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Okayama

Okayama (Japanese: 岡山市 Okayama-shi) is a major transit hub for western Japan. But with white peaches, a brooding black castle, and the famous garden of Kōrakuen, there are plenty of reasons to catch a later train and get out of the station to explore.

Understand
Among the attractions of Okayama, only Kōrakuen is widely known. Many travelers only pass through on the Shinkansen as they travel between Kansai and Hiroshima without giving Okayama any thought. But one key unlocks the city's unique charm: Momotarō, the Peach Boy.

According to the Japanese fairytale, an old, childless couple found a peach floating down the river, and inside they found a baby boy. They duly adopted him and named him Momotarō (桃太郎), or (quite literally) "Peach Boy". As he grew, he began to feel greatly indebted to the couple that raised him, and when he was finally grown, he announced that he would be going on a journey to Onigashima (Demon Island) to fight the demons that had been causing trouble in the nearby villages. The old woman prepared kibi-dango (see Eat) for him to take on his journey and bid him farewell.

On his way to the island, he befriended a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant by giving them each a piece of the kibi-dango. With their help, he defeated the demons; Momotarō took the demons' treasures back home and gave them to the old couple to thank them for all the things they'd done for him throughout the years. The couple rejoiced that he was back safely, and they all lived happily ever after.

Residents claim that Okayama was the original setting of the fairytale, and that it was based on the legend of Prince Kibitsuhiko's battle against the ogre Ura, who is said to have lived in Kino-jo (Demon's Castle) in the area around Soja. Today, Okayama is a busy city of some 700,000 people, and its main street is named Momotarō-Odōri in the Peach Boy's honor; you'll find statues from the tale along the way. Although the Culture Zone can easily fill a full day, try to set aside time for cycling the Kibi Plain - it's another fun way to explore the history of this intriguing area.

History
Okayama's documented history tends to get overshadowed by its folklore history, but of course it exists. The area has been one of the most important in Japan for centuries. In ancient times, the modern city was part of the Kibi Kingdom (吉備国 kibi no kuni). Situated between the Yamato to the east and Korea and other Japanese tribes to the west, the Kibi Kingdom excised a great amount of control over trade between the regions. At its peak, the Kibi Kingdom was said to have been equal in power to the Yamato and the large kofun (burial mounds) that still exist in the Kibi Plains are a testament to that.

In 645 AD the Kibi Kingdom was dissolved into four separate provinces; Bingo, Bitchu, Bizen, and Mimasaka. Most of modern Okayama City fell within Bizen Province. Development of the area into a large, unified city is accredited to Ukita Naoie who built up the domain as a castle town with Okayama as its capital. It was the same year he commissioned Okayama Castle to be constructed, although it was not completed until 1597. The Ukita continued to rule until they found themselves on the losing side in the Battle of Sekigahara. Kobayakawa Hideaki, who betrayed Ukita Hideie at Sekigahara, was given control of Okayama but he died after only 2 years as its leader, so the territory was awarded to Ikeda Tadetsugu, one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's grandsons. The Ikeda were powerful rulers that continued to foster growth and cultural development in the city, including the construction of Korakuen Garden from 1686 to 1700. The influence of the Ikeda extended well beyond the borders of their domain as they ruled until the Meiji Period when the provinces were reorganized into prefectures (1871) and they are still well-known and respected today. The city was bombed in World War II air raids in 1945, destroying much of the city center and Okayama Castle, which had been designated as one of Japan's great castles.

The city was rebuilt after the war. Although it had always been an important hub in Western Honshu, it experienced renewed importance with the extension of the Shinkansen from Osaka. Construction of the line began in 1965, a year after the line connecting Tokyo to Osaka opened and it began operation in 1972. Today Okayama ranks among Japan's most populated cities and a major economic center in the Chugoku Region.

Climate
Okayama is known as the "Land of Sunshine". The city is guarded by mountains which often take the rainfall before it can reach the city, so compared to the surrounding prefectures and most of the country, Okayama has more sunny days. It is not uncommon for it to be raining in the surrounding areas while Okayama is merely cloudy or even sunny. Likewise, snow is uncommon in the winter.

Talk
The Okayama dialect (岡山弁) is quite different from standard Japanese, with several vocabulary and sound-related distinctions. Some examples of its unique points include changing the standard da copula to ja (e.g., daijoubu da ("I'm/It's okay") is raku ja in the local dialect. Some other common Okayama-specific vocabulary include words like eroo or buchi (standard Japanese: totemo, meaning "very"), bokkee and banko (standard Japanese: sugoi, meaning "great/amazing") and oidensee (standard Japanese: irasshaimase, "welcome"). Though the Okayama dialect is used by men and women, it is thought (even by some locals) to sound somewhat "rough", and even unladylike when used by younger women.

Although it's outside of the Kansai area, the Kansai dialect can still be heard here, particularly the sound changing of the word-final -i of adjectives to a drawn-out -ee (e.g., sugoi ("amazing") to sugee).

Spoken English ability is generally poor, but some residents may surprise you with their fluency. Locals understand standard Japanese, but depending on the dialectical "severity" of the speaker, you may not understand their response. Of course, any use of the local dialect on your part will likely result in both surprise and good-natured amusement. Despite the lack of English-speakers, Okayama residents tend to be extremely friendly and willing to offer help.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By plane

If you choose to fly to Kansai International Airport, there is a bus that departs every 2-3 hours that can take you directly to Okayama from the airport in 3 hr 40 min for ¥4750. It is faster (2 hr), but more expensive (¥8320 reserved seating), to take the JR Haruka limited express train to Shin-Osaka, and transfer to the Shinkansen to Okayama station (2 or 3 stops on the Nozomi or Sakura; trains likely bound for Okayama, Hiroshima, Hakata or Kagoshima-Chuo). Not only is this option faster, JR services are much more frequent than the bus.

By train
Okayama is a major stop on the San'yo Shinkansen. All trains passing through Chugoku stop at Okayama. Nozomi trains depart Tokyo at 20-minute intervals between 6:00 and 20:30, reaching Okayama in as little as 3 hr 13 min (¥17660 reserved); one Hikari per hour makes the trip in 4 hr 15 min (¥17130 reserved; free with the Japan Rail Pass). Hikari and Sakura trains also make frequent runs, stopping at Okayama between Osaka, Fukuoka, and Kagoshima.

The Sunrise Seto/Sunrise Izumo runs overnight from JR Tokyo Station, leaving Tokyo at 22:00 and arriving in Okayama at 06:27. The return trip to Tokyo departs Okayama at 22:34 and arrives in Tokyo at 07:08. The trip cost is the basic fare of ¥10670 (waived for holders of the Japan Rail Pass) plus additional fees depending on the accommodation used. If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you can book a carpeted floor space on this service at no charge (¥3830 without the JR Pass). Accommodation fees for compartments and rooms range from ¥9900 to ¥17280. There are showers on board. Note that these trains are subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather.

Okayama is also the starting point/terminus of the Marine Liner rapid trains which travel on the famous Seto Ohashi Bridge over the Seto Inland Sea to/from Sakaide and Takamatsu, and limited express trains to other destinations on the island of Shikoku. Many of these trains to Shikoku are timed for seamless connections with Nozomi arrivals. If you travel on the Marine Liner using the Japan Rail Pass, you have the option to upgrade to a comfortable Green Car seat for a small surcharge.

If you do not have a Japan Rail Pass, it is possible to travel cheaply overnight from Okayama to Matsuyama, Kochi, and Fukuoka during University vacation periods using Moonlight Special Rapid services. These are very popular and tend to get fully booked a month in advance.

Yakumo Limited Express Trains also connect Okayama to Yonago at the Sea of Japan coast. It's a scenic 2-hour trip across the Chūgoku mountains with a magnificent view of Mount Daisen. From Yonago it is another 1/2 hour to Matsue, and 1 hour to Izumo in the San-in Region.

Super Inaba Limited Express services connect Okayama to Tottori, another Sea of Japan destination, in two hours.

By bus
Chugoku JR Bus operates two overnight bus services from Tokyo Station and the Yokohama City Air Terminal (YCAT) to Okayama: JR Buses take approximately 10 hr from Tokyo and 9 hr from Yokohama.
 * The Dream Okayama-Hiroshima runs in a 4 seat per row configuration (2x2). ¥12200 each way, with advance purchase discounts starting at ¥4700.
 * The Keihan Kibi Dream operates with a more spacious 3 seat per row configuration (1x1x1). ¥13200 each way, with advance purchase discounts starting at ¥5100.

Ryobi Bus operates from Okayama, with more buses and location options in Tokyo to choose from. Their routes are generally cheaper than JR's walk-up fares and operate in conjunction with several other bus companies.
 * The Mamakari Liner runs from Tokyo Station (on nearby Yaesu Street), Asakusa and Ueno in a 4 seat per row configuration (2x2). ¥6300-6800 each way, advance purchase discount ¥5800. About 9 hr from Tokyo Station to Okayama.
 * The Muscat runs from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal in a 3 seat per row configuration (1x1x1). Buses take around 10 hr 15 min from Shinjuku. ¥10200 each way, advance purchase discount ¥7000.
 * The Tokyo LeBlanc runs from Tokyo Station (on nearby Yaesu Street) and YCAT in a 3 seat per row configuration (1x1x1). 11 hr from Tokyo Station. ¥10200 each way, advance purchase discount ¥6700.

Additional buses from Tokyo are operated by Odakyu Bus (10 hr from Shinjuku, ¥10200 each way) and Willer Express (10 hr from Shinjuku, starting at ¥6600 each way).

From Nagoya, Ryobi operates two buses per day to Okayama: a morning/evening bus (5 hr 20 min) and an overnight bus (7 hr). ¥6700 each way, advance purchase discounts from ¥4000.

