Japan‘s tourist trail is a well trodden one, with millions of visitors every year carving a path to the bright lights of Tokyo, majestic Mount Fuji, Osaka and Kyoto – home to the country’s biggest geisha community.
However, a lesser known part of the East Asian island country, that you can’t reach on its famous Shinkansen bullet trains, is currently enjoying its moment in the sun… literally.
The balmy islands of Okinawa, flung 400 miles off the southern coast of the Japanese mainland, are, say those who’ve visited, what Hawaii is to the USA.
Little more than a tiny speck on the global map, the 160 subtropical coral-fringed isles of varying sizes are accessible from Tokyo via an easy two-and-a-half hour flight.
Okinawa Island is the biggest of them, with its capital city Naha the prefecture’s cultural and economic centre.
While around ten million tourists descend every year, it’s a drop in the ocean compared to the nearly 40 million who make for the Japanese mainland.
The islands have deep green forests and beaches in abundance, with 700-metre Furuzamami Beach on Zamami island doing a good impression of the Caribbean or the Maldives with its butter yellow sand and clear, sparkling waters.
Other beach highlights include Nishibama on Hateruma Island and Sunayama on Miyakojima, the latter meaning ‘Sand Mountain Beach’.
Paradise, Japanese-style: Nishibama beach on Hateruma Island in Okinawa, a two-and-a-half hour flight from Tokyo feels more like the Maldives than Japan say those who’ve visited
The 160-strong island chain has many pockets of coral reef, as well as historical ruins from Japan’s Ryukyu kings
What’s on the agenda beside feeling the sand between your toes?
The islands have a rich cultural heritage, with dragon boat races regularly held, and the historic ruins and restored castles of the Ryukyu kings also deemed a must-see.
The Ryukyu Kingdom ruled for 450 years between the 1400s and 1800s and was once a vital cog in the wheel of East Asian trade.
It’s recommended to visit Okinawa during the ‘shoulder seasons’ of April and May or October and November.
And there’s another reason why you might want to discover the islands; they’re in one of the world’s five ‘Blue Zones’, areas of the world that have higher rates of people living above-average lifespans.
A Blue Zone is defined as a geographical area where an unusually large proportion of people live significantly longer than in other parts of the world – and with many residents in them making 100.
The zones are associated with factors such as a healthy diet, active lifestyle and low stress.
Alongside Okinawa, the already recognised Blue Zones are Ogliastra in Sardinia, Italy, Ikaria in Greece, Nicoya in Costa Rica and Loma Linda in California
Like reaching the Med from the UK, the islands of Okinawa are just a short flight from the colour and chaos of Tokyo (Pictured: Shinjuku in Tokyo)
Sand the colour of butter and crystal clear waters: Furuzamami beach on Zamami island in Okinawa
‘Common lifestyle traits in the Blue Zones include, amongst others, natural movement in everyday life, purpose in life, eating wisely and avoiding stress,’ say the authors.
‘Moreover, Blue Zones are characterised by a positive attitude towards older adults with frequent interactions between the older inhabitants and the rest of the community.’
It was 20 years ago that American journalist Dan Buettner trademarked the term ‘Blue Zone’, and went on to develop a commercialised lifestyle brand including community programmes and products.
Some experts question the blue zone theory, saying it is ‘nonsense’ and arguing that Buettner does not have a medical or research background.
However, the concept has attracted scientific interest, including from Belgian demographer Michel Poulain, who co-authored a 2004 report on Sardinia’s longevity.
Professor Poulain and his colleagues continue to study extreme longevity using rigorous demographic methods which give the concept credence.
The study authors add: ‘The originally purely demographic concept of Blue Zones was launched by Poulain and colleagues who identified the first longevous Blue Zone in Ogliastra, Italy.
‘The identification was the result of a rigorous validation process involving going through municipal birth and death registers.’
