When it comes to famous spots in Okinawa, ‘Kokusai Dori’ in Naha City is a must-visit. From stylish shops to restaurants brimming with local charm, you can find anything Okinawan, from daily necessities to souvenirs, here.
Did you know that July 8 is known as ‘Naha Day’? Various events are held throughout the city during this period every year.
A series of souvenirs you can buy at ‘Kokusai Dori’. This time, I would like to introduce 10 recommended popular accessories made with plenty of Okinawa’s unique materials.
- 【1】Boonoonoonoos ‘Melomelo Bracelet’
- 【2】Kukuru Loco ‘Hotaru Glass Accessories’
- 【3】Ti-da Beach ‘Shell Accessories’
- 【4】Churata Coco’s Island Okinawa ‘Churata’
- 【5】Kaiso ‘Whale Tooth Accessories / Minsa Pattern Accessories’
- 【6】Kubagasa-ya “Kibi Sanga”
- 【7】Yachimun Shop “Yachimun Necklace / Yachimun Hair Tie”
- 【8】Star Glass “Ryukyu Glass Accessories”
- 【9】Sanbashi “Misanga Watch”
- 【10】Kanzashi-ya Wargo “Hotaru Glass Single Kanzashi”
- Summary
【1】Boonoonoonoos ‘Melomelo Bracelet’
[Official: http://boonoonoonoos.jp/]
- Price range: Around ¥4,000～
- Location: Kumoji, Naha City, Kadekawa Building 1F, Kokusai Dori Store
‘Boonoonoonoos’ is a store where you can find unique items made with natural stones.
There are many original accessories called ‘Melomelo Stone’ that are popular. Bracelets, necklaces, earrings, straps, etc., perfect for souvenirs for your loved ones.
Especially recommended is the ‘Melomelo Bracelet’ with a variety of types. Each original bracelet is made with natural stones that have their own powers and meanings.
It’s so popular that flight attendants and Japan’s top athletes come to buy it on a day trip. Okinawan singer Namie Amuro and model Moe Oshikiri also use it.
It is said that many people who actually bought the bracelet have reported good news such as marriage, promotion, and winning the lottery.
The store is full of unique items and antique folk crafts, making it a place you won’t get tired of just looking around.
【2】Kukuru Loco ‘Hotaru Glass Accessories’
[Official: http://hoosel.com/]
- Price range: Around ¥1,500～
- Location: Makishi, Naha City, Shima Building 101, Makishi Store
‘Kukuru Loco’ handles high-quality glass called ‘Hotaru Glass’, a type of glass bead called tonbo-dama with holes in it.
Based on the molding technique of tonbo-dama, they are made by craftsmen using the unique technique of ‘Hotaru Glass’.
‘Kukuru Loco’ is committed to color, quality, and variety, creating many original items.
‘Hotaru Glass’ shines with a delicate luster like fireflies. The deep blue color and brilliance, like the deep sea of Okinawa, are beautiful and soothing.
【3】Ti-da Beach ‘Shell Accessories’
[Source: https://www.facebook.com/tidabeach]
- Price range: Around ¥1,000～
- Location: Matsuo, Naha City, Chateau Matsuo 1-B, along Ukishima Dori
‘Ti-da Beach’ is a small beach shop in Okinawa. The store is lined with handmade necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. The store also has a sofa, so you can relax and unwind inside.
The main feature of this shop is the handmade accessories using natural shells picked up on Okinawa’s beaches.
The shop is run by a couple, with the designer wife making the accessories by hand. Because they are handmade, they can be adjusted or customized according to the customer’s request.
Original accessories made with natural materials such as natural stones and shells are perfect for souvenirs and gifts.
【4】Churata Coco’s Island Okinawa ‘Churata’
[Source: https://www.facebook.com/churatama.cocos.online]
- Price range: Around ¥1,500～
- Location: 4 stores on Kokusai Dori, Naha Airport
The popular Okinawan souvenir ‘Churata’. These are accessories inspired by floating balls in the sea. The store name is also easy to remember, ‘Churata’. It’s a famous and popular accessory shop with four stores on Kokusai Dori alone.
‘Churata’ absorbs light in bright places and emits a gentle glow like a starry sky in dark places. Each one is handmade, so the way they glow is slightly different.
There are 12 colors of ‘Churata’ in total. You can choose by birth month, color meaning, or the wish contained in the churata, making souvenir shopping exciting and fun.
The ‘Churata Regular Pendant’ in the picture is a popular accessory for children and adults alike. It is popular with people of all ages, so why not have matching souvenirs for couples, parents, and children, or friends?.
Popular Disney✕Churata Series
At the Kokusai Dori store, they are selling Churata accessories in the shape of Mickey. Combining large and small churata to make a cute Mickey. It’s also perfect as a souvenir for Disney-loving children.