Daytime buses operated by Ryobi Bus and other companies run hourly from Osaka (3 hr, ¥3150 one way, discount fare ¥2680), seven times daily from Kyoto (3 hr 30 min, ¥3650 one way, ¥6600 round trip) and between 4-8 times daily from Kobe (2 hr 40 min, ¥2900 one way, ¥3900 round trip).

From Kyushu, Ryobi Bus runs an overnight service departing Fukuoka (9 hr, ¥7540 one way, ¥13520 round trip) and Kokura (7 hr 15 min, ¥6500 one way, ¥11630 round trip).

Ryobi, Chugoku JR, and other bus service operators have additional buses from Matsue, Izumo, Yonago, Kurayoshi, Tottori, Matsuyama, Kochi, Tokushima and Hiroshima.

Get around
Fares for public transport can either be paid in cash or by using a Hareca Card. Board trams and buses at the rear, take a boarding ticket, and pay your fare at the front when you disembark. The driver will not give change, but there is a machine on the tram that will change coins. Prepaid bus cards can also be used on the trams.

By tram
Two convenient tram lines of Okayama Denki Kido run from the east side of JR Okayama Station. The Higashiyama line runs along Momotaro-Odori to Okayama Symphony Hall (stopping at "Shiroshita" tram stop, which is the closest stop to Okayama Castle), and then turns south towards the prefectural government office before winding towards the terminus. The other line turns to the right about half-way along Momotaro-Odori, passes the central post office, and terminates at the Seikibashi intersection.

By bus
Buses run throughout the city. You can buy prepaid bus cards at several locations including the JR Okayama Station bus information booth and Omotecho Bus Center, in ¥2000, ¥5000 or ¥10,000 iterations. These cards work out to be slightly cheaper than paying cash at the end of each journey, but unused portions of the cards cannot be refunded. (When a card is "drained" of its prepaid charge, you can use cash to pay the outstanding amount.) Trips within the city cost no more than a few hundred yen; from JR Okayama Station to Tenmaya/Omotecho shopping mall costs ¥100.

Perhaps the most confusing thing is that different companies offer similar routes that depart at different times from different bus-stops. The staff at bus information centers are very helpful, but might not give information on rival companies running similar routes unless asked. For the most recent departures from Okayama Station, there is a bus departure list complete with times and stop number straight outside the Okayama Station ticket gates.

Some companies push the Hareca Integrated Circuit Cards (IC Cards, limited only to the trams and local buses run by Ryobi, Shimoden and Okaden companies) as an alternative to the disposable prepaid cards, but the deposit for a new card makes them more expensive than paying by cash, especially if you are only making a short visit.

By bike
Okayama can be an excellent place for biking. For those who want to bike from Okayama Station, there is a Rentacycle attached to the station. Upon exiting Okayama Station (Higashi-guchi Exit), turn to the right and walk straight along the station building. You'll pass the Hotel Granvia (left side) and the Renta-Car. It's about a 3 minute walk from the station exit.

Within the downtown area, the city also has its own Momochari. The name is a play on words. In Japanese, mama-chari is what they call women's bikes (typically bikes with baskets). Momo is the Japanese word for 'peach', a reference to the city's famous white peaches and Momotaro, the Peach Boy. To rent a Momo-chari, you must first get a membership card which can be purchased at any of the Momo-chari portals located by the bikes. They can be paid for with ICOCA/SUICA cards. The bikes cost ¥100 for the first hour and an additional ¥100 every 30 minutes after that. The maximum cost for a 24-hour period is ¥1000. If you keep the bike beyond 24 hours, it costs an additional ¥1000 per day. The Momo-chari Bike Portals are all located in the downtown area of central Okayama.

The Kibi Cycling Trail is a well-known cycling trail through the historic Kibi area of Okayama. There are Rentacycles located at Bizen-Ichinomiya Station and at Soja Station (Soja). If you rent a bike at one of these sites, you can return the bike at the other. This special system was designed to make the cycling course more enjoyable and appealing to travelers. You don't have to backtrack in order to return your bike. You can simply rent your bike at one station, cycle the trail, and then drop your bike off at the other station.

By taxi
Upon exiting Okayama Station, the taxis are on the right side (toward Hotel Granvia). The base fair is ¥630.

Okayama is also home to Grace Taxi, a unique taxi service with all-female drivers. You must contact them by phone in order to use their services.

See
Statues of Momotaro are a popular Okayama photo-op. Arriving by train, you'll see your first at the east exit of JR Okayama Station, but there are Momotaro motifs all over the city - there is a Momotaro mailbox at the east exit of the station, and even manholes often feature the Peach Boy. You will also find individual statues of his travel companions the dog, monkey, and pheasant aligning both sides of Momotaro-odori. At the end of the island where Korakuen is located, look for the Riverside Peachbaby, a statue of Momotaro holding a peach to the heavens.

Culture Zone
Many of central Okayama's main sights are clustered on the eastern side of the Central Business District in the area known as the Culture Zone. From JR Okayama station, take the tram three stops east to Shiroshita on the Higashiyama Line. All of the sites are within short walking distance.

English-speaking guides are available for free tours of the castle and garden. The guides are volunteers, so it's best to call ahead to ensure that they will be available.

Kibiji District

The Kibiji District (吉備路), in the northeastern part of the city, from Okayama to Soja, was once the center of the Kingdom of Kibi (吉備国 kibi no kuni), whose power was said to equal to that of the Yamato. Strategically located between the Yamato and civilizations on the Korean peninsula, the Kibi Kingdom was highly influential. Its leaders continued to influence the Yamato government even after the Kibi Kingdom fell. Many of the historical and cultural sites are associated with the legend of Prince Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto (see Understand).

The Kibiji District is best explored by bike along its famous cycling route (see Do). However, all sites can be reached by using the train and then walking (or taking a bus, for certain locations). The information office at JR Okayama Station can provide a map of the Kibiji area, including the cycling route. If you begin your travels from Bizen Ichinomiya Station (bike rental is just beside the station), the following sites are listed in the order in which you will see them.

Ashimori area
The above sites are along the main cycling path however, there is another path that branches off the main path between Koikui Shrine and Tsukuriyama Burial Mound. There are a few signs to guide bikers, but they are not as frequent here, so a map will be useful. They are listed below in the relative order that you will see them in. Near the Ashimori area is Kino-jo (鬼ノ城) in Soja. Those interested in the Momotaro sites will want to make the journey here as it is said that the demon Ura lived in a cave near the castle. You can visit the cave and the reconstructed castle to complete your self-guided tour of the Legend of Prince Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto.

Do

Onsen
Below are some of the most popular and onsen (hot springs) in Okayama City. If you are a fan of onsen and you have time, you should consider taking a trip to the northern parts of Okayama Prefecture to visit one of the Three Onsen of Mimasaka (美作三湯): Yubara Onsen (Maniwa), Okutsu Onsen (Kagamino), and Yunogo Onsen (Mimasaka).

Learn

 * Okayama University has around 14,000 students, with over 500 foreign students from 50 different countries.
 * The Okayama Institute of Languages has ties with the popular Two Worlds United student exchange program. It offers Japanese courses from beginner to advanced.

Buy

Eat
Kibi dango (吉備団子) are sweet millet-flour dumplings. According to the legend, Momotaro gave his companions kibi dango, and they helped him defeat the demons. Whether or not you'll like kibi dango enough to run off and fight demons will vary by personal taste, but they certainly are a tasty treat. The name is a bit of a pun too, as kibi means both "millet" and the ancient kingdom of Kibi, which covered a large area of present-day Okayama prefecture.

Not surprisingly, going along with the "peach boy" theme, one of the famous fruits grown in and around Okayama is the white peach (白桃 hakutō). Okayama is also well known for grapes (葡萄 budō), particularly muscat, which have been grown here since 1886 and command 95% of the Japanese market. Known as the "Queen of Fruits", they're priced to match at ¥2000 to ¥10,000 a bunch, while pione grapes can go for as little as ¥1000. The best season to eat muscats is the beginning of October, but the best choice for a souvenir are the grape sherbets, jellies, and wines, which keep for longer and are easier to get through customs.

Mamakari (ままかり), a herring-like fish, is another specialty that can be enjoyed throughout Okayama, as they are fished from the Seto Inland Sea. Another local delicacy is sawara (鰆), a white-fleshed fish translated into English alternatively as "trout" or "horse mackerel". A popular takeaway option is matsuri-zushi (祭り寿司), the local version of chirashi-zushi (sushi rice dressed with vinegar and topped with egg and seafood), sold in a peach-shaped box at Okayama station kiosks and some restaurants as well.

Drink
There are hundreds of bars and izakaya in the central area. The biggest concentration is likely 50-100 m east from the station, starting from one street to the right (south) of Momotaro Dori (the main street where the Street Car runs). Along the nearby Nishigawa Canal, there is a nice vibe at night. There are a few microbreweries in Okayama (e.g. Doteshita, Doppo) and also some local sakes.

Sleep
Additional budget options are available in Kurashiki, which is a 15 minute train ride west of Okayama.

Budget
The two Internet cafes close to Tenmaya Bus Station, Megalo and Popeye, are open 24 hours and allow customers to stay overnight for around ¥2000. Showers and light snacks are available, though there isn't much space for luggage.

Internet
There are a couple internet cafes near Okayama Station. Others are scattered about the city.

Post
There are post offices on both sides of Okayama Station as well as by Shiroshita Tram Stop that are convenient for travelers. Open weekdays only.

Okayama is also home to the Central Post Office, which is open later on weekdays and also has weekend and holiday hours.

