Only 15 minutes from Naha Airport. At “Michi no Eki Toyosaki Teigumakan”, a roadside station located in Tomigushiro City, there is a corner where you can experience Okinawan handicrafts in addition to selling local products and eating and drinking. Among them, we recommend “ouzi dyeing,” which is unique to Okinawa! In addition, there is also a consignment sale of handicrafts made by people in the prefecture.
Point 1: What is “Roadside Station Toyosaki Teigumakan” like?
Roadside Station Toyosaki Teigumakan is the westernmost roadside station in Japan. It is only 15 minutes from Naha Airport.
Michi no Eki Toyosaki is located in the same area as Eas Toyosaki, DMM Kariyushi Aquarium, Outlet Mall Ashibinae, etc., and is on the same site as the “Teigumakan”, Information Station, JA Okinawa Shokunai Kan Nanashiiro Hatake, and Tomigusuku City Tourism Plaza.
Most roadside stations in Okinawa are usually places that sell agricultural products such as mangoes and vegetables, and have restaurants where you can enjoy shaved ice and sataa andagi (Okinawan doughnuts) topped with fruit. Some of them have their own specialties.
Point 2: What are the Okinawan handicrafts at “Roadside Station Toyosaki Teigumakan”?
At “Roadside Station Toyosaki Teiguma-kan,” visitors can see, hear, and experience Okinawan handicrafts.
Teiguma” means “dexterity” in the Okinawan dialect.
The Teigumakan sells yachimun (Okinawan traditional handicrafts), dyed goods, and other handicrafts on consignment, as well as offering the opportunity to try ooze dyeing (dyeing by boiling sugarcane leaves and ears).
The light green color of ouzi dyeing is very nice and has a gentle Okinawan hue.
You may see them sold as souvenirs, but they are quite expensive, such as phone cases, shawls, bags, and so on.
It is nice to be able to make them through a hands-on experience.
The consignment sales of local handicrafts are not limited to Okinawan specialties, but also include leather goods, accessories, woodwork, and other exciting items that you cannot easily find in souvenir stores.
Point 3: What is the oozi-dyeing experience at “Roadside Station Toyosaki Teigumakan” like?
The ouzi dyeing at “Michi no Eki Toyosaki Teigumakan” can be done at the “Toyomijo Ouzi Dyeing Workshop” in Teigumakan.
Oozi is a sugarcane, and the leaves and ears of the plant are boiled and dyed. In Okinawa, oozi is grown everywhere, so it is very popular.
There are a variety of dyeing experiences available, ranging from light, 20-minute experiences such as bookmarks and coasters, to more serious experiences such as T-shirts, eco-bags, and drawstrings.
In the back of the workshop, there is a row of looms, and when I think that each and every intention is woven here, I feel the great patience of the craftspeople.
Using goods dyed by yourself in your daily life will be a memory of your fun trip to Okinawa.
