Stardust Fantasia Illumination at Kanucha Resort

Bill and I drove an hour north to check out the Christmas light display.

We got on the ONLY highway in Okinawa. It is really strange to go so fast, insert eye roll. We can travel 80kph on the hwy and 50kph on regular traffic roads. This is 50mph on the hwy and 31mph on other roads. It really did seem as if we were flying. Since on base I am not to go over 25kph or 15mph.

The resort was very nice. They have a million lights set up. Japanese don't really celebrate Christmas like we do, but their light displays are nice.

They had several spots where you could hang up your wish for the new year. See the picture of the heart looking ornaments.

A cool option, also lazy, but you could rent a golf cart to drive around the resort. It is large enough that the golf cart would be helpful, but we choose to walk.

Now you might laugh, or if you know me think it's totally normal, but I wore a turtle neck sweater and my calf length puffer jacket and was still cold. I was in good company as most Japanese were dressed similarly. It got down in the mid 50s, but being right on the water and high up on a ridge with high winds, I was cold.

I found a website that had some good info about the resort we visited. It says ¥2000, but we paid ¥1200. Which is about $15, per car. And with the tolls on the highway, the total trip cost ¥1100. Not a bad day trip, and a nice way to finish Christmas.
Copied Info from a website:
It’s a fun time to drive around the island, taking in the businesses who’ve transformed their properties for the holiday season. Many of the island’s resort hotels are getting into the holiday illuminations and spirit, as well, including Kanucha Bay Hotel and Villas’ holiday illumination. This year’s Kanucha Resort Stardust Fantasia is more than elegant, a stunning blend of one million lights glowing in the night, as well as a 12 meters high Christmas tree poolside. Inside, the hotel’s restaurant offers a special couples celebration for an anniversary or a surprise night.

Stardust Fantasia runs through February 14th. Advance admission is ¥1,000 per group/mini-car or car. The admission is ¥2,000 at the door for groups or large cards. The illumination is from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., except for New Year’s Eve. Guests at the hotel view the illumination free. Kanucha Bay is located in northern Okinawa, across the bay from Camp Schwab.