Go next
Okayama is a good place to launch day-trips to most of Chugoku and even Shikoku, as it is the regional transportation hub. Within Okayama prefecture you will find:
 * Bizen, known for its vast history of pottery and sword making, you can discover the history and even purchase authentic Bizen pottery.
 * Kurashiki, known for its well-preserved merchant quarters and Japan's oldest art museum, is only 15 minutes away.
 * Tsuyama, known for Kakuzan Park, the best place to view cherry blossoms in Okayama Prefecture, as well as for its historic Joto street and Shurakuen Garden.
 * Takahashi, known for Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, one of only twelve remaining original castles in Japan and also the highest castle.
 * Soja, known for the famous Hofukuji Temple where the famous priest and poet Sesshu once studied, as well as containing half of the Kibiji District Trail which extends out from Okayama.
 * Niimi, a city famous for Ikura Ravine and Maki Cave.
 * Inujima, another charming art island that is part of Okayama City. In addition to the art, the walkable, nearly car-free village is great to discover what Japan used to be like. Has a nice beach on the south side.
 * Asakuchi, a rural city on the Inland Sea, perfect for the adventurous traveller.

And in neighboring prefectures, but within day-trip distances are:
 * Hiroshima, famous for its okonomiyaki and atomic bomb history, nearby Miyajima also makes an easy daytrip.
 * Matsue, direct trains to the castle town of Matsue and the spiritual city of Izumo allow visitors to appreciate sites along Japan's other famous sea.
 * Takamatsu, known for Ritsurin Park, one of the largest gardens in Japan, as well as the historic Yashima Island where one of the final battles of the Gempei War took place.
 * Marugame, known as the home of Marugame Castle, one of Japan's remaining original castles.
 * Kotohira, home to Shikoku's largest shrine Konpirasan, is one hour away by express train.
 * Naoshima, a small island on Seto Inland Sea with superb contemporary art museums, can be easily reached from Uno port (one hour by JR train).
 * Shodoshima, once part of Okayama, you can go by boat directly from Shin-Okayama Port.
 * Matsuyama, one of Japan's most famous onsen towns.
 * Kochi, a historic city known for its castle, native samurai, cuisine and scenic coastline.
 * Himeji, most famous for Himeji Castle, the striking White Egret Castle, is 50 kilometers to the east along the Sanyo line.

title: Okayama


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Okayama (prefecture)

Okayama Prefecture (岡山県 Okayama-ken) is in the western Chugoku region of the main Japanese island Honshu.

Understand
With more sunny days and fewer rainy days than most other prefectures, Okayama is nicknamed the Land of Sunshine (晴れの国 hare no kuni). When it's raining in the surrounding prefectures, it is not uncommon for Okayama to be merely cloudy or even sunny, which is great news for travelers. The weather has also made Okayama a famous fruit region. Muscat grapes and peony grapes are well-known local fruits. Peaches are also particularly famous. The prefecture has produced a handful of its own varieties of white peaches which are often considered to be the best peaches in the nation. Peaches are also special as Okayama is also known as the place where the Momotaro (Peach boy) folktale originated. Those with an interest in the story can visit many sites associated with it around the capital, and those with an interest in the fruits should seek out one of the many fruit parfait restaurants and cafes.

Okayama Prefecture was formed from the combination of three former provinces; Bizen, Bitchu, and Mimasaka. Bizen Province has been known throughout history for its high-quality swords. Bizen swords are still made in Setouchi where visitors can learn about, purchase, and even witness the swordsmaking process. It's also the home of Bizen Pottery. The modern city of Bizen is one of Japan's "six kilns", the six most famous and treasured pottery towns in the country. It was among the wealthiest provinces where most of the modern capital was built up around by the daimyo of Okayama Castle. The Bitchu Region makes up the western area of the prefecture and was historically considered to be part of an entirely different region than the other two provinces. Bitchu Matsuyama Castle from which the province was once ruled still exists as one of Japan's few remaining original castles. During the Edo Period, the city of Kurashiki emerged as the province's commercial center. The Bikan Area contains many of the old merchant buildings to this day. It's among the largest in the country. The Mimasaka Region, located in the north, is renowned for its nature and hot springs. Many of the area's historic sites are connected to the old Izumo Pilgrimage Route which cuts through the region. Musashi Miyamoto, the reputedly undefeated samurai master, is said to be from Mimasaka. Half of his remains are also buried here.

Tourist Information Site
Explore Okayama is the prefecture's official multilingual guide site.

Cities

 * — The prefectural capital, known for its gardens, fruit, and folklore.
 * — Home to one of Japan's National Astronomical Observatories. A beautiful place to check out the Inland Sea, along with Hinase in Bizen and nearby Kasaoka.
 * — Pottery town designated as one of Japan's Six Kilns.
 * — A small port town known for its ramen and the rural, visitor-friendly.
 * — Old merchant town with a well-preserved historical quarter.
 * — Birth city of the famous samurai Musashi Miyamoto
 * — A great place for nature-lovers, Niimi has two famous caves that visitors can enjoy.
 * — Birthplace of the poet-priest Sesshu.
 * — Home of Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, the only original mountain castle in the nation.
 * — A former castle town known as one of the best cherry blossom spots in West Japan.
 * — Birthplace of the poet-priest Sesshu.
 * — Home of Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, the only original mountain castle in the nation.
 * — A former castle town known as one of the best cherry blossom spots in West Japan.
 * — A former castle town known as one of the best cherry blossom spots in West Japan.

Other destinations

 * — Small town in central Okayama with the peaceful atmosphere typical of the Japanese countryside.
 * — A small northern town with a world-class modern art museum.

Talk
Most people of Okayama speak standard Japanese. There is an Okayama Dialect, but it is weaker than the Kansai or Aomori Dialects.

By train
Okayama is a major train hub in Western Japan. All trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line stop at Okayama Station. Kodama trains also stop at Shin-Kurashiki Station in Kurashiki. Anyone traveling by train from Shikoku must travel through Okayama from Sakaide on the Marine Liner.

By car
The Chugoku Expressway passes through Tsuyama and Niimi in the north, and the Sanyo Expressway travels through the southern portion through the Bizen area (including Okayama City) and southern Bitchu area. The Chugoku Expressway begins in Nishinomiya and the Sanyo Expressway branches off from it in northern Kobe. Both terminate in Shimonoseki in the west.

By train
Okayama Station is connected to nearly every part of the prefecture. The Tsuyama Line connects it to the northern Mimasaka Region, the Hakubi Line goes up to the northern parts of the Bitchu Region and the Sanyo Line serves the rest of the Bitchu area, as well as the Bizen area. Nearly every station in the prefecture can be reached either directly or with one transfer from Okayama Station. A vast majority of the prefecture's sites are accessible by train.

By bus
Many places in the prefecture that are not located near train stations can still be accessed by bus. Buses can be used to reach all three of the famous Mimasaka onsen. There are also buses to other famous areas, including the Hiruzen Highlands, Hattoji, and the historic village of Fukiya.

By bike
In spite of the implications of its name, which translates to mean "Hilly Mountains" or "Hills and Mountains", Okayama Prefecture has some great and very flat cycling options. The Kibi Plains are particularly well-known, connecting the northwestern part of Okayama City to Soja. The Katatetsu Roman Kaido is a cycling trail that goes from Bizen, through Wake and parts of Akaiwa, before ending in the northern town of Misaki. Most people just spend a day on these trails using rental bikes, but they are viable travel options for those who have their own bikes.

By car
While most travelers should be able to get by using public transportation, as always, having a car gives you the most options and allows you to cover more ground in a day. Car rentals are available in many cities, such as Okayama, Kurashiki, Tsuyama, and Takahashi.

It's best to avoid the Sanyo Highway on weekdays when people are heading home from work. Traffic jams are frequent.

See

 * Take a stroll through Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's top three gardens (Okayama)
 * See the majestic Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, Japan's highest castle and only original mountaintop castle (Takahashi)
 * Browse the shops and museums in the beautiful Bikan Historic District, one of the largest and best preserved historic districts in the nation (Kurashiki)
 * Tour the Shizutani School, the first school in Japan to be open to all citizens regardless of rank or class (Bizen)
 * Marvel at the world-class modern art museum, NAGI MoCA in Nagi or the art island of Inujima in the Seto Inland Sea.
 * See how the famous Bizen swords, once among the best in the nation, are made at the Bizen Osafune Museum (Setouchi)
 * Walk along Joto Street, the old Izumo Pilgrimage Route (Tsuyama)
 * Visit the Yumeji Seika, the childhood home of artist Yumeji Takehisa in Setouchi and the Yumeji Art Museum in Okayama
 * Wander the grounds of Saijo Inari, considered to be one of Japan's three great Inari shrines (Okayama)
 * Visit Iyama Hofukuji Temple where the famous poet and priest Sesshu once studied (Soja)
 * View the large collection of famous European artwork at the Ohara Museum of Art (Kurashiki)
 * Explore the beautiful Ikura Ravine and Maki Cave (Niimi)
 * Walk among the mysterious rock formations on Ojigatake Hill (Tamano)
 * Enjoy the unique burnt orange buildings in Fukiya's historic district (Takahashi)
 * Relax on Washuzan Hill and enjoy views of the Seto Inland Sea and Seto Ohashi Bridge (Kurashiki)
 * Visit one of only five National Astronomical Observatories in the nation (Asakuchi)

Do

 * View the thousands of cherry blossoms as you stroll among the ruins of Tsuyama Castle (Tsuyama)
 * Learn about the History of Okayama Prefecture and the story that inspired the tale of Momotaro as you bike (or hike) along the Kibiji District Trail (Okayama, Soja)
 * Make your own Bizen pottery (Bizen)
 * Partake in the festivities celebrating Momotaro at the Momotaro Festival (Okayama)
 * Enjoy swimming in the Glass House or sports outside in Green Hills Tsuyama (Tsuyama)

Hot Springs
The most famous hot springs in the prefecture are Yubara Hot Springs (Maniwa), Yunogo Hot Springs (Mimasaka), and Okutsu Hot Spring (Kagamino), all located in the northern part of the prefecture. Each of these make great getaway destinations to relax and rejuvenate.

