Okinawa & Japan's Southern Islands

Bradt's Okinawa and Japan's Southwest Islands is the only travel guidebook dedicated to the archipelago from mainland Japan to Taiwan, offering detailed information on accommodation, restaurants, transport, and sights. Japan expert Jo Davey provides rich context and entertaining insights to help readers understand this fascinating region. The islands are a remote but rewarding and geographically diverse area, with the capital city of Naha on Okinawa-honto being a fusion of Japanese and American culture. The more remote islands preserve traditional Ryukyuan life with festivals, architecture, traditional accommodation, and religious sites. The islands' amazing food is known for being the world's healthiest cuisine, and the book provides a glimpse into the gateway cities of Tokyo and Kagoshima. Extensive practical information includes transport, seasonality, itineraries, visas, and budgeting.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 09 August 2024
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides

Brand new from Bradt is Okinawa and Japan's Southwest Islands, the sole travel guidebook dedicated to the archipelago stretching from the southern tip of mainland Japan to Taiwan. This guide contains all the detailed information that travelers need to get the most out of their visit, from accommodation and restaurants to transport and sights. Japan expert Jo Davey complements this with rich context and entertaining insights to help readers understand this fascinating region, covering culture, recipes, architectural highlights, historical episodes, and traditional folktales.

Japan's Southwest Islands are a remote but rewarding and geographically diverse area that comprises the Satsunan Islands (formed of the Osumi and Amami islands) and the Ryukyu Islands (consisting of the Okinawa, Kerama, Miyako, and Yaeyama islands). The capital city of Naha on Okinawa-honto is a bright and busy hub of history, art, karate, and food. Thanks to its many US military bases and post-war occupation by the US, Naha is a fusion of Japanese and American culture. In contrast, the more remote islands preserve traditional Ryukyuan life with festivals, architecture, traditional accommodation, and religious sites.

Depending on where you travel, you can dive with manta rays off Iriomote or kayak along its jungle rivers, hike through Yakushima's ancient forest, search for star sand on Taketomi, pay tribute to the fallen of World War II at museums and monuments on Okinawa-honto, cycle between Miyako's award-winning beaches, take home a chunk of rope from the world's largest tug-of-war (in Naha) or go whale watching off the Kerama Islands. Wherever you go, the islands' amazing food is known for being the world's healthiest.

Weight: 390g
Dimension: 218 x 138 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781784776824