Japan's 6,852 islands include some of the country's most rewarding travel destinations — art installations in olive groves, World War II history sites, pristine coral reefs, and traditional fishing communities unchanged for generations.
Seto Inland Sea: The Art Island Route
The Setouchi region between Honshu and Shikoku contains a cluster of art islands reachable by ferry from Takamatsu or Uno (near Okayama). The Setouchi Triennale art festival (held in spring, summer, and autumn of odd-numbered years) brings 200+ contemporary art installations to the islands. Year-round accessible are: Naoshima (Tadao Ando's underground Chichu Art Museum containing Claude Monet's Water Lilies in a purpose-built space with natural lighting — entry ¥2,100; the red pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama on the dock is the most photographed Japanese art installation); Teshima (Teshima Art Museum — Ryue Nishizawa's concrete shell building with water seeping from the floor, one of Japan's most meditative spaces); Inujima (a copper refinery site turned contemporary art space). Ferry from Takamatsu to Naoshima: 50 min, ¥1,290. The Benesse Art Site island pass covers multiple museums.
Okinawa's Southwest Island Chain
The Yaeyama Islands — Japan's southernmost prefecture — form an island chain with some of Asia's finest snorkeling and diving. Ishigaki: The main hub, with excellent infrastructure and direct flights from Tokyo/Osaka (2.5h, ¥15,000–30,000). The surrounding reef has manta ray cleaning stations visited May–November. Iriomote: Japan's most remote national park — 90% jungle, the Urauchi River kayak tour and the mangrove forest are extraordinary. The island has the Iriomote cat (an endemic wildcat species). Ferry from Ishigaki: 40 min, ¥2,690. Taketomi: A tiny island of traditional Ryukyuan village culture — white sand roads, water buffalo cart rides, star sand beaches. 10 min ferry from Ishigaki (¥730).
Izu Islands from Tokyo
The Izu Islands extend south from Tokyo Bay — reachable by overnight ferry (departing Tokyo's Takeshiba Pier, arriving at Oshima in 7 hours, ¥6,900). Oshima has an active volcano (Mihara-yama), black sand beaches, and camellia forests. The further islands (Miyake, Mikura, Hachijo) are for serious divers and birders; Hachijojima has subtropical vegetation and hot springs incongruously close to Tokyo (50 min by ANA, ¥8,000–20,000).