If these are too far out of the way, you can also try Niimi Chiya Hot Springs in Niimi or Asagiri Onsen in Takahashi. The Seto Ohashi Spa Resort in Kurashiki also offers a variety of baths and ways to relax. The first onsen established in Yakage in 2015, the Yakageya has become a popular respite for locals and travelers alike.

Eat

 * Okayama's Muscat grapes and peaches are the tastiest in the nation.
 * Indulge in the award-winning Hiruzen Yakisoba in Maniwa.
 * Kibi Dango is a famous treat that originated in Okayama and is enjoyed by Momotaro in the famous Peach Boy folktale.
 * Try the pork of Okayama black pig, raised and bred in Nagi.
 * Taste Bizen's Bizen Curry, a more spicy variety than the typical Japanese curry.
 * Tsuyama Manju and Tsuyama Senbei are sweet snacks from Tsuyama.

Drink
As you might expect from a grape-growing region, Okayama is famous for wine (at least in Japan). The Sapporo Okayama Winery in Akaiwa is a popular place to sample and purchase local wines. There is a Kirin Beer Factory in Okayama, as well, which can be toured.

Sleep
For hotels, Okayama has an abundance of choices, with options for all budgets. Kurashiki also has many options. For most tourists in the southern part of the prefecture staying in one of these two cities will be most convenient, although there are accommodations available in most of the other cities, as well. In the northern region, Tsuyama has the most options. There are also hotels and ryokans in each of the famous onsen areas for those who want to relax in a more traditional setting.

Go next

 * Shikoku Okayama is the main point of access to Shikoku from Honshu via the Seto Ohashi Bridge and the Marine Liner. Kagawa Prefecture features the breathtaking Ritsurin Garden and the historic Yashima Island, where the Battle of Yashima took place during the Gempei Wars in the city of Takamatsu. Throughout the island of Shikoku are the famous temples of the 88 Temple Pilgrimage. In Marugame lies one of Japan's original castles, Marugame Castle. From Kagawa Prefecture, you can travel onward to Kochi Prefecture, Ehime Prefecture, or Tokushima Prefecture.
 * Hyogo Prefecture located to the east, is home to Himeji, a city most famous for its well-preserved white castle. Further travel will take you to Kobe, a harbor city.
 * Tottori Prefecture to the north is most famous for its natural sites, including the Tottori Sand Dunes, the only dunes in Japan, located in Tottori City. In the eastern region lies Daisen, home to Mount Daisen, a popular place for climbing, hiking, and skiing (in the winter). Daisen-ji Temple is also located on this mountain. The Mitokusan Nageiredo is a mysterious temple built on a cliff in Misasa in which to this day nobody knows how it was built.
 * Hiroshima Prefecture lies to the west of Okayama Prefecture. The nearest city is Fukuyama, featuring a variety of art and historical museums, as well as Fukuyama Castle. The most famous sites in this prefecture are Genbaku Dome in Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Memorial Museum in the city of Hiroshima and Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island. Onomichi is another interesting destination with its own 88 Temples of Innoshima, inspired by the famous 88 Temple Pilgrimage of Shikoku. It also has many places to view flowers and the Innoshima Suigun Castle.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Okayama (prefecture)


text:
Okazaki

Okazaki (岡崎) is midway between Nagoya and Toyohashi, in the center of Aichi prefecture. It has a long history, but is best known for being the birthplace of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Okazaki Castle is the focus of the city, which was an important Tokaido post town and river port.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated machine translation.

Get in
Okazaki has two primary train stations:

 * JR Okazaki station, on the Tokaido Main Line, is in the southern part of the city. The station is close to the Yamasa Institute, and the Aichi Kanjo line for Toyota can be accessed here.
 * Higashi-Okazaki, on the private Meitetsu Line, is in the central part of the city. This station is convenient for the main tourist sites, such as Okazaki Castle, Rokusho Jinja, Iga Hachimangu, and Daijuji temple. It also connects to the Chubu Centrair International Airport (65 min, ¥1,210).
 * Naka-Okazaki station, on the Aichi Loop Line, is an alternative for Okazaki Castle and the adjacent Ieyasu Museum, which are in Okazaki Park. Take the Tokaido Main Line train from Nagoya to Okazaki (detailed below), then change to the Aichi Loop Line to Naka-Okazaki, two stations and four minutes away (¥220). Okazaki Castle is an easy 10-minute walk from the station.

From Tokyo, the easiest method of reaching Okazaki by train is to take a shinkansen train to the transit hub in Nagoya, then backtrack over to Okazaki. It takes approximately 2½ to 3 hours to reach Okazaki; the approximate one-way cost is ¥11000.

Tokaido Main Line trains reach Okazaki from Nagoya in 30 minutes (¥ 600), and from Toyohashi in 20 minutes, (¥570) by shin-kaisoku train. Meitetsu trains reach Higashi-Okazaki from Nagoya in 40 minutes (¥650), and from Toyohashi in 25 minutes (¥540) by kyuko train. Faster Meitetsu "Myu" trains shorten the run with an added surcharge.

All of the above can be used with the Japan Rail Pass, except the Meitetsu and Aichi Loop Line trains.

Get around
There is an extensive bus network (Meitetsu and JR buses) that is difficult to use unless you can speak and read some Japanese. The central and southern parts of the city are fairly flat, and pretty ideal for exploring by bicycle.

See

 * Takisan Temple (滝山寺), built in the 7th century, and the adjoining Takisan Toshogu shrine (considered to be one of the top 3 Toshogu shrines in Japan, together with Nikko and Kunozan).
 * The hatchō miso grounds, situated west of Okazaki Castle near the Yahagi river. The old tile-roofed buildings are heritage listed and one company (Kaku) has been a family business for 18 generations. Tours are available every 30 minutes and free samples are provided.
 * The hatchō miso grounds, situated west of Okazaki Castle near the Yahagi river. The old tile-roofed buildings are heritage listed and one company (Kaku) has been a family business for 18 generations. Tours are available every 30 minutes and free samples are provided.

Do
Okazaki has a wide variety of festivals that shouldn't be missed, including:

 * The large fireworks festival, which people from all over Japan come to see, that is held annually on the first Saturday in August in the area surrounding Okazaki Castle.
 * The fire festival held in the main hall of Takisan Temple each February on the closest Saturday to the lunar calendar New Year.

Buy
Hatchō miso (八丁味噌), a dark red fermented soybean paste favored by, among others, the Meiji Emperor, originates from Okazaki and is the most famous local delicacy.

Eat
There are many places to eat in Okazaki, such as:

 * Kitsutsuki (啄木鳥), which translates to "woodpecker" in English, a small, quiet and fairly cheap coffee shop located right next to the Yamasa Institute. Their "curry and rice" (ライスカレー Raisu karee) is excellent. Unfortunately, the menu is in Japanese and the staff don't speak English.
 * Beverly Hills (ビバリー・ヒルズ), a coffee lounge (喫茶店 Kissaten) with a serene atmosphere. It can be found by walking north from the Yamasa Institute, past the highway, if you look carefully for the sign. It's a bit expensive, but the food is delicious. There are also a large variety of cakes, cookies and other sweets available gift-wrapped, which make excellent presents. The menu is in Japanese and the staff don't speak English.
 * Peppers, a tex-mex restaurant near Higashi Okazaki that offers a good mix of tacos, quesadillas, and wraps. It's fairly inexpensive, but the menu is in Japanese and the staff don't speak English.
 * Peppers, a tex-mex restaurant near Higashi Okazaki that offers a good mix of tacos, quesadillas, and wraps. It's fairly inexpensive, but the menu is in Japanese and the staff don't speak English.

Sleep

 * Okazaki New Grand Hotel - Close to the castle and is the most comfortable hotel in the city. The facilities are about 3-star standard (the city doesn't have a luxury hotel). Rooms start from about ¥8100 per night (single).
 * Okazaki Dai-ichi Hotel - A popular business hotel next to the Sugo river near the castle and about five minutes walk from Higashi Okazaki station. There are several good restaurants and bars nearby. Starting from ¥5500/single.
 * There are several other business hotels near the castle starting from ¥5500 per night (single).

Go next

 * Toyokawa
 * Shinshiro
 * Toyohashi
 * Tahara
 * Toyota
 * Anjo
 * Gamagori
 * Nishio
 * Nagoya - The bright lights of Aichi's main city are only a short express train ride away.

title: Okazaki


text:
Okeechobee

Okeechobee is a city in the Florida Heartland. It is the county seat for Okeechobee County.

By train

 * Amtrak offers daily train service on the Silver Star and Silver Meteor routes.

By plane
Okeechobee County Airport is a small local airport that has flights arrive daily from nearby airports and private planes.

By car
Okeechobee is a regional crossroad of major highways: US-441, US-98, US-70, and US-710.

By car
The best way to see Okeechobee is from a vehicle. There is an Enterprise Rental Center in the city that provides several rental vehicles.

By taxi
There is a few taxi services in the county, however Okeechobee is small and taxis are typically only available on call.

By bus
There are no bus routes.

See
Agriculture is Okeechobee's main commodity and heritage. There are several local rodeos and two large PRCA-rated rodeos a year. Okeechobee is one of the largest producers of cattle in the state of Florida, with a history in "cracker cowboying."

Do
Despite Okeechobee being a small town, there are many fun activities; one of them is the Seminole Casino at the nearby Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation.

Go next

 * Southeast to Indiantown
 * East to Florida's Treasure Coast

title: Okeechobee


text:
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is in the state of Georgia in the United States. The refuge is on UNESCO's tentative list.

