Asia's Answer to Hawaii

South of Okinawa lie the Yaeyama Islands, a remote island chain closer to Taiwan than Tokyo

- Lam Shushan

OKINAWA – It begins like any other trip to Japan: an efficient arrival, a warm "konnichiwa" from airport staff, a quick stop at a high-tech toilet. But step outside and you will notice this is not the Japan of bullet trains and neon lights.

Here in Okinawa, the air is warm and salty. Orchid and hibiscus flowers colour the streets, and the locals – sun-kissed, curly-haired and easygoing – move to rhythms shaped more by the ocean than the clock.

Farther south, past Okinawa's main island, lie the Yaeyama Islands – a remote island chain closer to Taiwan than Tokyo. With reefs teeming with nearly 400 coral species, and jungles home to exotic birds and elusive wildcats, the isles feel like a secret Japan few have seen.

Low-cost carrier Jetstar Asia runs direct flights from Singapore to Naha, the capital of Okinawa, six times a week. Scoot plans to take over the route after Jetstar Asia ceases operations on July 31, with flights set to launch between October 2025 and March 2026 if they are approved.

From Naha, it is a one-hour domestic flight to the Yaeyama Islands, bringing this once-remote region within reach.

Curious about what some call the Hawaii of Japan, I head there in March to see what these far-flung isles have to offer.

ISHIGAKI: GATEWAY TO THE YAEYAMA ISLANDS

My first stop is Ishigaki – the only Yaeyama island with an airport linked to Japan's main cities like Tokyo and Osaka, and internationally to Taiwan and Hong Kong. It is also the connecting point for ferry services to the surrounding islands.

In my week-long island-hopping adventure, I discover that Ishigaki, though only 160km in circumference, is much more than a transport hub.

I spend my first two days driving around the island's scenic north, where coastal roads pass sugarcane fields and turquoise waters, and lead to lookouts such as Hirakubozaki Lighthouse at Ishigaki's northern tip and Oganzaki Lighthouse at the north-west peninsula.