From the northern end of the chain near Kyushu to the southern end near Taiwan, Okinawa's major islands are:
In addition, the Amami Islands to the north, while administratively a part of Kyushu, are geographically and culturally Okinawan.
The name '''Okinawa''' means "rope in the open sea", a fairly apt description of this long stretch of islands between mainland Japan and Taiwan. Consisting of 41 inhabited islands and 16 uninhabited islands, Okinawa has the only sub-tropical climate in Japan and as such is a major tourist destination for the Japanese, but not many foreign visitors make it to these shores.
However, Ry?ky? was annexed outright by Japan during the Meiji Restoration in 1879, and the Japanese proceeded to impose punitive taxes and did their best to suppress indigenous culture, language and religion. Worse was to come during World War II, when heavy bombardment and suicidal Japanese tactics, including the use of civilians as human shields, decimated the islands. Post-war they remained under U.S. occupation until 1972, and the presence of several large American military bases on Okinawa Island remains a sore point between the local government and the Japanese national government.
With their own language and customs, Okinawans still 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 ''uminchu'' (_C_l) or "sea people" in the local dialect and talk of the way things are done on the ''shima'' (__) or island(s), in contrast to the ways of the mainland, known as ''hond?'' (_{_y) in standard Japanese, ''yamato'' (___}_g) in the local dialect, and sometimes as the slightly derisive local slang ''naichi'' (___n).
Okinawa's most famous export worldwide is the martial art of '''karate'''. In recent years Okinawan culture has become quite popular throughout Japan thanks to popular musicians and local foods. Okinawan folk music is quite distinctive, and the twangy sound of the three-stringed Okinawan ''sanshin'' and pentatonic melodies are instantly recognizable. On the roof or at the gate of almost every house you will spot the ubiquitous Okinawan ''sh?sa'' or guardian lion-dogs, one with its mouth open to catch good fortune, the other with its mouth closed to keep good fortune in.
Okinawa has its own language group, known as '''Ryukyuan''' (______ ''ry?ky?go'' in Japanese), which it shares (along with much of its culture) with the Amami Islands in Kagoshima prefecture. These languages are related to Japanese (together, they form the "Japonic family"), but are generally incomprehensible to Japanese speakers. The largest of these languages, the '''Okinawan language''' (Okinawan ''ucin?guci'', Japanese ______ ''okinawago''), is spoken on the main island of Okinawa and the surrounding islands, and is not used much these days. Most people under 20 can't speak it, the most common exceptions being people who were raised by their grandparents and people who grew up in rural areas. To further complicate things, each of Okinawa's major islands has its own distinct dialect, some of which are different enough to be considered their own languages by some.
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.
All Okinawans speak standard Japanese, and not a few understand English as well, particularly on the main island which has several large US military bases.
As of November 2008, the only survivors are '''A-Line Ferry''' [http://www.aline-ferry.com], aka ''Maru-A'' (_}___G_[), 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''' [http://www.marix-line.co.jp], 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.
Most people come to Okinawa for the '''sun and beaches'''. Even in midwinter, when mainland Japan teeters 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, but two standouts are the newly rebuilt '''Shuri Castle''' [http://oki-park.jp/shurijo-park/english/] in Naha on Okinawa Island, and the carefully preserved tiny village of Taketomi in the southern Yaeyama Islands.
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 Naha, the navy's former underground headquarters and the Himeyuri Monument.
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Okinawa is the best place in Japan for all sorts of watersports.
Scuba diving is very popular in Okinawa, but ''very'' expensive compared to, say, South-East Asia — you'll usually be looking at around ¥12,000 for a day's diving off a boat ''plus'' an additional ¥5,000+ if you need gear rental. For a 3-day certification course you'll need to fork out a cool ¥70,000 or so. To top it off many shops don't accept credit cards, so you'll 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 [http://www.reefencounters.org Reef Encounters] in Chatan on Okinawa Island and Umic?za on Ishigaki are welcome exceptions.
If all this doesn't put you off, there is some world-class diving to look forward to: particular highlights include 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. Most Japanese divers wear a 5mm full-body wetsuit, and dive shops usually provide aluminum tanks with American-style fittings.
It should also be noted that a lot of the diving on Okinawa can be done from the shore (i.e. boats are not required). In that case, you can get full gear rental and tanks for around ¥5,000, or if you just need tanks then it will only be around ¥700 per tank.
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 2008-2009 Issue of "Okinawa Island Guide" has featured Saltwater Fishing Okinawa for catering to Japanese, English, and Chinese speaking travelers.
The cost for offshore fishing in Okinawa is comparable to other charter services around the world. Usually about $100 US Dollars per person for walk on charters, and up to $1,500 US Dollars for private charters.
Other Okinawan ingredients include vegetables rarely seen on the Japanese mainland such as '''bitter melon''' (_S_[___[ ''g?y?'') and '''purple yam''' (_____@''murasaki-imo''). Okinawan tropical fruits including '''mango''', '''papaya''', '''pineapple''', '''dragonfruit''' and the sour lime-like '''calamansi''' (_V_[_N_@_[_T_[ ''sh?kw?s?'') are delicious when in season. '''Dark cane sugar''' (______ ''kurosat?'') is also a popular snack, eaten both as is and made into a vast variety of candies and pastries.
<gallery> Image:Goya Chanpuru Large.JPG|A small ''g?y?'' gourd (front) and a scoop of ''g?y? champur?'' (back) Image:JP-47_Naha_Soki-soba.jpg|''S?ki soba'' noodles Image:JP-47 Naha Tacorice.jpg|Taco rice Image:JP-47 Mimiga and Chiraga.jpg|''Mimig?'' (pig ear) and ''Chirag?'' (pig face) </gallery>
Some dishes worth trying:
The more daring may want to sample ''mimig?'' (_~_~_K_[), sliced pork ears in vinegar, or ''chirag?'' (_`___K_[), the skin from a pig's face.
Aficionados of '''American fast food''' may find Okinawa to be a curious treat. Most prominent is the presence of '''A&W''' outlets serving hamburgers and '''root beer''' (with free refills, even), available practically nowhere else in Japan. '''Foremost''' ice cream (under the "Blue Seal" brand) is also common.
Okinawa's beer label '''Orion''' is a safer alternative, at least in small quantities.
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. Okinawa has many live houses in Naha city and Okinawa city. You can hear not only new music but also traditional Okinawan music using the ''Sanshin'' (the Okinawan traditional instrument). The charge depends on the artist but it_fs usually about $10 (__1.000) to $30 (__3.500), plus one drink. Check the time, the artist, and the price before you go.
In Naha you can easily find dirt-cheap places starting from ¥1000 per night.
Okinawa is also home to Japan's most fearsome array of '''poisonous critters'''. Jellyfish (_N___Q ''kurage'') and a variety of marine creatures that sting if stepped on present a risk. Also, '''habu''', a snake with very deadly venom should also be watched out for throughout the year. Check out the posters (in Japanese, and sometimes in English) on the beaches explaining the dangerous marine animals.