- Southern Okinawa Drive Gourmet — Oshiro Tempura on Ojima, ¥120 a Piece
- Oshiro Tempura at a glance — quick reference table
- What is Oshiro Tempura? — The local favourite on "Tempura Island"
- Menu — 13 types, ¥120 each, write your order on the slip
- Hot from the oil — paper-wrapped, bite right in
- Where to eat — small covered seating + Ojima coastal walk
- What to know before you visit
- Southern Okinawa drive — 3 model routes with Oshiro Tempura
- Ojima is "Tempura Island" and "Cat Island"
- Okinawa self-drive freedom — Rental car wins
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Final thoughts…
Southern Okinawa Drive Gourmet — Oshiro Tempura on Ojima, ¥120 a Piece
In one line: Oshiro Tempura is a tiny tempura specialist on Ojima Island in southern Nanjo City. Every piece is ¥120, with 13 freshly fried varieties including the signature sea-lettuce (aosa / アーサ), fish, squid, beni-imo and tāimo. Just ~40 minutes by car from Naha and on the natural route between Peace Memorial Park and Okinawa World, this is the southern Okinawa drive-gourmet stop locals quietly love — take a paper bag of hot tempura, walk five minutes to the coral-reef shore, and bite in.
When planning a southern Okinawa self-drive day and looking for “where do the locals actually eat?”, the first answer is Ojima Island tempura. Ojima is a small island joined to the main island by a 100-meter bridge — locally known as “tempura island” because of the cluster of tempura shops. The more famous one is Nakamoto Sengyo Tenpura, but right next door, Oshiro Tempura is the “smaller shop locals know” — shorter line, fresh out of the oil faster.
This guide explains how to slot Oshiro Tempura into a southern Okinawa drive itinerary, plus the menu, pricing, ordering, and the coral-reef shore walk a few minutes away.
The easiest way to enjoy southern Okinawa is by rental car. English booking and transparent pricing make GO!GO!TOUR Okinawa Rental Car the smooth pick before you fix the rest of the itinerary.
Oshiro Tempura at a glance — quick reference table
| Item | Details | Quick note |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Oku, Tamagusuku, Nanjo City, Okinawa (on Ojima) | ~100 m bridge from main island |
| Price | All items ¥120 each (sauce +¥20, disposable chopsticks +¥10) | 5–10 pieces still fits a small wallet |
| Menu | 13 kinds — sea lettuce, fish, squid, beni-imo, tāimo and more | First-timers: try sea lettuce (aosa) |
| Ordering | Fill out a written order slip and hand it to the window | Use the table below as a translation guide |
| Hours | Approx. 10:00 – 18:00 (varies by season / ingredient supply) | Weekends may close earlier in the afternoon |
| Closed | Irregular — check SNS / call before visiting | Typhoon or supply issues can close them |
| Payment | Cash only (small bills and coins) | No credit cards or QR pay |
| Seating | Small covered seating + the island’s shore paths | Most people take it out to the sea |
| Parking | Free lots around Ojima fishing port | Can fill during weekend lunch |
| From Naha | ~40 min by car (~25 km via Route 331) | ~20 min from Peace Memorial Park |
What is Oshiro Tempura? — The local favourite on “Tempura Island”
Oshiro Tempura is a humble tempura stand on Ojima. The look is unmistakably village-vendor: a wooden “営業中 (Open)” board, frying happening behind the glass window, and a “All items 120 yen” sign with notes for sauce (+¥20) and chopsticks (+¥10).
Ojima is nicknamed “Tempura Island” thanks to its cluster of tempura shops. The most famous is Nakamoto Sengyo Tenpura, which gets the long Taiwanese and Korean tourist lines. Right next door, Oshiro Tempura is the quieter local favourite — shorter line, fresh-from-the-oil tempura sooner.
If you have time, doing both for comparison is also popular.
