bamboo shoots in the spring.

Compared to American supermarkets, Japanese groceries are on the expensive side. On Facebook, one of the most frequently asked questions is if food costs more here than back in the US. That’s correct! But here you can also find groceries that you won’t find in America. Okinawa has many other great supermarkets, I hope you like this intro to Japanese grocery shopping. Tune in for more on farmer’s market!

Chinese Translation

幾個禮拜前和一位準備搬來沖繩的朋友聊天，其中聊到在沖繩哪裡買菜。San-A、Big Express、Kanehide、Co-op、Ryubo等等都是沖繩有名的連鎖超市，這次來介紹一下比較像美國農夫市場和台灣菜市場比較類似的地方。

JA Okinawa

www.ja-okinawa.or.jp/fm/market/
地址：字登川２６９７−２, Okinawa, 904-2142

剛搬來時，美軍基地提供認識日本生活的課程，其中一堂是逛超市。老師帶著我們到JA買菜，介紹沖繩當地食材和烹煮方式，讓我們這群剛從美國搬來沖繩的軍人和軍眷們能快速適應環境。JA是沖繩當地農會超市，整個島從南到北都能找到JA。美國人稱JA農夫市場（farmer’s market）是我在沖繩每次買菜必逛超市，裡面賣的長生百葉也是我最愛的沖繩蔬菜之一。Google Maps請搜尋：farmer’s market，能快速找到各地JA超市。

Happy More

happymore.jp
地址：1 Chome-11-247-1 Shimashi, Ginowan, Okinawa 901-2213

講到超市絕對不能不提Happy More，朋友群的最愛！這裡的地瓜和番茄超甜超新鮮，現打果汁也非常棒。雖然往Happy More的方向有夠窄（還離家有點遠），根本是挑戰我的開車技巧，但每次我都滿載而歸。他們有會員卡，集點能換果汁。

Banana Stand

www.facebook.com/BananaStandOkinawa/
地址：2 Chome-9-2 Chibana, Okinawa, 904-2143

軍眷裡無人不曉的蔬菜店！每次去必有一堆Y Plate（美軍相關人士的車牌），但也鮮少看到當地日本人在這逛。去年疫情期間，當我們只剩下買菜為樂時，每次來必見到朋友，像是我們防疫期間唯一能在基地外見面的方式了。如同英文名一樣，這裡永遠有新鮮香蕉能買。這裡的菜份量大也便宜，但有時會碰到雷，非常適合對蔬果有研究能挑出好又嫩的青菜最適合來。我最常在這裡買根莖類食材（非常便宜），拿來大量煮湯完全不心疼。

Yumeseika

Address: 5 Chome-21-4 Misato, Okinawa, 904-2153

和Banana Stand一樣，軍眷最愛！柿子盛產時，這裡讓我和UN天天享受日本柿，大顆又甜。有個Facebook團專門讓美軍們能分享買到蔬果價錢和位置，這裡常常上榜。他們也有現打果汁，前陣子還有柿子汁！

Hallab

hallab.pecori.jp
地址：3 Chome-4-1 Mekaru, Naha, Okinawa 900-0004

類似Happy More，專賣有機食品。原先來這裡純粹看到網路上店面擺設很吸引我，想來看看順便拍照，沒想到在這找到不含添加物的醬料，完全深深收買我。店裡全賣當季食材，春天還有生竹筍。

比起美國當地超市，日本食材偏貴，剛來沖繩的人常在Facebook上問到是否這裡食材比美國貴好幾倍。沒錯，但在這能吃到好多美國吃不到的蔬菜。沖繩還有好多很棒的超市，希望你們喜歡這篇沖繩超市介紹，下集我會在介紹更多農夫超市！

January 31, 2021

Cherry Blossom in Okinawa

January 31, 2021/ Brandy C.

Last week marked the start of cherry blossom “sakura” season, the weather is still a bit chilly, but hints of spring are in the air. This added positive energy is much welcomed given the state of emergency that Okinawa is currently in. The species of cherry blossom in Okinawa is called Ryukyu Kanhizakura, and it blooms the earliest of all the cherry blossoms in Japan. Sakura bloom starts from northern Okinawa and spreads down south. Last week at Nago Castle Park the bloom was about 70%, this week we came to Yaedake Sakuranomori Park (Mt. Yae) to marvel at the full sakura bloom. This made up for last year when we missed the sakura season due to our trip back to the States. The various sakura festivals in Okinawa have been cancelled this year due to the pandemic. But despite it all, there were still many people who trekked up the mountain to admire the alluring sea of pink. After finding parking, we found a picnic spot, completing my dream of picnicking underneath sakura blossoms. How romantic!

上禮拜櫻花開始盛開，雖然天氣還是有點冷，但漸漸有春天的氣息了，也讓還在”state of emergency”的沖繩添加一點正能量。沖繩櫻花品種叫緋寒櫻，是全日本最早開花且品種和本島不一樣。沖繩櫻花開花時間從北邊開始往南，上個禮拜北邊的名護城公園已經約70%開花，這禮拜我們來八重岳欣賞滿滿的櫻花彌補去年回美國而錯過的沖繩櫻花。以往沖繩在這時候到處會有櫻花祭，但疫情關係全部取消。即使如此，賞櫻人潮還是好多，上山車流絡繹不絕。停好車後我們找一塊空地野餐，完成我們在日本櫻花樹下吃飯的心願，實在好浪漫。