By Steve Corless

Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture, consists of hundreds of islands that span more than 1,000 miles from south of Kyushu to within sight of Taiwan. The Okinawan islands, otherwise known as the Ryuku Islands, have a unique culture, language and history and offer the visitor numerous experiences that only Okinawa can provide.  If you are seeking a subtropical getaway complete with some quiet beach time, warm water and balmy sea breezes and island music, Okinawa is the perfect Japanese destination.
The Ryukyus were a prosperous and sovereign trading kingdom that benefited from their location south of the main Japanese islands and east of China until the Meiji Restoration of 1868, when the islands were annexed by Japan. Although Okinawa is now a prefecture of Japan, the influence of China in its culture, music, architecture and cuisine is evident to this day.
Every visitor to Okinawa should visit Shuri Castle in the capital city of Naha.  Originally built in the 14th century, it flourished as the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Tragically, it was nearly destroyed during World War II but has been painstakingly and beautifully restored to its original splendor.  Shuri Castle is one of Japan’s National Treasures and has been designated a Unesco World Heritage Site.
A visit to Okinawa would not be complete without a journey to one or several of the other islands. An inexpensive way to island hop is to take advantage of the island ferry system just as the locals do. Iriomote is the second largest of Okinawa’s islands yet has a population of only 2,000. Virtually everyone who ventures here arrives by ferry; the island does not have an airstrip. Passengers on overnight ferries rest and sleep on large tatami mats that cover the indoor decks. At night when the awamori (Okinawan distilled rice liquor) starts flowing, you may be treated to an amateur sanshin three-stringed lute performance. 
The island’s low population is due to malaria – until the 1950s this was not a safe place to live for fear of contracting the disease. Malaria has been eradicated here, so visitors can easily explore this remote island rainforest with average temperatures in the mid 70s. Here you can enjoy a lazy boat ride on a slow-moving river winding through the mangroves or just savor the quiet rainforest, desolate beaches and fresh balmy air.  If you are lucky, you may spot the famous Iriomote cat, a species of wildcat found only on this island. If you are not so lucky, it’s possible you may encounter one of the island’s venomous habu pit vipers. Remember, this really is a tropical jungle.
A short boat ride from Ishigaki Island (known for its beach resorts) is the island of Taketomi. A small island with less than 400 residents, Taketomi is known for the traditional Ryuku architecture of its houses. Visit the island as a day trip, rent a bike and explore the authentic and untainted architectural heritage of this tiny island village. Favorite activities here are sunbathing, snorkeling and taking a beach ride on a cart drawn by a water buffalo.
If you happen to be in Okinawa in October, you may wish to take in some of the events associated with the Uchinanchu Festival.  Uchinanchu is the Okinawan word for the Okinawan people. Many Okinawans emigrated overseas during the 20th century, and today those immigrants and their descendents are valuable contributors to their adopted countries.  Recognizing emigrants and their descendents as an important human resource for the prefecture of Okinawa, a worldwide network for overseas Okinawans has been developed, with the Uchinanchu Festival being one of the activities sponsored by the network. During October there will be a variety of Okinawan cultural events for both Okinawans and visitors to enjoy.  For more information, visit  the Uchinanchu website at: www.wuf5th.com.

Water Buffalo ride	Traditional Ryuku architecture
Okinawa is known for its beautiful coral reef and marine life. There are said to be about 200 kinds of coral reef in Okinawa, which is a quarter of the world’s 800 different coral reef types. Divers from around the world consider this a very special place.

About writer: Steve Corless is an independent travel consultant based in Seattle.  Steve spent 15 years in Japan working in sales and marketing and as a US foreign service officer in Tokyo and Osaka. He lives in Lynnwood with his wife and daughter.