All Reviews for Cultural Experiences

We went as a family of five. Since we were staying in Sesoko, it took about 25 minutes by car. According to the navigation, getting to On the Beach Cafe from Motobu via Nakijin goes through the mountains, so we wouldn't see the coastline, and the entrance sign was surprisingly modest, which made us a bit anxious as we drove down the narrow road. However, once we entered the premises, we were greeted by a beautiful coastline with heart-shaped stones lining the sandy beach, and the On the Beach Cafe was right there, hinting at the fun time we were about to have making shisa.

First, we watched a how-to video on making them, but since it was our first experience, I couldn't remember all the details and felt a bit uneasy. However, the staff member came by frequently and kindly checked on us, which made me feel reassured and allowed us to enjoy making the shisa. I was worried that the heads or teeth might break off during baking, but the staff member checked before baking and reinforced any weak spots, so everything turned out well.

The provided schedule includes estimated times for each step, but since we were chatting and having fun as a family of five, we ended up getting really absorbed in making our creations, which took quite a bit of time. We were a bit laid-back, but the staff were very kind, and we were able to enjoy ourselves without feeling rushed.

The baking time was surprisingly short, but we used the waiting time for our lunch. The burger set was also very delicious. I recommend making a reservation for the morning and enjoying a leisurely holiday with lunch included. By the way, on the way back, we bought souvenirs at the Okinawan Sweet Potato Tart shop, and the drive there went through a tropical rainforest mountain road, which was also very nice. It was about a 15-minute drive, and from there to Sesoko was another 15 minutes, so I recommend this route.

家族5人で行って来ました。瀬底に泊まっていたので車で25分でした。ナビでは本部から今帰仁は山間を通るので海岸線をみることなく目的地のオンザビーチカフェに着くうえに、入口となる看板は意外とショボかったので、少し不安を感じつつ狭い道を入っていきましたが、敷地内に入るときれいな海岸線にハート型の石が並んだ砂浜を前に目的のオンザビーチカフェがあり、これから始まるシーサー作りの楽しい時間をワクワク感とともに予感させてくれました。
最初に作り方のハウツービデオを観るのですが、初体験なので細かいところは覚えきれず、少し不安になりましたが、スタッフのお兄さんがちょこちょこ見に来てくれて優しく声を掛けて頂けるので安心してシーサー作りが楽しめました。焼いたら頭や歯が取れないかとも心配しましたが、焼く前にもお兄さんがチェックして弱いところは補強してくれたので、うまくできました。
記載されているタイムスケジュールはそれぞれの工程時間の目安が書かれていますが、家族5人でワイワイ言いながら作っていたのと、知らず知らずのうちに真剣に作品づくりに没頭してしまい、時間も結構かかりました。マイペースな私たちでしたが、スタッフの皆さんはとても優しく、時間に追われることなく楽しめました。
焼き時間は案外短いのですが、冷めるまでの待ち時間はそこでランチとしました。バーガーセットもとても美味しかったです。午前中の時間帯に予約してランチもしてのゆっくりした休日を楽しむことをおすすめします。ちなみに帰りは紅芋タルトのお菓子御殿でおみやげを買って帰りましたが、そこまでのドライブは熱帯雨林の山間道路を通って行くのでこの景色もとても良かったです。15分くらいの距離で、そこから瀬底までも15分くらいなのでこのコースはおすすめです。

Thank you for your hard work in the heat. I didn't realize how difficult it is to produce sugar. I will cherish it from now on. Thank you so much.

暑い中、ありがとうございました。砂糖ができるまでに、こんなに大変だとは思いませんでした。これからは大切にします。感謝感謝です。

I made a reservation online in advance and picked it up at Naha Airport on the day of my arrival in Naha, which was very convenient! I highly recommend it! The tickets I received have a validity period of about six months, so even if my plans change, they won't expire immediately, which I thought was great. I would like to use this service again if I have the opportunity.

