So what else is there to do on Ie Island besides the Lily Festival?  Lots of beautiful sites!

Our first stop was Waji, which means spring, is located on the north side of the island, not far from the lily fields.  Spring water is produced here and back in the day people used to come here to fetch water.  But after the war, water pipes were installed by the US forces which made things convenient (people didn't have to come grab water everyday) and solved the water shortage problem on the island.  

The main draw here is the view!  The 60 meter bluff right along the gorgeous ocean is a wonderful site.

In April, a few months before we were scheduled to leave our beautiful island home, Nate's Aunt, Uncle, and cousins came out to visit for their spring break!  We love visitors and were excited to show them around the island!

It's that time of year again - Sakura in Okinawa!  Sakura (cherry blossoms) blooms in Okinawa first before the rest of Japan, usually around end of January / beginning of February.    Read all about the meaning of Sakura in Japan in my blog from last year here.  

We started our Saturday Sakura viewing in north Okinawa at Mount Yaedake.  From the foot of the winding road to the top, more than 7,000 Ryukyu Kanhi Zakura or Hikan Zakura ("Taiwan Cherry"), the Okinawan cherry variety originating in Taiwan and southern China, colors the mountain bright pink.  We were a little early in the season but still got to see a decent amount of cherry blossoms :) 

What is a yukata?  And how is it different from a kimono?  A yukata (浴衣) is a Japanese garment, a casual summer kimono usually made of cotton or synthetic fabric, and unlined.

Yukata literally means bathing cloth, and was traditionally worn after bathing in a communal bath or onsen, functioning as a quick way to cover the body and absorb remaining moisture.  It is also a typical garment and dress code for guests staying at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn).  Nowadays, yukatas are increasingly popular and worn more during the hot summer months (vs. a hot kimono).  People wear them to summer festivals and events like hanabi (fireworks), and bon-odori festivals.  In Okinawa, they're usually worn from around May to October (since it's hot here most the year).

Younger people normally wear brighter, more colorful yukatas with bolder patterns (as with the kimono), while the older generation normally wears duller, more subdued patterns and colors like dark blue with a geometric design.  The men's yukatas are also darker and more subdued, usually just a solid color.  ​

On a hot summer day in Okinawa during Memorial Day weekend, we decided to drive up north to Tadake Falls to go hiking with our dogs and neighbors.