On the way from Naha to Chatan and American Village, Minatogawa Foreign Housing District lies in Urasoe.
The original account links the neighborhood’s development to demand for privately rented military housing around Camp Kinser, when the nearby housing supply became full.
The site was originally a small hill; according to that account, it was blasted with dynamite and about 70 homes were built.
It describes military residents moving away as land was returned and American Village developed, leaving houses vacant.
The generous parking and stylish buildings then appealed both to Okinawan residents and people moving from mainland Japan.
The property company managing the district also named its streets after US states, making the area easier to explore on foot.
With a vintage atmosphere that felt different from the rest of Japan, the neighborhood drew attention. More houses became shops, gradually turning it into a sightseeing destination.
Our stop was 313 Sandwich Cafe, which opened in 2021.
Its clean interior retained the character of the former foreign housing and attracted people strolling through the district.
The shop was full of sandwiches and bread.
A pineapple sandwich packed with pineapple and cream.
A mixed-fruit sandwich with strawberries, mandarin oranges, and kiwi.
A strawberry sandwich filled with strawberries and cream.
A banana-chocolate sandwich full of banana and chocolate cream.
A strawberry, chocolate-cream, and cookie sandwich.
A cream sandwich loaded with chocolate chips was hard to resist.
A bacon-and-tomato sandwich that looked rather like a hamburger.
There was a shrimp sandwich too.
Plenty of bread was baked in-house each day.
The seating included regular tables with charging outlets and low tables, making a visit with children feel manageable.
This was during the pandemic: a large acrylic screen at the counter meant speaking up to place an order.
Everything looked good, but in the end I could not resist a sandwich packed with chocolate cream.
Instead of a drink, I ordered Okinawan zenzai shaved ice.
Its sweet coffee topping gave it a different flavor from the usual zenzai.
Underneath was finely shaved ice that melted softly in the mouth.
313 Sandwich Cafe
Address: 2 Chome-12-5 Minatogawa, Urasoe, Okinawa
Phone: 098-876-3139