Okinawa is a photographers’ dream – a day-glo paradise with eye candy on every corner. Here are 16 photos which sum up why Japan’s most beautiful prefecture should be on your radar. View this post on InstagramA post shared by @takepipipiro on Aug 31, 2019 at 9:03pm PDTBest beaches in Asia? When asked where to find Asia’s most beautiful beaches, most people would name
Indonesia,
Thailand or Cambodia – unless they’ve been to Okinawa. The sea here is wonderfully warm and even during the coldest time of year (February and March) rarely dips below 21°C. Visit during the warmer months and you’ll experience bath-warm temperatures of 30°C. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Gato Kinny (@kinnycat) on Oct 21, 2019 at 6:43pm PDTShisa lions Follow any Instagrammer who’s visiting Okinawa and it’s almost guaranteed a lion or two will eventually put in an appearance. You’ll see beautifully carved lions throughout Okinawa, often hiding in the lush undergrowth outside locals’ houses. Known as shisa lions, they’re seen as guardians of the home. Fancy one of your own? Okinawa’s capital, Naha, is filled with potteries, many of which allow visitors to make their own lovable lions. View this post on InstagramA post shared by 糸満漁民食堂 (@itomangyominshokudo) on Nov 3, 2019 at 4:35pm PSTDelicious dishes We’ve got an insatiable appetite for pictures of Okinawan cuisine – the next best thing to a visit to this tropical island chain. Visit Okinawa and you’ll be blown away by the range of dishes on offer – a colourful melange of rainbow-hued vegetables, steaming broths (the jet-black squid ink soup is an Instagrammer fave) and the freshest fish you’ve ever seen. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Bibi Lin/St★rmankind (@starmankind) on Nov 14, 2019 at 12:13pm PSTTraditional dress It’s not just the food which makes Okinawa one of the planet’s most colourful places – the region’s traditional dress has a large part to play. So-called Ryusou outfits are worn at various special occasions, including birthdays and weddings. The use of bingata (a traditional textile) ensures colours (usually red and blue, the hues most commonly associated with Okinawa) remain wonderfully bright. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Juri (@juri.sea) on Nov 14, 2019 at 10:36am PSTUnderwater world You don’t need to be a scuba diver to admire life beneath the waves in Okinawa. The islands’ famously clear waters mean snorkellers can easily spot a wide range of marine life, from turtles and clownfish to sea snakes and neon corals. View this post on InstagramA post shared by [Official] VISIT OKINAWA JAPAN (@visitokinawajapan) on Nov 19, 2019 at 11:27pm PSTIncredible landscape Even those who’ve done their research prior to visiting Okinawa are blown away by the diversity of the landscape – you’ll find stalagmite-filled caverns, forested valleys, endless beaches and thundering waterfalls. View this post on InstagramA post shared by ｍomo (@nm__1103) on Nov 14, 2019 at 6:59am PSTLook at that sea! Okinawa is one of Japan’s most popular watersports destinations, and with visibility like this, it’s hardly surprising. Growing numbers of visitors are opting to explore Okinawa’s islands on kayaking tours, and paddle boarding is becoming increasingly popular, too. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Haruka (@hrk123hrk) on Nov 14, 2019 at 6:11am PSTFinding Nemo Although you don’t need to be a scuba diver to appreciate Okinawa’s marine life, visitors with a PADI qualification under their belt will certainly get to see a whole new side of this island paradise, whether it’s huge swarms of tropical fish, some of the healthiest coral reefs in Asia or impossibly cute sea turtles. View this post on InstagramA post shared by 糸満漁民食堂 (@itomangyominshokudo) on Nov 3, 2019 at 4:35pm PSTSquid is a staple Foodies with a weakness for seafood are especially well catered for in Okinawa, which has one of Japan’s most diverse food scenes. Squid is practically regarded as its own food group here – it’s added to a wide range of dishes and its ink is used to make Okinawa’s famous squid ink soup. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Y.Morishita (@panro0301) on Oct 15, 2019 at 8:50am PDTAmazing island hopping One of the best things about Okinawa is the accessibility – ferries connect the larger islands and regular flights put the more remote ones within easy reach. Several islands are even connected by road bridge. Henza, Miyagi, Hamahiga and Ikei islands are connected to Katsuren Peninsula on Okinawa Island by the Kaichu Doro, known as the inter-island highway. View this post on InstagramA post shared by [Official] VISIT OKINAWA JAPAN (@visitokinawajapan) on Oct 18, 2019 at 12:11am PDTParadise found Okinawa’s islands are made largely from limestone, and many of its beaches are dominated by weird and wonderful rock formations. View this post on InstagramA post shared by [Official] VISIT OKINAWA JAPAN (@visitokinawajapan) on Nov 6, 2019 at 12:43am PSTOkinawa World Gyokusendo Cave is one of Japan’s longest caves – a stalagmite and stalactite-filled wonderland which can be explored on guided tours. You’ll find it in Okinawa World, a sprawling theme park which also has a snake museum and craft village. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Kazumi (@pucchii_k) on Nov 11, 2019 at 5:05am PSTStunning coastline Okinawa’s stunning, wind-ravaged coastline is one reason the prefecture is so popular with hikers, who come to ramble along coastal paths which wind around the islands’ best bits. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Ruben Sanchez (@ruben_earth) on May 20, 2019 at 2:29pm PDTAquatic attractions It’s impossible not be amazed by the sheer scale of the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, which was the world’s largest until the title was poached by an
American one in 2005. Highlights include the nine-metre whale sharks and the beautiful manta rays. View this post on InstagramA post shared by RYUKYU GLASS WORKS 海風 (@umikaze.okinawa) on Nov 2, 2019 at 12:06am PDTShopper heaven A word of warning – if you’re prone to a spot of retail therapy, set yourself a strict budget. Okinawa has strong connections with various traditional art forms, although it’s most famous for its Ryukyu glass – colourful glassware embedded with bubbles created during the glassblowing process. View this post on InstagramA post shared by ☾ 𝕒𝕚𝕞𝕪𝕠𝕟 ☾ (@_iam.ai_) on Aug 30, 2018 at 4:07pm PDTHeritage sites Despite the wonderful simplicity of this rural site, Sefa-utaki, with its carefully-positioned rocks and triangular tunnel carved out of rock, is actually one of Okinawa’s most important heritage sites, and was accessible only to the most senior members of the Ryukyu Kingdom. This is where important events, such as the inauguration of Kikoe Okimi (the kingdom’s highest-ranking priestess) took place.