By TRAVELER Luxe Traveler Magazine, reported by Chuang Wei-Ting
As the car climbs up a small hill and turns onto a winding path, the surrounding plants seem to change in appearance. A red brick house atop a hill catches the eye, exuding an air of being the only one of its kind for miles around. With its prime location by the mountains and sea, this whimsically named seaside café has become many people’s top choice for sipping coffee while gazing at the ocean. The owner, Akira Tamada, is a potter from Tochigi Prefecture who has lived in Okinawa for 40 years. The first floor of the house is his pottery studio, while the second floor houses the café run by his wife, Taeko Tamada. The first time he encountered this breathtaking scenery, Mr. Tamada decided to set up his studio here, creating art surrounded by nature between the mountains and the sea. Even when the land was overgrown and the conditions harsh—with no water or electricity—he worked hard to build this miracle of a house. “It felt too wasteful to keep such beauty to myself, so I wanted to share the moving feeling I had and this incredibly gorgeous view with everyone,” said Mr. Tamada.
![](\"/pic/20200313/94b0f11e42586abfd28d206189e95235.jpg\")
A corner inside Doka Doka. (Photo provided by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler Magazine)
From the moment you step inside, the spacious, lofty wooden interior instantly puts you at ease, making you eager to head out to the stunning ocean-view terrace. The sense of openness is almost like you could spread your wings and fly, with a beautiful blue U-shaped bay stretching out before you. Under the eaves are rows of wooden long tables, with lush greenery nearby, a gray seawall a bit farther, and beyond that the meeting point of the peninsula and the horizon—shaped like a dragon, with the white waves resembling its whiskers. Mr. Tamada exclaimed, “I never get tired of this view. Especially the unbelievably blue sea and sky before noon, and the sunset in the evening—it’s as beautiful as a painting.”
![](\"/pic/20200313/6446b4f4362487c287bfbf7d37fd6053.jpg\")
Gazing at the beautiful blue bay. (Photo provided by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler Magazine)
The café also doubles as an art gallery, filled with numerous ceramic works that Mr. Tamada takes pride in. The comical-looking demon-expelling lions with their wide-open mouths are ubiquitous symbols of protection in Okinawa. In addition to classic Okinawan pottery, there are also large ceramic jars inspired by the landscapes of his hometown. The soft gradient colors resemble an impressionistic landscape, and when delicate little trees are painted on them, they become beautiful scenes of a northern countryside.
![](\"/pic/20200313/df26e2f405a7043a0790597380e5ea19.jpg\")
A rich pizza afternoon tea. (Photo provided by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler Magazine)
Paired with the hidden-beauty view is a hearty afternoon tea featuring Doka Doka’s handmade pizza. Influenced by the U.S. military presence, pizza is ubiquitous in Okinawa. The pizza features rich, stringy cheese, Italian sausage, green and red bell peppers, onions, and classic basil—a savory, slightly spicy combination. Though it’s a basic style, it leaves a finger-licking aftertaste. When the wind picks up, hum softly to yourself: “I am a cloud” amid this vast seascape.
[Info] Doka Doka
Address: 243-1 Maekenku, Onna Village, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Phone: +81-(0)98-965-1666
Hours: 11:00–20:00; from November to March (winter), closes at 19:00. Closed on the second Thursday of each month.
Website: dokadoka.ti-da.net
● Read more:
Kyoto Girls’ Beer Story: Horino Memorial Museum & Kyoto Machiya Brewery
www.mook.com.tw/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=9636
![](\"/pic/20200313/3e5336b59942b0158bca9e551502a0ca.jpg\")
A humorous ceramic piece at the café entrance. (Photo provided by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler Magazine)