Okinawa Prefecture

Okinawa Prefecture occupies a subtropical island arc in southwestern Japan. Its many islands form the southern part of the Ryukyu chain, between the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, with Okinawa Island serving as the prefecture’s largest and most populous island. Coral reefs, clear coastal waters and low, forested interiors define much of the terrain. The islands retain a distinct Ryukyuan identity, expressed through the sanshin lute, local cuisine and awamori, a traditional distilled spirit. In Naha, Shuri Castle recalls the former Ryukyu Kingdom and its long maritime links with East Asia. See how Okinawa’s islands relate to the wider Ryukyu archipelago by browsing webcams nearby.

Generated by AI