Miyakojima Island Insta-view

Hello everyone!

Social networking services, which have spread along with personal computers and smartphones, have become an indispensable part of contemporary culture.

Many people post information on social networking sites such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and this has greatly influenced trends in various genres such as fashion, entertainment, and food.

Unlike the days when the mass media, such as television and magazines, were the only sources of information, each and every citizen is now a media and trendsetter.

One of the most influential social networking sites is Instagram, aka Insta.

It has become a part of the culture to take beautiful photos that "look good" and post them on Instagram to attract the admiration, sympathy, and envy of many people.

As evidenced by the fact that the word "insta-eyoe" has won a buzzword award, its influence is now no less than that of traditional media.

The widespread popularity of this concept of "installations" has influenced the travel industry, as more and more people are placing importance on scenery and color when choosing a destination.

Miyakojima Island in Okinawa Prefecture is a destination that has become increasingly popular amid such a trend in recent years.

It is truly an Instagram-worthy photo spot that is getting a lot of attention.

 

Miyako Island, a beautiful coral island

Miyako Island is an island formed by rising coral reefs.

The entire island is flat, with few ups and downs, and despite being quite large, there are no mountains or rivers.

Because there are no rivers, soil and sand do not flow out of the island into the sea, and for this reason, the sea around Miyakojima is not muddy and boasts a high degree of clarity and beauty.

The sea around Miyako Island is, of course, home to many bright coral formations.

The high transparency of the water allows visitors to see colorful underwater corals and tropical fishes swimming in the water.

 

Why Miyako Island is a great place for installations.

Blessed with nature in all four seasons, Japan is dotted throughout the country with beautiful spots for Instagram-worthy views.

The blue sea of Miyako Island, known as "Miyako blue," is one of the most beautiful spots in all of Japan.

If you are told only that "the sea is blue," you may think that there are beautiful seas all over the country that look blue when the weather is good.

However, there is a good geographical reason for the blue ocean of Miyakojima.

The coral reefs that grow in clusters on the seafloor around Miyako Island have the characteristic of turning white when they break up.

The shattered coral reefs fall into minute fragments, forming a pure white seafloor.

The white sand on the seafloor reflects the sunlight shining from the sea surface, accentuating the blue wavelengths of light and creating the Miyako blue sea.

In addition, the island's sandy beach, like the seabed, is made up of coral debris.

The contrast between the white sandy beach and the blue ocean is as vivid and pleasing to the eye as a painting.

In addition, there are few obstructions to visibility around the remote island of Miyakojima.

This makes it possible to clearly see the sunrise and sunset as they sink into the horizon.

In particular, just before sunset on Miyakojima, you may encounter a rare sight called the green flash.

This is a natural phenomenon in which the rim of the sun appears as a flash of green or gold at the moment of sunset, and because of its rarity, some say it makes people happy to be able to see it.

It is a sight unique to Miyakojima, where the air is clear, so you may want to keep it in mind at dusk on a fine day.

If you visit Miyako Island, which is full of natural and spectacular scenery, you are sure to find a spot that will be reflected in your visit!

 

Five Instagram-worthy spots on Miyako Island

Now then, let's take a look at Miyako Island's installation spots.

Miyako Island has so many photo-worthy places that there is not enough time to visit them all during a trip of limited days.

We have carefully selected five places in particular that we would like you to visit.

 

17END

The first one I would like to introduce is a beach on Shimoji Island, 17 END.

What? Not Miyako Island? You may have thought, "But Shimoji Island is a small island right next to Miyako Island, connected to the mainland by a bridge.

Miyako Island, together with seven surrounding islands, forms the Miyako Archipelago, and the standard Miyako sightseeing course includes those islands.

Although often lumped together as Miyako Island tourism, it is in effect tourism to the Miyako Archipelago.

Off topic, but 17END is a small beach at the end of a path by the runway of Shimojishima Airport.

Beyond the beautiful white beach, which looks like a private beach, you can see the clear blue ocean and encounter a spectacular view that is out of this world.

The color of the sea changes with the ebb and flow of the tides, and the view changes with the time of day when you visit.

If you are a frequent user of Instagram, you have probably heard of 17END.

This beach used to be a minor, little-known spot with a spectacular view, but its fame skyrocketed after it was introduced on Instagram.

It has become so popular that the road beside it is now closed to vehicular traffic, making it a place that cannot be missed when talking about SNS spots in the Miyako Archipelago.

If you want to take a good picture, aim for low tide, when the water is clearer and the beauty of the ocean is more apparent.

Airplanes taking off from the Shimojishima Airport next door also look great against the blue sky, so if your timing is right, you can take some good photos!

