Ryukyu Islands

Japan offers two distinct cruising theatres in one voyage plan. To the north, the island-dotted Seto Inland Sea rewards patient pilotage with sheltered passages, cultured stopovers and intricate tidal gates. To the south, the Ryukyu archipelago stretches into turquoise tropics, where coral-fringed anchorages, manta cleaning stations and white-sand atolls meet a more oceanic swell and seasonal trade-like monsoon. This guide sets out where to go, when to go, what the winds do, and how to charter with confidence, so you can plot a safe, satisfying route through both regions without missing their very different charms.