Okinawa and Southeast Islands

Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture, is a treasure trove of distinctive dishes and drinks that have become popular throughout Japan, including Okinawa soba, unique sushi toppings and Awamori distilled liquor.

Attractions in Okinawa and Southeast Islands

Whether it will be your fist visit to Japan or you're already an experienced connoisseur, our guide to things to see and places to go in Japan will cover all what you might need to know.

Destinations

Landmarks

Articles of Okinawa and Southeast Islands

Okinawa and Southeast Islands - Feature Stories

Visit Japan's finest restaurants, exclusively selected by Savor Japan, and discover the latest gourmet trends.

Premium fare
in Okinawa

Learn more

Okinawa and Southeast Islands - Chef's Recommendation

Here, we introduce the truly delicious cuisine recommended by the chefs.

Learn more

On the menu

Discover the best restaurants ideal for someone with special dietary restrictions or preferences by menu items and ingredients.

06.27.2016 You can't keep your hands off tebasaki.

Crispy yet juicy, sweet but spicy, tebasaki karaage (deep-fried chicken wings) are extremely popular throughout Japan. They go fantastic with beer and are hard to stop eating once you get started. Moreover, women know they're chock full of collagen that's good for their skin. Said to have originated from Aichi Prefecture, tebasaki are similar to buffalo chicken wings served in the West, but have a Japanese soy sauce base. There are variations on the recipe, but the most popular flavor is sweet and spicy. Why not try authentic tebasaki this summer in Aichi Prefecture!

06.27.2016 Slurp your soba like a Japanese and feel the joy.

Japanese slurp their soba (buckwheat noodles) because it tastes better that way. While enjoyed throughout the year, soba is especially satisfying when eaten cold in the summer. Japanese also eat soba on special occasions such as New Year's Eve and after moving to a new home. Soba restaurants were traditionally established in old renovated Japanese houses, but tachigui (stand-up) soba shops are now everywhere, even on train station platforms, reflecting soba's huge popularity. Always delicious, soba can be eaten with sake and hors d'oeuvres to brighten any occasion.

06.27.2016 The luckiest vegetable in Japan. Nasu.

Nasu (Japanese eggplant) became a symbol of happiness in Japan because its pronunciation is the same as for the word "achieve." There is even a popular idiom, "Mount Fuji first, hawk second and eggplant third" that ranks nasu third in the list of auspicious things that can appear in your first dream of the year. Nasu have been cultivated in Japan for the last 1200 years and are commonly eaten in homes as well as at restaurants. They taste great, whether grilled, boiled, baked or fried, and contain potassium that helps cool down your body in the hot summertime. We especially recommend eating them grilled as an appetizer with soy sauce, grated ginger and dried bonito flakes. Simply delicious!

On the menu archive