事前でネット上で予約し、那覇への到着日に合して那覇空港で受取り、便利でした^_^ おすすめです!
受け取ったチケットの有効期限は、約半年があり、万が一計画が変更になっても、すぐ使えなくなるのではないので、よかったと思いました。また、機会があれば、利用したいです。

Making shisa at a beautiful seaside café. We had a small child with us, but the staff regularly checked in and provided support, and the child was very engaged and enjoyed the creative process. The adults might have actually been even more absorbed in the fun than the kids. In just two hours, we were able to create and paint our shisa, and being able to take them home the same day is something you don’t find often elsewhere. We quickly displayed our family’s shisa at the entrance and are reminiscing about our trip to Okinawa. It became the best memory!

綺麗な海沿いのカフェでのシーサー作り。小さな子ども連れでしたが、店員さんが定期的に声掛け、フォロー頂き、子どももとても楽しんで創作に没頭していました。大人もむしろ子どもよりも夢中になって楽しんでたかも。あっと言う間の２時間で、シーサー作りから色付けまででき、その日のうちに持ち帰れるところは他ではあまり無いのではないでしょうか？家族全員のシーサーを早速玄関に飾って、沖縄旅行の思い出に浸っています。最高の思い出になりました！

I participated with my second-grade and kindergarten children. There is a certain way to make things, but it's also possible to create freely, and the little ones were having fun making and painting as they pleased.

Since parents are there to support, the level of completion might drop (and there’s also the challenge of the clay drying), but it allows you to return to your childhood and get completely absorbed in the activity.

The time limit isn't very strict, so you need to be careful not to get too carried away with the creation and let it affect your next plans. I think it was an enjoyable and memorable experience!

小学2年生と年長の子供達と参加しました。ある程度決まった作り方がありますが自由に作ることも可能で、小さな子供達も思い思いに作って塗ってと楽しんでいました。

親はサポートしながらになるので完成度は落ちるかと思いますが(あと粘土の乾燥との戦いになりますが)それでも童心にかえって夢中になれます。

時間は制限があまり厳しくないので、夢中になり過ぎて作り込んで次の予定に響かないよう注意が必要です。それくらい楽しめる、思い出になる体験だったと思います！

The exchange at the airport was helpful, but there were many similar places, and I ended up making a mistake. It was great that I could go at a good price.

空港での引き換えは助かりましたが、場所が似た所が多く間違えてしまいました。
お得に行けたのはとても良かったです。

I was able to easily purchase admission tickets for the Churaumi Aquarium. Since they can be exchanged at Naha Airport, I think it's a good idea for those who have already decided to go to buy them in advance.

美ら海水族館の入館チケットを簡単に購入できました。那覇空港で引き換えなので事前に行く事が決まっている人は購入しておいてもいいと思います。

I was able to experience things that are not easily available, like riding in a light truck and using a special sickle. Additionally, the children were thrilled to see and touch various animals like cows and goats. My mother found it interesting to learn about the reasons for keeping them. We also drank plenty of sugarcane juice, and they filled our empty plastic bottles. Furthermore, we received a large amount of sugarcane as souvenirs! In the end, the kids played together happily, and we spent a wonderfully relaxed time that felt like we were at a relative's house.

軽トラに乗せてもらったり、特別なカマを使ったり、なかなか体験できないことができました♪
そのほかにも牛やヤギなどの動物たちも色々見たり触ったりできて、子どもたちは大喜びでした♪母はどんな理由で飼われているのかが興味深かったです♪サトウキビジュースもたっぷり飲んで、空いたペットボトルがあると詰めてくれました。さらにお土産にとサトウキビを大量にいただきました！最後は子供達同士ではしゃぎ合いながら遊んでて、ここは親戚の家か？と言うぐらいのんびりした時間を過ごせました♪

I entered through Parking Lot 7, which is the closest to the aquarium, but I'm feeling exhausted from the heat. The vending machines are almost sold out. It's better to secure some hydration in advance. The indoor exhibits are cool and pleasant. If you think about taking a break at the café, it's advisable to make a reservation beforehand due to the wait time.

