Japan’s tropical Okinawa Islands

Posted on November 1, 2018

Known in Japan as Okinawa Shotō, Okinawa consists of no less than two dozen islands scattered around the main island, referred to as Okinawa Honto. Located far south of Honshu, Japan’s main island, Okinawa together with the more southern Miyako and Yaeyama Islands form the Prefecture of Okinawa.

Okinawa is part of a chain of Japanese islands that stretches north all the way from Kyushu, the third largest island of Japan, to Taiwan to the south. Known as the Ryukyu Islands, of which Okinawa is the largest and most populous, they were ruled by the independent Ryukyu Kingdom from the 15th to the 19th century.

With its rich history founded in the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom, today the island and its people still celebrate festivals such as the Ryukyu Lantern Festival and the Ryukyu Kaiensai Fireworks Festival. Other festivals celebrated are the Festival of Naha Haarii and Itoman Haarii, Tedako Festival, Eisa Festival, and the Naha Festival.

Okinawa Honto, the main island, is home to the capital Naha, as well as several attractions including the Churaumi Aquarium. Its majestic giant whale sharks, massive manta rays and sharks are housed in the Kuroshio Tank – the largest tank of its kind in the world. With more than 700 different species, the aquarium is spread over three floors.

Okinawa’s main island is also known for its rock formations, particularly those at the northernmost point of the island. Cape Hedo has a rugged coast with grandeur rock formations and stunning panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea.

Tadake Falls located in the heart of the northern Okinawa jungle offers adventurous hiking to an awe-inspiring remote waterfall.

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Globerovers Magazine December 2018