Sep 28, 2017, 12:35 am
Last edit by: beckoa
ATTENDEES
Handle --- Arrival ---- Departure ---- Hotel
Handle --- Arrival ---- Departure ---- Hotel
- beckoa+1 - 3/29 7C 1802 TPE-OKA -- 4/3 JL2084 OKA-ITM -- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Naha
- krazykanuck - 3/28 NH479 HND-OKA -- 4/2 NH464 OKA-HND -- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Naha
- TravelKane - Mar 28 JL3 JFK>NRT * Mar 29 NH 2159 NRT>OKA * DoubleTree by Hilton Naha * Apr 3 CI121 OKA>TPE
- kirkwoodj ---- 3/29 NH475 HND-OKA ---- 4/1 NH460 OKA-HND ---- DoubleTree by Hilton Naha
- restlessinRNO - 3/29 IT230 TPE-OKA -- 4/1 BC552 OKA-NGO -- DoubleTree by Hilton Naha
- nomadic.relief - 3/30 BR112 TPE-OKA -- 4/2 MM925 OKA-TPE -- Almont Hotel
- ellyse - 3/29 HO1331 PVG-OKA — 4/2 HO1332 OKA-PVG — Guesthouse Umikaji
- ellyse+1 - 3/29 MU287 PVG-OKA — 4/2 MU288 OKA-PVG — Guesthouse Umikaji
- Sykes - 3/24 OZ172 ICN-OKA — 4/2 OZ171 OKA-ICN — Hyatt Regency Naha
- oliver2002 -Mar 29 CA831 PEK-OKA - April 1 NH994 OKA HND - Sheraton Sunmarina
- NewbieRunner - 3/28 NH473 HND-OKA - 4/1 NH994 OKA-HND - DoubleTree Shuri Castle 3/28-29 DoubleTree Naha 3/29-4/1
- nme7 - 3/29 GK305 NRT-OKA - 4/1 GK312 OKA-NRT -- DoubleTree by Hilton Naha
- Aeolus - 3/28 JL921 HND-OKA -- 4/1 JTA052 OKA-FUK -- DT by Hilton Naha (28-30), DT Shuri Castle (3/30-4/1)
- Lennart - 3/28 NH471 HND-OKA -- 3/31 NU617 OKA-ISG -- Sheraton Sunmarina
- Lennart+1 - 3/28 NH471 HND-OKA -- 3/31 NU617 OKA-ISG -- Sheraton Sunmarina
- armagebedar - 3/28 JL HND-OKA -- 4/1 JL OKA-HND -- Hyatt Regency Naha
- BigRedBears - 3/28 NH1213 FUK-OKA -- 4/1 NH1200 OKA-FUK -- DT Naha (3/28-3/31), Crowne Plaza Naha (3/32-4/1)
Japan Do #6 - Naha (Okinawa) - March 29-31 2018
Feb 19, 2018, 4:15 am
#107
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Shanghai (PVG/SHA)
Programs: SQ Gold, AF Platinum, AA Platinum (sadly, expiring soon), QR Silver, EK, MU, HU, PR, HO, OZ, KE
Posts: 685
Day A: Tomari Iyumachi seafood market - Shuri Castle - Shuri ryusen dyeing experience - First Makishi Public Market - Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum - Sakaemachi market - dinner at Urizun
(not everyone likes to get up early like me, and not everyone likes museums, so maybe this could be revised to do Kokusai-dori - First Makishi Public Market - Shuri Castle - Sakaemachi market - dinner at Urizun)
Day B: Former Japanese Navy Underground HQ - Himeyuri Peace Museum - Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum - Kokusai-dori
(if done by public bus, this itinerary won’t work on weekdays. Sat is fine, I haven’t tested for Sun yet)
Day C: Panza zip lining - Oceanic Culture Museum - Ocean Expo Park - Churaumi Aquarium (stay overnight in Nago?)