水族館から一番近いパーキング7番から入場したが、　暑さのためくたばりそう。
自販機は、ほぼ売り切れ。水分は少しは確保しておいた方がよい。
館内の見学は、涼しいので穏やか。
ちょっと一息、カフェでもと思っても待ち時間があるので、先に予約しておいた方がよい。

The bridge over Kouri Island offers a great view, and it became a wonderful memory. The children, who were interested in shells from the Okinawan sea, enjoyed looking at the shell displays!

古宇利島にかかる橋が見渡せ、とても景色が良く思い出になりました。
沖縄の海で貝に興味を持った子どもたちも、中の貝の展示を見て楽しんでいました！

The serving staff that took care of my table was very experienced with the food and did her best in explaining to me in English and with my limited Japanese (staff was fluent in Japanese and Spanish, but I was not, hehe). Was a very fun and educating on the food, how to eat and also the history of the cuisine. She paid attention to the table and served when she saw that we were finished with some plates. She was an older lady but I felt like she worked like a young lady.

Presentation of the food is done very beautifully, taste is delicious and well seasoned. Interesting tastes and combination of the culture of Okinawa.

The dancers were very elegant and skilled, I enjoyed all of their traditional dance styles and their garments. They were very well dressed and looked very cute up close when we were taking a picture.

Very thankful to the level of service, cleanliness, quality and quantity of food. I thoroughly enjoyed the tastes of Ryuku Cuisine.

Will come again if happen to visit Okinawa again and want to taste the food once more. Might bring more friends, too.

I visit Okinawa every year, but this was my first time at the Churaumi Aquarium. There was a discount for purchasing tickets in advance. Since I could pick them up at Naha Airport, I was able to enter right away without waiting, which was very smooth. There are many colorful fish to see, but the smaller tanks were crowded, so I could hardly see anything. The large tank with the whale shark was impressive and great. The parking lot requires some walking, so I think an umbrella is necessary!

毎年沖縄へいきますが美ら海水族館は初めてでした。事前にチケットを購入すると割引がありました。また那覇空港で受け取れるので現地では待たずにすぐに入れてとてもスムーズでした。たくさんのカラフルな魚が見れますが小さな水槽は人が多くてほとんど見れませんでした。大きな水槽のシンベイザメが大迫力で良かったです。駐車場は歩くので日傘はいると思います！

The café right by the seaside and the accompanying shisa-making experience became my best memory. It was my first time, but the shisa I made by kneading clay, reminiscent of my elementary school days, turned out to be somewhat awkward yet endearing. The coloring was also fun, and I lost track of time, almost missing my next appointment.

The location of this facility is fantastic, and the staff members who assisted us were kind and very pleasant. I would love to visit again if the opportunity arises. Thank you very much.

海辺のすぐ横にあるカフェと併設のシーサーつくりは最高の思い出となりました。
初めての体験でしたが小学生の時以来?となる粘土をこねこねしてできたシーサーはなんとなく不格好でしたが愛着がもてるかたちに。着色も楽しく時間が経つのを忘れてしまい危うく次の予定に間に合わなくなるところでした。
こちらの施設の場所もさいこうですが、ご担当いただいた方々もやさしく、好感のもてる方々でした。
また、機会があればお邪魔したいなと思える場所でした。
ありがとうございました。

We are a family that doesn't like to wait around, so we opted for a quick method. Plus, it ends up being cheaper, which is a win for us.

ちんたら待つのがいやな家族なので、スパッと入れる方法を取りました。おまけに安くなるしうちとしては◯です。

Both adults and children had a great time. The staff's explanations and support were excellent, and we were very satisfied. The kids also enjoyed themselves. I think the attractions are especially enjoyable for preschoolers to elementary school students. Of course, adults can have plenty of fun as well. It says the required time is 90 minutes, but honestly, if you start from the pottery, it might not be enough time. It could be just right before boarding a flight. We look forward to visiting again.