 

 

iguana rock

Next up is Iguana Iwa, also located in the northern part of Irabu Island, which is connected to Miyako Island by a bridge.

Iguana Iwa, a huge limestone rock so large that one would be fooled into thinking it was a cliff, is a rock that, as its name suggests, is silhouetted like an iguana.

Taking pictures of rocks? Don't worry if you are tilting your head.

Of course, the shape of the rocks is interesting, but the highlight here is the spectacular view from the top of the rocks!

The Miyako Archipelago has few differences in elevation, making it difficult to take photos looking out into the distance, but from Iguana Iwa you can take panoramic photos looking out over a wide area.

The blue sea around Irabu Island, as well as the nearby islands and the large bridge over the sea, can all be captured in one picture, making it a perfect location.

A similar high-altitude spot, Triangle Point, is also well known, but Iguana Rock is more accessible and safer on the road.

However, the top of the rock is a precipitous cliff, so be careful not to get too carried away with taking pictures and end up in danger.

 

 

Higa Road Park

Higa Road Park is a plaza located on Prefectural Route 83, which runs along the east coast of Miyako Island, on the way to Ikema Island.

With free parking and a pavilion suitable for resting, it is an ideal spot to stop by for a break from driving, and can be easily incorporated into a Miyako Island travel itinerary that is based on renting a car.

From Miyako Airport, the starting point for travel to Miyako Island, it is less than a 20-minute drive, making it a fairly easy location to visit.

The topography here is high, with an elevation of approximately 98 meters, and there is also an observatory from which you can view the surrounding ocean.

On a fine day, you can see Ogami Island, called God's Island, so why not try for a spectacular Instagram-worthy view?

If you can visit in the early morning hours, you will also be able to see the tropical sunrise from the horizon that can be seen in the right hand direction toward the sea.

During an uplifting trip, you may wake up earlier than expected.

On such mornings, it is recommended to drive here to see the sunrise of Miyako Island, which is different from the one on the mainland.

Nearby are the famous tourist spots of Shinshiro Beach and Yoshino Beach, so be sure to visit them as well.

 

 

Yonaha Maehama Beach

When listing the five most scenic spots on Miyako Island, it is unlikely that anyone would leave out Yonaha Maehama Beach.

Yonaha Maehama Beach, called the most beautiful beach in the East, is a 7-km long beach.

The contrast between the crystal clear emerald green sea and the powdery white sandy beach is full of an extraordinary feeling reminiscent of a foreign resort.

The secret to its popularity is that it is extremely convenient, with a rental store for marine leisure equipment and a restaurant.

Also, since it is located on the west coast of Miyako Island, visitors can watch the beautiful sunset as it sinks into the western horizon.

No matter when you visit, you are sure to be able to take Instagram-worthy photos!

 

 

Im Gyor Marine Garden

Imgaya Marine Garden is a smaller beach located on the south coast of Miyako Island.

The area's location on the southern coast makes it less susceptible to northerly winds, and the sea is stable because of its many inlets.

The calm waters are home to numerous tropical fish, including the bear flea made famous by "Finding Nemo.

You can also see a variety of other tropical fish, such as spiny dogfish and butterfly fish, and if you explore the intricate topography of the ocean, you will find a number of spots to be reflected.

There is an observation deck nearby, so you may want to try to get a good photo from there.

 

 

Photojournalism Experience! Miyako Island Activities!

Miyakojima's installation points are not only limited to its scenery.

If you challenge yourself with activities unique to Miyako Island in this beautiful natural setting, you are sure to take pictures that will be the envy of everyone!

Let's take a look at five must-see tours that are sure to be Instagram-worthy.

 

SUP

SUP is very popular among Instagrammers from the viewpoint of "eiko-e".

SUP stands for Stand Up Paddling, a marine sport that originated in Hawaii.

The silhouette of a person standing on a board at sea is so stylish and photogenic that it has attracted a great deal of attention as an Instagram-worthy activity.

Balancing on the water has a high fitness effect, and athletes sometimes use it as a form of core training.

Originally a boom mainly in Europe and the United States, it is now widely enjoyed in Japan, especially with the beautiful sea of Miyakojima.

Another feature of SUP is that it can be enjoyed at various times and in various situations, such as sunrise on the water, sunset viewing, or even stargazing.

If you are planning to visit Miyako Island, this is an activity that you should definitely try.

 

Jungle Night Tour

Miyako Island's subtropical climate makes it possible to encounter creatures that cannot be seen on the mainland.

At night, Miyako Island is quiet, as if cut off from civilization, a stark contrast to the bustling daytime tourist scene.

