The most beautiful natural sites to discover Ryukyu Islands

This park had its moment of glory in 1975 when it hosted the International Ocean Exhibition. Admission to the park is free. You will find an extraordinary aquarium, where rays and whale sharks evolve, which is very impressive. The main pool was the largest in the world in 2011. The park also includes Aquapolis, a museum of ocean culture, a museum of Okinawa and flowers. An ideal family trip.

One of the most beautiful waterfalls in Japan, 88 metres high. It has a basin at its feet, also classified as one of the most beautiful natural basins in the archipelago. 

One of the world's leading nesting sites for caouannes marine turtles and green turtles. The period favourable to this observation extends from mid-May to mid-July.

To discover the primary forest with its Cèdres cedar, thousands of years old, you will have to climb between 1 000 and 3 000 m above sea level. Several hiking trails including a 6-hour walk to the King of the forest, the Jomon Sugi, aged 7 000!

Onsen are hot springs used regularly by villagers. These baths are mixed and no bathing clothing is allowed. It is strongly advised not to take photos to avoid disturbing the occupants. The most extraordinary of the onsen, delimited by rocks, gives directly to the sea.

If you go to Iriomote, then you will have to couple your visit with that of the small island of Yubu. The crossing is done in a very original way: in a large cart pulled by a buffalo, all in song, since your guide will take the opportunity to play his sanshin, a kind of guitar with three strings. The small flat island of Yubu has a circumference of 2.15 kilometers. The whole island has a subtropical garden with 30 varieties of hibiscus and 10 varieties of palm trees, a shell museum, a small restaurant and beaches.

The bay and the marine park are considered the most beautiful places on the island. The bay is also famous for the breeding of pearl oysters. Although swimming is forbidden due to strong currents, glass-bottom boat trips allow you to admire the underwater flora and fauna. Not far away, there is a curious little park, Yoneko-Yaki Pottery, with its giant statues of Shisas, these protective spirits, mixtures of dogs and lions, here diverted from their traditional aspects into funny, smiling and very colorful characters.

The Mont mountain, situated in the middle of the forest trail linking Ono to Nosoko, offers breathtaking views of the Cape de Tamatorizaki.

This beach is known to all Japanese. Its fame is due to tiny star-shaped shells, hoshizuna in Japanese, less than a millimeter in size, which were celebrated by a singer in the 1990s. Since then, many tourists arrive every day with a small glass bottle and a magnifying glass in their hands, in order to find as many as possible. The more you find, the stronger your spouse's love will be... according to local legend. Apart from this particular aspect, Kaijihama is a very beautiful beach, highly recommended.

This cave contains several underground rivers, waterfalls, and one of the largest caves in Japan. You can walk through this small underground world for more than 800 meters. It is part of the Okinawa World complex, which houses an arts and crafts village. Not far from the cave, on the east coast, are some beaches like Mibara and Hayakuna Beach. Offshore, you can see coral concretions. And as you continue your journey, you will come to the Chinsen Peninsula, known for its sugarcane fields.

This cave contains several underground rivers, waterfalls and one of Japan's largest caves. You can cross this small underground world over 800 m. The exit is planned to go directly to the park Gyokuse-dō Habu Kōen, where you can see the famous battles of snakes against mongooses (entry: 500 ¥).

Near the cave on the east coast some beaches like La and Hayakuna Beach. On the offshore you will see corail of coral. By continuing, you will reach the Chinsen Peninsula, especially for its landscape of sugar cane fields. Some okinawaïens myths are circulating on foreigners who come beyond the seas and who have brought new agricultural techniques.

The village of Nakadomari, with its Moon Beach, is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Okinawa. A white sandy cove, bathed by turquoise waters, with the added bonus of a mishmash of Japanese and Americans who come to sunbathe and play like crazy. The American teenagers of the base are everywhere, in a very Californian atmosphere. From the beach, you can reach the Maeda Misaki cape, its cliffs and its surfers who tame the waves. You can also go snorkeling there.

This cave has been used as a burial space for over 2,000 years. Although this space is considered sacred, one can nevertheless enter and walk for more than a kilometre. A number of clay pots can be seen, many of which are broken. A number of them contain human remains. In Okinawan culture, it is common for bodies to be cremated or buried in ohaka. Some residents offer money to the spirits to pray for them. It is more than advisable, if not mandatory, to carry a flashlight.

The most beautiful beach in Taketomi is in the west. It is littered with skeletons of small marine animals.

Located to the east, this beach has very fine white sand. The width of the beach is ideal. Of course, there are all the tourist facilities you need to enjoy the place: windsurfing boards, masks, diving tanks, etc. From Eef Beach, you can access the "end of the world" island (Hate no Shima), a very fine white sand reef in the middle of the coral reef. From there, you can observe a myriad of tropical fish, each more colorful than the next.