Tropical treasures in the deep south

SPECIAL PROMOTION

Okinawa , a scattered trail of subtropical islands sitting closer to Taipei than to Tokyo, is part of Japan and yet its unique heritage is impossible to miss - from cultural traditions to language, music and food, the Okinawa Prefecture stands apart. While the rest of Japan still reaches for a coat in March, on Okinawa's Yaeyama Islands it's bikinis and sunglasses as the beach season officially begins. Warm, sunny and slow-paced, Okinawa's 160-odd islands are home to snorkelling and diving, spear-fishing and kayaking among crystal-clear waters.

A delicious, delicate and super-healthy seaweed known as mozoku is harvested in springtime in Okinawa: eat it with a splash of citrus yuzu ponzu sauce. Another uniquely island dish is goya chanpuru, a scrambled mix of egg, tofu and goya, a distinctly bitter local gourd vegetable.

Miyako Island, about 300 kilometres south-west of the main Okinawa island, is home to a low-tide festival in early April, during which residents gather shellfish from ocean-facing northern shores before tucking in.

For a taste of the region's history, head to Naha, the capital, where a traditional dragon boat race takes place over three days every May, complete with fireworks and concerts. A ritual for the protection of fishermen, the highlight on the festival's last day has paddlers, wearing traditional dress, setting off in three intricately carved boats.

JAL and ANA fly daily from Tokyo's Haneda Airport to Naha, the capital of Okinawa.

This series of articles sponsored by the Japan National Tourism Organisation.