One of the specialty foods of Okinawa is a boat-like pastry filled with sweetened purple potato paste piped on top in pretty rippled patterns called Okashigoten . The purple potato, beni-imo, is indigenous to the area and is an ingredient in many desserts, including cakes, pastries, and ice cream. The colorful treats are popular among visitors and locals alike, and when presented in lovely packaging, make excellent gifts.
Okashigoten Onna (photo: okashigoten.com)
The Okashigoten is a chain of stores which specialize in just such pastries. The Onna branch is particularly fun for tourists because the building is shaped like a Ryukyu palace, with the red and gold theme carrying to the inside. As well as a gift shop, there is a café that features simple Okinawan dishes and noodles made from beni-imo.
Okashigoten Onna Store
It is hard to resist all of the delicious dessert offerings, from melt-in-the-mouth sable cookies to dainty cakes and colorful parfaits. Relax over your meal and enjoy the ocean view. You can also learn to make the boat-like pastry in a hands-on workshop offered at the Onna branch three times a day, at 10 am, 1 pm, and 4 pm.
Okashigoten Onna inside
Okashigoten Onna is open from 8:30 am to 9 pm. The Onna branch is a significant distance from Naha, but there is a branch within Naha itself where you can pick up the delicious pastries. The store website is only in Japanese: http://www.okashigoten.co.jp/tenpo_onna.html
