月花ロゴ月花 倫子Family Travel with Kids日本語

← Back to all articles

American Village with Kids: Taco Rice, Blue Seal, and Half a Day on Foot

Note: this article contains affiliate links (advertising).

Day four of our Okinawa trip took us to Mihama American Village in Chatan, driving down from Onna. It is small enough to walk, which makes it workable with children and grandparents alike.

What you'll find here


1. You can park once and walk

📍 Mihama American Village — 16-3 Mihama, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa / free parking, about 1,500 spaces / official site

American Village lets you park in one place and do the rest on foot.

With children and grandparents that is a real advantage. Okinawa runs on cars, so anywhere that spares you the in-and-out of a car seat is worth something.

The streets of American Village, painted bright
The streets of American Village, painted bright
The ferris wheel makes a useful landmark
The ferris wheel makes a useful landmark
An American-style facade
An American-style facade
The shopfronts are carefully done
The shopfronts are carefully done
Even the side streets have character
Even the side streets have character
The palette is less Okinawa than Californian
The palette is less Okinawa than Californian

Down by the water the mood changes again.

A street lined with palms
A street lined with palms
The seafront promenade
The seafront promenade
Where the sea opens up
Where the sea opens up
The walkways are well made and easy going
The walkways are well made and easy going

2. Lunch at taco rice cafe Kijimuna

We ate at taco rice cafe Kijimuna. Taco rice is the Okinawan dish to try.

The Kijimuna shopfront
The Kijimuna shopfront
The directory. Useful — there are a lot of units here
The directory. Useful — there are a lot of units here
The children's plate. It is a taco rice place, but there is a kids' option.
The children's plate. It is a taco rice place, but there is a kids' option.

Lunch ran about ¥1,000 for one plate — a per-person price — and there is a children's taco rice, so we did not have to divide up an adult portion.

📍 Taco rice cafe Kijimuna, Depot Island — Depot Island Building C 2F, 9-1 Mihama, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa / +81 98-989-5100 / 11:00–22:00 (L.O. 21:30) / official site

We ordered the omutaco — taco rice wrapped in egg. It looks fun, which is half the battle with children.

Omutaco. The yellow of the egg and the red of the sauce do a lot of the work
Omutaco. The yellow of the egg and the red of the sauce do a lot of the work

📌 With children: having one place with a kids' menu in reserve prevents the “there is nothing they can eat” problem — the same idea as in feeding kids abroad.


3. Blue Seal, because you have to

And then Blue Seal. In Okinawa, it is not optional.

The Blue Seal sign
The Blue Seal sign
It sits naturally in the American Village streetscape
It sits naturally in the American Village streetscape
Blue Seal ice cream. There are enough flavours to slow you down.
Blue Seal ice cream. There are enough flavours to slow you down.
With their grandmother — it suits every generation.
With their grandmother — it suits every generation.
It was a hot day, and this made a good break.
It was a hot day, and this made a good break.

A single regular scoop is ¥400 — one scoop, one price — and there are plenty of distinctly Okinawan flavours: choosing is part of the fun.

📍 Blue Seal Chatan — 1-5-8 Mihama, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa / +81 98-936-9659 / official site

Of everything we tried, the shikuwasa sherbet was the best: the citrus sharpness lands well on a hot day.

The flavour board — purple sweet potato, brown sugar, and the rest
The flavour board — purple sweet potato, brown sugar, and the rest
Inside the shop
Inside the shop
The main street. Little shade, so keep drinking water
The main street. Little shade, so keep drinking water

4. In August, plan around the shade

Honestly, American Village in August is hot. It is an outdoor place, and the midday sun is direct.

We alternated indoor shops and outdoor streets deliberately. With grandparents along, that is not optional.


5. Q&A

Q. How long do you need? A. About two hours including lunch for us. Longer if you shop properly.

Q. Is eating with children easy? A. Kijimuna has a children's taco rice, and there is plenty of choice generally.

Q. Can you use a stroller? A. The walkways are well made, yes. But there is little shade in summer, so bring cover.


You might also like


This records a visit in August 2026. Prices, hours and tenants change — please check the official sites before visiting.

Where to book

PR: contains affiliate links.

← Back to all articles