Menu — 13 types, ¥120 each, write your order on the slip
You order by writing the count of each item on the order slip placed at the counter, then hand it to the window. The 13 items translated:
| No. | Japanese | English / Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | さかな | Fish — white-fleshed, the easy first pick |
| 2 | いか | Squid — pleasantly chewy |
| 3 | 野菜(キャベツ) | Vegetable (cabbage) — light bite |
| 4 | もずく | Mozuku seaweed — Okinawan specialty |
| 5 | いも | Sweet potato — borderline dessert |
| 6 | さやいんげん | String beans — for vegetable lovers |
| 7 | 田うむにー | Tāumunī (mashed tāimo, Okinawan heritage food) |
| 8 | アーサ | Aosa (green sea lettuce) — Oshiro’s signature, must order |
| 9 | ちくわ | Chikuwa (fish-cake stick) |
| 10 | ウインナー | Vienna sausage — kid favourite |
| 11 | カニカマ | Crab stick — soft texture |
| 12 | 紅芋(ねりもの) | Beni-imo paste — purple, dessert-like |
| 13 | 田芋(ねりもの) | Tāimo paste — Okinawan heritage |
All ¥120 each. Five or six pieces is ¥700–800 — easy lunch. A solid first set is “aosa + fish + beni-imo + cabbage” (4 pieces, ¥480).
Hand in the slip and wait 5–15 minutes depending on order size. The vending machine next door (drinks ¥120) makes a fine waiting companion.
Hot from the oil — paper-wrapped, bite right in
Your order arrives wrapped in white paper. The deep-green aosa (green sea lettuce) tempura is the standout — hard to find anywhere outside Okinawa, with a salty seaweed flavour and crisp batter that quickly becomes addictive.
Oshiro’s tempura uses a thicker “Okinawan-style” batter — heartier than the light Japanese tempura you may know, with the filling wrapped in a slightly puffed coat. Closer to a savoury snack than a delicate course dish. Steam still rises when you bite in.
The sauce (¥20) is a Worcestershire-soy blend. Plenty seasoned already without it — many regulars eat plain. Chopsticks are ¥10 extra (bring your own to save).
Where to eat — small covered seating + Ojima coastal walk
There’s a small covered area beside the shop with a wooden bench and the owner’s potted plants — village charm. Shelter from sun and rain, with seating for 5–6.
The real recommendation though is take it to the coral-reef shore on Ojima. Just a 5–10 minute walk.
Ojima is just 1.7 km around, walkable in 30 minutes. The fishing port + coral reef + calm sea visible right after the bridge gives you that “yes, I’m in Okinawa” feeling.
At low tide you can walk onto the exposed coral platform; at high tide the cobalt sea fills the frame. A paper bag of hot tempura plus a five-minute walk is enough to meet “the Okinawa locals see every day.”
What to know before you visit
- Hours: approx. 10:00 – 18:00 (varies by season / supply; weekends may close earlier)
- Closed: irregular. Check SNS or call before visiting; typhoons / supply issues can cause closures
- Payment: cash only — no cards or QR pay; bring small bills and coins
- Reservations: none — queue, fill the slip, wait 5–15 minutes
- Pricing: ¥120 per piece, sauce ¥20, chopsticks ¥10
- Parking: free lots around Ojima fishing port (may fill on weekends / lunch hour)
- Restroom: beside the shop or at the fishing port
Southern Okinawa drive — 3 model routes with Oshiro Tempura
Route ① “Okinawa World + Ojima Tempura + Peace Memorial Park” — Classic south day
- Morning: Naha → Okinawa World (Cave + Village + Eisa, 2.5 hr)
- Lunch: Ojima → Oshiro Tempura 5–10 pieces + coastal walk (1 hr) ← today’s highlight
- Afternoon: Peace Memorial Park (Museum + Cornerstone + Korean Memorial, 2–3 hr)
- Evening: Back to Naha
Route ② “Senagajima + Ojima + Peace Memorial Park” — Beach view ↔ history
- Morning: Senagajima Umikaji Terrace (2 hr)
- Lunch: Oshiro Tempura + coral-reef walk (1.5 hr)
- Afternoon: Peace Memorial Park (2–3 hr)
- Evening: Back to Naha
Route ③ “Ojima + Mibaru Beach + Cape Kyan” — Southern tip drive
- Morning: Oshiro Tempura lunch + circle Ojima (1.5 hr)
- Afternoon: Mibaru Beach + Cape Kyan Lighthouse → Peace Memorial Park
- Evening: Back to Naha
For any route, everything takes twice as long without a rental car. The south has no rail and infrequent buses — a rental car plus a little planning is what determines your trip satisfaction.
