Journeys in photographs and words.

Places we stopped along the way

Motobu, Okinawa

Nago Municipal Market

From: Island cooking in a traditional Okinawan house

A stone wall topped with shisa and the red sign of the municipal market
A stone wall topped with shisa and the red sign of the municipal market

A market in the center of Nago, dating back to the Taisho era; the current building was completed in 2010. Fresh meat, fish and vegetable shops fill the first floor, with sundries, souvenir shops and eateries on the second.

1-4-11 Gusuku, Nago, Okinawa

Sources: ryukyushimpo.jp tabelog.com

This moment in the journey

Nago's municipal market, and a cat

I stopped by the Nago Municipal Market in the center of town. Past the stone wall topped with shisa lion-dogs and the red sign, the market had a retro, easygoing air: bunches of bananas, vegetables and fruit, posters on the walls.

I met a cat stretched out in the sun. Many cats in Okinawa are friendly, probably because the islanders and the climate are warm. I left the market through an arcade with stained-glass windows.

Watch this scene on YouTube1:44

Read this scene in the full journey

Entering the market past a wall of patterned concrete blocks
Entering the market past a wall of patterned concrete blocks
Peering into a shop through the glass door
Peering into a shop through the glass door
A market stall with bunches of bananas and posters
A market stall with bunches of bananas and posters
A greengrocer's stall in the market
A greengrocer's stall in the market
A tabby cat stretched out in the sun
A tabby cat stretched out in the sun
A small shop at the end of a market alley
A small shop at the end of a market alley
An arcade walkway with stained-glass windows
An arcade walkway with stained-glass windows