Kyushu is connected to Honshu by a bridge, submarine tunnels, by road and rail. Hakata Station in Fukuoka Prefecture is the terminal of the Sanyo Shinkansen. Okinawa Prefecture is a chain of 60 islands located far to the south of K yushu. Okinawa, once called Ryukyu, was an independent kingdom until the seventeenth century and, as such, developed its own distinct dialect and cultural traditions. After World War II and until 1972, Okinawa was controlled by the U.S. military.
Tourism is the main industry.
Because of the warm climate throughout the year, marine sports are popular.