Located right next to Kokusai Street, a popular tourist destination, is the Ryubo Department Store. It is the only department store in the prefecture, directly connected to the second-floor junction of the Yui Rail's Kencho-mae Station. The store offers a wide variety of products, from gourmet food in the basement food hall to the latest fashion.

In particular, the "Rakuen Department Store" located on the second floor is a floor where Ryubo's buyers sell carefully selected, high-quality products from within and outside the prefecture.

"We visit the production sites ourselves to source products that reflect the craftsmanship and the dedication of the artisans, as well as items from brands with a compelling story."

These are the words of Li An Koh, from the public relations department. We asked her about the department store's history and concept, as well as the appeal of its popular products.

Department store management started as a trading company

The roots of "Ryubo Department Store" lie in "Ryukyu Trading Co., Ltd.," which was founded in 1948 (Showa 23), shortly after the end of World War II. At that time, when private citizens could not freely conduct business with foreign countries, the company acted as an agent for the Trade Agency.

Founder Tatsuo Miyazato became convinced that Okinawans could run a department store after selling goods he purchased during trips to the United States on U.S. military aircraft. In 1952, he opened "OSS Ryubo," a department store primarily stocking goods for foreigners.

The history of Ryubo, affectionately known as "Ryubo of imported goods," has been faithfully passed down through the changes of the times and the succession of businesses, and is now operated by Ryubo Industry Co., Ltd., which runs the current "Ryubo Department Store."

During that time, the store continued to grow as a cultural hub that constantly delivered new lifestyles, introducing carefully selected products by buyers who traveled to the mainland, and hosting the prefecture's first fashion contest and Valentine's Day event. In 1991, it relocated and reopened at its current location.

Four "great items" carefully selected by our buyers

As we continued to build our history as a center for disseminating local culture, we revisited our founding principle of "wanting to be a bridge connecting Okinawa with the world and mainland Japan," and opened "Rakuen Department Store" in 2017.

Behind this initiative was a strong desire to rediscover the "true value" created by Okinawa's rich nature and the craftsmanship of its artisans, and to share it widely with people outside the prefecture and overseas. On a floor where the excitement unique to a department store intersects with the exhilaration of a resort town, buyers have carefully selected products based on four concepts: "Good things from Okinawa," "Good things from Japan," "Good things from around the world," and "Good things for your health."

For Rakuen Department Store, "good quality" isn't simply about being expensive or a famous brand. The criteria are meticulous attention to materials, the skilled craftsmanship of artisans, and the story behind the creation of the product.

For food products, our buyers consider factors such as gentleness on the body and safety; for handcrafted goods, they look for the passion of the artisans who carry on traditions and their consideration for the user. They examine not only the visible high quality but also the "story behind the product." We carefully select only items that possess essential value that enriches the lives and hearts of those who hold them in their hands.

They also offer original products, the most popular of which is "Shuri Castle Monaka." One of the reasons for its creation is the desire to "share Okinawan culture and materials with younger generations and people outside the prefecture."

"It was born from our desire to combine the charm of traditional Japanese sweets, which have been loved throughout Japan for many years, with the rich bounty of Okinawa, and deliver it in a new form that suits the modern era. We have updated the design and packaging to be more contemporary while making use of ingredients unique to Okinawa," says Taka.

The surface of the monaka (wafer) is adorned with an imprint of Shuri Castle, a symbol of Okinawa, and the filling comes in four varieties: salt, brown sugar, purple sweet potato, and shikwasa (Okinawan citrus). Furthermore, from September 2026, "karakian," said to be Okinawa's cinnamon, will be added to the lineup. This product is a fusion of respect for tradition and a new sensibility.

"Ryukyu Yokan" is another original product. It's a carefully crafted item using brown sugar from Miyako and Tarama islands, and "Nuchimaasu" salt from Miyagi Island on Okinawa Island. They also offer other original cosmetic products such as aroma stones, room mists, bath salts, and essential oils.

"Rakuen CAFÉ" where you can savor the bounty of Okinawa.

On the floor of "Rakuen Department Store," there is a restaurant called "Rakuen CAFÉ" that serves delicious Okinawan food. It was established with the hope that customers can not only take a break from shopping and enjoy the bounty of Okinawa, but also experience a "healthy diet" with all their senses within the space of a department store.

A key feature of the cafe is its wide selection of vegan dishes, embodying its concept of "things that are good for your body." When it was founded in 2017, the term and concept of "vegan" were not as widespread in Japan as they are today.

Nevertheless, they continued to focus on vegan menus, driven by the desire to "deliver food that is truly gentle on the body and utilizes the blessings of Okinawa's nature," and through trial and error, they established their current style.

For example, their popular "Veggie Taco Rice" uses Okinawan island tofu instead of the soy meat often found in typical vegan restaurants. They also use organically grown beans certified by the Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS) for their coffee, which is specially blended to complement their food.

To create a place that can be enjoyed by both locals and tourists alike.

"We have many customers, not only tourists, but also locals and business people," says Shinnosuke Matsumoto, the general manager of Rakuen CAFÉ. "In the future, we want to develop menus and create a store that will make people love Okinawa even more," he says, outlining his vision.

Similarly, at "Rakuen Department Store," many customers are tourists looking for souvenirs, as well as locals who purchase everyday necessities. "We want to continue providing 'good products' and aim to be a place where customers can enjoy themselves whenever they visit," says Mr. Taka.

Since the end of the war, Ryubo Department Store has enriched life in Okinawa and continued to transmit new culture. Located directly connected to the Yui Rail and just a short walk from Kokusai Street, this place offers you the chance to discover unique and special Okinawan treasures.

---

樂園百貨店
電話：098-867-1171
住所：沖縄県那覇市久茂地1丁目1−1 デパートリウボウ 2F
アクセス：ゆいレール県庁前駅2階連絡口から直結
HP：https://www.resort-dept.okinawa/
SNS：https://www.instagram.com/rakuen_okinawa_resort/
＊営業時間や定休日についての詳細は、上記のリンクからご確認ください。