Reclaim forgotten feelings of gratitude.
A locally-based travel experience that touches the heart of old-fashioned Okinawa.
There are five ‘blue zones’ in the world. They are said to be areas where people with a high level of health and longevity live, and one of these areas is Okinawa.
The Blue Zones have nine things in common with the way people live, all of which can be experienced here in Motobu-cho! By staying in Motobu-cho, getting to know the local people and learning about their way of life, you will realise what true health and happiness really is… We propose such a travel experience.
What is the “BLUE ZONE”?
The ‘Blue Zones’ are areas with high concentrations of healthy people aged 100 years and over, and five regions of the world were identified by Western researchers around 2004 as these. They are Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California, USA; Nicogia Peninsula, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Okinawa, Japan.
Nine lifestyles of healthy, long-lived people living in the Blue Zones
- Maintain a moderate level of physical activity
- Reduce calorie intake by eating eight portions of food
- Eat plant-based foods
- Drink red wine in moderation (Awamori in Okinawa)
- Have a clear sense of purpose
- Slow down life
- Have faith
- Put family first
- Connect with others
Features
1.meet local people who love the nature of Okinawa.
You will be guided by Motobu residents who love the Motobu way of life, including fishermen from the Churaumi Sea, masters of traditional cooking and farmers, and grandmothers who love living things. By experiencing their specialities together, you can feel the secret of health that is rooted in the Okinawan way of life.
2.enjoy traditional arts and cuisine at a ‘banquet (Utage)’ after the experience.
A ‘banquet’ can be organised in an old house at the end of the experience tour. While tasting a full course prepared by a Japanese chef using ingredients from Motobu, you can enjoy a performance by a local karate master or a folk song and traditional dance performance. Because having a good meal together is also the secret to good health and happiness.
3.can be arranged according to the length of stay. Interpreter-guides are also available.
‘Blue Zones’ is a travel theme gaining attention in Europe and the USA. This experience programme is also recommended for guests from abroad. Arrangements can be made to suit any itinerary, from long stays to day trips, and interpreter-guides can be arranged. Please feel free to contact us by email.
TOUR 1
Experience real traditional life in Okinawa, Japan
On this tour, you can experience the ‘Blue Zone’ for just one day. You can visit a farmer who grows island vegetables, learn how to prepare wild vegetable dishes from local grandmothers and make salt from seawater. You can also experience an Okinawan-style banquet while enjoying meals prepared by a chef who loves Yanbaru.
| The time required | One day |
|---|---|
| Plan details | 9:00 Meet at the Motobu Town Tourist Association. 9:20 – 10:00 Harvesting of Okinawan vegetables in the fields of organic farmers. 10:15 – 11:00 Harvest Okinawan wildflowers while chatting with a local old lady who is an expert on wildflowers. 11:15 – 12:00 Harvesting of seasonal Okinawan fruits in a fruit field. 12:15 – 13:30 Cooking experience using harvested ingredients, taught by local mothers. Lunch time with the finished side dishes. Rest at each accommodation. 17:00 – 20:00 Move to an old private house. Okinawan dinner prepared with ingredients you harvested and cooked by a chef living in Motobu-cho. During the meal, watch Okinawan performing arts and Okinawan karate! 20:20 End |
| Charges | Contact. |
| Notes | The tour will be on foot and may involve going into grassy areas, so please wear comfortable clothes and shoes that are easy to move around in and can get dirty. It is advisable to bring insect repellent and sun shades. Long sleeves and long trousers are recommended. (A top layer of clothing can also serve as a sunshade and insect repellent). |
| Application | Email. contact@motobu-ht.com |
TOUR 2
7days program- Experience real traditional life in Okinawa, Japan
To really experience the Blue Zone, a longer stay is recommended: stay in Motobu-cho for a full seven days and enjoy the contents of the 1-day programme even more thoroughly. Optional experiences during your stay include lessons in Okinawan karate and Ryukyuan dance.
| The time required | 7 days |
|---|---|
| Plan details | Day 1 Explore Motobu Town with a local guide. Day 2 ‘Island of Longevity – Okinawa’ Experience the food of the Blue Zone. Day 3-5 Optional tours to experience the Blue Zone can be arranged. ‘Okinawa karate experience course in Motobu-cho, the birthplace of Okinawa karate’ Ryukyuan dance experience course representing Okinawa’s performing arts A full-day tour of Motobu-cho, the town of fishermen, where you can play in the sea with fishermen. Day 6-7 Spend your time in the Blue Zone in your own way, chatting with local residents. |
| Charges | Contact. |
| Notes | The tour will be on foot and may involve going into grassy areas, so please wear comfortable clothes and shoes that are easy to move around in and can get dirty. It is advisable to bring insect repellent and sun shades. Long sleeves and long trousers are recommended. (A top layer of clothing can also serve as a sunshade and insect repellent). |
| Application | Email. contact@motobu-ht.com |
TOUR 3
Experience Picking Organic vegetables & Cooking Okinawan cuisine with grandma
Experience harvesting seasonal Okinawan vegetables with an old man who is an ‘expert organic vegetable grower’! After harvesting, try your hand at making traditional Okinawan home-style dishes with local mothers using fresh vegetables. Lunch time with freshly prepared dishes!
| The time required | Approx. 3 hours. |
|---|---|
| Plan details | 10:00 AM Meet at the gate of the former Sakihonbu Primary School (Motobu-cho). Walk to the field in front of you. Experience harvesting seasonal vegetables while listening to an explanation from a farmer who is an expert on organic vegetable farming in Okinawa. The harvested Okinawan vegetables and fruits are used as ingredients for lunch. 1:00 PM End |
| Charges | ¥98,000 for a single participant For 2 participants: ¥58,000 per person For 3 persons: ¥38,000 per person For 4 or more participants: ¥28,000 per person Interpreter included. Interpretation guide is available in either English or Chinese. Other languages are available on request. |
| Notes | Ages 3 years and over. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes that are easy to move in and can get dirty. It is advisable to bring insect repellent and sun shades. Long sleeves and long trousers are recommended. (A top layer of clothing can also serve as a sunshade and insect repellent). |
| Application | Email. contact@motobu-ht.com |
TOUR 4
Experience Picking wild vegetables in the forest & Cooking Okinawan cuisine with grandma
Join Auntie, the ‘master wildflower searcher’, on a walk through the Yanbaru forest in the northern part of Motobu Town. A delicious and healthy lunch and wildflower tea is included, in appreciation of the bounty of nature.
| The time required | Approx. 3 hours. |
|---|---|
| Plan details | 10:00 AM Meet in front of Izumi Ward Community Centre (Motobu-cho). Take a walk in the Yanbaru forest guided by an aunt. Pick wild plants for lunch. Make medicinal porridge with the wild plants picked and have lunch. Then, enjoy a tea time with medicinal tea. 1:00 PM End |
| Charges | ¥98,000 for a single participant For 2 participants: ¥58,000 per person For 3 persons: ¥38,000 per person For 4 or more participants: ¥28,000 per person Interpreter included. Interpretation guide is available in either English or Chinese. Other languages are available on request. |
| Notes | Ages 3 years and over. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes that are easy to move in and can get dirty. It is advisable to bring insect repellent and sun shades. Long sleeves and long trousers are recommended. (A top layer of clothing can also serve as a sunshade and insect repellent). |
| Application | Email. contact@motobu-ht.com |