IRIOMOTE ISLAND, Okinawa Pref. -- Dubbed by some as the "Galapagos in the East," Iriomote boasts subtropical forests, mangrove swamps and a surrounding coral reef.
Home to the rare Iriomote wildcats, the island, with its unique ecosystem, has been nominated by an Environmental Ministry committee for listing as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage candidate site.
One third of the 29,000-hectare island, which has a population of about 2,000, is a national park. The island, the second largest in the Ryukyu chain after Okinawa Island, attracted 360,000 tourists last year.