This is a follow up to my first visit to the real life location of Aquatope on White Sand, Chinen-son (Chinen Village). Click here to read that article.

The first half of Aquatope on White Sand primarily took place in Nanjo City’s Chinen Village. Nanjo is the birthplace of Okinawa’s native religion and host to many sacred places including Sefa-Utaki, which is in Chinen right down the road from “Kamee Diner” spot and the sightseeing information center. The most sacred spot in Okinawa, Sefa-utaki was closed for most of the pandemic and its re-opening brought me back to Chinen. Now that the show’s over I was also able to get some pickup shots from “Gama Gama” and the tourism information center, and check in to see how the city was making use of its anime star status. So let’s crack open an Onion Beer (or a Tough Lemon) and return to Gama Gama!

Azama Sun Sun Beach
Though now open, it was still mostly dead this time. The winds were strong and the sea was way too rough up to go out in and swimming was forbidden. For those just joining us or who need the reminder, “Gama Gama Aquarium” was placed at the far end of the parking lot where the roundabout is. The Azama Sun Sun Beach area got a lot of screen time as well, so I picked a few representative shots to replicate from episode seven, though there are even more.

Kukuru is pondering on the right “horn” of this little basin by the red tile cabanas.

More hot cabana action when Kai fires up his rental grill.

On the way out I stopped by the Sun Sun Beach plaza and noticed a familiar face in the office. The clerk was kind enough to take their Kuya out for this photo.

Nanjo Sightseeing Information Center
The last time I visited it was closed, though they let me in to take a photo of the Aquatope character standup and report a heat casualty. Kukuru and Fuuka’s voice actresses Ito Miku and Aida Rikako visited last November and did some signing, so the Aquatope poster beside Karin is now signed.

Updated on April 16, 2022- They added more standups and a welcome sign with Kukuru and Fuuka.

Next door is the gift shop, which has a little Aquatope section by the entrance with signed Kukuru and Fuuka standups flanking their local collab books table. I was able to get a Kukuru acrylic standup and some local collab goods. One is the salty milk-flavored Aquatope X Nanjo City Sakuma drop candy box and the other is a Sango Beer fittingly featuring Karin, the show’s Nanjo sightseeing tourism center character. Sango Beer is brewed in Nanjo and uses the city’s “coral water” from the limestone cave Gyokusendo. I’ve had it before and think a good team up as theirs is a quality beer and delicious, even if you’re not an IPA fan.

Udon-chan wins at representation- she has two standups!

Gratuitous merch haul- don’t knock salty milk taste until you’ve tried it.

For those wanting to drink like they do, the Moontory Tough Lemon and Onion Beers are parodies of Suntory Strong Zero chu-hi and Okinawa’s big brand beer, Orion Beer.

Onion Beer, accept no substitutes.

I loved the show overall but felt the second half location lacked the presence of the first, which was firmly grounded in this real world town brimming with sunny personality. Kukuru’s new life was mostly chained to a shiny state-of-the-art aquarium whose location I could never quite pinpoint. (If you can please let me know in the comments)

Aquatope on White Sand can be watched on Crunchryoll.

ADDRESSES

Azama Sun Sun Beach
Azama-1141-3 Chinen, Nanjo, Okinawa 901-1502
81989483521

Nanjo Sightseeing Information Center
Kudeken-541 Chinen, Nanjo, Okinawa 901-1511
81989484611
https://www.kankou-nanjo.okinawa/

Nanjo City Sightseeing Website
https://www.kankou-nanjo.okinawa/