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September 24, 2015 • mccsokinawa.com
okinawalivingweekly Kouri Island
Clockwise from the top: Thomas Alan Smilie, ivanmateev/bigstock.com
Mega Karaoke
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t’s easy to get caught up in the daily routine of missing the snooze button, commuting to work, sitting in traffic, cleaning the house, making dinner and doing it all over again the next day. Although Okinawa can feel large to some, it can make others feel confined with nowhere new to go and nothing new to do. Thankfully, there’s a solution for that: Kouri Island. Kouri Island is off the northwestern coast of Okinawa, 20 kilometers north of Nago. Getting to Kouri Island consists of taking two bridges: one to Yagaji Island, which will connect you to another bridge leading to Kouri Island. The bridge connecting Yagaji and Kouri is 2,020 meters long—the longest toll-free bridge in Japan. The island is small, with a circumference of only 8 kilometers. There are no fancy resorts, just a few quaint restaurants, sugarcane fields, purple sweet potato fields, some friendly locals and a couple of small inns. The slow pace, laid-back atmosphere and bright blue waters make you feel like you are in a tropical paradise.
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You can spend the day lounging on the white sand beaches, swimming and snorkeling in the crystal clear waters, visiting the shell museum with over 10,000 shells, touring the Kouri Observational Tower with panoramic views of the island, or exploring the little shops and cafés scattered throughout the isle. The shallow waters and gentle ocean currents make it great for family events, with activities for both children and adults. There are several vendors that rent out snorkel gear, and multiple areas to kayak and dive. Kouri Island is also famous for their sea urchins, a Japanese delicacy, which are harvested in the summer months and available at most of the local restaurants. MCCS Tours+ offers an all-day Kouri Island tour, giving anyone an opportunity to visit beautiful beaches and spend time exploring the island. For more information, please see page 7 or visit mccsokinawa.com/tours/.
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ingers—your moment has come to compete for over $1,000 in cash and prizes including an overnight stay for two at Moon Ocean Ginowan Hotel and Residence. The journey starts here to prove that your pipes are the best on island. You will sing for the approval of a panel of judges and the audience, so it’s best to select your winning song now. Preliminary rounds will be on September 29 at The Palms on Camp Hansen, September 30 at Bayview on Camp Courtney, October 1 at Thirsty’s on MCAS Futenma, October 6 at BeachHead on Camp Schwab, October 7 at Surfside on Camp Kinser and October 8 at Ocean Breeze on Camp Foster. Registration begins at 7 p.m. at each venue with an 8 p.m. showtime (limited to 25 participants). Mega Karaoke is open to all DoD ID card holders over 18. For more information, call 645-5821 or visit mccsokinawa.com/entertainment.
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