Attractions in Okinawa

The Ryukyu and Bonin islands belonged to Japan until after World War II, when the United States took control of them. The United States returned the northern Ryukyus to Japan in 1953 and the Bonins in 1968. In 1972, it returned the rest of the Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa, the largest and most important island of the group.

More than 100 islands make up the Ryukyus. They extend from Kyushu to Taiwan and have about 1 million people. The Ryukyu Islands consist of the peaks of a submerged mountain range. Some of the islands have active volcanoes The Bonins lie about 600 miles (970 kilometres) southeast of Japan and consist of 97 volcanic islands. About 1,900 people live on the islands.

• Yaeyama Islands — the beaches of Ishigaki and Taketomi, the jungles of Iriomote and the underwater ruins of Yonaguni