This island chain is known as the ‘Caribbean of Asia’: with coral reefs, crystal clear waters and year-round sunshine

If Japan is high on your travel bucket list, you’re not alone. According to the Japan National Tourism OrganizationThe country experienced a record number of visitors in 2024. Nearly 37 million international travelers entered the country during those 12 months, and 2.7 million of them were Americans.

Of course, the bright lights and culture of Tokyo and Osaka, the temples and gardens of Kyoto, and the ski resorts of Hokkaido provide plenty of reasons to plan a trip, but Japan also delivers on another front: its beaches. There is even a region that has been given the nickname “Asian Caribbean.” Beautiful beaches and some of the best diving and snorkeling sites in the world await you in Okinawa.

Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture, is made up of about 160 islands (approximately 40 of them are inhabited) surrounded by crystal-clear turquoise waters. This island chain is part of the larger Ryukyu archipelago, and its main island, also called Okinawa, is about a 2.5-hour flight from Tokyo.

As in the Caribbean, Okinawa’s main tourist attractions revolve around the water, namely the incredible diving and snorkeling opportunities. The islands are surrounded by coral reefs known for their biodiversity. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, hammerhead sharks, and manta rays. The underwater topography is also noteworthy: depending on where you are exploring, you may see arches, tunnels, caves, or crevices.

There is no shortage of places to dive or snorkel, but the Okinawa Convention and Visitors Bureau shares that some of the most sought-after locations are located near outlying islands, such as the Kerama Islands. To reach the Kerama Islands, you can take a high-speed ferry from nahawhich is the capital and largest city of Okinawa Prefecture, and is located on the main island of Okinawa. Some travelers choose to ferry from Naha to Tokashiki Island (the largest of the Kerama Islands), where two specific beaches, Aharen Beach and Tokashiku Beach, are accompanied by sightings of sea turtles and other species of marine life.

As for the best time of year to visit Okinawa, you will find that the climate is relatively similar to that of the Caribbean islands; Winters, however, tend to be a little cooler. Okinawa has a subtropical climate, while the Caribbean has a tropical climate, and temperatures range between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. You can definitely snorkel, swim and dive all year round, but beware of the typhoon season, from June to September.

What if you needed a little more motivation to finally book that plane ticket to Japan? We got it: Okinawa is a Blue Zone, one of the select places in the world where people tend to live longer, healthier lives.