Another 500km (311mi) south, this sun-kissed chain of coral-fringed islands is a subtropical paradise in the Pacific. And what makes this untamed, far-flung part of Japan one of the country’s must-visit ecotourism destinations is precisely how un-Japanese it seems. On the north coast of Ishigaki, Kabira Bay’s white sand and turquoise water form one of Japan’s most gorgeous coastal views. People can’t swim there, but glass-bottomed boat tours reveal colourful coral and even more kaleidoscopic marine life. Nearby, the untamed island of Iriomote can be explored by kayak or paddle board – rivers snake through its dense mangrove forest, which is crawling with the unique Iriomote wildcats. And even further out, visitors can swim with manta rays off the Kerama islands or dive with 100 hammerhead sharks off Yonaguni island between January and March.
AloJapan.com