From relaxing on forgotten beaches to hiking through ancient cedar forests; this Japan island tour is completely off the beaten track - including visits to islands where Western tourists are extremely rare, and the pace of life has not changed for centuries.



The Ryukyu Islands of Japan spread from Kyushu in a perfect half moon-shaped archipelago down to Taiwan, with Okinawa the crown jewel in this delicate chain of lost gemstones set in a turquoise East China Sea. This incredible adventure takes you to Tokunoshima & Okinoerabu, islands never before visited by a Western tour group, as well as through prehistoric cedar forests cradled within the volcanic mountains of Yakushima.



Discover the joys of a slow pace of life, sample the fiery locally-brewed ‘shochu’; taste the freshest of fresh sushi and swim in phosphorescent waters over perfectly formed coral reefs.



The white sandy beaches and glistening clear waters of the Ryukyu Islands remain an oasis of time and nature amidst the ever-increasing modernisation of their neighbouring Asian countries. With a rich and unique history including the Ryukyu Kingdom ??? from the 15th to the 19th Century, it is where the martial art of Karate first originated before spreading to Japan, and where culture flourished due to it’s positioning as a centre of maritime trade.



There is also an optional ‘mainland’ Japan add-on that includes the stunning temples of Kyoto the ancient capital, as well as the neon jungle of Tokyo, for those whom want to explore this bustling metropolis before flying home. We fully believe in, and practice, Responsible Tourism and recognise the value of using hotels run by locals. The accommodation on this adventure really accentuates your experience and the mixture of hotels you will be staying in is very representative of the contrasts found in Japan. We feel that using different types of hotels helps deliver to you the complexity of Japan. It is a crazy patchwork of ancient & modern, corporate & family businesses, nature and urban, all of which coexist peacefully side by side. To authentically represent Japan, we have included as many of these as we can!

Having said that, there are themes with the various types of accommodation, and they will all be chosen for cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra travel which in Japan can be very expensive) and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us.

Please be aware that in areas where tourism is still developing, or in remote areas (like the smaller islands we visit), we may not have a wide range of options. An aspect of our adventures is to escape the ‘trappings’ of familiar culture and to experience new things with are exciting and memorable and reflect the country we are visiting.

The list below gives information on our first choice of accommodation for this adventure. Where hotels are fully booked or unavailable, we will use an alternative of a similar standard, and equally well situated. We will provide you with an accurate list of accommodation, with contact information to leave with relatives, prior to departure on your adventure.

Kagoshima (Day 1): Hotel Sunflex Kagoshima. Modern 3* hotel (tower block) with ensuite rooms, wi-fi, in a convenient location for sightseeing and within easy reach of the ferry terminals for our onwards travel.

Yakushima (Day 2 & 3): Seaside Hotel Yakushima. Modern 3* hotel set in stunning scenery with coastal views and mountain backdrops. Ensuite rooms with Wif-fi. Restaurant & spa.

Overnight Ferry (Day 4): Ferry to Tokunoshima - we eat dinner on board and sleep on the overnight ferry in 2nd Class bunks. Shared facilities.

Tokunoshima (Day 5 & 6): Sunset Resort: small local hotel situated on the beach where you can relax after a day of sightseeing. Ensuite rooms & restaurant serving delicious seafood (as you would expect!).

Okinerabu (Day 7): Hotel Seaworld: delight in the nostalgic 70's / 80's feel and warm welcome from this small local hotel, on the coast. Ensuite rooms & colourful restaurant dining room!

Okinawa (Day 8-10): Hotel Palm Royal Naha: Charming urban 3* resort hotel in city centre with small swimming pool, spa bath and poolside bar
estaurant.