Okinawa holidays

Okinawa is one of Japan’s southern prefectures and consists of a chain of hundreds of islands known as the Ryukyu Islands, extending over 1,000 km from Kyushu to Taiwan. Okinawa’s capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of the largest and most populous island, Okinawa Island, which is approximately half-way between Kyushu and Taiwan. Okinawa is home of karate and many beautiful beaches. Its outlying islands boast some of the most abundant coral reefs found in the world.

Explore Okinawa

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Top things to do in Okinawa

Explore Okinawa by car

Okinawa Island is the largest of the Okinawa Island group, and best experienced by hiring a car and exploring at your leisure. The capital, Naha, is home to many of the island's hotels and cultural attractions, including the Okinawa Prefectural Museum. The Peace Memorial Park in the southern tip of the island commemorates the Battle of Okinawa, and has displays on the lead up to the battle, the battle itself and the subsequent reconstruction of Okinawa. To discover some of the natural beauty of the island, visit the Motobu Peninsula on the east coast, home to a number of beaches, or Hiji Waterfall further north and set in the forests of the Yambaru region.

Visit to the Churaumi Aquarium

The Okinawa archipelago is rich with marine wildlife, a sample of which is showcased in the superb Churaumi Aquarium, located on Motobu Peninsula on the island's west coast. The aquarium's main attraction is the huge 8-metre-high Kuroshio Tank, named after the Kuroshio Current which surrounds the Okinawa archipelago, which is home to whale sharks, manta rays and a selection of fish. Other exhibits include a coral reef tank and an aquarium laboratory hosting lectures on various topics in marine biology.