Kokusai Dori — International Street Market

**Makishi Public Market:** The covered market (牧志公衆市場) at Kokusai Dori's midpoint is Naha's food soul — 1F sells fresh seafood (whole fish, spiny lobsters, sea snakes, live octopus), 2F restaurants cook what you buy downstairs (select fish at market stall, take receipt to 2F restaurant, they grill/steam/sashimi it for ¥500–1,000 cooking fee). This 'select-and-cook' system is unique and lets you eat ultra-fresh seafood at fraction of restaurant prices. Arrive by 14:00 (2F restaurants stop accepting orders around 15:00). **Yachimun Street side trip:** Branch off Kokusai Dori onto Tsuboya Yachimun Street (壺屋やちむん通り), a 10-minute walk south. This quiet lane houses 20+ pottery studios selling traditional Okinawan ceramics (yachimun) — shisa statues, sake vessels, coffee cups. Prices range ¥500 (small shisa) to ¥50,000 (large hand-painted vases). Unlike Kokusai Dori's mass-produced souvenirs, these are artisan-made and shippable (studios arrange international shipping). **Awamori tasting:** Multiple shops on Kokusai Dori offer free awamori tasting (Okinawan distilled spirit, 25–43% alcohol, aged in clay pots). Helios Pub (ヘリオスパブ) at Kokusai Dori's center offers tasting flights (¥500 for 3 types) with English explanations. Awamori is an acquired taste (strong, earthy) but essential Okinawan cultural experience. Bottles cost ¥1,000–5,000 depending on age/distillery.