Are You Excited to Visit Okinawa?
We hope you are! And you have come to the right place for tours. Haitai specializes in Okinawan longevity tours and no other type of tour. You will get the best experience and learn the TRUTH (yes, truth) behind real Okinawan longevity. Before you take a look at our list of tours, here are a few things you need to know before coming:
・PRIVATE TOURS: All listed tours are private tours. These tours are not held regularly. They are only held with a reservation.
・TRANSPORTATION: Prepare to rent a car while you are in Okinawa. Unlike other prefectures, there is not a reliable transporation system that can take you all over the island. Having a car is the best way to get anywhere at anytime, both convenient and less stress. Our tours do not offer transportation in most cases (rare exceptions are sometimes made). *You may need to contact your local organizaiton to provide you an international license before you come here. This is required to rent a car.
・DIETARY OPTIONS: The true, traditional Okinawan diet is not vegan or even close to vegan. If you are vegan, please let us know beforehand. Many restaurants that appear to be vegan are not. We know how to accomadate vegans or dietary restrictions as we know each restaurant on our tours very well.
Note: Emi-no-Mise is not vegan.
・COMPENSATION: Haitai receives absolutely no kick-backs or compensation when you shop at a store or eat/drink at a food establishment. When you make a purchase at an Okinawan establishment on our tour, you are 100% contributing to the Okinawans who run it. :)
・PRICE: We pay each Okinawan on our tour for their time and energy put into giving you a good tour. Our prices reflect this. We believe in supporting the local economy and the kind Okinawans who want to teach about their culture.
'A Day in the South'
The most popular one-day tour. You might think that you need to go to the north of Okinawa to experience longevity. Longevity is not centered in just one village. It is all over Okinawa and, currently, some of the most active and sharp long-living Okinawans are in the south.
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This tour includes:
・Longevity Lunch in Naha City: eat traditional, authentic Okinawan food.
・Tour of an Herbal Garden: touch, taste and learn all the herbs and plants a part of Okinawan traditional healing.
・Drink with an elderly bar tender: run by a longevity Okinawan, this hidden bar is small and quiet, perfect for interviews or a conversation with an actively working (and adorable) Okinawan bartender.
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*Vegan options available but will require a change in location. Price is includes everything except drinks at the bar.
Dates Available: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Night/Thursday Afternoon Split, Thursday, Friday or Saturday.
Time: 1pm-8pm (or later if you want to continue drinking at the bar) or 3pm-8pm/11am-1pm if Split
Number of People: 2~7 persons, group rates available
Prepare: Cash, Sunscreen or Protective Hat, Comfortable Clothing and Shoes, a Charged Phone for Lots of Pictures and Videos
Recommended: Rental Car. In some cases, transportation can be provided for an extra fee but it is not guaranteed.
'A Night in the North'
While all of these tours are a once-in-a-lifetime experience, this one takes the cake. Spend the day with an elderly Okinawan and stay the night at their home. This is more intimate as you will spend the whole day, night and following morning with an Okinawan! This is the best way to truly experience the lifestyle which is not glamorous or fancy, just homely, modest, and relaxed.
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This tour includes:
・An activity with the Okinawan (farming, practice a craft, etc.) Activity depends on the Okinawan available on the date.
・Cook an authentic, home-made dinner in the home
・Celebrate at the end of the night with some sanshin (Okinawan guitar) playing or Okinawan dancing
・Breakfast the following morning with a walk around the neighborhood
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*Vegan options must be confirmed with homestay host. This is NOT in Ogimi Village. See note at bottom of page.
Dates Available: Monday~Saturday. Please inquire as soon as possible as dates fill fast. It is best to book a month in advance.
Time: 3pm~11am
Number of People: 2~16 persons, group rates available
Prepare: Luggage to stay the day and night.
Recommended: Rental Car. In some cases, transportation can be provided for an extra fee but it is not guaranteed. A small gift from your country for the Okinawan host is not required but a part of Okinawan culture and highly recommended.
Okinawan Cooking Class
Want to learn how to cook like an Okinawan even when you go home? That is exactly what this class is for. Touch and taste Okinawan ingredients you have never seen before. Then learn what ingredients you can use at home no matter where you live to eat just like an Okinawan.
Options:
1. Yakuzen Cooking Class
Yakuzen is the concept 'food is medicine'. Learn how to prepare dishes that not just nourish, but also heal. Let us know your ailment and we will prepare a class catored to healing your specific ailment or ailments.
2. Traditional Okinawan Cooking Class
Learn what Okinawans traditionally made hundreds of years ago. Do not be afraid, none of the dishes are difficult. They are fun, easy, and authentic traditional dishes.
This class includes:
・All the ingredients needed to cook
・Cooking class kitchen
*Vegan and vegetarians options available, just let us know when you book.
Dates Available: Monday~Saturday.
Time: Flexible
Number of People: 2~25 persons, group rates available
Recommended: Wear clothes that can get a little messy as aprons are not provided.
'True Ikigai Workshop'
What is your ikigai? This is a personal question and is hard to ask directly. If you are asked it, can you answer? If you answer, are you sure that is truly your ikigai? This workshop goes through everything from the definition of ikigai to how to find it and what to do when it changes. Those who have a set ikigai are likely to have lower rates of depression and higher resilience to bumps in life. Ikigai is one of the reasons the Okinawans, despite experiencing the bloodiest battle of WW2, the Battle of Okinawa, are able to live such long, healthy lives.
This workshop includes:
・Extensive teachings and discussion about ikigai
・Writing utensils and the ikigai worksheet
Dates Available: Monday~Saturday.
Time: 2 hour option or 3 hour option, time of the day flexible
Number of People: 2~50 persons
Prepare: What you think your ikigai might be and why.
Optional: Depending on the number of attendees, this workshop can be combined with other tours.
What About Ogimi Village!?
We do not offer tours to Ogimi Village and we don't recommend any tour or tour guide in Ogimi Village.
Seriously??
Yes, seriously. With more than 8 years experience studying, researching, conducting interviews, and doing tours in Okinawa, I have found that Ogimi Village is no longer the longevity village, does not have a fulfilling longevity experience to provide, and the mayor of the village does NOT want tourists to come. For decades, Ogimi Village has been harrassed by visitors. I have heard stories of tour guides who were forced to find centenarians in Ogimi Village for the tourists pleasure after being berated and yelled at. The tourism department actively denies tour requests. Certain tour guides are telling lies about the villagers to tourists to prevent them from meeting or seeing villagers.
Many tourists have come to us after their Ogimi Tour and talked of the commercialism and disappointment on their tour. We do not want to provide that.
You do not need to go to Ogimi Village to experience authentic Okinawan Longevity.
Haitai's True Okinawa tours do not impose on any Okinawan's daily life. Each tour is set so the Okinawans actively want to meet the tourists. We will never force an Okinawan to meet you and will not take demands to meet an Okinawan. Haitai Corporation has been in business for a long time in Okinawa, has close connected community ties, and takes pride in it's good reputation on the island. We are confident we can keep it that way while providing you the best tour while you are here.
Contact Us for a Quote
To ensure we provide the best price depending on the season and availability, please give us as much information as possible.
We answer within 2 business days.