From Fukuoka, the faraway is closer than you think. Within a direct plane or ferry ride lie some of Japan\u2019s best-kept secrets: outlying islands that look and feel a world apart. Whether it\u2019s spectacular landscapes, mouthwatering local produce or unique culture you\u2019re after, you\u2019ll find it all across the water \u2013 plus a warm welcome to boot. Courtesy of the Re-TO Project, which aims to help the rest of the world rediscover these hidden treasures, come with us on a video tour of five islands within easy reach of Fukuoka: from otherworldly Iki to the tropical Goto Islands, mysterious Tsushima to magical Yakushima. You\u2019ll wish you were there.<\/p>\n
Re-TO MOVIE: Iki<\/strong>
\nOur first stop is Iki, an island full of stories and spirits. You can feel their presence everywhere: in the hundreds of monkey statues dotted around the island, in its dozens of Shinto shrines, even \u2013 as one local guide explains \u2013 in the raindrops that gather on each leaf on a wet day. It\u2019s not just spiritual pleasures Iki has to offer. As chefs will tell you, the local produce is so good it barely requires cooking \u2013 from freshly caught squid to tender Iki beef, which comes from cattle raised surrounded by the sound of sea waves. There\u2019s plenty for your other senses too, from watching movies under the stars at the island\u2019s outdoor film festival, to meeting dolphins at its water park, to staying in unique accommodation in the home of a diver and her fisherman husband. Let them show you around.<\/p>\n