Kakeromajima, Kikaijima or Kikaigashima, Tokunoshima, Iōtorishima, Okinoerabujima, Yoronjima
PART 2
Chapter 4
Subtropical getaway, cultural hub
Chapter 5
OKINAWA MAIN ISLAND: THE SOUTH
Memorial museums, cultural sites
Okinawa Peace Prayer Park and Memorial Hall, Ryukyu Glass Village, Himeyuri Peace Museum and War Memorial, Culture Kingdom Gyokusendo, Gusuku (Fortress) Ruins, Seifa Utaki, General Buckner Memorial Plaque, Former Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters, Shikina-en Royal Garden, Shuri Castle, Kokusai-dōri, Heiwa-dōri, Fukushu-en, Naminoue Shrine, Tsushima-maru Memorial Museum, International Cemetery at Tomari District
Chapter 6
OKINAWA MAIN ISLAND: THE CENTER
Castle ruins, beachfront resorts
Nakagusuku Castle Ruins, Nakamura House, Shinto Shrine in Futenma, “American Village” in Chatan, Sunabe District, Awase, Katsuren Castle Ruins, White Beach Naval Facility, Yomitan Village, Zakimi Castle Ruins Site, Cape Zanpa, Maeda Point
Chapter 7
OKINAWA MAIN ISLAND: THE NORTH
Natural attractions, fabulous fish
Nago, Motobu Peninsula, Motobu Port, Sesoko, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Nakijin Castle Ruins, Unten Port, Yagajijima, Cape Akamaru, Hiji Falls, Ōkuni-rindo, Aha Falls, Cape Hedo, Ada, Kanucha Bay Resort, Cape Henoko
Chapter 8
Scattered islets, quiet resorts
Adakashima, Abuōrujima, Nagashima, Tairajima, Ikeijima, Miyagijima, Henzajima, Hamahigashima, Ukibarushima, Minamiukibarushima, Yabuchijima, Aginamiiwa, Gonjiyaniwa, Tsukenjima, Kudakajima, Kumakajima, Adochijima, Tamataiwa, Ādjijima, Ōjima
Chapter 9
Wondrous whales, delightful dives
Kamiyamajima, Kuefujima, Nagannujima, Maejima, Kuroshima, Tokashikijima, Zamamijima, Akajima, Gerumajima, Fukajijima, Ōjima, Kubashima, Yakabijima
Chapter 10
Golden beaches, remarkable rocks
Edzunajima, Rukan-shō, Senagajima, Tonakijima, Kumejima, Torishima, Agunijima, Sesokojima, Minnajuma, Iejima, Ōjima, Yagajijima, Kourijima, Izenajuma, Iheyajima
Chapter 11
Pristine waters, rich coral reefs
Miyakojima, Irabujima, Shimojijima, Taramajima, Minnajima
Chapter 12
Idyllic beaches, fascinating nature
Ishigakijima, Taketomijima, Hamajima, Kayamajima, Kohamajima, Kuroshima, Aragusukujima, Hatomajima, Iriomotejima, Haterumajima, Nakanouganjima, Yonagunijima
Chapter 13
Precipitous cliffs, sugary sights
Kita Daitōjima, Minami Daitōjima, Oki Daitōjima
Introduction
Welcome to Okinawa and the Ryukyus
Although it is said that Japan (日本; Nihon or Nippon, literally “sun’s origin” but usually translated as “land of the rising sun”) is an island nation, it’s perhaps more accurate to describe it as a nation of islands for, depending on who’s counting, there are anywhere from 3,000 to 6,852 of them. The first figure, although an approximation, is widely agreed upon by most encyclopedias and reference manuals. It includes islands that are at least 0.039 square miles (0.1 square kilometer) in size. The larger number of 6,852 is published by the Japan Maritime Public Relations Center and includes all islands that have at least 330 feet (100 meters) of shoreline. Obviously, that latter figure would include virtually every rock, isle and islet in the Japanese Archipelago. More useful perhaps is the often-cited number of inhabited islands. That number is 426.
From north to south, Japan’s four main islands are Hokkaido (北海道; Hokkaidō, lit. “North Sea Circuit,” circuit being a mostly archaic political subdivision); Honshu (本州; Honshū, meaning “Main State”), where the capital Tokyo is located; Shikoku (四国; Shikoku, meaning “Four Provinces”) and Kyushu (九州; Kyūshū; “Nine Provinces”).
Honshu is the largest of Japan’s islands, Hokkaido the second largest, then Kyushu, then Shikoku. In total, Japan has about 18,645 miles (30,000 kilometers) of shoreline. Since, ultimately, it is an archipelago of islands, it has no land boundaries with any other country. Its northern shores on Hokkaido face the Russian Sea of Okhotsk and its eastern shores front the Pacific Ocean. Most of the country’s west faces the Sea of Japan and its southwest looks to the East China Sea.
Ranked by size, Japan is the 61st largest country on earth. Its area is 145,920 square miles (377,930 square kilometers), a bit larger than Germany and somewhat similar in overall shape and size (a little smaller) than the US state of California. Together, the four main islands, often called the Japanese “homeland” or “mainland,” account for 97 percent of Japan’s total land area.
Thus, thousands of small, very small and really, really small islands constitute the remaining 3 percent of Japan’s territory. These islands are located at all points of the compass surrounding Japan, but one group in particular runs along a more or less north–south line from the southern end of the Japanese mainland to Taiwan. There are several hundreds of these islands and they are known as the Ryukyus—the subject of this book.
We use several names in English to describe these islands,
