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Okinawa
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Travel TipsWhere to StayWhere to Stay on Ishigaki: Town and Port, Fusaki, Maezato, Kabira, the North or Near the AirportWhere to stay in Ishigaki by area: town hotels by the ferry port, Fusaki and Grandvrio on the west coast, ANA InterContinental in Maeza…Things to DoTravel TipsIshigaki Island, Okinawa: Kabira Bay, Ferries, Beaches and FlightsIshigaki is the base for the Yaeyama Islands. What the glass boat costs, which ferry routes cancel first, how to reach Taketomi and Iri…Getting AroundThings to DoTravel TipsNaha, Okinawa Travel Guide: Shuri Castle, Kokusai-dori and the MonorailShuri Castle's main hall opens 23 November and admission rises to 1,000 yen. Monorail fares and times, what each Naha sight costs, and…Travel TipsWhere to StayWhere to Stay in Miyakojima: Hirara, Ueno and Irabu ComparedOnly two of Miyakojima's six areas have anywhere to drink in the evening, and the island runs on rental cars. The tourism association's…Getting AroundThings to DoTravel TipsCruises to Japan from Taiwan: Keelung Sailings to Okinawa, Kyushu and TokyoFifteen sailings leave Keelung for Okinawa, Kyushu and Tokyo from US$223. Japan's departure tax is now 3,000 yen, and ships do not get…Getting AroundTravel TipsRenting a Car in Okinawa: Permits, Booking Windows and What You Pay at the DeskJapan accepts only the 1949 Geneva International Driving Permit, and six licences use a Japanese translation instead. Okinawa also runs…Things to DoTravel TipsMiyakojima Travel Guide: Beaches, Bridges, Cars and Direct FlightsMiyakojima has no rivers, so rain soaks into the limestone instead of washing soil out to sea. The beaches, the three toll-free bridges…Things to DoTravel TipsOkinawa’s Blue Cave: Snorkeling & Diving at Cape MaedaA complete guide to Okinawa's Blue Cave at Cape Maeda: snorkel or dive (no licence), beach vs boat entry, tour prices, the best time to…Things to DoTravel TipsOkinawa Churaumi Aquarium: The Complete Guide to the Whale-Shark TankA complete guide to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium: the whale-shark Kuroshio Sea tank, feeding times, 2026 ticket prices, the free dolphin s…Things to DoTravel TipsWhy Okinawa Is a Different Japan: The Ryukyu Kingdom StoryWhy Okinawa isn't quite Japan — the Ryukyu Kingdom, the 1609 Satsuma invasion, the 1879 annexation, the 1945 battle and the American de…