Okinawa Island Packages/Deals & Travel Agents Near Me

Okinawa, Japan, is a place of history, beauty and a friendly, laid-back lifestyle not seen elsewhere in the country. It is home to subtropical forests, coral reefs, sunken ships and ruins. It is a hidden paradise of warm, clear water waiting to be explored by both snorkelers and scuba divers of any level.

Off the main island of Okinawa, there are other historic dive sites to explore, as well as ecotours in the lush subtropical jungles and 15th-century castles.

Each season of the year brings special focus to nature in Okinawa Prefecture. During January and February, whale watching and cherry blossoms are spectacular; during the spring, marlin and sailfish abound; summer brings the coral blooms underwater; and fall sees the re-enactment parade and festival at Shurijo Castle.

Visitors should expect to spend at least four days there.

History

Okinawa Island is part of the archipelago of the Ryukyu Islands, which were formed by coral and volcanic activity. They are located between the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, 500 mi/800 km east of Shanghai and 750 mi/1,200 km south of Japan proper. The history of the archipelago is rich and intriguing, dating back some 10,000 years.

From the 15th century to the 19th century, the archipelagos were known as the Ryukyu Kingdom, an independent nation that wisely learned how to bridge cultural and political bridges with China, Japan and Korea.

The USS Emmons, a naval destroyer, sank off of the northwestern coast of Okinawa on 6 April 1945 when five Japanese pilots pummeled the ship, leaving her listless. It initially sunk in 240 ft/74 m of water but, because of typhoons in the area, the ship moved into shallower waters (145 ft/45 m deep) where it was discovered in 2001.