Japanese fresh style x American retro style ✨ Okinawa's popular photo spot ~ Minatogawa Foreigner Housing Street
Minatogawa Stateside Town
Gangchuan Foreign Residential Street
For those of you who have traveled to Okinawa, where did you like to visit? I believe many people really enjoyed the lively and bustling American Village! But today I won't be introducing American Village, but rather a place with a strong American atmosphere—Minatokawa Foreigner Housing District.
Minatogawa Gaitin Kaiju (Outer Neighborhood Housing District) is located in Minatogawa, Urasoe City. In contrast to the vibrant American Village, Minatogawa Gaitin Kaiju offers a warmer, more nostalgic atmosphere, brimming with artistic flair. The single-story houses feature a unique color scheme, with uniform pure white exteriors and door and window colors chosen by the homeowners themselves. The overall style blends Japanese freshness with American retro elements, creating a charmingly vintage style that is very popular in Japan. Being here feels like being in an American country town, offering a comfortable and relaxing experience.
In the 1960s, the residential area was used as housing for foreigners. After World War II, in Okinawa under US military control, due to a shortage of housing for US military personnel and their families within the bases, private residences for foreigners were built in various places around the bases. Later, the residential area was also opened to the general public for rent, and it became very popular because of its unique and retro-style exotic architecture.
Around 2000, it was officially named "Minatokawa Foreigner Housing District (港川ステイツサイドタウン)," with each street named after a U.S. state. Currently, more than 60% of the 60 houses are used as cafes, general stores, and various creative shops, attracting Japanese and foreign tourists.
Shop Introduction
1. [oHacorté]: A must-try fruit tart in Okinawa!
Of course, you have to try oHacorté, the famous fruit tart shop in Okinawa. Their main store is located in the Minatogawa Gajah (outsider housing area). The pure white building with light blue doors and windows exudes a refreshing summer vibe, perfect for a quiet and leisurely afternoon tea. Without further ado, we chose different fruit tarts to try! The tart crust was incredibly light and crispy, with a lingering aroma in our mouths. Combined with a variety of carefully selected fruits, it was an unforgettable experience!
Geum Gyi Jin Watermelon Fruit Tart: Geum Gyi Jin's famous watermelon, which tastes sweeter than regular watermelons!
Brown Sugar Banana Fruit Tart: The brown sugar isn't too sweet, complementing the soft, ripe, and rich flavor of the bananas.
Merlot Lemon Tiramisu Fruit Tart: The cream has the tartness and fruity aroma of Merlot lemon, making it a wonderful accompaniment to the tart crust. Okinawa Lemon Cake: The rich lemon flavor is so delicious you can't stop eating it. It also won the OMOTENASHI Selection 2024 award, recognizing it as an excellent Japanese product worthy of promotion worldwide!
Besides the café, the shop also has an area selling souvenirs and Japanese general merchandise. Souvenirs include the Okinawan lemon cake mentioned earlier, as well as [oHacorté]'s famous French shortbread cookies, fruit-filled cookies, and more—great choices as Okinawan souvenirs!
📍17-1, Minatogawa 2-chome, Urasoe City, Okinawa [FLORIDA #18]
🕒 10:30～19:00 ※Fruit tarts are served from 11:30～
🗓️ Irregular holidays, please see the official Instagram story highlight (@ohacorte) for details.
2. Houkiboshi: Brown Sugar Mini Canelé Specialty Store
Seeing the hand-painted canelés on the walls and the stone guardian outside the door, we knew we had arrived at Okinawa's first specialty shop for canelés made with brown sugar. The shop was decorated with many stars inside and out, even the parking lot was adorned with star-shaped wishing papers. The shop sells bite-sized mini canelés, with eight flavors developed using Okinawan ingredients to choose from, including original brown sugar, pineapple, lemon, and awamori.
Canelés are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, with a very tender texture and a mild, enticing aroma. The most unique flavor is undoubtedly the banana flavor, with adorable little banana stars on top – it's almost too cute to eat! Because they're made fresh daily using very fresh ingredients, they only have a one-day shelf life. But don't worry, the Naha Airport branch sells frozen canelés, so you can take some home for your family!
📍16-2 Minatogawa 2-chome, Urasoe City, Okinawa [NEVADA #25]
🕒 11:30～18:00
🗓️ No holidays throughout the year (rest days are at the end of the year and the beginning of the new year).
3. PORTRIVER MARKET: A general store offering all the food, clothing, and accommodation in Okinawa.
Seeing the lush trees outside, I almost missed this general store! PORTRIVER MARKET's most distinctive products are pottery, with a wide variety including teacups, bowls, and vases. A dazzling array of different styles and designs allow you to take your time to choose.
Homemade coffee Jishuiyun Beauty Products
Various exquisite pottery pieces and stone lions carved from Ryukyu limestone.
📍15-8 Minatogawa 2-chome, Urasoe City, Okinawa [NEVADA #30]
🕒 12:30～18:00
🗓️ Closed on Wednesdays and Sundays
4. AMERICAN WAVE: A treasure trove for American retro enthusiasts
AMERICAN WAVE specializes in 19th and 20th-century American vintage and antique items, including men's and women's clothing, jewelry, toys, and general merchandise. The owner, a native-born American, uses his years of experience and knowledge to source local American goods and bring them back to Japan. This vintage and antique shop is a treasure trove for any American retro enthusiast! Those who love American retro style should definitely not miss this!
The Japanese love Snoopy, and the store has a dedicated space displaying many retro Snoopy products.
📍16-9 Minatogawa 2-chome, Urasoe City, Okinawa [FLORIDA #22]
🕒 11:00 ～ 19:00
🗓️ No holidays throughout the year (December 25th and the end of the year/beginning of the new year are rest days)
There are dozens of unique shops in the Minatogawa Foreigner Housing Street that I haven't listed here. If you're going to Okinawa, these unique shops are waiting for you to discover!
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