The background music for the jungle night tour is the sounds of animals, leaves shaking in the presence, and faint footsteps and breathing.

It is a thrilling experience to observe the unique creatures of Miyako Island in the jungle at night, such as the coconut crab, a member of the giant hermit crab family.

Furthermore, since this is a night tour, on a fine day you can look up at the magnificent starry sky from the darkness of the jungle.

The night sky of Miyako Island is characterized by the fact that even the Southern Cross and other southern hemisphere constellations can be seen, making the celestial show like a natural planetarium an emotional must-see.

How about capturing the starry sky, which is different from that of the mainland, in a photo for a different kind of Instagram?

 

Pumpkin Cave

The Pumpkin Cave is the best part of the trip, where you can go sightseeing at a power spot and get an Insta-view at the same time.

This limestone cave can only be visited at low tide because its entrance is in the sea.

From Bora Gah spring beach in the southeastern part of the island, walk along the rocky shore where the tide has receded to reach the caves.

Observing the creatures in the tide pools created by the receding tide, we soon came to a stalactite cave with a gaping mouth over the sea that was waist-deep in water.

Just inside the entrance is a huge pumpkin-shaped stalactite, which is also the common name of the cave!

The rock, which is 4 meters wide and 3 meters high, can be climbed, and from there one can jump into the sea.

This rock is also famous as a power spot, and it is said that if you make a wish as you dive in, it will come true.

Taking a commemorative photo in front of such a mysterious pumpkin rock will surely be Instagram-worthy.

Also, this rock is not a dead end for the Pumpkin Cave.

The caves continue deeper and deeper into the rocks, where you can see various rock art created over a long period of time.

There are a wide variety of sights, such as limestone pools, where limestone rocks are layered like stairs, and stalactites hanging from the ceiling like a curtain.

It is also a place where a dragon god is enshrined, so you may want to take a moment to soak up the mystical atmosphere.

 

sea kayak

Water activities such as SUP are exhilarating and fun, but falling into the water means having to swim, having to reapply makeup, and so on.

For this reason, some people may not be too keen on the idea.

I highly recommend sea kayaking, one of the most popular activities on Miyako Island.

Activity kayaks are highly stable and rarely capsize.

The propulsive force is also higher than it looks, and even inexperienced rowers can row forward at a brisk pace, making it safe even for those who are not confident in their physical strength.

The kayaks painted in bright red and yellow and moving along on the Miyako blue ocean are a perfect Instagram-worthy sight!

If you join the tour, your guide will take photos for free so you can concentrate on enjoying the activity.

Also, since kayaks can accommodate two people, it is a great activity for couples, parents and children, and close friends to get together.

 

Sunset SUP

The last activity we will introduce is Sunset SUP, where you paddle out into the ocean at dusk.

Miyako Island has some of the best sunset spots in Japan.

Among them, the sunsets seen from the sea are overwhelmingly beautiful.

Relying on a single surfboard and a paddle, we paddle out to the sea, where the sky, the sea, and the beach are gradually dyed a shade of madder red, making us stop to take pictures and admire the spectacle.

Many repeat visitors come back again and again for the sunset SUP, enthralled by the unrealistically beautiful scene that looks like a scene from a movie.

Sunset SUP tours are offered at various locations, where you can enjoy SUP in the early evening and end the tour by sitting on the board and watching the sunset.

It is no exaggeration to say that once you have experienced sunset SUP, you are already a master of Miyako Island's reflection.

Please enjoy the sea at sunset, which is the ultimate in Instagram.

 

summary

We hope you enjoyed our introduction to some of Miyako Island's Instagram-worthy spots and activities.

This article is a special feature on "Ei Ei," which focuses on locations that are particularly attractive, but there are many more attractive spots on Miyako Island that we have not been able to fully introduce.

One of the merits of sightseeing in Miyakojima is the ease with which one can rent a car and tour around the archipelago in a compact manner.

You may want to visit other places besides the famous ones to find your own reflection spots and become a first-class Instagrammer.

If you are looking for a destination that looks great, please consider going to Miyako Island!

This article was written by.

Hello! I am Niwa-chan, your source for all things Miyakojima. I have loved being in touch with nature since I was a child, and I am especially fascinated by Okinawa's rich natural environment. Currently based in Miyakojima, I provide information on how to enjoy activities such as snorkeling, SUP, and kayaking, as well as the hidden charms of the island.

I want to experience the best activities in Miyako Island! and "I want to get local information about Miyako Island! As a local guide, I provide detailed information on recommended spots and activities on the island to those who "want to experience the best activities on Miyako Island! Our goal is to deliver an unforgettable experience for our customers while getting in touch with the local nature every day.

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