Understand
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge, featuring a large area of swampland and coastal forests. The park attracts large amounts of people from all over the country. With many visitors, the park is very well travelled and often mistaken for a national park. More than 400,000 visitors visit the park each year.

History
The park was founded in 1936 in order to preserve the swamp that it sits on. Most of the land is bog and swamp like in nature. Before it was established as a park the land was used for logging operations by a now defunct company.

Landscape
Swamps, bogs, islands and Pine Forest make up the brunt of the park. The park covers a total of 402,000 acres (1,627 km²) of land with some 30,000 more acres outside park limits.

Flora and fauna
The Okefenokee Swamp is home to many wading birds, such as herons, egrets, ibises, cranes and bitterns, though populations fluctuate with water levels. Okefenokee is famous for its amphibians and reptiles such as toads, frogs, turtles, lizards, snakes as well as the abundance of American alligators and it is a critical habitat for Florida black bear.

Climate
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge can be considered to be in a semi-tropical climate zone. While temperatures during the Summer are generally humid and hot, winter temperatures are normally around 11.6°C (52.9°F). The park often sees some wildfires during the dry season, and in 2007 experienced one of its worst fires of all time. Tropical cyclones also impact the swamp and park quite often.

By car
The park's Main Entrances are on US1 in Ware county, and US1 in Charlton county.

Fees and permits
The park charges an entrance fee at each of its main entrance gates.
 * One Day Pass - $5
 * One Year Pass - $12
 * Various other passes for tour groups or seniors exist, so ask a ranger about these rates.

Get around
Before taking a canoeing trip please read Wilderness backpacking

Canoeing is one of the most common modes of transport through the park. Motor boats can also be used as a means of transport in the many wilderness areas of the park. Cars and bicycles are allowed in some areas of the park.

See

 * The Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center is a must see for any trip to the park. It can be easily reached through the Eastern Park Entrance.
 * Chesser Island features a 1927 homestead made from yellow pine. You can explore the homestead, and the rest of this historic and natural area.
 * Swamp Island Drive, a scenic route meant to be uses as a bike or automobile route. Along the drive are areas to stop off for hiking, wildlife viewing and other areas of natural beauty.
 * Stephen C Foster State Park, a small state park within park boundaries.

Do
There are plenty of great activities at the park for anyone from the casual tourist to the seasoned hunter.

Hiking
Hiking Trails into the Okefenokee offer hikes through upland pine forests and across unique wetlands. Opportunities to view deer, squirrels, gopher tortoises, box turtles, snakes, and a wide variety of birds. Pets are permitted on trails, however they must be restrained on a 10-foot or shorter leash.

Fishing
The Okefenokee is home to 39 species of unique fish. The fisher can expect to hook a few of the most common species in the swamp.

Hunting
Deer and feral hog can be hunted in fall and winter. Turkey is fair game in spring. Also a number small game, like quail, rabbits and squirrel can be hunted. Make sure your hunting licenses are good for use in the park and surrounding area.

Buy
There is a gift shop at each of the entrances.

Eat and drink
Each entrance has a small restaurant with typical quick menu options, as well as having some package items like chips and drinks available for purchase.

Sleep
Lodging is available in all major nearby towns. Resorts, hotels and camping can be easily found.

Lodging

 * Hampton Inn The Hampton Inn Kingsland is located about 20 miles from the park off of I-95. A large outdoor pool is on the property, and deluxe breakfast is provided for free.

Camping
Regular camping sites can be found within Stephen C. Foster State Park, a state park within the NWR's borders. 66 mixed-use campsites can be reserved at this park, and offer a great base to begin exploring the swamp.

Backcountry
Backcountry camping is allowed in the form of canoe trips offered by the park. Trips differ by experience, and are only held when water levels are safe.

Stay safe
Alligators are common and dangerous. Do not get close to an alligator. Follow proper park guidelines to avoid harmful situations involving park wildlife. Due to the size of the park it is easy to get lost in. Much of the land set aside is Wilderness area meaning no human development can take place there. If you do get lost, remain calm and get to dry land as soon as possible.

Go next

 * Visit historic Savannah.
 * Visit the Floridian city of Jacksonville
 * Saint Simons Island

title: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge


text:
Okemah

Okemah is a town in the Frontier Country region of Oklahoma and the birthplace of "This Land Is Your Land" renowned singer Woody Guthrie.

title: Okemah


text:
Okha

Okha (Russian: Оха́, ah-KHAH) is a city and important oil hub on the northern tip of Sakhalin island in the Russian Far East. Ancestors of the 23,000 people living here named the town Okha, with their usual pragmatism: it derived from an indigenous word for bad water, to which the town owes its existence. Oil was discovered here in the late 19th century, and today it's the center of the island's oil industry.

Get in
Although many maps show a rail line connecting Okha and Nogilki, the tracks have since been removed. Transportation from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is either done by air or in a combination of train and bus. Train #1 running once per day between Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Nogliki, often has a 6-wheel-drive bus (line 530) waiting to take passengers the last 250 km up a muddy dirt road to Okha: it's supposed to depart at 10:30, leaving you 17 minutes to make your transfer.

Okha Airport sees a SAT Airlines Antonov AN-24 propeller aircraft landing 3 times per week from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, when weather permits. SAT also has a route to Khabarovsk on Tuesdays and Thursdays from mid-June to mid-September.

Get around
For anywhere you are likely to go in Okha, walking should be sufficient. Busses 129 (for Tungor south of Okha) and 149 run to and from the airport about every hour between 07:00 and 19:00. Bus 180 bound for the harbour of Moskal'vo makes a stop in Nekrasovska (check see section below) 3-4 times per week (M W F Sa), departing Okha at 06:20 and arriving at 07:30.

See
Described by most passing business folks and oil people as utterly depressing, add the whole 'end of the road' situation, and your equation should end up along the lines of a town you would only visit while on business. If you insist, try to get here before the snow melts, it adds a certain charm to the place.

Do
If you're not here to board a helicopter or supply ship to one of the oil and gas platforms further north, you took a wrong turn somewhere! Unless this mishap has taken place in January or June when the indigenous tribes have their main annual festivals, retrace your steps, and return down south — or shoulder your Arctic gear, sleeping bag, tent, and rifle and go explore the wilderness.

Go next
You've reached the end of the road: convince someone in the oil business to hire you to go further north, or turn around and head south.

title: Okha


text:
Okhotsk

Okhotsk (Russian: Ох'отск, o-HO-tsk) is a village in the Russian Far East centered around silver mining and fishing. The village has a population of approximately 4,500 people. It was the first settlement in the Russian Far East.

Get in
There is no road leading to Okhotsk.

Do
Fishing and hunting tours are organized in the summer in Khabarovsk and cost about $2000 for two weeks.

Buy
Marekanit is a natural glass stone that is usually black with white spots and is created as a result of fast cooling magma. The only place on earth it can be found is in Okhotsk mines.

Go next
After you visit this wonderful city, you can visit Vladivostok or Nakhodka.

title: Okhotsk


text:
Okinawa

Okinawa Prefecture (Japanese: 沖縄 Okinawa, Okinawan: 沖縄 Uchinaa) is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan, an island chain to the southwest of the Home Islands.

Destinations

 * - the lesser-known half of scuba diving haven Miyako
 * - large island full of untamed jungle
 * - the laid-back gateway and transport hub of the southern Yaeyama Islands
 * - beautiful island renowned for its awamori liquor
 * - the capital of the Okinawa Prefecture and by far the largest city in the islands
 * - a carefully preserved traditional village and some of the best beaches in Japan
 * - the westernmost island in Japan, with miniature horses and mysterious underwater structures
 * - popular among snorkelers and divers, with several deserted islands nearby

Understand
The name Okinawa means "rope in the open sea", a fairly apt description of this long stretch of islands between the main islands of Japan and Taiwan. Consisting of 49 inhabited islands and 111 uninhabited islands, Okinawa has a subtropical to tropical climate, and is a popular beach holiday destination for Japanese, with frequent flights from all the major cities of Japan. While visitors from nearby countries are increasingly discovering Okinawa's charms, the number still remains low compared to the tourist destinations on mainland Japan.

History

Traders between Japan, Korea and China have traveled through the islands of Okinawa since time immemorial. In 1429, King Shō Hashi unified three kingdoms on the main island into the Ryukyu Kingdom (Japanese: 琉球王国 Ryūkyū Ōkoku, Okinawan: 琉球國 Ruuchuu Kuku), which prospered off trade as a tributary state of Imperial China that was nevertheless de facto independent.

The islands were first invaded and brought under the control of Satsuma (modern-day Kagoshima) in 1609, who allowed them to continue maintaining their tributary relationship with China. This arrangement allowed the Satsuma domain to use them as a conduit for trade with China when the rest of Japan was in self-imposed isolation, to the profit of all three parties. The common people were less happy about the arrangement: Satsuma imposed heavy head taxes, and there are many stories of people committing suicide to prevent their entire village from being punished.

Ryūkyū was annexed outright by Japan during the Meiji Period in 1879, which Qing China was by then powerless to stop, and the Japanese proceeded to do their best to suppress indigenous culture, language and religion. With little time to adjust to their new status as Japanese subjects, the people were nervous about nearby wars and in order to escape and with the encouragement of the government, they unknowingly moved right into soon-to-be war zones, such as Saipan and other Pacific Islands. Those who stayed, however, were no better off. As the tide turned against Japan in World War II, U.S. forces slowly took control of the Pacific until it was clear that Okinawa would become a battlefield; see Pacific War.

