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Introducing the "Blue Cave," the last unexplored region on Miyako Island!
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Where are the Miyako Islands?
Have you ever heard of the Miyako Islands, a tropical paradise?
The Miyako Islands are located approximately 300 km southwest of Naha City on the main island of Okinawa, in a sea area covered with coral reefs.
The Miyako Islands, often referred to collectively as Miyako Island, is an archipelago of eight inhabited islands: Miyako Island, Ikema Island, Irabu Island, Shimoji Island, Kushima Island, Tarama Island, Mizuna Island, and Ogami Island.
Some of these islands are connected by bridges, making them one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan, as they can be easily accessed by renting a car or other means.
Blue Cave in Miyako Islands
Among the Miyako Islands, the Blue Cave is known as a unique sightseeing spot.
The Blue Cave on Irabu Island is a sea-eroded cave created by the erosion of seawater, and is very different from caves on land.
There is no other way to enter the Blue Cave except by heading in from the ocean.
The reason why the Blue Cave is considered a famous landmark is because of the water inside the cave.
After diving, look up overhead and you will see the sunlight shining into the blue cave and into the sea.
The waters of Irabu Island are known as Irabu Blue, famous for their extreme clarity and blue color.
The sunlight shines through such clear blue water at an exquisite angle, and the pure white ocean floor, where the calcareous coral reefs have been broken into small pieces like sand and the debris piled up, reflects it, illuminating the underwater.
The miraculous combination of several conditions, such as the clarity of the water, the whiteness of the ocean floor, and moderate sunlight, gives the cave's underwater a sparkling blue beauty that is almost otherworldly.
The experience of the world changing its appearance as soon as you dive into the water will surprise you, as if you were on a great adventure.
The Ao no Kutsu (Blue Cave), however, was not well known in the past because of its location and the difficulty of getting inside, and was not often mentioned in tourist guides.
However, the place was known locally by another name, Batarts, and its fame skyrocketed when a local vendor organized a sightseeing tour.
It is a place that has completely grown into a tourist attraction that can be said to be one of the faces of Irabu Island.
How to get to the Blue Cave
As mentioned above, the Blue Cave is located on Irabu Island, northwest of Miyako Island.
Although they are separate islands, Miyako Island and Irabu Island, where the airport is located, are connected by the 3.5 km long Irabu Bridge, making it possible to travel by land by bus or rental car.
Entering Irabu Island and turning right, you can reach the northeastern part of the island, near the Blue Cave.
Since there is no other route to the caves other than entering from the sea, it is basic to join a local tour and enter the interior by snorkel boat or glass boat.
Individuals heading out must go through a route such as traveling along the wharf.
We recommend that you take a tour, as the path can be very dangerous and difficult to find, depending on the weather and sea conditions of the day.
Because the sea outside the cave is also beautiful near the Blue Cave, visitors can enjoy a spectacular view on the way to the cave by boat.
Activities you can do in the Blue Cave
The Blue Cave is not just a place for viewing, but a sightseeing spot where you must go and enjoy the activities.
In order to fully enjoy the beautiful underwater scenery, we encourage you to take part in each activity.
Let us show you what you can enjoy at the Blue Cave!
Beginners can also enjoy! Snorkeling
If you want to enjoy an easy underwater view at the Blue Cave, how about snorkeling, which is safe even for beginners in water activities?
Snorkeling is an activity in which children swim in the ocean wearing underwater glasses, a snorkel, and a paddle for their feet, and it is an activity that can be tried by children as young as five or six years old.
The underwater coral sea inside the Blue Cave is a place where visitors can encounter a variety of tropical creatures.
As you approach the shimmering underwater anemones, you will find adorable tropical fish, the clownfish, living hidden among them.
The bear fleas made famous by the Disney movie Finding Nemo can be seen up close spending time in their natural habitat, giving the impression that you yourself have entered into the movie.
To the mysterious place! Blue Cave Diving
For those who wish to dive deeper and longer than snorkeling to enjoy the sights of the sea, we recommend diving, which is slightly more challenging than snorkeling.
Unlike snorkeling, which requires relatively light equipment, diving requires heavy equipment, such as carrying a large tank on your back and wearing a regulator to draw air from the tank.
It is also a serious activity that requires a little more attitude, as it requires instruction from an instructor and the acquisition of a license called a C-card.
The diving requires such preparation, so you can fully experience the I Love Blue in all 360°directions.
The ability to dive longer allows us to communicate more slowly with underwater creatures.
During the dive, sea turtles are one of the most important creatures you can encounter in the Blue Cave.
The green sea turtles that can be seen here are now very rare, and the experience of swimming alongside these turtles as they happily swim in the sea will be a memory that will last a lifetime.
You can also see schools of fish called "hatanpo," which do not run away when humans approach them and do not break up the schools, making it a rare experience to drift among the fish.
Also, due to the structure of the Blue Cave, the amount of light shining through varies greatly depending on the time of day and location.
You may want to look up from various underwater locations to find your favorite spot with a spectacular view.
Incidentally, the sea near the entrance is said to be easily lit by good light, so the view from there may be a particular target.
Enjoy the Blue Cave from the sea! Sea kayak
Another popular activity is not to dive underwater in the Blue Cave, but to take a sea kayak to enjoy the mysterious space inside the cave.
Sea kayaks, which are small two-person boats, allow visitors to view the ocean from a very low vantage point.
Looking down from near the surface of the ocean, you can see beautifully through the clear water and enjoy the sight of sea turtles and tropical fish swimming peacefully from a different angle than when snorkeling or diving.
How about experiencing the ultimate relaxing experience while letting the sensation of being swayed by the waves wash over you?
Best season for Blue Cave
The Miyako Islands are mild, with a minimum temperature of about 15°C even in winter, so even waterfront activities can be enjoyed year-round.
However, the best season is probably the summer months of May through October, when the sun is shining brightly.
The difference between the sunny weather outside and the cool, cool air at the moment you enter the cave is one of the best parts of cave sightseeing, so if you are visiting the Miyako Islands for sightseeing in the summer, this is a spot you should check out with high priority.
summary
We have introduced the Blue Cave, the face of Irabu Island, where you can enjoy the Irabu blue color.
Although the Blue Cave is now very popular, Miyako and Irabu islands were once not connected, and the spot was not easily accessible.
However, since the opening of the Irabu Bridge in 2015, the place has quickly gained attention as it has become easier to visit as it is connected to the land.
Because of this history, the Blue Cave can be considered the current trend in Miyako Islands tourism.
Why not visit us?
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