Saipan is the largest and most populous island in the Northern Mariana Islands, an American commonwealth in the western Pacific about three hours by air from Tokyo. The island saw some of the fiercest fighting of the Pacific War in 1944 — the Battle of Saipan effectively ended Japanese civilian control of the island chain, and the cliffs at the north of the island, known as Suicide Cliff and Banzai Cliff, are poignant memorial sites.
Today Saipan has a laid-back tropical character with good beaches, warm water, and excellent diving and snorkeling on the surrounding reef. The lagoon on the west coast is calm and swimmable year-round. A significant Japanese tourist presence has shaped the island's hospitality infrastructure. The capital, Garapan, has the main concentration of restaurants and shops.