Nature & Environment
Pick Up Stories
Yohena’s Ajisai-en, The Hydrangea Garden… [Nature & Environment]
As spring moves toward summer, the floral landscape of northern Okinawa is taking on new colors as hydrangea flowers, or ajisai’s in Japanes...Read More
Okinawa Beach Opening Information 2025 [Nature & Environment News]
Okinawa Beach Opening Information 2025 Ginowan Tropical Beach (Apr. 26) Chatan Sunset Beach (Apr. 11) Chatan Araha Beach (Mid. Apr.) Nish...Read More
International Orchid Show opens Nov. 12 … [Nature & Environment]
Orchids are one of the largest families of flowering plants with some 28,000 different species. They are also widely admired for their beaut...Read More
2014.07.20
Habu Snakes of Okinawa [Nature & Environment]
By David Higgins The Japanese word ‘Habu’ refers to a particular type of snake that inhabits the Ryukyu Islands. These snakes are also known as tree vipers or pit vipers. There are...
2014.07.20
El Hierro, first island in the world to be energy self-sufficient [Nature & Environment]
By E. Heinrich-Sanchez Last month the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) was launched around the world. On June 24th and 25th, experts gathered for the RENISLA ( Rene...
2014.07.14
Typhoon aftermath needs to be organized better [Nature & Environment]
By E. Heinrich-Sanchez Neoguri has passed us leaving record-breaking rainfall. On the East China Sea on the west coast of Okinawa, the waves were not as bad as during previous sto...
2014.06.22
‘Average’ season predicts 18 typhoons [Nature & Environment]
The typhoon season officially under way since nearly three weeks ago is predicted to be much the same as last year, although the way’s clear for at least three more tropical storms...
2014.06.05
Waku Waku Zoo Night at Okinawa Kodomo-no Kuni [Nature & Environment]
Many animals in the wild are most active after the sunset and during the night, and that’s why many of the world’s zoos organize special night tours for the visitors to showcase th...
2014.06.05
“Our Blue Planet” play still looking for help [Nature & Environment]
By E. Heinrich-Sanchez June is Environment month and also happens to be World Oceans Month. The “Our Blue Planet” play with music is still looking for helpers and spon...
2014.06.01
Mood of Okinawa’s rainy season depends on attitude [Nature & Environment]
The rainy season (Tsuyu or Baiu in Japanese) visits most parts of Japan from the beginning of June to mid July, although the season in Okinawa arrives in May, a month earlier than ...
2014.06.01
June is a time for Eco, Summer Fun and Memorials [Nature & Environment]
By E. Heinrich-Sanchez We are soon to welcome summer. Although in the US, Memorial Day traditionally marks the start of the summer season with only a week or so left for school, i...
2014.05.29
Bios Hill garden is mystical place for night tours [Nature & Environment]
A botanical garden is a great place to explore nature at any time, but as nightfall comes over Bios no Oka, Bios Hill, the beauty unfolds in yet other directions. Bios no Oka is no...
2014.05.25
Senaga Island beach cleaning offers challenge [Nature & Environment]
A new sport, of sorts, is being introduced May 31st on Tomigusuku City’s Senaga Island, where the object is to collect as much trash and debris from the beach faster and more effic...
2014.05.22
Over 12 million pounds of trash collected during international coastal cleanup [Nature & Environment]
Marine Litter experts and NGO leaders gathered in Okinawa for “Blue October 2013” in Onna Village, thanks to the support from the Japan Fund for Global Environment (JFGE) and Asia-...
2014.05.19
Ajisaien showcases hydrangea [Nature & Environment]
Motobu has many gardens, but none is more beautiful than Ajisai-en, when its thousands of hydrangea are in full bloom. Ajisai-en is a spacious garden set on land that was once a ta...
2014.05.19
Churaumi Aquarium is world’s second largest [Nature & Environment]
Okinawa Expo Park is a state-run park established in August, 1976, to commemorate Okinawa’s International Marine Exposition. Within the park is the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, as we...
2014.05.15
Impressions of my first three weeks in Naha [Nature & Environment]
By E. Heinrich-Sanchez and Candida Sanchez Burmester We hope you had a great Golden Week for those who had off. It is normally wet and muggy so it is a surprise that ...
2014.04.28
Orchids are King in Nago Neo Park [Nature & Environment]
Okinawa’s largest collection of orchids goes on display Sunday at Neo Park Okinawa in Nago City. Neo Park Okinawa is the venue for Summer Calanthe, an orchid of the wildness now i...
2014.04.24
Don’t forget ocean action on Blue Earth Day [Nature & Environment]
By E. Heinrich-Sanchez & Reece Churilla Photos by Chris Provan The Earth is Blue and without healthy and resilient oceans our breath will be taken away, permanently. Grab a ba...
2014.04.14
Amateur photos on exhibition at Palette Kumoji [Nature & Environment]
A photo exhibition of pictures with “light” as their main theme is scheduled to run at the Naha Civic Gallery Exhibition Room on the 6th floor of the Palette Kumoji bui...
2014.04.07
Forest Adventure opens new perspectives [Nature & Environment]
Forest Adventure offers visitors a unique experience of moving on the top of a jungle from one tree to another using a special safety harness as if walking in the air. This kind of...
2014.04.05
Nanjo residents open private gardens to public [Nature & Environment]
Every gardener takes pride in his or her labors with flowers, and residents of Nanjo City are again opening their gardens to the public to proudly share the beauty. This year’s spr...
2014.03.24
Okinawa World Habu Museum introduces “Snakes over your head!” [Nature & Environment]
If there’s one animal that everyone on Okinawa knows, at least by name, it’s habu-snake. Although very few people ever see the venomous pit viper in the wild, just about everyone w...
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