Okinawa Prefecture contains more than 150 islands. I wanted to visit them all when I first arrived but quickly realized that it would be almost impossible because I am not the captain of a ship or a bird. Fortunately, there are 11 notable islands connected by bridges to the main island of Okinawa that high energy tourists can visit in a day.

Okinawa has an admirable system of highways and roads along with one solid expressway that rarely has traffic jams. This makes the experience of exploring these islands in a rental car relatively stress free. All you need to do is get to Naha by picking up a plane ticket — which is easy because ANA has an ongoing special of 10,500 yen to fly anywhere in Japan.

Our first stop is Senaga Island which is only a 15-minute drive from the airport. There is an unofficial air show on the island everyday as planes fly extremely low when they take off and land. Naha Airport also doubles as Naha Air Base for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, so you also get to see fighter jets and other military aircraft flying close by. Additional Senaga attractions include a fertility stone where couples who are trying to conceive come to pray and the soon to be finished Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel which will have a natural hot spring.

Oujima is the southernmost island on our trip. It has a shrine in the center that holds a Buddhist statue from China. The statue was given to the Oujima people as a way to say thank you for having rescued the crew of a Chinese ship around 400 years ago. This is also said to be how the dragon boat races that take place during the Watatsumi festival came about. The entertaining festival is filled with memorable moments including a race where rowers begin by jumping off a bridge. Is it just me or does jumping off a bridge seem like it would be the end of a festival?

I hope you’re hungry when you visit the Oujima area because it is well-known for fresh seafood and tempura. There are a number of food options on the island but my favorite actually lies right off of it at a mozuku soba restaurant called Kunantu, which is one of the more famous restaurants in Okinawa. Mozuku is a type of seaweed that is grown in the shallows around the island and throughout Okinawa. It has an interesting texture that I have learned to appreciate since it is supposedly one of the most potent super foods in the world.

About a 90-minute drive from Oujima is Yabuchi, an island with no permanent residents. Do you remember when I said that exploring these islands are relatively stress free? This island is why I said relatively. The main route takes you through a narrow dirt road. It is worth traveling on though because at the end is an impressive historical site called Yabuchi Cave.

A short drive from Yabuchi Island is Kaichu-doro, an inter-island highway almost 3 miles long that is surrounded by water with some of the prettiest shades of blue that I have ever seen. In the middle of the highway is a rest area where you can purchase local produce, fish and souvenirs. There is also a neat little museum on the second floor. Kaichu-doro connects the islands of Henza, Hamahiga, Miyagi and Ikei. The first island you will come to is Henza Island, which has a small fishing village and an oil storage facility on it. Then there is the mountainous Miyagi Island that is filled with tourist spots like the Shinugu Shrine Ruins, Nagusuku Udun, and the Yan Spring but the highlight for me is Tonnaha Beach. It has pristine turquoise water and is less crowded than the most popular beach in the area which is found on our next stop, Ikei Island. Fans of water sports will love Ikei Beach where you can take banana boat rides and enjoy jet skiing, snorkeling, and diving. They also have glass boat rides where you can see fish without getting wet. The last of the four islands is Hamahiga which, according to legend, is the place where Okinawan civilization was born. It is a very holy place for Okinawans with a number of shrines scattered throughout the island. There is also a wonderful pet friendly beach in the Katsurenhama neighborhood.

Our last big drive takes us north on the expressway and then through Okinawa’s second largest city of Nago to the Motobu region where Sesoko Island is. The sunsets are so amazing on Sesoko that they might want to change the name to Sunset Island. Sesoko has a beautiful beach with water so clear it makes you think that someone is filtering the water. You can see fish without any fancy gear but great scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities are present around the island.

The last destinations on the trip are Kouri, Oujima, and Yagaji Islands which are linked together by bridges including longest toll free bridge in Japan. If Oujima Island sounds familiar, it is because it has the same name as one of the islands we visited in the south. This northern Oujima is mainly forest and farmland but it does have a small public beach and parking area where you can stretch your legs from being in the car all day. About a minute away is Yagaji Island, home to the most relaxing beach in Okinawa. Outdoorsy people will really appreciate the camping, canoeing, and fishing activities available. The final island on the tour is Kouri Island. Kouri, famous for its sea urchin, is my favorite island on the trip. Your eyes will see dazzling postcard-like views nearly everywhere you look. Scuba diving enthusiasts will love this place too as they can dive to see a warship that sunk during World War 2. It is supposed to be the most significant diving spot in Okinawa. Farming is big here with sugar cane, pineapples, and purple potatoes grown on the island by some of the friendliest people in the world. I always go to Kouri Island to get great deals on their produce that can be purchased near the first beach you see when visiting the island.

By Stan Byme