Recreation and Leisure

Cultural Facilities

The Urasoe City Public Library is a free library that lends to anyone who lives or works in Urasoe. Non-residents are welcome to visit and read books in the library without checking them out. The library has a large children's section, in addition to the usual fiction, non-fiction and reference books. There are also CDs and videos as well as manga available for rental.

The second floor houses the Okinawan Studies Section, and the American Information Corner. The latter was installed in 2004, and contains a wealth of information on the US and American culture, as well as a few works of great American literature, and English-language children's books. There are excellent reference books on American music, movies and other topics as well.

The Harmony Center is home to many Urasoe City clubs and circles. Its facilities are used by the Urasoe choral group, guitar ensemble, eisa groups, local bands, flower arranging and tea ceremony clubs, and many others. The Harmony Center consists of a small auditorium and stage, semi-soundproofed band practice rooms, meeting rooms, a lounge and kitchenette and even a tea house.

The Community Center is used by many local groups for activities such as calligraphy, painting and crafts, Okinawan language, dance, tai-chi, cooking, and music. If you want to cultivate an existing hobby or start a new one, this is a good place to go.

The UIRA is housed in the Community Center Annex (Chūō Kōminkan Bunkan 中央公民館分館). The UIRA offers free counseling for foreign residents of Japan, and plans many activities and events for all residents of Okinawa to learn about new cultures.

It is located on Route 330, right next to the Idemitsu gas station on the north side of the Tōyama Bridge. It is only accessible by the northbound lane, so those coming from the north will have to turn around somewhere.

The Urasoe Art Museum was built in 1990 to showcase the beautiful lacquerware of the Ryukyu Kingdom, of which Urasoe was once the capital. In order to capture the history of the international trade in which Urasoe participated at the height of the Ryukyu Kingdom, architect Shōzō Uchii created a complex of connected domes and pagodas, evoking an air of the Middle East and the Asian mainland. It was the first public museum in Okinawa, and the first museum in Japan to specialize in lacquerware.

The museum features a permanent collection of Ryukyu lacquerware. This includes furniture, screens, food containers, inrō (small decorative cases), and other pieces that demonstrate the fine craftsmanship of lacquer artisans. There are explanations of lacquer-making, and pieces that visitors can touch. The museum often hosts visiting exhibitions featuring classic and contemporary works from both Japan and abroad. Art by Urasoe children and American children living on Camp Kinser is also displayed in a yearly exhibit.

Tedako Hall is the new multi-purpose civic auditorium. It is the largest auditorium in Okinawa, and famous for its excellent acoustics. Local, national, and international groups perform at Tedako Hall all year round. Please visit the auditorium's website for upcoming events.

The National Theatre in Okinawa was built for the preservation and promotion of traditional Okinawan peforming arts, particularly kumi-odori, a refined variety of Ryukyuan dance that has come to be recognized as an "important intangible cultural asset." It hosts theatrical and musical performances throughout the year. Please see the theatre's website for information on upcoming events.

The Okinawa International Center was established by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to develop human resources in developing countries and to promote international cooperation. The OIC hosts many trainees from around the world and provides a opportunity for the people of Urasoe to meet wonderful people from other countries. The OIC hosts various lectures and events, including five Friendship Seminars (Fureai Kōza) and the annual OIC Matsuri each year.

The Urasoe City Industrial Promotion Center, Yui-no-Machi (meaning "The City of Friendly Ties"), was completed in 2004, directly across from the National Theatre. Its first floor features an interesting exhibit on the history of Urasoe's economy, with a particular emphasis on interaction with Americans.

Athletics & Outdoor Recreation

Urasoe Athletic Park

Urasoe's athletic park consists of the following facilities:

Urasoe Municipal Gymnasium and Outdoor Athletic Field
Open Monday-Saturday 9 am-9:30 pm, and 9 am-6:30 pm on Sundays and public holidays. The gymnasium contains facilities for indoor sports such as badminton, basketball, and volleyball. Equipment can be rented and shower facilities are available. There is a martial arts studio and a training room (good and inexpensive). Please remember that you must wear clean indoor shoes when using the indoor facilities.

Baseball Stadium
Used by local teams as well as the Yakult Swallows for their spring training.

Indoor Field
A large indoor playing surface with artificial turf, used for soccer, handball, tennis, baseball training, and other sports.