The photo shows Mickey Churata earrings. There are also many color variations, making them ideal for matching items.
【5】Kaiso ‘Whale Tooth Accessories / Minsa Pattern Accessories’
- Price range: Around ¥5,000～
- Location: Several stores on Kokusai Dori and Heiwa Dori
‘Kaiso’ sells original items themed around Okinawa’s nature, creatures, and culture, as well as handmade items by local artists. It is a popular store with several locations on Kokusai Dori and Heiwa Dori.
Whale Tooth Necklace
- Price range: Around ¥5,000～
As a unique Okinawan souvenir, accessories made from the teeth of sperm whales are recommended.
A whaler was fascinated by the color of the teeth he had collected, and eventually, the works made using these materials were completed to the point of being called crafts. In Japan, it has been said to be a good luck charm for longevity for a long time.
However, since commercial whaling has been banned, there is no longer a way to obtain this material. Whale teeth will become increasingly valuable in the future.
It’s a great treasure for yourself or a charm for a loved one.
Minsa Pattern Accessories
- Price range: Around ¥3,500～
Continuing from ‘Kaiso’, Minsa pattern accessories are recommended. Necklaces and bracelets are simple and stylish, making them ideal accessories for gifts for men.
Minsa weaving is one of Okinawa’s traditional textiles. It is said to be a textile that conveys the message “my love for you will never change” through the design of five and four squares (“itsu yo” in Japanese, which sounds like “forever”).
The designs are simple and stylish, making them perfect as souvenirs for your loved ones.
【6】Kubagasa-ya “Kibi Sanga”
- Price Range: Around ¥1,000 ~
- Where to Buy: Kubagasa-ya Store No. 1 (Along Kokusai Street)
“Kibi Sanga” is a bracelet made from Okinawa-grown sugarcane. It is available at ‘Kubagasa-ya,’ a shop that mainly sells Ryukyu glass products.
The bracelet is made using fibers from sugarcane grown in Ishigaki, with the threads made from the fibers left after extracting brown sugar.
It’s a bracelet you can wear all the time as a charm. The design is very stylish, making it a perfect addition to your Okinawan beach fashion.
【7】Yachimun Shop “Yachimun Necklace / Yachimun Hair Tie”
- Price Range: Around ¥500 ~
- Where to Buy: Hachiken Street (Take a turn from Heiwa Street)
If you enter Heiwa Street from Kokusai Street and then turn into ‘Hachiken Street,’ you will find eight small shops lined up.
In one of these shops, the ‘Yachimun Shop,’ you can find pottery and accessories made from Yachimun (Okinawan pottery).
The handmade necklace with blue accents gives a sense of Okinawa’s beautiful ocean. For women, the Yachimun hair tie is recommended. Its stylish design will add a nice accent to your hairstyle.
The prices are also reasonable, with necklaces starting at ¥1,000 and hair ties at ¥450, which is quite affordable.
【8】Star Glass “Ryukyu Glass Accessories”
- Price Range: Around ¥2,000 ~
- Where to Buy: Heiwa Street
These accessories made from Ryukyu glass feature sparkling stars inside, making them both adorable and beautiful.
While there are many accessories made from firefly glass, there are surprisingly few made from Ryukyu glass.
The shop on Heiwa Street is small but charming, offering a wide range of fashionable accessories and miscellaneous goods. The Ryukyu glass necklaces and earrings sold at the storefront are especially recommended.
【9】Sanbashi “Misanga Watch”
- Price Range: Under ¥3,000
- Where to Buy: Heiwa Street
The “Misanga Watch” is an adorable, colorful watch with a bracelet strap made of Misanga.
It perfectly matches the relaxed, warm climate and fashion of Okinawa. It’s a great choice for matching watches with friends or as a couple.
【10】Kanzashi-ya Wargo “Hotaru Glass Single Kanzashi”
- Price Range: ¥3,000
- Where to Buy: Along Kokusai Street (Only one store)
Kanzashi-ya Wargo is a renowned specialty shop for kanzashi (traditional hairpins), known as the best in Japan. This popular shop has finally opened on Okinawa’s Kokusai Street.
Their original designs incorporate the beauty of traditional Japanese aesthetics while being suitable for everyday use. They are also recommended for younger generations.
The single kanzashi made with Hotaru glass is an ideal Okinawan souvenir, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication.
Summary
These were 10 recommended accessory souvenirs you can buy on ‘Kokusai Street.’
Each one is so beautiful that you could lose yourself just admiring them. Although they may be a bit pricey, being made from Okinawan natural materials, they are valuable, one-of-a-kind accessories perfect as gifts for someone special.
Please consider them as references when choosing your souvenirs!
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【Related Articles】 Where to Buy Okinawan Souvenirs? 12 Recommended Places Other Than Kokusai Street
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