The Americans landed on the main island on April 1, 1945, took control of the central part of the island in just three days and then proceeded to take the northern half in a relatively short time. They expected strong resistance but were surprised to find many people willingly surrendering. With most of the island under American control, the U.S. turned its eyes south where the capital Naha was located, and the further south they moved, the stronger the resistance became. For the locals, survival was difficult. The Americans bombed the island relentlessly and burned all vegetation in an attempt to flush out hidden threats. Many people hid in caves (of which there are many) and in the turtleback Ryukyu tombs, but naturally, Japanese military members also used these locations to hide and attack from, so they were targeted by U.S. forces whenever they were discovered. Because Okinawa had not been a prefecture for long, the Japanese military did not fully trust the locals and did not value them as equals. Due to these views in combination with military needs superseding all other needs, the Okinawan people were forced to give up their food to the military, walk out into battlefields to fetch water, go out on suicide missions, or kill themselves. Those who refused military orders were killed. Both military and locals were aware of the hopeless, dire situation. Most people thought about how they wanted to die, as the idea that they could survive didn't seem possible. Many people committed suicide by hugging grenades, drinking cyanide, or throwing themselves off of cliffs. Others chose to die fighting in futile attacks with just stones and hand-made weapons (sometimes coerced or forced by military members hiding with them). Many also died of starvation. Americans burned the entire southern part of the island, denuding it of almost all vegetation, and made their way from cave to cave trying to make sure the area was secure. While many people were taken alive, the brutal battle also meant that the Americans sometimes chose to toss grenades or blowing flamethrowers indiscriminately into the caves rather than risking resistance, killing many innocent people. There are also eyewitness accounts of some civilians being taken out of the caves and torched.

Those who surrendered or were captured by American troops were taken as POWs. Many of the POWs starved to death and many of those who were taken to camps in the north got malaria and died as Okinawa was not malaria-free at that time. By the end of the war, 120,000 Okinawans or one fourth of the island's population were killed. 90,000 of those were civilians, and many so-called military casualties included boys as young as elementary school who were enlisted in desperation.

After the war, the islands continued to be occupied by the United States. Women were forced to work to try and rebuild their communities as the number of males still alive was only about half of what it was pre-war. The local economy relied heavily on the U.S. military but the American presence also prevented progress, as most of the island was off-limits to Okinawans and travel between Okinawa and the mainland was also restricted. This led to strong resentment among the people, and although early independence movements were quelled, over time the discontent and anger was too much for the U.S. to ignore. Nearly thirty years after the war and after many years of protesting and fighting to regain control of their island, occupation finally ended in 1972, and the islands were returned to Japan, but land was still set aside for the U.S. to hold military bases. The U.S. bases still take up 20% of the total island territory, and sporadic protests against the U.S. military presence continue to occur, but repeated polls show that most Okinawans do not object to the presence of the bases.

When the U.S. handed control of the island back to the Okinawans, they were able to develop it. Over time, they've been able to move from an economy reliant on U.S. military spending to an economy whose main source of income is now tourism which continues to grow to this day, although Okinawa remains Japan's poorest prefecture.

Culture

With their own language and customs, Okinawans regard themselves as different from the mainland Japanese and some still harbor a certain degree of resentment towards the mainland for the brutal way the islands were treated as colonies and during World War II. Okinawans proudly call themselves uchinanchu (沖縄人) or "sea people" in the local language and talk of the way things are done on the shima (島) or islands, in contrast to the ways of the mainland, known as hontō (本島) in standard Japanese, yamato (ヤマト) in the local dialect, and sometimes as the slightly derisive local slang naichi (内地). Due to its history as a tributary of Imperial China, Okinawan culture has a stronger Chinese influence than mainland Japanese culture, and continues to celebrate local festivals according to the Chinese calendar.

Okinawa's most famous export worldwide is the martial art of karate. Okinawan culture is popular throughout Japan thanks to popular musicians and local foods. Okinawan music is very attractive and unique because of the mixture of original Okinawan sounds and American rock, jazz, and other sounds from the USA. The distinctive instrument of choice is the sanshin (三線), a three-stringed, banjo-like distant relative of the mainland's shamisen, whose pentatonic melodies are instantly recognizable. The island has produced a disproportionate number of musicians, most famously J-pop singer Namie Amuro, and The Boom's electric-guitar-and-sanshin Shimauta ("Island Song") has been dubbed Okinawa's unofficial national anthem — even though the group actually hails from mainland Yamanashi.

On the roof or at the gate of almost every house you will spot the ubiquitous Okinawan shīsa or guardian lion-dogs, one with its mouth open to catch good fortune, the other with its mouth closed to keep good fortune in.

Climate
Most of Okinawa is subtropical, with the southern extremities (Yaeyama and the outlying islands) fully tropical. Even in January and February, the average high temperature is around 20°C (68°F), making the area a popular winter getaway, although it's often cloudy and usually a little too cold for sunbathing due to the winter monsoon. Spring, around late March and April, is an excellent time to visit if you take care to avoid Golden Week (a succession of national holidays from the end of April), however, it does not get busy at all on the small islands even during Golden Week. The rainy season starts early in May and continues until June. Unlike the rainy season in mainland Japan, it rains neither every day nor all day long during the rainy season in Okinawa. Summer in Okinawa is hot and humid but still one of the peak visiting seasons, while September brings a succession of fierce typhoons. October and November are again good times to visit.

Tourist Information
Visit Okinawa Japan is the official tourist guide site for the prefecture in English.

Talk
All Okinawans speak Standard Japanese, and many understand English as well, particularly on the main island which houses several large U.S. military bases. Many locals also speak Okinawan Japanese (called in Okinawan Japanese ウチナーヤマトグチ, 沖縄大和口 Uchinaa Yamato-guchi, Standard Japanese: 沖縄弁 Okinawa-ben or 沖縄訛り Okinawa namari), a dialect with lots of vocabulary borrowed from the local Okinawan language, some differences in grammar, and a number of words that have different meanings or uses compared to Standard Japanese (e.g. aruku, which means "to walk" in Standard Japanese, means "to go around" or "to work" in Okinawan Japanese).

Some elderly also speak any of at least half a dozen Ryukyuan languages (Japanese: 琉球語 ryūkyūgo; also 島言葉 Shima kotoba, lit. "Island speech"), which are shared (along with much Okinawan culture) with the Amami Islands in Kagoshima prefecture. Although the Japanese commonly brand these as "dialects" (方言 hōgen) of Japanese, they are really separate languages in the Japonic family; they're not mutually intelligible with Standard or Okinawan Japanese, or even with each other. The largest of these languages, Okinawan (Okinawan: 沖縄口 uchinaaguchi, Japanese: 沖縄語 okinawago), is spoken on the main island of Okinawa and the surrounding islands, but is not used much these days. Most people under 40 can't speak it, the most common exceptions being people who were raised by their grandparents and people who grew up in rural areas. Each of Okinawa's major islands has its own Ryukyuan language, such as Miyako, Yaeyama and Yonaguni; some of these endangered languages have tens of thousands of speakers, others just a few hundred.

In the Daito Islands, the obscure Hachijo dialect of Japanese by immigrants from the Hachijo Islands is the native language. The Hachijo-Daito dialects are direct descendants of the Eastern dialect of Old Japanese, while all mainland dialects are descendants of the Western dialect.

By plane
Most visitors arrive in Naha, the capital of Okinawa, which is also well served by low-cost carriers like Skymark and Jetstar. Domestic flights do connect major Japanese cities directly to some other Okinawan islands like Miyako and Ishigaki, but prices can be steep; for example, the standard one-way fare for Tokyo-Ishigaki is a whopping ¥50,000. You can save a considerable amount of money by making use of ANA's Visit Japan or JAL's Welcome to Japan fares, both of which allow domestic flights in Japan for ¥14,040. Low-cost carriers like Peach can also offer good fares if booked in advance.

Naha is also served by some international flights to other Asian cities. If you are coming from elsewhere, consider connecting in Taipei instead, as Naha is geographically closer to Taipei than to Tokyo.

By ship
Ferry services to Okinawa have been cut drastically, with Arimura Sangyo filing for bankruptcy and RKK Line stopping passenger services entirely. With long travel times, bumpy seas, frequent cancellations in the fall typhoon season and prices that aren't any cheaper than flying, it's easy to see why this isn't too popular anymore.

As of 2022, the only survivors are A-Line Ferry, aka Maru-A (マルエー), which runs twice a week from Kagoshima (25 hours, ¥16,000 2nd class one-way) and once a week from both Osaka/Kobe and Tokyo (44 hours, ¥28,000) to Naha, and Marix Line, which runs between Kagoshima and Naha only. All ferries call at various minor islands including Yoron and Amami Oshima along the way. Note that if you don't speak Japanese, you will find it easier to book through a travel agent.

There are no scheduled ferries to Taiwan.

Get around
Ferry and air connections link the islands together, but many of them are simply so small in population that scheduled services may be infrequent and prices vary.

By plane
Flights between the islands are mostly handled by Japan Transocean Air (JTA) and its subsidiary Ryukyu Air Commuter (RAC), both owned by JAL. ANA also has a limited network radiating out from Naha. Prices are generally quite high.

By ferry
There are dense webs of ferry links between nearby islands, but only infrequent cargo boats ply lengthier routes like Naha-Ishigaki. If traveling by boat in late summer, note that the area around Okinawa is known as Typhoon Alley for a reason: it's not uncommon for ferries to be suspended for several days if one comes barrelling through.

By car
Probably more so than anywhere else in Japan, the trainless main island of Okinawa is a car culture, which makes car rental an attractive option for longer stays. Be prepared to drive on the left side of the road and to show your International Drivers License. Military and other SOFA personnel may obtain driving privileges via their own installation procedures.

International Drivers Licenses are not accepted in Japan, if you are from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Slovenia, Monaco or Taiwan. Instead, you need an authorised Japanese translation of your national drivers license. The translation is issued in the JAF Office (Japanese Automobile Foundation) in 1-48-7 Maeda Urasoe-shi. This took approximately one hour in January 2016. The costs for the translation are ¥3,000. Beware of many traffic jams and generally very slow moving traffic, especially in the densely populated southern part of the island. Plan your return trip to the airport accordingly.