大人も子供も大変楽しめました。
スタッフ様の説明対応も良く非常に満足です。
子供達も楽しめました。
特に年少から小学生位には楽しめるアトラクションだと思います。
勿論、大人も十分に楽しめます。
所要時間90分とありますが、素焼きから行うと正直時間が足りないかと思います。
飛行機乗る前とかに、丁度いい良いかと。
また、お伺いする時は宜しくお願い致します。

It took about 40 minutes by bus from Naha City Hall and Okinawa Prefectural Office. Considering the location and travel time to the Churaumi Aquarium, it is convenient from the city center.

那覇市役所、沖縄県庁などからバスで約４０分程度でした。　美ら海水族館への立地、所要時間を考慮すると市街地からは便利です。

I had the opportunity to watch the Ryukyu dance up close in the front row. After the performance, they prioritized photo opportunities for us over other group guests, which was a great value.

琉球舞踊を最前列近くで拝見しました。
終演後の写真撮影も他の団体客より優先してくださり、お値打ちがあります。

I made a reservation because my 9-year-old son said he wanted to try it once. I booked for 4 PM, but our plans changed suddenly, so we went at 1:30 PM on a whim, and they let us in without any issues. Maybe it was because it was a weekday!? However, I noticed that customers kept coming in, so I think it's a popular place. There were many types of paints available, and my son seemed to have a lot of fun and was very satisfied. He said he wants to start by making a shisa next time, so I plan to visit again. The staff's response was also good, and overall, I had a positive impression.

9歳息子が一度してみたいと言うので予約。16時に予約しましたが、急遽予定が変更になり、ダメもとで13:30に伺いましたが、すんなり入れてもらえました。平日だったからかな！？
でも、お客さんは絶え間なく来られていて、人気のお店だと思いました。
絵の具の種類もたくさんあり、息子は大変楽しかったようで、満足していました。
次はシーサーを作るところからしてみたいと言うので、また訪れようと思います。
店員さんの対応も良く、全体を通して好印象です。

We were able to paint at our own pace, and we ended up with a very satisfying shisa! The initial explanation was thorough, so there were no moments of confusion. The staff were very kind, taking photos for us as a keepsake after we finished and sharing tips on how to paint, which we really appreciated! Additionally, the materials explaining the meanings (effects?) of colors in feng shui were very helpful. Thank you for a wonderful time!

ゆっくり自分たちのペースで絵付けさせてくださって、とても満足のいくシーサーができました！
はじめに丁寧に解説してくださったので、わからなくて困ったりするようなことはなかったです！
店員のみなさんがとても優しく、完成した後に記念に写真を撮ってくださったり、塗り方のコツを教えてくださったり、非常にありがたかったです！
また、風水の色ごとの意味（効果？）が書いてある資料もとても参考になって良かったです！
楽しい時間をありがとうございました！！

We reserved the plaster shisa painting experience course for two and went together. It started at 10 AM and took about an hour to complete. We could choose as many examples as we liked, and the staff kindly taught us tips for coloring, which was very helpful. The painting process was easier than I expected, and most importantly, it was so much fun! After finishing, we could take lots of photos with the shisa set. We took pictures with the Okinawa beach and izakaya sets. It turned out to be a very enjoyable and memorable experience. Thank you to the staff for being so kind and helpful!

漆喰シーサーの絵付体験コースを夫婦2人で予約して行ってきました^ ^
１０時スタートで１時間程度で完成です
沢山あるお手本を好きなだけ選べるのと
スタッフさんが色付けのコツを丁寧に教えてくれるので助かりました
色を塗る作業は思っていたより簡単で
何よりめっちゃ楽しかったです
完成後、シーサー用セットで写真を沢山撮れます
僕たちは、沖縄の浜辺や居酒屋のセットで撮りました
大変、楽しいよい思い出作りになりました
スタッフさん、とても優しく親切に対応して下さりありがとうございました

It is convenient as it takes about 30 minutes by the express bus called Tokyo Bus from Naha city center. The travel time is approximately 2 to 3 hours.

