HINASE, Okayama Pref. -- Most people, if asked to name their favorite islands in Japan, might plump for the southernmost and most exotic ones which together comprise Okinawa Prefecture. Others, less enamored of balmy climes, might prefer Niigata Prefecture's Sado Island in the Sea of Japan; while some may opt for Tokyo's remote Ogasawara Islands, which lie a 25-hour ferry trip from the capital.
But there are many other islands to choose from -- so next time you feel an attack of islanditis coming on, why not visit the lesser-known Hinase Islands in Okayama Prefecture?
Sprinkled around the Seto Inland Sea of western Honshu, these small islands are neither luxurious resort destinations, nor so remote as to attract those with an explorer's bent. They do, though, offer far more than the natural beauty and fabulous seafood visitors might expect.