Souviners to buy in Okinawa

Okinawan Stained Glass

Okinawan Stained Glass

What is it?

- Ryūkyū glass is a traditional Okinawan craft of hand-blown glassware — bright colours, bubbles in the glass, thick textures — derived historically from recycling discarded bottles after WWII.

Where to find it

- Ryukyu Glass Village (Itoman City)
- Ryukyu Glass Studio Genkici (Yomitan Village)
- Tourist Areas (ex:Naha City)

How much does it cost?

- Price ranges: from very affordable (¥1,000-¥3,000 ≈ US$7-20) for smaller souvenir items, to US$100+ for artisan pieces, and hundreds for large or collectible works.

Shisha Dog Statues

Shisha Dog Statues

What is it?

- Shisa are traditional Ryukyuan statues (lion-dog hybrids) placed on homes, rooftops, gates or at entrances in Okinawa. They serve as protective guardians, believed to ward off evil spirits and attract good fortune.
- Learn more here: A Guide to Shisha

Where to find them

- Tsuboya Yachimun Street
- Kokusai-Dori Shopping Street

How much do they cost?

- For souvenir size, you can get decent shisa pairs for around US$30-70 (or ~¥3,000-¥10,000) depending on size and material.
- For artisan / larger size / home-guard versions, expect hundreds of USD (¥50,000+).

Chinsuko

Chinsuko

What is it?

- Chinsuko is a traditional biscuit-style sweet from the island of Okinawa in Japan. Its made primarily from flour, sugar and lard, giving it a light, crumbly texture and subtly sweet flavour.

Where to find it

- Souvenir shops in major tourist areas like Naha citys shopping streets.
- Some factory stores or visitor-friendly shops in Okinawa where you can even see how the sweets are made.

How much does it cost?

- Pick up a modest box for yourself (under ¥1,000) or a larger gift box if you are sharing with friends/family.