A Warm Winter Getaway in Okinawa, Japan: Part 3

Last Updated on January 5, 2026

Last Night in Okinawa

In case you missed it, here’s Part 2.
Our Warm Winter Getaway was coming to its final night. When I returned the rental car, I picked up some Bacha Coffee at DFS Galleria Okinawa. The coffee brand originated in Morocco and is now based in Singapore. These days, Bacha Coffee also has stores in Tokyo, but back then, this was the only place you could get it. When I got home and opened it, I was surprised to see that the inside was all gold!

My final hotel was Hotel Strata, just a short walk from the monorail station. It’s a fairly new and reasonably priced hotel, with a lovely courtyard and a calm, relaxing feel.

Yakitori Dinner

There are plenty of izakayas in Okinawa, but yakitori-focused places are hard to come by, probably because of all the local Okinawan cuisine. I decided to visit one called Kushikiyo. In the photo, you can see tsukune—skewered seasoned ground chicken that’s grilled on the spot. It was so soft and tasty.

I mostly eat dinner at home, so I don’t go to izakayas very often since having kids. Still, freshly grilled yakitori at a restaurant is really delicious.

Yakitori is often thought of as a snack to go with drinks, but it’s actually quite nutritious, so it would be great if it could become something the whole family, kids included, can enjoy together —not just adults who drink.

A Cozy Breakfast with Greenery

In the morning, we headed to the restaurant and were greeted by floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a view of lush Okinawan greenery outside. The sunlight streaming through the windows and the gentle sway of the trees outside created a truly beautiful scene. The chairs and tables were charming, and the interior had a lovely, inviting atmosphere.

For breakfast, we could choose a main dish from several options, while the rest was served buffet-style. Many of the ingredients were locally sourced from Okinawa, allowing us to enjoy authentic regional flavors.

In Japan, hotel breakfasts are often ranked in popularity and are considered a very important part of the stay. Many hotels take pride in their morning offerings, and breakfasts featuring local flavors are especially popular.

A Morning Stroll Among Tropical Plants

After breakfast, I wandered through the courtyard, which features a summer pool, a relaxing seating area, and a restaurant, MOSS okinawa. The restaurant featured a roof of traditional Okinawan red tiles.

The tiles are said to be red because Okinawa’s soil is rich in iron. In Okinawa, where typhoons are common, the tiles are fixed in place with plaster. Surrounded by banyan trees and other greenery, the roof looked especially striking.

This restaurant is perfect for special occasions, with dishes that make the most of local ingredients and flavors. I’ve heard it also has a location in Tokyo, so I’d love to try it there someday.

After a relaxing stay

It was time for us to check out and head to the airport, marking the end of our warm winter getaway.

In this photo, you can see Hotel Strata and the leaves of a royal poinciana tree. Tokyo rarely shows this tree, but Naha officially celebrates it as the city tree. In summer, it blooms with vibrant red flowers.

This is Yui Rail, Okinawa’s only monorail. Yui Rail opened in 2003, and before then, Okinawa had no train system. Over time, the line has expanded, providing a reliable and convenient way to get around Naha, a car-oriented city where traffic often clogs the streets.