Ojima is “Tempura Island” and “Cat Island”
Tempura isn’t the only thing on Ojima. This 1.7 km island packs several charms:
- 🐱 Cat Island: laid-back cats around the fishing port and back alleys, friendly to pats
- 🏖️ Ojima Beach: small but a well-preserved coral reef — snorkel and SUP from May–Oct
- 🛕 Ojima shrine + natural cave: Ryukyuan spiritual heritage
- 🎏 Hari (sea god festival): traditional fishing-boat races on lunar May 4 each year
- 🏝️ Ojima Bridge: the 100 m bridge itself offers stunning coral-reef views
After tempura, circling the island gives you the “real rural Okinawa.”
Okinawa self-drive freedom — Rental car wins
- ✅ English booking — done in a few clicks
- ✅ Naha Airport pickup / drop, city and northern branches
- ✅ Transparent pricing, no hidden fees
- ✅ English support for changes & questions
👉 Compare & book in English: GO!GO!TOUR Okinawa Rental Car
Related reading:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. How is Oshiro different from Nakamoto next door?
Nakamoto is the bigger, more touristed name. Oshiro is the smaller local favourite right next door. Similar pricing (around ¥100–¥120 each) and menu, but Oshiro has a shorter line and faster fresh-from-the-oil service. If time allows, many visitors do both for comparison.
Q2. What should a first-timer order?
Start with “aosa (sea lettuce) + fish + beni-imo + cabbage”, four pieces for ¥480. You get the signature Okinawan aosa, an easy fish, a dessert-like beni-imo, and a light vegetable in balance. From there, add mozuku or tāumunī for more Okinawan heritage flavours.
Q3. Do they take cards?
No — cash only. No credit cards or QR payments. Bring small bills and coins. The vending machine next door (drinks ¥120) is also cash only.
Q4. Do they open on rainy days?
Usually yes, but typhoons or supply issues can close them on short notice. Worth checking before heavy weather. The covered bench beside the shop lets you eat in light rain.
Q5. With young children?
Very kid-friendly. Tempura is easy to eat (sausage and chikuwa are especially popular), and the circuit around Ojima plus the cats is a hit with families. It also makes great “drive snacks” in the car.
Q6. Parking?
Free lots around Ojima’s fishing port. Almost never full on weekdays; may fill on weekend lunch (11:30–13:30). Arriving before 11:00 or after 14:00 is the safest bet.
Final thoughts…
Oshiro Tempura is “the most rewarding small meal you can drop into a southern Okinawa drive”. Slip in between bigger stops like Okinawa World and the Peace Memorial Park, grab ¥120 pieces of hot tempura wrapped in paper, and bite in by the coral-reef shore. For a full guide to the south, see Southern Okinawa Travel Guide — 10 Must-Visit Spots & Best Driving Routes. That 30–60 minutes often ends up the most “real Okinawa” moment of the entire trip.
Final checklist:
- Ojima, Nanjo City — ~40 min drive from Naha, free parking
- All items ¥120, 13 varieties (aosa, fish, beni-imo strongly recommended)
- Cash only, hours approx. 10:00–18:00 (varies), occasional closures
- Shorter line than Nakamoto next door, faster fresh-from-the-oil service
- Take it out and eat by the coral-reef shore
- Natural fit with Okinawa World, Peace Memorial Park, Senagajima
- Ojima is “Tempura Island + Cat Island + marine activities” — 1.7 km loop
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