Okinawa is the southernmost island of Japan and welcomes about 6.5 million visitors every year from all over the world. Japanese travel company promotes Muslim Okinawa tour and limited seats available. Now take off for your quality time with your loved ones.
*Click here for details.

Hotel have certified as Muslim Friendly Hotel by Nippon Asia Halal Association and serves Halal meals.
Maedasangyo Hotels Co., Ltd.

Experience amazing nature in OKINAWA!!

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Just like any other Japanese words, at first the word onsen sounded foreign to me. I began to hear it just couple of months before my departure to the country which well-known as a country with a strong work ethic and proven technology, Japan. Later on, I found out that this country is the Mecca of onsen, which translated into English as hot springs. According to the Law of Hot Springs that dates back to 1948, in the article written by Hendry and Raveri, Japanese describe onsen as [constituted by] any spring of water gushing out from the underground as warm water, mineral water, vapors or gas with an average temperature of 25 degree Celsius or more. It must also possess at least one of a set specified minerals…at a given percentage (From Curing and Playing, to Leisure: Two Japanese Hot Springs: Arima and Kinosaki Onsen, in Japan at Play: The Ludic and Logic of Power. London: Rutledge. 2002. p. 246).

To understand the historical and cultural of onsen in Japanese society become important for me, because I enjoy to work amongst senior people in tourism and hospitality business back in my home country, Indonesia. And I am aware that the numbers of Japanese senior people are growing significantly in the country, which they are actually need places in a moderate climate such my tropical country, to elude themselves from the extreme winter and summer season every year in their home country. In order to provide and develop living and leisure arrangements which fit to the expectancies of Japanese senior people in Indonesia, I need to understand and learn their way of life and preferences. Definitely onsen is one of the arrangements which I strongly need to consider in developing it, for the Japanese senior people who visit or stay longer in leisure arrangement in Indonesia.

Yet, when I believe I needed to experience in bathing communally either in onsen, sentou or ofuro, at first, I felt foreign to the concept of totally stripping off my clothes in front of others’ eyes and bathing communally with them. Although each of the arrangement I visited, which I enjoyed, they separate their communal bath facilities, and where women bath facilities separates from the male ones. Both as Muslim woman and Javanese (one of the tribes in Indonesia) woman, I’ve been taught to cover my body with clothes in front of others. It is part of the muslim women roles in the society to lower their opposite sex (men) gaze, by applying a modest dress which is not revealing to them, that may bring feelings of unwanted and inappropriate arrousal. Islamic upbringing also teaches us to cover all muslim women bodies, even down to our whole hair for the same objective, lowering males gaze who do not have blood relation as biological father, biological male siblings, and relation by marriage (husband).

Yet, the comprehension and the level of muslim understanding themselves on the Islamic upbringing are different from one to another. So that, we can see some muslim women choose not to wear head cover and not wearing hijab/jilbab, the cloth which cover entire of muslim women bodies, which left their hands and face only to be seen in public. Still when it comes to bath in communal circumstances, actually most of us prefer to stay with clothes such as bathing suits on. And for some non-Japanese nationals, regardless their religions and nationalities that I know and ever tried to bath in onsen, they find it foreign also, to bath in totally naked in public or communal bath situation. So that, I totally understand if some of Muslim women, will never consider to experience bathing in communal facilities, if it has to cost them to be totally naked in front of strangers to experience it, even if the public I refer here are all women also.

To my case, beside the interest of comprehending the Japanese senior people preferences toward hot springs facilities, what strengthen my will to experience the onsen, sentou and ofuro are also because basically, I enjoy warm water shower or lying down in warm water in bath-tub before I call it a day, to wash away fatigue and tiredness, Japanese also believe onsen, sentou and ofuro have the advantage to heal them. Onsen also well-known as having efficacy in developing and preserving the beauty of the skin and its smoothness, and just like any other women, this efficacy which advertised never fails me, to conquer the strange feeling I had in being totally stripped off in the women bathing communally environment, and I decided to experience it.

Hyotan onsen in Kannawa, Beppu-shi is the first onsen I went to with some of my lady friends. Before Hyotan, I went to the ofuro in the dormitory where I reside in Japan, and perhaps what the Japanese called sentou in two hotel arrangements in the city of Beppu, in Oita Prefecture. In one of the article I read about Japanese bathing culture, wrote by Adam M. Merry, called More Than a Bath: An Examination of Japanese Bathing Culture, he tried to differ between onsen, sentou and ofuro. The differentiation which some of the Japanese whom I know, they actually cannot differentiate between those three facilities. Yet, what I can understand from Mr. Merry’s writing article when he tried to differentiate onsen, sentou and ofuro, it’s the water which onsen has are naturally heated by the Earth’s springs, while sentou and ofuro’s are not, instead, their sourced of water are coming from municipal taps. Also, while onsen develops as public arrangements right in the place where the hot springs manifested in the area, sentou and ofuro usually develop around the area where settlement are develop.

