We plan to travel from Atlanta Ga to Okinawa Japan in 2008. What are the best travel dates and best route?

We have never traveled to Asia before. Our itinterary is very flexible.

Well, I know that they have a HUGE holiday over in Japan called Golden Week. Apparently, many of their business' are closed and it's a time when families get together. I don't know when that week is, but look up the date because it's best advised not to go during that time.

For the route, you will probably have to do something like Atlanta (ATL) to Chicago (ORD) then first fly to Osaka (KIX). Once in Japan, then you take a domestic flight to Okinawa (OKA).

I suggest to book everything through an agent with a package.

The only time to not go is late Aug-Sept-Oct during the typhoon season.

Okinawa has its own climate, different from other parts of Japan. Be warned that general weather description about Japan is based on Tokyo. Rainy season (tsuyu) comes to Okinawa one month earlier (from mid May to the end of June) so I suggest best date would be Feb, Mar Apr. As someone said, avoid 29 April to 5 May as this is major holiday season (golden Week) and pretty difficult to book domestic flights and hotels, although none of business is closed especially for the tourist.