By bus
Most islands of interest in Okinawa have at least a rudimentary bus network, although schedules may be sparse and prices fairly high (e.g. over ¥2000 to cross the main island). Times and routes (usually in both English and Japanese) are indicated at each bus stop and at the various bus terminals. Prices outside of Naha are based on distance travelled and are indicated in the front of the bus as it moves from sector to sector this is roughly charged at 1km intervals. Take your ticket as you enter the bus, it will have your starting sector number on it. There is a changer for 1000 yen bills and coins at the front of the bus. Keep your ticket until you leave the bus. You pay the fare on alighting and it might be, that the bus driver wants to see your ticket with the sector number. It is often good to have exact change, and the driver will not exchange very large denominations.

Buses do leave direct from Naha airport to other parts of the island. Prices can be found on the airport website.

See

Most people come to Okinawa for the sun and beaches. Even in midwinter, when many areas of the mainland Japan teeter around the freezing point, temperatures rarely dip below 15°C in Okinawa. For more adventurous types, the vast yet almost uninhabited island of Iriomote is covered in dense jungle.

Cultural attractions are rather more limited, as the Japanese invasion and subsequent brutal colonization coupled with fighting in World War II did a regrettably thorough job of eliminating most traces of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

 * Shuri Castle in Naha on Okinawa Island is the former royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Already rebuilt once after burning down during World War II, the main hall of the castle burned down again in 2019.  Reconstruction is under way, but is not expected to be completed until 2026.
 * Taketomi village, carefully preserved in the southern Yaeyama Islands.
 * Ocean Expo Park: Churaumi Aquarium is a world class aquarium located on the Motobu peninsula. Attractions include one of the world's largest tanks with huge whale sharks and manta rays and a beautiful public facility called Emerald Beach. Ocean park is large. At busy periods there can be a wait at food outlets, you can bring your own food into the venue. There is very little shade from sun or shelter from rain when walking between installations. Later in the day is when large quantities of guided tours arrive. There are no medical facilities on-site. Maps are available at the entrances and there are a combination of free and paid exhibits. The aquatic displays vary, from the exciting and dramatic dolphin show to the large turtles circling in a small concrete pool.
 * Zakimi Castle World Heritage; built 1416–1422, the ruins of this castle and partially restored walls offer a visitor center and views along with a good architectural education in castle design and defence. Please note the nearest bus to this castle is over 1km away on highway 58. A small number of free car parks area available. Next to the castle is a local cafe selling ices in the summer at good value. A new museum for its history and architecture opened in 2018.

Historical sites related to World War II can be found throughout the islands, especially the main island of Okinawa, including the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, the navy's former underground headquarters and the Himeyuri Monument.

Do
Okinawa is the best place in Japan for all sorts of watersports.

Snorkeling and diving
The Okinawa archipelago is one of the world's best diving destinations, with the count of marine species on par with the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. You can find over 400 types of corals, 5 types of sea turtles, manta rays, whale sharks, hammerhead sharks and many kinds of tropical fish. The main downside is that's quite expensive compared to, say, South-East Asia — a whole day's diving off a boat (2-3 dives including insurance and lunch) costs between ¥12,000 and ¥17,000, depending on the season and island, plus an additional cost between ¥3,000 and ¥5,000 if you need gear rental. For a 3-day certification course you will need to pay between ¥30,000 and ¥60,000, depending on the season and number of participants. Fortunately, a lot of the diving on Okinawa can be done from the shore (no boat needed), in which case you can get full gear rental and tanks for around ¥5,000, or if you just need tanks (and can guide yourself) then it will only be around ¥500 per tank. To top it off many shops do not accept credit cards, so you will need to carry a thick wad of yen to pay for it all. The language barrier can also be an issue, with most shops only set up to cater to Japanese-speaking tourists, although Piranha Divers Okinawa, Reef Encounters in Chatan or Bluefield in Kadena on Okinawa Island, and Umicōza on Ishigaki are welcome exceptions.

If all this does not put you off, there is some world-class diving to look forward to: particular highlights include the gorgeous reefs surrounding the Kerama Islands, the manta rays of Miyako and Ishigaki and the hammerhead sharks and underwater ruins of Yonaguni. The waters are generally divable all year, although water temperature fluctuates between 22°C in the winter to around 29°C in summer. Also, beware of the typhoons during June–November and the north wind that may frequently close diving sites in the north shores of many of the islands during November and December. Many people dive in boardshorts and rashguards half the year. Most Japanese divers wear a 5mm full-body wetsuit, and dive shops usually provide aluminum tanks with American-style fittings.

Sailing
Sailing is gaining in popularity in Okinawa. There is a small but passionate international sailing community centered at Ginowan Marina, near the Convention Center. Local and international sailors cruise and race to the Kerama islands and to other locations. Sailing cruises and classes are also conducted out of Ginowan Marina.

Surfing
Surfing is popular in Okinawa, but it's not particularly easy: waves break over very shallow shelves of reef and/or basaltic rock, resulting in challenging waves. Surfing spots can be found all over the archipelago, but most surfers surf off the main island. Check out Mensore Surfing for weather forecasts and up-to-date info.

Fishing

Okinawa has some of the best offshore fishing in the world. Some fish are seasonal, but there are fish for every season of the year. Marlin, mahi mahi, and various species of tuna are some of the fish that are teeming in Okinawa's crystal clear seas. There are many places where you can find a boat to go fishing, but as with diving, language can be a major issue. Some charter services provide fishing tackle, and others require you to rent fishing gear.

The cost for offshore fishing in Okinawa is comparable to other charter services around the world. Usually about US$100 per person for walk on charters, and up to US$1,500 for private charters.

Shopping
Larger malls will apply the duty-free shopping. Spend a minimum of ¥5,000 (before tax) for 8/10% tax off. Applies only to certain products so best ask for the list. At AEON Chatan after your shopping spree, pop across the open car park to the free hot-spring spa, a small hot stream in which you can dip your toes.

Eat
Okinawan cuisine is distinctly different from that of mainland Japan. Unlike the simplicity of classical Japanese food, which tries to highlight individual ingredients, Okinawan cuisine mixes lots of ingredients in a single dish to create complex, balanced flavors. Indeed, Okinawa's most famous dish is chanpurū (from the Malay word campur, meaning "mix"), a stir-fry of multiple vegetables and meats. Thanks to Chinese influence, Okinawans too proudly proclaim that they use every part of the pig except the squeal, and pork (あぐー agū) makes an appearance in almost every dish, including bits like ears, trotters (テビチー tebichi) and blood which are generally disdained by mainland Japanese. Goat (ヤギ yagi) is not uncommon and even Spam has a distinct following.

Other Okinawan ingredients include vegetables rarely seen on the Japanese mainland such as bitter melon (ゴーヤー gōyā) and purple yam (紅芋 beni-imo or 紫芋 murasaki-imo). Local seaweeds like the gloopy mozuku (モズク), often served in vinegar or deep-fried as tempura, or fluffy green āsa (アーサ), hiding in soups, often get credit for Okinawans' life expectancy, the longest in the world. While Okinawan dishes rarely contain chilies, there's often a bottle of kōrēgusu (コーレーグス), chilies steeped in awamori rice liquor (see Drink), on the table so you can spice things up according to taste — a little goes a long way.

Okinawan tropical fruits including mango, papaya, pineapple, dragonfruit and the sour lime-like calamansi (シークァーサー shīkwāsā) are delicious when in season. Dark cane sugar (黒砂糖 kurozatō) is also a popular snack, eaten both as is and made into a vast variety of candies and pastries.

Aficionados of American fast food may find Okinawa to be a curious treat, as many American restaurants popped up here to serve the US military long before they made it to the mainland. Most prominent is the presence of A&W outlets serving hamburgers and root beer (with free refills, even), available practically nowhere else in Japan. Blue Seal ice cream is common, with their purple yam soft ice creams worth a lick. Several hybrid Okinawan-American dishes, most of which seem to employ copious quantities of Spam, are widely available:

 * Nuuyaru burger (ぬーやるバーガー), a specialty of local fast food chain Jef, is gōyā chanpurū, cheese and a slice of Spam in a bun. Appropriately enough, the name is an Okinawan pun that translates roughly as "What on earth is this?".
 * Pork eggs (ポーク玉子 pōku tamago) consists of fried slices of Spam served with ketchup, scrambled eggs and — since this is Japan, after all — rice and miso soup. Also available in onigiri rice ball form.
 * Taco rice (タコライス tako raisu) is spiced Mexican-style taco meat with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, but instead of being in a tortilla, it's on rice.

Drink

The local brew of choice is awamori (泡盛), a notoriously strong rice liquor that can contain up to 60% alcohol, although 30-40% is more common. Unlike Japanese shochu, which is usually prepared from potatoes or barley, awamori is brewed using imported Thai jasmine rice since during the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom, short-grain rice could not be brought in from the main islands. It's most commonly drunk on the rocks or neat.

Awamori keeps well, and when stored more than three years is known as kūsu (古酒, also read koshu in standard Japanese). If the label indicates a specific age, it's 100% at least that old; however, kūsu without a given age is usually a blend of 50% 3-year-old and 50% new awamori.

If awamori is a bit too strong for your taste, try awamori umeshu (泡盛梅酒), a delectable sweet liquor made by infusing Japanese ume plums in awamori and cane sugar. Calamansi (shīkwāsā) and coffee-flavored versions of awamori are also available.

Okinawa's local beer Orion (オリオン, pronounced "Oree-on") is a safer alternative, at least in small quantities. Most larger islands also have their own microbreweries.