(if done by public bus and need to come back to Naha for the night, latest time to leave the Aquarium is around 1830)
Day D: Tomari Iyumachi seafood market - Zamami daytrip (whale watching possible)
(ferry Naha-Zamami 0900-0950, ferry Zamami-Naha 1720-1810 or 1 hour earlier if in March instead of April)
There are other sights that I would love to include (on the way to the Aquarium, or otherwise) that aren’t reachable by public transport. So, if the DO would like to hire a bus for a day, or if anyone would like to hire a car for a road trip and take along me and my +1, please let me know!
If anyone wants more details about sights and opening hours, admission fees etc, I can also paste my research details... just say the word.
Last edited by ellyse; Feb 19, 2018 at 4:21 am
Feb 20, 2018, 6:06 pm
#108
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 29,509
The real leader for this Do is The_Wrath_of_Khan who I believe will be posting a suggested Do schedule soon.
Feb 20, 2018, 6:14 pm
#109
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 29,509
Feb 20, 2018, 9:13 pm
#110
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Shanghai (PVG/SHA)
Programs: SQ Gold, AF Platinum, AA Platinum (sadly, expiring soon), QR Silver, EK, MU, HU, PR, HO, OZ, KE
Posts: 685
Thanks, really looking forward to seeing the DO schedule soon so that I can know what’s NOT included and start fixing my own itinerary!
Feb 20, 2018, 9:15 pm
#111
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Shanghai (PVG/SHA)
Programs: SQ Gold, AF Platinum, AA Platinum (sadly, expiring soon), QR Silver, EK, MU, HU, PR, HO, OZ, KE
Posts: 685
Feb 20, 2018, 11:17 pm
#112
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Chicago, IL., U.S.A.
Programs: Global Entry · WN, UA, AS, DL, NH; IHG, Wyndham, Hilton, Best Value Inn, Marriott, Starwood, Ramada
Posts: 508
Admit it.
...Or Hokkaido. The janitors of this thread have threatened 
to put the Japan Do in Sapporo for a while without actually accomplishing such.
to put the Japan Do in Sapporo for a while without actually accomplishing such.
Last edited by NewbieRunner; Feb 21, 2018 at 12:32 am Reason: Adjust font
Feb 21, 2018, 2:36 am
#113
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Shanghai (PVG/SHA)
Programs: SQ Gold, AF Platinum, AA Platinum (sadly, expiring soon), QR Silver, EK, MU, HU, PR, HO, OZ, KE
Posts: 685
I’ve been to Hiroshima just last Nov, but I found more places in the vicinity that I’d like to visit, and was even thinking of planning a trip around utilising the Fukuoka-Hiroshima JR pass, or the Hiroshima Wide Area pass (I may have got the names wrong), so I’m a bit biased.
In any case... not Nagoya, please!
Feb 21, 2018, 8:49 am
#115
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,083
L&G, we don't even have a (proper/communicated) plan for this year... can you hold the talk about next year???
Feb 21, 2018, 8:55 am
#116
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Shanghai (PVG/SHA)
Programs: SQ Gold, AF Platinum, AA Platinum (sadly, expiring soon), QR Silver, EK, MU, HU, PR, HO, OZ, KE
Posts: 685
Just a personal thing. It’s one of the destinations that I’ve already visited in Japan, and I found it to be less interesting than others. I don’t really have anything there that I’m extremely keen to visit again or that I want to visit because I missed it last time, except maybe the famous “mud ramen” place that’s quite some way from town, it’s actually in another city.
Sorry, who’s L&G? If that was referring to me, my apologies! Happy to talk about this year’s plan, but no one is responding to what I’ve posted or making any suggestions of their own...
Sorry, who’s L&G? If that was referring to me, my apologies! Happy to talk about this year’s plan, but no one is responding to what I’ve posted or making any suggestions of their own...
Feb 22, 2018, 6:13 pm
#117
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Okinawa
Posts: 2,610
Sorry here is the long promised post. I think this DO is going to be great. I am still working on the final location for the Friday night, DO dinner.
Meet and greet drinks venue for Thursday evening:
- I recommend "The Bar" at the Hyatt Regency (https://naha.regency.hyatt.com/en/ho...g/the-bar.html) it's very centrally located and within walking distance to where many will stay or a short monorail ride. There are plenty of other venues in the area if this doesn't agree with everyone. An alternate would be Taste of Okinawa (https://tabelog.com/en/okinawa/A4701/A470101/47018843/) which is just around the corner but a little harder to find and concentrates more on beer than other spirits.
