Naha-shi, Okinawa-ken

experience

First Makishi Public Market

Bourdain ate: snapper and parrot fish sashimi; sea grapes dressed in vinegar; gurukun (unofficial national fish of Okinawa) battered and deep-fried; porcupine fish, also battered and deep-fried.

Ginowan-shi, Okinawa-ken

restaurants

King Tacos Futenma Branch

Bourdain ate: taco rice.

Naha-shi, Okinawa-ken

restaurants

Urizun

Bourdain had: Sake and quintessential Okinawan dishes, including tofuyo (fermented beancurd that packs a hefty punch, flavor-wise) and pork belly (cooked with stock, heavily infused with bonito flakes, pork ears thinly sliced and dressed in rice-wine vinaigrette, slow-roasted ribs brined in sake and seasonings.

Naha-shi, Okinawa-ken

restaurants

The DOJO bar

Bourdain had: drinks, horse meat and goat sashimi, pork belly, pickled pig’s ears, baked yam

Yufu-shi, Ōita-ken

restaurants

Gettouan

Bourdain ate: Tundaabun (multiple bite-size portions served in an elegant lacquered dish) of sliced squid; swordfish wrapped in seaweed and simmered in stock and fermented sake; dried sea snake, slow-simmered; burdock root wrapped in pork loin, slow-cooked in hot sauce; taro flash-fried and dressed with sugar and soy; pork shoulder dredged in black sesame, then steamed.