Uyehara Travel - Los Angeles, California

Gary I.

I come to Uyehara Travel Agency for a rather different reason than engaging them in travel to Japan and the sub tropical, southwestern islands of Uchinā/Okinawa prefecture. Although when I do decide to go, I would like to give Uyehara my business.

My reason for going is to stock up on specialty Okinawan comestibles that are rare to find in Japanese supermarkets in the United States. I will list two that I always try to keep in my pantry.

There are other Okinawan products that are not food related but could serve as gifts which you'll have to see for yourself since the stock seems to change.

1) Sanpin Cha: "Blend of Japanese green tea leaves and Chinese white tea & jasmine flowers has been Okinawa's tea of choice for centuries.

Incredibly refreshing both hot or iced, its low caffeine content makes it the perfect tea for any time of day. Mildly sweet, it complements savories or sweets."

2) Pīyashi: "Island pepper has many names in Okinawa like Pipātsu, Hibātsu, Biya-ji. It generally called long pepper, sometimes called Indian long pepper or Balinese long pepper.

Long pepper is made by drying and roasting half-ripen fruit. Then grinding it to powder.

Okinawa people use it as a spice or seasoning to sprinkle over Okinawa soba or mix with Chanpuru. Mild spiciness and sweet aftertaste attract people with a mixture of flavours like Japanese Sansho pepper with its tongue numbing, smoky, refreshing bitterness, and green stick aromatics. Some say sweet aroma of cinnamon & star anise.

It especially popular in southern part of islands of Okinawa (Iriomote, Isigaki, Yonaguni and others)."
Call ahead to inquire if these items are in stock since the owner buys these items only when she makes a run to Okinawa.

Really appreciate the chance to get connection for my Okinawan fix. Also the staff is friendly, engaging and "tolerating" of my basic Japanese language skills. 5 stars

masami arashiro

ダウンタウンにある旅行社

八重山クロレラのデトックス効果を世界中にPRすべく米国ラスベガスの展示会に出展、会期終了後はロサンゼルスにて新規営業活動中。

沖縄出身の方が経営する旅行社です。夜は奥のルームでカラオケ。のぞいてみて下さいを

Surfcityusa OC

This is the worst travel agency! They told us the schedule would be posted on a whiteboard the night before. It wasn't we wouldn't know where or when we are going. We had to ask others in our group when and where we were supposed to be, and would get different answers. We missed one tour because of this.They also overbooked the tour buses. We did not get a seat on the bus and were told to take a taxi. Several times when we did make on the bus. We had to sit in a little side fold out seat, next to a regular seat on the bus. Also Richard who works there flew in business class while the rest of us flew economy.
The Governor of Itoman Okinawa had a dinner at which were the special guests. The owner of Ueyhara travel came to the dinner in casual clothes, jeans. She could have come more appropriately dressed to show respect. I was embarrassed. The whole trip was stressful, spend your money on another travel agency!

e. g.

completely useless. Richard didn't do anything, just wasted my time. not even the bare minimum of a single reservation. I question whether this is even a legitimate business. also he was rude to his coworker for no reason.

Joseph Yoshimasu Kamiya (神谷ジョセフ嘉益)

My go-to agency especially when I go to Okinawa. They also sell a small supply of goods from Okinawa (kariyushi shirts, books, keychains).

Doug Matsushita

Chris Fukuma