Okinawa Islands

城市概覽

The name Okinawa means "rope in the open sea", a fairly apt description of this long stretch of islands between the main islands of Japan and Taiwan. Consisting of 49 inhabited islands and 111 uninhabited islands, Okinawa has a subtropical to tropical climate, and is a popular beach holiday destination for Japanese, with frequent flights from all the major cities of Japan. While visitors from nearby countries are increasingly discovering Okinawa's charms, the number remains low compared to the tourist destinations on mainland Japan.

History

Traders between Japan, Korea and China have traveled through the islands of Okinawa since time immemorial. In 1429, King Shō Hashi unified three kingdoms on the main island into the Ryukyu Kingdom (Japanese: 琉球王国 Ryūkyū Ōkoku, Okinawan: 琉球國 Ruuchuu Kuku), which prospered off trade as a tributary state of Imperial China that was nevertheless de facto independent. The islands were first invaded and brought under the control of Satsuma (modern-day Kagoshima) in 1609, who allowed them to continue maintaining their tributary relationship with China. This arrangement allowed the Satsuma domain to use them as a conduit for trade with China when the rest of Japan was in self-imposed isolation, to the profit of all three parties. The common people were less happy about the arrangement: Satsuma imposed heavy head taxes, and there are many stories of people committing suicide to prevent their entire village from being punished. Ryūkyū was annexed by Japan during the Meiji Period in 1879, which Qing China was by then powerless to stop, and the Japanese proceeded to do their best to suppress indigenous culture, language and religion. With little time to adjust to their new status as Japanese subjects, the people were nervous about nearby wars and in order to escape and with the encouragement of the government, there was heavy migration out to Brazil, Hawaii and other Pacific Islands.

Okinawa was a major battleground in the Pacific War.

如何抵達

By plane Most visitors arrive in Naha, the capital of Okinawa, which is also well served by low-cost carriers like Skymark and Jetstar. Domestic flights do connect major Japanese cities directly to some other Okinawan islands like Miyako and Ishigaki, but prices can be steep; for example, the standard one-way fare for Tokyo-Ishigaki is a whopping ¥50,000. You can save a considerable amount of money by making use of ANA's Visit Japan or JAL's Welcome to Japan fares, both of which allow domestic flights in Japan for ¥14,040. Low-cost carriers like Peach can also offer good fares if booked in advance. Naha is also served by some international flights to other Asian cities. If you are coming from elsewhere, consider connecting in Taipei instead, as Naha is geographically closer to Taipei than to Tokyo. Direct international connections to the other islands are very limited, but there are seasonal winter services from Taipei to Ishigaki and low-cost carriers have experimented with flights from Seoul and Hong Kong to Ishigaki and Miyako (Shimojishima).

By ship

Ferry services to Okinawa have been cut drastically, with Arimura Sangyo filing for bankruptcy and RKK Line stopping passenger services entirely. With long travel times, bumpy seas, frequent cancellations in the fall typhoon season and prices that aren't any cheaper than flying, it's easy to see why this isn't too popular anymore. As of 2024, the only survivors are A-Line Ferry, aka Maru-A (マルエー), and Marix Line, which run from Kagoshima to Naha (25 hours, ¥16,560 2nd class one-way) on alternating days. The ferries are fairly utilitarian but comfortable enough, with sleeping arrangements varying from shared spaces of tatami in 2nd class (二等 nitō) to private cabins in special class (特等 tokutō). All ferries call at various minor islands including Yoron and Amami Oshima along the way. If you're planning to island-hop your way through the Amamis to Okinawa and back, the Yui Passport that gives 14 days of unlimi

當地交通

Ferry and air connections link the islands together, but many of them are simply so small in population that scheduled services may be infrequent and prices vary.

By plane Flights between the islands are mostly handled by Japan Transocean Air (JTA) and its subsidiary Ryukyu Air Commuter (RAC), both owned by JAL. ANA also has a limited network radiating out from Naha. Prices are generally quite high.

By ferry There are dense webs of ferry links between nearby islands, but only infrequent cargo boats ply lengthier routes like Naha-Ishigaki. If traveling by boat in late summer, note that the area around Okinawa is known as Typhoon Alley for a reason: it's not uncommon for ferries to be suspended for several days if one comes barrelling through.

By car

Probably more so than anywhere else in Japan, the trainless main island of Okinawa is a car culture, which makes car rental an attractive option for longer stays. Be prepared to drive on the left side of the road. Beware of many traffic jams and generally very slow moving traffic, especially in the densely populated southern part of the island. Plan your return trip to the airport accordingly. An International Driving Permit is required to drive in Japan, and it must be the 1949 Geneva Convention type and obtained before arrival; see Driving in Japan for the details. The only exception is for nationals of Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Slovenia, Monaco or Taiwan, who can get an authorized Japanese translation issued at the Japanese Automobile Foundation Okinawa branch office in Urasoe, near Naha. If you don't qualify for either, the only option is a Japanese license, which is an expensive and time-consuming hassle. Military and other SOFA personnel may obtain driving privileges via their own installation procedures. SOFA cars have special "Y" plates and special rules for tax, inspection, etc.

By bus

Most islands of interest in Okinawa have at least a rudimentary bus network, although schedules may b

必看景點

Most people come to Okinawa for the sun and beaches. Even in midwinter, when many areas of the mainland Japan teeter around the freezing point, temperatures rarely dip below 15°C in Okinawa. For more adventurous types, the vast yet almost uninhabited island of Iriomote is covered in dense jungle. Cultural attractions are rather more limited, as the Japanese invasion and subsequent brutal colonization coupled with fighting in World War II did a regrettably thorough job of eliminating most traces of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Shuri Castle in Naha on Okinawa Island is the former royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Already rebuilt once after burning down during World War II, the main hall of the castle burned down again in 2019. Reconstruction is under way, but is not expected to be completed until 2026. The gusuku (castle) ruins of Katsuren, Nakagusuku and Zakimi, all in Central Okinawa, have been partly restored and together with Shuri Castle form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For a taste o