The Southwest Islands or Nansei-shoto (南西諸島 Nansei-shotō) are an island chain stretching southwestward from Kyushu in Japan. It has a subtropical climate with warm winters and hot summers. Precipitation is very large especially affected by the rainy season and typhoons.

Major islands

  • Satsunan Islands
    • Osumi Islands
    • Tokara-retto
      • Kuchinoshima
      • Nakanoshima
      • Suwanosejima
      • Akusekijima
      • Tairajima
      • Kodakarajima
      • Takarajima
    • Amami-shoto
      • Amami Oshima
      • Kikaijima
      • Kakeromajima
      • Yoroshima
      • Ukeshima
      • Tokunoshima
      • Okinoerabujima
      • Yoronto
  • Ryukyu Islands
    • Okinawa-shoto
      • Okinawa-honto
      • Kumejima
      • Iheyajima
      • Izanajima
      • Agunijima
      • Kerama-retto
        • Tokashiki
        • Zamamijima
        • Akajima
        • Gerumajima
      • Daito-shoto
        • Kitadaitojima
        • Mimamidaitojima
    • Sakishima-shoto
      • Miyako-retto
        • Miyakojima
        • Ikemajima
        • Ogamijima
        • Irabujima
        • Shimojijima
        • Kurimajima
        • Minnajima
        • Taramajima
      • Yaeyama-retto
        • Iriomotejima
        • Ishigakijima
        • Taketomojima
        • Kohamajima
        • Kuroshima
        • Aragusukujima
        • Hatomajima
        • Yubujima
        • Haterumajima
        • Yonagunijima
      • Senkaku Islands
        • Uotsurishima