NAGO, Japan—From a distance, an American tourist visiting a summer festival in Okinawa might think she never left home.

But on closer inspection, subtle yet unmistakable differences mark the experience as distinct from summer festivals in the United States.

Okinawa is a Japanese prefecture that is home to more than 150 islands. One can find deep roots of Japanese culture threaded through the beaches of these islands. Festivals are a large part of celebrating this culture.

For one weekend every July, the streets of Nago are flooded with the sweet smell of delicious Japanese food and drinks. The sound of laughter mixed with live entertainment and “big win” buzzers create an inviting sound that is irresistible.

As night falls, the streets become lit up with colorful carnival lights and paper lanterns.

While visiting my friend Nano, a local of Okinawa, I got the opportunity to experience Japanese culture first hand. I tried almost every food there was on offer, from takoyaki, a fried octopus dish, to okonomiyaki, a savory pancake type dish.

There were games for people of all ages to enjoy, including balloon darts, shooting galleries and goldfish catching. While anyone can enjoy them, some present more of a challenge than others.

To finish the night off strong, we ended at Blue Seal, the original Okinawan ice cream. When visiting the island, you must try Blue Seal’s most popular flavor, Okinawan Salt Cookie.