Majunland
A facility with pools, sauna, a training room, and more, that offers swimming lessons. Admission for Urasoe residents is ¥800 for adults, ¥600 for seniors, and ¥400 for students up to high school. It costs a little bit more for non-residents.

Tennis Courts
It is also possible to use public tennis courts free of charge. Simply visit the Municipal Gymnasium in person and make a reservation! The courts are in Minatogawa 1-chome, not far from Minatogawa JHS.

Beaches

Although most of the west coast of Urasoe is occupied by a military base and therefore inaccessible, there are several beaches near Urasoe. The closest is Tropical Beach, a manmade beach that is part of the Waterfront Park by the Okinawa Convention Center in Ginowan, just north of Urasoe. The next closest is Nami-no-Ue Beach in Naha. These beaches are pleasant in many ways, but there is often music blaring from a loudspeaker. If you go a little farther up the coast, you can find quiet natural beaches. The east coasts of Nago and Higashi also have lovely spots that are visited by surprisingly few people. To see Okinawa's most pristine and spectacular beaches, check out the outer islands!

Urasoe City Events

Tedako Matsuri てだこまつり
Tedako Matsuri is the annual summer festival in Urasoe, held in mid-July. It is so named because Eiso, the first king of Urasoe, was believed to be the child of the sun - "Tedako" in Okinawan language. Many Urasoe City groups gather to put on a large-scale show of Okinawan drumming (eisa), lion dance, martial arts, and various kinds of music. On Sunday evening, the event cumulates with a fireworks display.

Tedako Walk
This annual event was established in 2000 in order to promote fitness in Urasoe. It takes place on a Saturday and Sunday in mid-February, and includes 5 courses: 5km, 10km, 20km, 30km, and 42km. These begin and end in the athletic park, and take the walkers around Urasoe and beyond. The Sunday course even passes through Camp Kinser. There are also festivities, such as music and dance performances and a reception. Many walking enthusiasts come from other parts of Japan to participate, making this event an opportunity to share Urasoe culture with many people. The cost is around ¥1,000 for adults.

Shopping

The Shintoshin area of Naha is the shopping district closest to Urasoe. Shintoshin has clothing, toy, and sports stores, food shopping, restaurants, playgrounds, a skate park, and a movie theater. To get there from Urasoe, drive south on Pipline Dōri.

Food

The main supermarket chains in Urasoe are Max Value, San-A, Kanehide, and Union. There are also numerous small vegetable stands where you can buy locally grown produce.

Several options are available if you are shopping for food on a budget. The aforementioned vegetable stands often sell fruit and vegetables at slightly lower prices, round off prices to give you a deal, or throw something in for free when you buy several other items (this depends on the establishment). Supermarkets discount their wares when the expiration date is near, so keep a look out for the characteristic brightly-colored discount stickers which pop up around the supermarket in the evening.

Imported Food
Those who are looking for imported foods from their home countries, or those who like unusual ethnic foods (outside of slow-cooked pig foot) may be disappointed by the selection. The grocery store in the basement of the Ryubo across from Okinawa Prefectural Office offers a good selection of spices and some Chinese, South East Asian and Indian ingredients such as hot sauces, noodles, and dehydrated curries. They also carry various baking goods which can be difficult to find elsewhere such as corn flour, rye flour, and bran. In the same basement there is a bakery which makes some good breads. Another place to try when looking for imported foods is the San-A grocery store at Shintoshin's Main Place. The grocery store chain "Jimmy's" sells a limited selection of American foods for 3-4 times the price on the military bases. For those who imbibe, Urasoe's Gyōmu Sūpā, located on the west side of Route 330 about half a kilometer north of Furujima monorail station, carries a surprising selection of imported alcohols.

Organic and Vegetarian Foods
There are a couple of stores in Okinawa which carry organic and vegetarian foods. One is Nanakusa, across the street from Urasoe City Hall. Another is ANEW, located off Pipeline Street next to the JA Okinawa building in the Miyagi area. For those interested in ordering organic, natural foods, there is a delivery service provided by Tengu Natural Foods (located in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo). They can be reached by phone at (0429) 82-4811.

