Okinawa: Japan's Tropical Paradise

Looking for a tropical beach get away for your vacation this summer? Look no farther than the Japan's most southernmost prefecture of Okinawa. This subtropical paradise and former hub of the Ryukyu Kingdom holds not only beautiful beaches but also a rich and multicultural history sure to make for an interesting vacation!

After flourishing as the Kingdom of Ryukyu for hundreds of years, Okinawa became a prefecture of Japan 130 years ago. Integrating the artistic and cultural influences of China, Korea, and Southeast Asia, Okinawa has a unique culture suited to its climate and multicultural history. Okinawa's unique culture still survives in its customs and language, giving the area a distincitve flare which cannot be found anywhere else in Japan. Today let us introduce you to the allure of Okinawa through its food, sights, and fun activities.

Eat
Okinawa is proud of its own special cuisine, which differs from that of Japanese cuisine found on mainland Japan. With Southeast Asian, Japanese, and Chinese influences, Okinawan food combines elements of all these cultures into delicious and healthy dishes. The low salt, low fat content of diet of the Okinawa people is thought to be the reason that the Okinawan people are some of the longest living of any people in the world.

Due to the influence of Okinawa's occupying American troops, there are many American influences in modern Okinawan cuisine. One example of such a fusion dish is "taco rice," a Tex-Mex inspired concoction featuring taco meat, lettuce, tomato, and rice. Taco rice is served at restaurants through Okinawa and regularly shows up as a main dish in Okinawa's elementary and junior high school lunches.

Do
Okinawa is well known for its beautiful beaches and warm temperatures. This combination allows visitors a chance to participate in a variety of spots. In particular, Okinawa is famous for diving as the Okinawa archipelago is home to a variety of marine life with numbers rivaling even that of Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

Sunrise Tours offers an introductory diving class under the tutelage of an experienced English-speaking diving instructor on this one-day diving tour of the Kerema Islands with Sunrise Tours. This class is perfect for beginners and is a great chance to explore the fantastic clear underwater world of the warm seas surrounding Okinawa.

See
For those looking who would rather look at sea life above water, we recommend visiting the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is one of the world's largest aquariums and offers visitors the opportunity to view and learn about a wide of variety of sea life making it a perfect destination for marine life lovers and families with children.

Another popular Okinawa attraction is Ryukyu Mura, Okinawan village theme park that allows visitors to experience Okinawa's local culture, performing arts, and nature first hand. Both of these locations are located in Northern Okinawa. Sunrise Tours offers visitors a chance to explore Okinawa's beautiful northern area by tour bus including lunch for great value if you are interested in visiting both the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and Ryukyu Mura.

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Okinawa is quite a beautiful place and is recommended for both first-time travelers and those with experience in Japan. The overall feel of the prefecture is much different than that of mainland Japan and visitors will be pleasantly surprised by the hospitable and laidback attitude of the Okinawan people.

Picture credit: Diving picture was kindly provided by Dive Shop Bluefield.