Okinawa prefecture, Japan's southernmost, is comprised of 160 islands, only 50 of which are inhabited. The islands form an extensive archipelago stretching from the southernmost tip of Kyushu to about 100 kilometers from Taiwan. Okinawa, the largest of the islands, is 68 miles long and 19 miles wide at its widest point. The island enjoys a rich culture and history that extends back many hundreds of years. As an independent maritime nation during the 14th century, the Ryukyu kingdom, as it was formerly known, regularly traded with nations of Southeast Asia and there is some evidence that traders of the Ryukyu kingdom made it as far as the Middle East and Africa. Because of its strategic location, Okinawa also long acted as a bridge between their Chinese and Japanese neighbors. An independent nation until 1879 when it officially became a Japanese prefecture, for centuries Okinawa paid voluntary tribute to China and then later simultaneously to Japan and China. Many Americans are familiar with Okinawa because of the key role it played in the closing months of World War II and that it was the only Japanese island on which a major ground campaign was fought. More recently, the island has been thrust into the American consciousness because of the rape perpetrated by US service members on a 12-year-old schoolgirl and the resultant bilateral security negotiations that continue today. Because the island has served as a crossroad within East Asia for so long, its culture has embraced important elements from Japanese, Chinese, and Korean cultures and blended them with its own rich cultural heritage.

Lodging & Neighborhood:

Okinawa Fuji Hotel	Kokusai-dori Street	Naminoue Beach
Tsuboya Pottery	Fukushu-en Garden Check middle of page

Some Attractions:

Himeyuri Monument	Mabuni Hill ("Suicide Cliff")	Nakijin Castle	Okinawa Prefectural Museum
Peace Prayer Memorial Park	Ryukyu Village	Shuri Castle Park	US Consulate General in Okinawa
Kadena Air Base	US Marine Corps Base Camp Butler	Marine Corps Air Station Futenma	Teahouse of the August Moon

Additional Resources:
Japan National Tourist Organization