Okinawa (沖縄県 ,Okinawa-ken in Japanese, Uchinā in Okinawan) is the most southern prefecture of Japan. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyus Islands, a 1000 km long islands chain, which is divided between the Okinawa prefecture in South and the Kyushu prefecture in North.

The main island, Okinawa-honto is located half-way between the Kyūshū island (in Japan) and Taiwan.
The prefecture’s capital, Naha,  is located in the south part of Okinawa Island.
Other main cities of the main island are Ginowan, Itoman, Nago, Okinawa City, Urasoe…

The main islands are the following (from North to South):

* Okinawa Islands group:
- Ie-jima
- Kume-Jima
- Okinawa-honto
- Kerama Islands

* Miyako Islands
- Miyako-jima
- Irabu-jima

* Yaeyama Islands
- Iriomote-jima
- Ishigaki-jima
- Yonaguni-jima

The prefecture is the host of 14 US army bases include Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and Kadena Air Base.

About Okinawa