Colors of My Heart

/Home › › Okinawan Bussōge (Hibiscus) The Okinawan bussōge (Hibiscus) is a type of hibiscus well known for its vivid red blossoms. The bright flowers stand out beautifully under Okinawa’s strong sunlight. Suited to the island’s warm climate throughout the year, this plant is characterized by its long flowering season, allowing people to enjoy its blooms for an extended period. For centuries, the bussōge has been cherished as a garden tree or hedge plant, and it is also said to ward off evil and bring good fortune. Its large, open petals and long protruding stamens convey a sense of vitality unique to the tropics, making it one of the flowers that symbolize the landscape of Okinawa. Although it was January, as I photographed the flowers, I gradually felt as if I were standing in the height of a midsummer tropical paradise. Nikon D5500 / AF-S DX 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G VR II / 1/800s / F5.6 / ISO 1000 / 0.0 Nikon D5500 / AF-S DX 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G VR II / 1/2000s / F5.6 / ISO 1000...

/Home › › The Koki Beach The Koki Beach in Nago City is located right in front of the Best Western, where we stayed during our trip to Okinawa.  This natural long beach stretches for about one kilometer and is known for its soft w hite sand and beautifully clear, emerald-green water. With its calm waves, it was an ideal place for our family to enjoy playing in the sea. The Best Western was also very comfortable, and it may well become our regular hotel for future visits. Nikon D5500 / AF-S DX 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G VR II / 1/400s / F3.5 / ISO 100 / 0.0 Nikon D5500 / AF-S DX 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G VR II / 1/600s / F3.5 / ISO 100 / 0.0 Nikon D5500 / AF-S DX 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G VR II / 1/400s / F3.5 / ISO 100 / 0.0 Nikon D5500 / AF-S DX 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G VR II / 1/500s / F4 / ISO 100 / 0.0     Camera :  Nikon D5500  at DPREVIEW     Lens      :  AF-S DX 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G VR II   at DPREVIEW    ...

/Home › › Asmui Daisekirinzan Okinawa’s northernmost region, Kunigami Village, is home to Asmui (formerly known as Daisekirinzan), a remarkable site where visitors can walk through the world’s northernmost tropical karst landscape.  This terrain was created over more than 200 million years as ancient limestone was gradually shaped by wind and rain.  Asmui Hikes ( https://www.asmui.jp/ ) Following a major renewal in late 2024, the area was reintroduced as “Asmui Hikes,” offering an even richer experience of exploring dramatic rock formations and subtropical forests while immersing oneself in Ryukyuan mythology and traditional spiritual culture. The site is revered as the first land created by the deity Amamikyu, and its sacred atmosphere is heightened by the presence of massive banyan trees and striking geological formations. Several hiking routes are available, each allowing visitors to enjoy unique combinations of rock scenery, forest paths, and sweeping view...

The Motobu Cultural Exchange Center in Motobu, Okinawa offers a wide variety of programs that allow visitors to enjoy traditional Okinawan culture and hands‑on crafts in a short amount of time.  Popular activities include pottery painting on unglazed dishes, hand‑building Shisa figures from clay, making gel candles with shells and sand, creating coral wind chimes, and glass etching—each providing a memorable keepsake to take home. The center also offers more immersive cultural experiences, such as crafting a kankara sanshin (a traditional three‑stringed instrument made from a tin can), as well as bingata dyeing and Churaumi‑inspired dyeing, both of which reflect Okinawa’s rich artistic heritage. There’s actually a pond in the garden, and turtles swim in it gracefully. Because the weather was rainy on the day of our visit, our family chose to try glass etching in the morning, followed by gel candle making and bingata dyeing in the afternoon. Many of the programs are open to partici...