Relate to the healing and therapy ideas that onsen offers, those what brought me to the Hyotan onsen and I was enjoying the variety of the material of the pools, they are stones, ceramics and woods, I am not sure whether the woods were coming from the aromatic hinoki or Japanese cypress wood, which is considered sacred or not. Those are the indoor’s type of onsen that Hyotan has, it has sand bath and outdoor’s onsen also. I was enjoying the waterfalls where we can sit or stand up below the falls and felt the water gives us a natural massages over our back and other body parts. It worked for me. Hyotan onsen also well-known by its jigoku-mushi dishes, which is all steam dishes steamed by the natural onsen heat, starts from the steamed eggs, down to varied dishes such steamed veggies, and even, steamed seafood, which I had a chance to enjoy it.

As a closure, what I wrote here based on my comprehension of Islamic upbringing and as a muslim woman toward onsen arrangement. Yet, my writing shall not represent all the perspective of muslim toward onsen in Japan, because amongs muslim also have differences in comprehending and applying the Islamic upbringing in our life style. What I can suggest to be considered by the onsen or hot-springs management and operational in Japan, if they want to attract muslim people in particular, or even, non-Japanese nationals regardless their religions and beliefs, are:

1. Allow the guests to wear piece of clothes to cover their intimate body parts, if they do not comfortable to be totally naked when they want to enjoy onsen.
2. Develop smaller and private onsen ponds more, to target muslim audience who prefer bathing in private or with their spouse only.
3. Arrange halal certification and preparation for the steamed onsen dishes which will be more appealing to muslim visitor.
4. Advertise more of the efficacy/benefits of onsen based on the heritage of Japanese culture on it, in English, because some Japanese language barrier which some of the muslim people still have.
5. Develop the skin care products and brands of Hyotan onsen, with halal ingredients and certification.

References

Merry, A.M. (2013). More Than a Bath: An Examination of Japanese Bathing Culture.
California, US: Claremont CMC Senior Theses, 665.

Hendry, J. & Raveri, M. (2002). “From Curing and Playing, to Leisure: Two Japanese Hot Springs: Arima and Kinosaki Onsen” in Japan at Play: The Ludic and Logic of Power.
London: Routledge, 246.

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The university was established in 2000.  The abbreviated title of university is “APU”.

The university motto is “freedom and freshness”.  As its basic principle, the university advocates “freedom, peace, humanity”, “international mutual understanding”, and “the future shape of the Asia Pacific region ”.
The tag-line “Shape Your World” was established in 2008 by the students from over 80 countries/regions who gathered at APU, to express the image of “The image of creating own self/world”.
As of November 1, 2014, there are total of 5796 students comprised by 2659 international students from 75 countries/regions, and 3137 domestic students (percentage of international students, 45.9%).  Out of international students, there are currently about 400 Muslim students and 252 Indonesian students.

The cafeteria offers halal corresponding menu and is planning to be halal certified by this year’s April.

For the future prospect, the university is planning to adjust the class time schedule so that it can correspond to Friday afternoon worship time.
As you can see, Japan is promoting internationalization by creating a system that can correspond to Muslim friends.

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Let’s hear what the owner has to say about these delicious treats.

(1) How is brown sugar candy well-received by foreign visitors?
Brown sugar candy have been popular in Okinawa for a long time, and its popularity is currently increasing overseas. Many foreign visitors purchase brown sugar candy because it is a well-known local delight and has some health related benefits.

(2) How do you cater to Muslim visitors?
Our products mainly consist of sugarcane, in other words, there are no non-halal ingredients. We making efforts to acquire Halal certification, so that Muslim visitors can also enjoy our product with a peace of mind.

In addition, our employees have been educated on what it means to produce Halal products so that our manufacturing process would be in line.

(3) What are the features of your products?
The history of brown sugar making is said to have begun when Shinjo Gima dispatched messengers to China to learn the techniques in 1623 (3rd year of the Shoho period).

At Ryukyu Kokuto Co. Ltd., we use the above traditional manufacturing techniques; blending brown sugar, raw sugar, and molasses made from sugarcane in Okinawa,

with our very own formula to create brown sugar candy.