It is somewhat difficult for a vegan or vegetarian to eat out in Okinawa because of the preponderance of pork and fish products used in bento, prepared foods, and restaurant cooking. Fried and battered things contain egg, and almost all bread (with the exception of baguettes) contains dairy. Do the best you can, and don't be discouraged. If you are eating at a restaurant, or in someone's home, make sure to let your host know as soon as possible what you can and cannot eat. If you have an actual food allergy, simply say "______ wa arerugi desu" "I'm allergic to ______."

Here are a couple of useful phrases:
"Oniku ga haitteimasu ka?" (Is there any meat in this?)
"____-nuki ni shite kudasai" (Please make it without____.)

Foreign Language Books

Books in English and other foreign languages are relatively difficult to come by in Okinawa. Although some bookstores (such as Denen on Rt. 330 in Ginowan) have a limited selection of English novels, the best places to shop are stores that specialize in foreign books. Of course, you can order anything you want over the Internet.

Yohan Tel. (098) 877-0140
Yohan is a foreign book wholesaler on Route 153 across from the Family Mart, between the intersection with Route 38 and the fork where 153 splits into Athletic Park Road (Undō Kōen Dōri). Yohan has a reasonably good selection of novels, magazines, and children's books, and an excellent selection of language teaching and learning materials.

Tuttle Books
The biggest foreign-language bookstore in Okinawa, Tuttle is located in the Plaza House shopping area on Route 330 in Okinawa City (about a 30 minute drive northwest of Urasoe).

Pets

When looking for a pet, please consider adopting an unwanted dog or cat. There are many abandoned animals at the Prefectural Animal Protection Center.

Rules about Pets

Before buying a pet, please double check that your residence allows animals.

Bringing Pets to Japan
The Prefectural Quarantine Office gives out information on Japan's quarantine regulations if you plan to bring a pet with you to Japan. Laws vary according to type of animal, country of origin, and whether the animal has had all the necessary shots.

Owning a Dog
If you own a dog, it must be registered at City Hall. Please visit the Environmental Conservation Section to complete the registration. Registration costs ¥3,000, and once your dog is registered, it should wear its registration tags at all times.

All dogs must be vaccinated against rabies (kyōken-byō狂犬病) once a year. Every year between April and June, the city provides rabies vaccinations in local community centers. Contact the Environmental Conservation Section for exact dates. If you acquire a new pet after or before the public vaccination period, please visit a veteranarian to get the vaccination. There is a small fee for the vaccination.

Owning a Cat
There are no special regulations regarding keeping cats, but you may want to get a collar and tags with your address and phone number for your cat, so that s/he can be returned to you if s/he gets lost. Cat owners are encouraged to keep their cat indoors to avoid accidents with cars and the spread of disease.

Common Pet Issues

Spaying, Neutering and Animal Population Control
There are many stray animals in Okinawa. Unless you plan to breed your pet, spaying or neutering it will prevent unwanted pregnancies, thereby reducing the problem. Sterilization serves both the human and the animal community by preventing disease and stray dog attacks. Consult your veterinarian about the appropriate time to have surgery performed (usually 8 weeks old). In Okinawa, most veterinarians charge about ¥20,000 for spaying or neutering pets.

Veterinarians in Urasoe
Makiminato Pet Clinic (Makiminato Petto Kurinikku 牧港ペットクリニック)
2-46-12 Makiminato, Urasoe 901-2131
Telephone: (098) 879-1125

Please see the Okinawa Yellow Pages for information on other veterinarians in Urasoe.

Stray Pets
Stray animals are picked up by the Animal Protection Center. Please contact them if your pet is missing. If the pet has identification, an animal control officer will attempt to contact the owner. Animals without identification tags will be put to sleep after three days (cats) or four days (dogs).

Pet Sitting
If you are unable to have a friend take care of your pet while you are away, you can check the animal into one of the many "pet hotels"(petto hoteru ペットホテル) listed in the telephone book.

Giving up your Pet
If you can no longer care for your pet, please contact the Animal Protection Center. You can leave your pet with them. Some pets are adopted, but if your pet is not adopted quickly, it will be put to sleep.

Death of a Pet
If your pet dies, you are responsible for dealing with the remains. You may bury pets on land that you own, or you may make arrangements with a private Pet Funeral Company (petto sōgi-shaペット葬儀社).

If you find an abandoned dead pet or other animal, please contact the Environmental Conservation Section.