那覇市街から東京バスという急行バスで約３０分程度と那覇市街地から近いので便利です。所要時間は２～３時間程度。

We colored four pieces, two for the children and two for the couple! The staff were very kind and interacted well with the kids, making the painting experience a lot of fun! Each of us painted our favorite colors, and we completed our original shisa. It wasn't too difficult for the children, and the adults were also focused on coloring, so time flew by (laughs). It was great that we could take them home the same day. It became a wonderful memory! Thank you very much!

子ども２人と夫婦の4つを
それぞれ色付けしました！
子どもにも優しく接してくださる
スタッフの方々で、とても楽しく
絵付け体験ができました！
それぞれ好きな色を塗って、オリジナルの
シーサーが完成♡
子どもたちにも難しすぎず、、
大人も集中して色付けして
時間もあっというまにすぎました（笑）
当日、持ち帰りもできてよかったです。
いい思い出になりました！
ありがとうございました！

I got lost while relying on my smartphone, but thanks to the kind person who gave me directions, I just barely made it on time. I was feeling anxious, so hearing "It's okay" was very comforting.

The explanations of the processes and tasks were concise and easy to understand. They didn't interfere unnecessarily, but they were quick to provide support when I needed it, which was really helpful.

Even though we worked until the very end, I was grateful that we could take photos with just the finished piece, and then with the creator and everyone together.

My children have grown up, and we haven't had experiences like this as a family lately, but I really enjoyed it after such a long time. Thank you very much!!

P.S. Since there are samples available, I think even those who are not good at coloring can enjoy it. The children seemed to be having a great time.

スマホを頼りに歩いていたら道に迷ってしまいましたが、丁寧に場所を教えてくださったおかげでギリギリ間に合いました。焦っていたので「大丈夫ですよ」との声かけは、とても嬉しかったです。
工程や作業の説明は簡潔で分かりやすく、下手に口出しをせず、けれど困った時には直ぐにサポートをしてくださったので、すごく助かりました。
時間いっぱい作業したにも関わらず、完成時に作品のみ、作品と製作者で、皆んなで、と写真撮影をさせていただけたのは有り難かったです。
子どもたちが大きくなり、家族でこういった体験をすることもなくなったのですが、久しぶりに楽しめました。ありがとうございました！！

追記：見本があるので、色付けが苦手な人でも楽しめると思います。子どもたちが楽しそうにしていたので。

I went with a friend's family who has a 4-year-old girl. Since the aquarium is close to the city, we planned to spend only about 2 hours there, comparing it to the Churaumi Aquarium. However, the 4-year-old girl was having so much fun that we ended up staying for nearly 4 hours.

４歳の女の子がいる友人家族の同伴で行きました。　市街地に近い水族館の為、「美ら海水族館」と比較して所要時間が短く２時間で十分だと予定していましたが、４歳の女の子が凄く楽しんでいて４時間近く要しました。

I participated with my small children. It was a valuable experience to catch a glimpse of the real Okinawa, away from the tourist spots. It felt like visiting a relative's sugarcane farm. For me, it was a much more worthwhile experience than going to famous tourist destinations. I believe it also created great memories for the kids.

小さな子供を連れて参加しました。
観光地ではない本物の沖縄を垣間見ることができる貴重な体験でした。
イメージとしては親戚のサトウキビ農家に遊びに行くような感覚でしょうか。
私にとっては有名な観光地に行くよりもよっぽど価値のある体験でした。子供たちにとってもいい思い出になったと思います。

I had a great time freely painting the Shisa with my favorite colors from the many acrylic paints available! The staff were very kind, quickly replacing the new palettes and dirty water, which made the whole process comfortable. I'm also very satisfied that I could take photos of my cute finished Shisa in a photo film. Next, I would like to try the Shisa-making experience as well. Thank you again!

