Located at the northernmost tip of Okinawa Honto, Hedo Point marks the confluence of the Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea. The surrounding waters are known among the dive community for containing some of the most breathtaking seascapes in the prefecture.

The northern portion of Okinawa Honto is collectively known as Yanbaru and consists mostly of thick forests and jungles. While civilization may not be the region's main feature, the area is particularly important for the amount of diverse flora and fauna that thrive in the harsh, intertwining expanses of vegetation.

Recognized as one of a dozen World Heritage Sites on Okinawa, Nakijin has a storied past that dates back to the 13th century. During the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Nakijin served as the primary castle of the Hokuzan, the northernmost portion of the kingdom.

Before World War II, beer held little prominence among Okinawans, who preferred their native spirit of awamori. But with the flood of American service members and government officials during Occupation, a new market emerged for beer. Founded in 1957, Orion Brewery makes their select pilsner-style brew using hops imported from Germany and the Czech Republic.

One of the three largest aquariums in the world, Churaumi is home to dozens of varieties of fish, sharks, and manta rays. It's also one of the few aquariums in the world that has successfully housed whale sharks in captivity, and scientists at the park lead the way in research on coral bleaching and whale shark mating.

In January and February of each year, eyes across Japan turn to Nago to eagerly await the country's first cherry blossoms. The city's Central Park, near Nago Castle ruins, host an annual Cherry Blossom Festival, traditionally observed as the first hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, of the year.

Cutting across the heart of the dense forests and jungles of Yanbaru is the Hiji River, which plummets several meters to produce Okinawa's largest and most spectacular waterfall. Though cliff jumping is prohibited for SOFA status personnel, there's nothing stopping visitors from cooling off from the 1.5-kilometer hike in the refreshing pool below.

This strip-shaped Tokashiki Island is located in the east of the Kerama Islands, 60 minutes ferry ride from Naha, and populated with approximately 700 villagers. Most of its area is hilly, but the sea with fully developed coral reefs is crystal clear and worthy to be called the "paradise for divers". Both of the two main resort beaches, Tokashiku and Aharen Beaches overlook white beachesof coral sands and emerald green ocean.

When tourists flock to Okinawa’s southern Yaeyama Islands during the summer, one of the most popular and coveted souvenirs they can pick up is a bottle of hoshizuna—literally, star sand. Small vials and bottles packed with star-shaped grains backed by garishly colored sand can be purchased from omiyage vendors on Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands, while the more adventurous can collecttheir own on a secluded beach on nearby Taketomi. Of course, the tiny treasures are misnomers, and each “grain” of sand isn’t really sand at all. Instead, these spherical bodies with spike-like protrusions are actually the exoskeletons of foraminifers—marine protozoa that once lived on the ocean floor.

A common folktale on Taketomi Island asserts that long ago, the North Star and the Southern Cross decided to bring life to Earth. When she felt prepared for birthing, the Southern Cross asked God where she should have her babies. Surveying the Earth below him, God pointed to tiny Taketomi-jima and told her to go to the south side of Taketomi, where the current was warm and slow. Southern Cross descended upon the island and gave birth many times in the nearby waters.

However, the seven dragon god of the sea soon became angry because Southern Cross did not consult with him or as his permission before giving birth in his ocean. Filled with wrath, he called upon a giant serpent to kill all of the babies. The giant snake did as he was told, and swallowed all the tiny star babies and spat their bodies back into the ocean. One by one, they washed up on the shores of Taketomi and transformed into star-shaped grains of sand.

In a nearby village on the island lived a kind goddess, who, when she found the dead babies, gathered them up. She placed them in her incense burner, and when the villagers came to worship her during a festival, the particles turned to smoke and billowed into the sky and the waiting arms of the Southern Cross. Their tiny bodies can be seen around her in the sky.

To this day, when the annual festival is held at Taketomi’s southern beach, the villagers stoke their incense burners with star sand.

Want a bit of star sand but can’t make it to Yaeyama? Several omiyage stores on Kokusai hawk vials of hoshizuna for as little as ¥100.