NEW! Grand Africa to Asia Explorer

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  • 37 Days
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  • 12 Guided Tours
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  • 9 Countries

Okinawa (Naha), Japan

  • Traditional Japanese gate under clear blue sky

Okinawa is the largest island of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan’s southernmost region, a chain that stretches hundreds of miles to Taiwan. In medieval times, the island’s capital of Naha was the vibrant cultural center of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Its once-great power is reflected in the restored Shuri Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Okinawa is designated as a Blue Zone, home to one of the world’s longest-lived people, the Ryukyuan. By some accounts, the island is home to three times as many centenarians per 100,000 people as Japan’s mainland.