Activities/visits for Friday (usually half day):
- I would suggest Tomari Fish Market and Naminoue Shrine - both are relatively close together and Naminoue has a significant amount to see and do within walking distance, the fish market could also be done early Saturday for anyone interested. The water should be fairly warm by April so we can hit the beach at Naminoue also.
- Makishi market also makes for a half-day walking tour, but is easily accessible enough that people can do this on their own
Activities/visits for Saturday (usually full day):
- Shuri Castle walk with lunch and shopping in the Shuri area, this can easily take a whole day, but if we wanted to make it just a half day then we should integrate the Former Japanese Naval HQ into the day: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...ture_Kyus.html
- An alternate would be to take a bus (tickets are readily available for 1-infinate PAX) from Naha to the famous Churaumi Aquarium which I believe also involves some stops in the northern part of the island.
- I will lead an early morning scuba diving excursion for those who are interested and have a valid PADI or NAUI open water certification. The diving here is spectacular.
Any post dinner/visit drinks excluding clear liquors:
- Tons of options, one of the best is near Kokuksai Street/Hyatt Regency which is the yatai area https://goo.gl/maps/59MbM2bzuem
I have plenty of other suggestions as well. Is anyone interested in renting a bus to take us around to different locations? Again Okinawa does not have the public transportation system that the rest of Japan enjoys. I am looking forward to showing off the island I've made home for the last 15 years. Another day trip option for Saturday or Sunday is to visit one of the outer islands which may involve humpback whale watching as they are in the area from January-March and we might just be able to catch them in April.
Last edited by The_Wrath_of_Khan; Feb 22, 2018 at 6:20 pm
Feb 22, 2018, 6:33 pm
#118
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Okinawa
Posts: 2,610
P.S. everyone sorry for the late replies, for some reason I haven't been receiving the notification emails for this post.
Feb 22, 2018, 7:06 pm
#119
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Okinawa
Posts: 2,610
There is a very solid battle sights tour, but the only scheduled trip I see is on 3/25 which is earlier than anyone is arriving. Hacksaw ridge is fairly easy to get to as are many of the other locations from WW2 as most of the hard fighting was concentrated in the southern part of the island. I do not know of any Japanese businesses giving tours as the overwhelming opinion seems to be to move on from that pain, although I think it is really important. I can assist you in putting together an itinerary of important places if you are interested in Okinawa's WW2 history.
Feb 22, 2018, 7:13 pm
#120
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Okinawa
Posts: 2,610
Sorry, I don’t know why some of the URLs came out all mangled! But if you click on them I think they still work ok?
May I suggest to the organisers that we could maybe book one or two of these for our DO dinners? Urizun, Matsumoto, Roins and Ryukyu Mie would be the most likely options for reservations. The last one is actually apparently right next door to where I’m staying, and it’s the top restaurant on Tabelog, but it’s pretty pricey (about 10-20k JPY each) as it’s something similar to a kaiseki place. I’m not sure which or any of the restaurants in my list have English menus or English-speaking staff, it doesn’t bother me since the lack of such probably means a less touristy place.
P.S. I forgot to add Jef fast-food to that list. They have 3 or 4 outlets throughout the main island, and the interesting thing on their menu is Goya burgers.
May I suggest to the organisers that we could maybe book one or two of these for our DO dinners? Urizun, Matsumoto, Roins and Ryukyu Mie would be the most likely options for reservations. The last one is actually apparently right next door to where I’m staying, and it’s the top restaurant on Tabelog, but it’s pretty pricey (about 10-20k JPY each) as it’s something similar to a kaiseki place. I’m not sure which or any of the restaurants in my list have English menus or English-speaking staff, it doesn’t bother me since the lack of such probably means a less touristy place.
P.S. I forgot to add Jef fast-food to that list. They have 3 or 4 outlets throughout the main island, and the interesting thing on their menu is Goya burgers.
