Kyushu and Okinawa Holiday

Separated from Japan’s main island of Honshu by a narrow channel, Kyushu island blends Japanese modernity with easy-going lifestyles amid dramatic coastal and mountain landscapes. For a great introduction to Kyushu, visit Fukuoka, which has beaches, temples, slick shopping malls, seafood and ramen restaurants. In the Saga Prefecture, rice fields tumble down to coastal villages and Arita and Imari are famous for porcelain wares.

Often remembered for the World War II nuclear bombings, Nagasaki is a doorway to the tranquil Goto Islands. Travel to Kyushu’s eastern coastline to hike to waterfalls and around volcanic craters in the Miyazaki Prefecture. The beaches of Nichinan have some of the country’s best surf breaks. North of here, Oita is home to the jaw-dropping Yabakei Gorge and onsen (hot spring) resorts such as Beppu.

Pass by Kumamoto to visit the 17th-century Kumamoto Castle on your way to the southern seaside city of Kagoshima. Follow trails through lava fields at the base of Mount Sakurajima and then board a boat bound for the Okinawa Prefecture.

Some 160 tropical islands make up the Okinawa archipelago, an area once ruled by the Ryukyu Kingdom. Learn about this empire and Okinawa culture at Ryukyu Mura theme park, on Okinawa Island. Naha, the prefectural capital, has thriving artisan quarters and the mile-long Kokusaidori dining and retail district. Visit Nago for fruit-themed amusement parks and Okinawa City for family-friendly beaches.

Don’t miss up-close views of exotic marine life from the underground observatory at Busena Marine Park. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is one of the world’s largest aquariums. Stroll amid a primeval forest and limestone caves at the Valley of Gangala.

White-sand beaches set between sparkling blue waters and forested hillsides characterize Okinawa’s islands. Join whale-watching tours on Zamami Island. Escape the crowds at Hatenohama Beach and admire heart-shaped rocks on Kouri Island. Superb snorkeling and scuba diving awaits at Iriomote Island and Ishigaki Island.

Fukuoka and Naha are the main flight hubs for Kyushu and Okinawa, respectively. Use a reliable network of buses, ferries and trains to get around this beguilingly diverse region.