Our company also provides the services/support listed below:

(1) Consistent quality assurance of brown sugar products
(2) A substantial annual supply of brown sugar products
(3) Manufacturing a diverse range of brown sugar candy

Our products are made available on JAL’s in-flight services:

• Ryukyu Brown Sugar (a.k.a Kurokuroto)
• Mint Brown Sugar
• Chocotto (a mix of brown sugar and chocolate which is popular among women)
• Black Chocolate
• Sata Andagi (An Okinawan traditional fried pastry)
• and many more…

We also accept requests from companies who wish to produce Brown Sugar Candy as their own Private Brand and Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) support from countries around the globe.

We hope to increase the awareness of brown sugar candy around the world.

◆Purchase your Brown Sugar Candy from any of the following websites◆

-Washita Shop (Okinawa showroom)
In Tokyo, we have stores in Ginza, Nippori and Ueno.
http://www.washita.co.jp/info/shop/

-Okinawa Takarajima (Okinawa showroom)
http://www.feenu.co.jp/shop/

-Our company’s online shop
http://www.ryukyu-kokuto.jp/

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              While Hokkaido is famous for its powder snow, the snow of Shinshu (Nagano and some surrounding areas) is not to be outdone. The Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort, which boasts 100% natural snow, is made up of 36 slopes up to 10Km long and a 1Km vertical drop; it can be enjoyed by both beginner and advanced skiers alike.

              The hot springs await after you have fully enjoyed the world of snow. I recommend Muslims try the Kashikiri Buro private baths if there are no faith-related issues. The baths are filled with 100% natural hot spring water in the Kakenagashi style. This means hot water from hot springs prescribed in the Hot Spring Act is always flowing into the baths. The important point to note is that natural hot water is used.

              Nozawa Onsen is conveniently located not far from Tokyo. The Nagano Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station takes 1 hour and 45 minutes, and the direct bus from Nagano Station to Nozawa Onsen takes 1 hour and 15 minutes. Each Nozawa Onsen hotel offers a free shuttle service to the slopes. If you like, this is one of the “Places to go” you can do as a day trip!

※Private baths
The hot springs generally provided by hotels and inns are large public baths shared by a large number of people. Private baths, which have increased in number in recent years, refer to open-air baths and cypress baths which can be used privately on a time system. Muslims, whose faith prohibits them from exposing their skin to others, should check if private baths are available with the hotel or inn beforehand.

Nozawa Onsen Tourism Association

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              This momentum is likely to continue this year. The Japan-ASEAN Tourism Exchange Conference to be held in Okinawa in January will consist of specific programs which will contribute to future tourism business development of Japan and ASEAN countries including a conference involving experts and government officials of ASEAN countries, a subcommittee in which major ASEAN airlines will give lectures, a subcommittee to introduce the charm of Cambodia, Brunei, Myanmar, and Laos, and business discussions involving the Japanese representatives of the major outbound travel agencies of Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia, etc.

              In recent years, Okinawa has been actively involved in tourism exchanges with Islamic society, including ASEAN countries, through efforts such as Muslim tourism product development and the implementation of Bangkok – Naha and Singapore – Naha charter flights, etc. Okinawa is said to be introducing products and services which have obtained Halal certification in Japan. They will first be promoted as tourism products and ultimately be exported overseas.

Link: Okinawa Tourist Service issues guide booklet for Muslim travelers

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              Okinawa Prefecture is made up of around 160 large and small islands including the main island of Okinawa. It flourished for 450 years as the Ryukyu Kingdom and has been a part of Japan for 135 years. The culture, based on the unique landscape, nature and spiritual features of the area which are unique from mainland Japan and Taiwan, is attractive to tourists. In fact, Okinawa was popular as a hidden resort visited by wealthy Asians and Middle Easterners before awareness of Halal spread in Japan. The high-quality hospitality and untouched nature of Okinawa more than rival Phuket and Bali.

              Okinawa is ready for an influx of Muslim tourists. In addition to the development of  Halal food and restaurants, hotels are also making efforts to welcome Muslims. Local businesses frequently hold study sessions and a travel guide called “Muslim Friendly Okinawa” has been created. While there are no international LCCs currently servicing Okinawa, Air Asia has established a Tune Hotel on the main island of Okinawa. They most likely have plans to fly to Okinawa in the near future.

              The Japanese archipelago stretches from north to south and tourists can enjoy travelling wherever they go, to Hokkaido in the north then south to Okinawa, for example, throughout the year. If you enjoy viewing cherry blossoms in many places, you will find travelling north from Okinawa along with the cherry blossom front a very interesting experience unique to Japan.

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