Page 20 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

DISCOVER Getting to Know Japan OKINAWA Best for

Rest and relaxation
PAGE 282
More than 1,242 miles (2,000 km) south of Tokyo lies a
tropical paradise. Okinawa’s pristine beaches, spectacular
Beautiful beaches
diving, and slower pace of life have made it the local’s
Experience
favorite holiday destination. Although it could be easy
Awamori, the local tipple
to just flop on the sand here, the islands reward a Home to
deeper look. Naha, the main city, is a heady mix of made by distilling fragrant
rice into a powerful liquor
refined civilization and neon glitz. Here, traditional
red-tiled Okinawan houses, topped with ceramic shisa
lions, stand alongside pulsating karaoke bars. Outside
the city, you’ll find poignant war memorials, sacred
groves, and brimming craft stores to explore.
NORTHERN
PAGE 294 HONSHU
This part of Japan’s largest island is
steeped in myth and legend. Home to
sacred mountains, dense forests, and
vibrant folk traditions, Tohoku – as the
Japanese call it – is a rugged and remote
wonderland. The region overflows with
literary connections, most famously to
the haiku poet Basho, who chronicled
his intrepid journey into the region in
The Narrow Road to the Deep North. These
days, with easy transport to the capital,
this poem no longer holds true, and this
tranquil region is as well connected as
anywhere else in the country.
Best for
Literature and music
Home to
Nikko
Experience
A powerful performance of taiko
drumming on Sado island

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