Okinawa

Okinawa is Japan’s southernmost prefecture. Made up of a series of small outlying islands, Okinawa is perhaps best known for its original culture, the Ryukyu Kingdom, and for its endless number of incredible beaches and resort areas. Shurijo Castle, the capital of this kingdom, is a World Heritage site and an amazing place to visit, one that has a thoroughly different atmosphere than that of other Japanese castles.

There are hundreds of beaches, some famous some known only to the locals on each island, plus Churaumi Aquarium, which features the largest aquarium tank in the world.

The climate in Okinawa is very stable, with temperatures averaging at about 23 degrees Celsius all year round, and the beaches here open the earliest of all in Japan, starting at around March or April. If you are looking for tropical island experience as well as the chance to try out some amazing cuisine you won’t find anywhere else in the world, then Okinawa is just the place to go!