Japan's Tropical Islands

This weekend we were straying away from Tokyo quite a bit. In fact, this was by far the furthest away from home I’ve been while still on Japanese soil to date.

Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture, is located between Japan an Taiwan. Flying to the main island, the view you’re greeted with is pretty much the same as in every other major Japanese city: lots and lots of concrete. Naha itself really isn’t what one would call a beach resort and you have to seek out places to get to the ocean. Many tourists would head to Ishigaki or Miyakojima for holidays on the beach instead, but stopping on Okinawa itself was just more convenient this time around.

Luckily, there are ferries running frequently to all surrounding islands from Naha port. We choose Aka & Zamami island for a day trip and could not have been happier – emerald beaches, stunning weather, and close to no tourists whatsoever.

The northern part of the main island has a very different feel to it. After visiting the amazing Okinawa-Churaumi Aquarium in Motobu, we continued driving through Yanbaru National Park. Devoid of any major city, this dense tropical forest almost entirely covers the upper island and is home to a great deal of Okinawa’s indigenous wildlife.