Jasmine tea (さんぴん茶 sanpincha) is very popular on Okinawa. Tropical fruit juices are also widely available.

Nightlife
Naha has the busy nightlife scene you'd expect of a large city, livened up by the presence of many GIs from the military bases. Kadena and Chatan, near Kadena Air Base, also have many bars catering to the military with frequent live music performances.

Okinawa has many live houses in Naha city and Okinawa city, with styles ranging from Okinawan traditional folk music to American rock, jazz and other sounds from the USA. The charge depends on the artist but it's usually about ¥1000-3500, plus one drink. Check the time, the artist, and the price before you go.

There is some gay nightlife in Naha.

Sleep
Broadly speaking, accommodation on Okinawa can be divided into two brackets: cheap basic lodges, and expensive fancy resorts. Another option is sleeping in campsites.

Budget
Okinawa has a multitude of cheap minshuku-type lodges geared towards poor surfers and divers, and unlike the mainland many offer or even specialize in bed-only (素泊まり sudomari) stays with no meals included. The very cheapest dorm-type places can go for less than ¥2,000, although you'll usually be looking at a minimum of ¥3,000 for your own room and around ¥5,000 if you want two meals. Watch out for hidden charges for things like air-con, fridge rental or even using the shower.

In Naha you can easily find dirt-cheap places starting from ¥1,000 per night.

Camping
There are many campsites around Okinawa, some on nice beaches. They offer cheap accommodation if you have your own tent and sleeping bag (and mat) for ¥500-1,000/night. Their facilities are sometimes very poor, they have only cold shower for example (and they even charge you for using it!) and no cooking/cleaning facilities. However they often rent out BBQ sets (¥2,000-3,000) which can make the night unforgettable.

Mid-range
B&B-type pensions are the most common midrange option, although there are some city hotels also. Figure on around ¥10,000/person with two meals.

Splurge
The other end of the spectrum is Okinawa's host of resorts, usually located on a private beach in some remote corner of the island — which means you'll be stuck eating at the resort's expensive restaurant and using their expensive watersports services. Rack rates for these places tend to be ludicrous (¥20,000+/head/night), but you can usually get steep discounts by buying flight and hotel packages, especially in the low season.

Stay safe
Okinawa is as safe as mainland Japan or more so. On the smaller islands it's not uncommon to leave front doors not merely unlocked, but open all day.

Stay healthy
The number one health risk on Okinawa is sunburn, and it doesn't take long at all to get fried to a crisp when it's sunny outside. Slap on plenty of lotion.

Okinawa is also home to Japan's most fearsome array of venomous critters. While the venomous habu (ハブ) snake gets a lot of bad press, mostly due to its unfortunate habit of entering homes in search of rats and mice; not only are you quite unlikely to encounter one outside a sake bottle in a souvenir shop, but bites have a fatality rate of "only" 3%. Jellyfish (クラゲ kurage) and a variety of marine creatures that sting if stepped on present a risk, and many beaches have posters in Japanese (and occasionally English) explaining what to watch out for.

Go next

 * The Amami Islands to the north are politically a part of Kyushu, but culturally closer to Okinawa.
 * Taiwan is just to the south of Okinawa, and you can see it from Yonaguni on a good day.

title: Okinawa


text:
Okinawa Island

Okinawa Island (沖縄本島 Okinawa-hontō) is the largest and most populated island of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan.

Regions
Okinawa Island is conventionally divided into three regions, each of which used to be an independent kingdom before they were unified in 1429 by king Shō Hashi.

Understand
Okinawa Island is by far the largest and most populated of Okinawa's islands, with over 90% of the population. For better or worse, the island is what people think of when they think of Okinawa: beaches and snorkeling, large resort hotels, US military bases and WW2 battle sites.

Around a quarter of Okinawa Island's land area — including much of the best arable land — is occupied by US military bases, and there are almost 80,000 US military personnel, support staff and their families on the island. Many Okinawans are unhappy that their small island with less than 1% of Japan's land area has to host them all, but decades-long negotiations to reduce or at least relocate the base footprint have made only fitful progress.

Talk
All Okinawans speak Japanese but many, especially older citizens, also speak Okinawan. Many mainland Japanese regard Okinawan to be a dialect of Japanese, but it is a separate language, part of the Ryukyuan branch of the Japonic language family, making it distinct from but related to Japanese.

The heavy US military presence means that English is better catered for than usual on the island: for example, virtually all restaurants in touristy areas will have English menus.

Get in
Naha International Airport is the primary way to get into Okinawa Island, and is only 2 km from downtown Naha. See the main Okinawa article for details and the Naha article for local transport.

The increasingly few remaining ferries from mainland Japan stop at Naha and Motobu. See Okinawa for details.

Get around
Unusually for Japan, Okinawa does not have any train lines, except for a monorail in Naha that runs from the airport to the city centre, Shuri Castle and some stations beyond. If you're planning to travel outside Naha, a rental car will come in very handy.

If you have a Suica/Pasmo-compatible smart card from any of Japan's major cities, you can use it to pay for public transport in Okinawa as well. Oddly, this works one way only: OKICA cards bought in Okinawa cannot be used anywhere else.

By car

The main road is Route 58, which runs for 120 km along the East China Sea coast north-south from Naha to the northernmost tip of the island. During the summer months, the volume of rental cars can make traffic very heavy on Route 58. The Okinawa Expressway (沖縄自動車道), marked green on signs and confusingly labeled E58 on maps, offers a separate, parallel route for 57 km between Naha and Nago, but charges ¥1020 for the privilege.

While distances seem short on a map, low speed limits (typically 40-60 km/h) and congestion particularly on the southern half of the island mean that travel times can be longer than you'd expect. When the road does open up, many people drive well over the speed limit. As usual in Japan, while there are no penalties for exceeding the limit by up to 10 km/h, above that line hefty fines apply and going more than 30 km/h over the limit means instant suspension. There is zero tolerance for drunk driving: any alcohol at all in your system is sufficient to be charged with "driving under the influence".

By bus
Okinawa Bus operates buses throughout the island, including "limousine" services direct from the airport to all larger towns. The focal point for most services is Naha Bus Terminal (那覇バスターミナル) in central Naha. Schedules tend to be sparse: particularly further away from Naha, it's not unusual to have to wait for 2 hours between services.

By bicycle
Cycling around Okinawa island is possible but not very practical. The island is very densely populated and car traffic is heavy almost everywhere. In Japan it's customary to ride your bike on the sidewalk instead of the road (supposedly due to the unsafety of doing the latter), but the sidewalk has the disadvantage of having to evade other pedestrians, overgrowth, the occasional antisocially parked car, and cars pulling out of driveways. Japanese drivers are polite and not aggressive, but have a habit of often not looking where they are going when pulling out of driveways or taking corners. The terrain is very hilly and becomes more challenging the further you move away from the coast. If you find yourself on the east side of the island and want to go to the west side or vice versa, you will have to cross the range of steep hills that runs along the length of Okinawa. A moped or motorcycle helps to overcome this, but it's still very important to stay alert and avoid obstacles or cars.

See
Top sights in Okinawa include:

 * The UNESCO World Heritage "Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu" is composed of nine sites around the island, of which Shuri Castle in Naha with its Shikinaen garden, Tamadun mausoleum and Sonohyan-utaki grove is the standout. The other eight are the castle ruins of Nakijin (in Nakijin), Zakimi (in Yomitan), Katsuren (in Uruma) and Nakagusuku (in Nakagusuku) plus the Sefa-utaki place of worship in Utaki.

 * The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Motobu (Northern Okinawa) is one of the great aquaria of the world, featuring a 7,500-m³ water tank with whale sharks and manta rays and home to the world's largest living coral exhibit.

 * Southern Okinawa has many historical battle sites and monuments related to the World War II Battle of Okinawa.

Do

 * Go to the island's many beaches. Most larger resorts have their own, and there are also countless public beaches.
 * Scuba diving is one of the most popular activities on the island with an abundance of dive shops across the island. Most shops cater primarily to Japanese divers, but some shops in Chatan and Kadena speak English as well.
 * Spear fishing is another popular activity on the island.
 * Take a glass bottom boat tour, offering views of corals and fishes. Busena Marine Park in Nago is a popular option for this.

Buy
Kokusaidori Street in Naha and Mihama American Village in Chatan have plenty of souvenir shops. One of the popular items to buy is an Okinawan shirt, similar to Hawaiian shirts, at the Mango House, which have various locations throughout the island, but most of them in Naha.

Souvenir-sized statues of shisa lion dogs can be purchased pretty much anywhere including convenience stores. If you have a more serious interest in Okinawan pottery, Yachimun no Sato in Yomitan is worth a visit.

Eat
On Okinawa Island you can, of course, find Okinawan cuisine and Japanese cuisine. The US military presence ensures that fast food of all kinds is well represented, including A&W, found nowhere else in Japan, and many drive-thru restaurants, a rarity elsewhere in Japan. Mexican food of varying degrees of authenticity is also common, with tacos in particular very popular.

For dessert, have Blue Seal ice cream. Many flavors are available, including sweet potato (beni-imo), the local flavor in Okinawa. Also, sweet potato-flavored cookies are popular and can be found just about anywhere.

Drink
Orion Beer is brewed locally in Okinawa. Available in just about all stores, restaurants, bars, and many vending machines. Aside from beer, a local favorite is awamori, or aged rice wine, similar to Japanese sake. Awamori differs from sake in that the former is brewed using rice from Thailand and black yeast, while the latter typically uses locally produced rice and white yeast. Most available awamori is aged at least five years, with more expensive brews being aged fifteen. Locals consume awamori with ice and water.

Go next
Check out other Okinawan islands, such as Ishigaki, Taketomi, Kume, and Iriomote.

title: Okinawa Island