たくさんあるアクリル絵の具の中から、自分の好きな色を組み合わせて、シーサーに自由にペイントできてとても楽しかったです‼︎
店員さんも新しいパレットや汚れた水をすぐに取り替えてくれたりと、とても親切に対応してくださって、終始快適に作業することができました。
また、完成したかわいいシーサー達をフォトフィルムに入れて写真も撮れて大満足です。
次はシーサー作りの体験もしてみたいです。
またよろしくお願いします。

I got a bit too caught up in the details, and before I knew it, it was time to leave for the next place, and I hadn't finished painting. However, the staff kindly told me that I could come back another day to finish the painting. I was able to complete it in the end and create a really cute Shisa! Thank you very much!

色々とこだわってしまったせいで
次の場所への出発時間になってしまい、
絵付けが終わっていない状態だったのですが、
別日にまた絵付けに来てくださってもいいですよと
スタッフさんに行っていただき、
最後まで完成することができ、
すごく可愛いシーサーを作ることができました！
ありがとうございました

I'm so glad I included the shisa-making experience in my travel plans! The staff were very kind in teaching us, and although it took my two companions longer than expected, we were able to create our pieces to our satisfaction. I was also impressed by the beautiful sandy beach and ocean right in front of us, which made for a wonderful, open atmosphere. The completed, one-of-a-kind shisa looked great in the photos taken at this lovely location✨ It became a truly wonderful memory of Okinawa. Thank you very much.

旅行の予定に入れて良かったって1番思ったのが、こちらでのシーサー作りでした！
親切に教えてくださり、同行した身内2人が予定よりかかりましたが満足いくまで作成させていただけました。
目の前が綺麗な砂浜に海で開放感ある素敵な場所にも感動しました。完成した世界に一つだけのシーサーの写真も映える場所で✨
とても素敵な沖縄の思い出になりました。ありがとうございました。

The tickets from Veltra were very convenient as they could be used immediately after purchase.

The aquarium is located in a corner of the shopping mall. I can tell that a lot of effort has been put into it, but personally, I found it quite stressful.

What was particularly disappointing was the almost complete lack of explanations for the exhibits. I think it would be fine for those who can enjoy the atmosphere, but I was left feeling frustrated not knowing the names of the displayed fish or where they typically live. The app that I had downloaded in advance, which was supposed to be my lifeline, was also unusable due to issues with the Android version... There was a sign saying, "For any questions, please ask a nearby staff member," but I had so many questions.

The animals in an environment without sunlight reminded me of the sadness I felt at Oby Yokohama.

In the touch area with the fish, you can touch fish and starfish. Everyone was aiming for the big sharks, so the sharks resisted fiercely even when you just tried to touch them a little. I started to worry about how stress management was being handled, as there were few places for them to escape.

ベルトラのチケットは、購入後すぐに使えてとても便利でした。

ショッピングモールの一角にある水族館。様々な工夫をこらしているのはわかるのですが、個人的には結構ストレスがたまりました。

特に残念だったのは、展示物の説明が現地にほぼないこと。雰囲気で楽しめる人は問題ないと思いますが、展示されてる魚は何という名前なのか、本来どんな場所にいるのか、全然わからずモヤモヤしました。あらかじめダウンロードして行った頼みの綱であるはずのアプリも、Android版は不都合が出ているとのことで使えず…。「ご不明点、ご質問はお近くのスタッフに」と貼紙がありますが、ご不明点だらけでした。

陽の光が当たらない環境にいる動物たち。オービィ横浜でも感じた切なさを思い出しました。

魚とのふれあいコーナーでは、魚やヒトデなどに触ることができます。みんなが大物のサメを狙うので、サメはちょっと触ろうとするだけで激しく抵抗。逃げ場も少なく、ストレス対策とかどうなっているんだろうと心配になりました。

I was told that the private room on the second floor can be used if the cost is 6,600 yen or more per person, so I made a change. It had quite a luxurious feel.

2階の個室は1人6600円以上ならば使って良いと言われ、変更しました。
かなりセレブ感がありました。