A combination of work-related conference and fair-weather forecast propelled me in the direction of Okinawa in early March. In this case, the direction by bicycle was due south, over the bridge to Kobe's Port Island and then over yet another bridge to the new Kobe Airport, which offers direct daily flights to Naha.

Right off the plane, it's clear why some people come here. This big display of Okinawan Awamori, the powerful local sake, is in the airport waiting lounge. What struck me was the fact that the display faces people ARRIVING, not people going to board the flight home (you can't see it from that direction). So it's clearly aimed at the people who came here to drink Awamori and can't even wait to get out of the airport to buy their brew.