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Enjoy a round-the-clock tour of Miyako Island, the "coral island
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What is Miyako Island?
What is the charm of Miyako Island?The blue of the seaIt is!
Among the remote islands of Okinawa Prefecture, the azure of Miyakojima is outstanding. It is no exaggeration to say that all visitors to Miyakojima are left speechless by the azure of the island!
Miyako Island also has other attractions.
It has many bridges, and it is possible to visit other remote islands (Kurima, Irabu, Ikema, etc.) by car!
However, since all of the beaches on Miyako Island are beautiful and there are many remote islands that can be reached by car, tourists may be at a loss as to where to go.
Therefore, in this article, we will introduce the means and spots where you can make a meaningful round of Miyako Island!
Around Miyako Island
A round trip around Miyako Island, surrounded by such blue waters, is about 100 km.
Not only can one see the blue sea to its fullest as one travels around the perimeter of the island, but there are also beaches scattered throughout the island that have become tourist attractions.
Many of the island's beaches are a blanket of white, contrasting with the blue sea.
This whiteness is made of the same quality as the coral reef debris that has been deposited on the seabed, and here and there one can enjoy a different sight from that of sandy beaches.
Of course,Sandy beaches are not the only tourist attractions.
You can visit too many sights to mention just by going around the perimeter.
Means of transportation
First, let's look at how to get around Miyako Island.
Buses and other forms of public transportation are available on the island, but they are not very frequent.
If you are coming for sightseeing purposes that require flexibility in your time schedulerent-a-carMovement by, orrent-a-cycleis a common means of transportation.
Also,tourist busWe also recommend taking a ride on a bus to visit tourist spots while being guided by a local guide!
Comfortable drive! Car Rental
Three to four hours by car should be sufficient for a round-the-clock tour of Miyako Island.
The distance is moderate for those who enjoy long drives, and the sights are scattered at moderate intervals, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenery from the car windows without getting bored.
Since the island is visited by many tourists throughout the year, car rental stores can be found in various locations on the island.
In particular, there are a number of stores in and near airports and in urban centers, so you will have no difficulty in finding a store.
Rental rates are relatively inexpensive compared to other prefectures.
Above is a price comparison chart for off-season car rental companies.
Car rentals are also more expensive than in other prefectures.Relatively low feesYou can rent at
Also, even if you are not so good at driving, a drive around Miyako Island is highly recommended.
This is because Miyako Island has a flat terrain and not much traffic, so you can enjoy a safe drive while driving at your own pace.
The most important thing to keep in mind, however, is that the island hasNot many gas stationsThis is the point.
Most of the gas stations on the island are concentrated in the city center, especially if you plan to drive around the perimeter of the island.Pay attention to the remaining gasoline level.Let's do it.
Advanced Bicycle Rental
Along with car rentals, bicycle rentals are a popular means of transportation for tourists.
As mentioned above, Miyako Island has a flat terrain with few ups and downs, so cycling around the island is not difficult.
Also, bicycles can easily navigate narrow roads that are impassable by car!
The island also hosts the Tour de Miyako Island road race and triathlon every year, and the easy-running roadside strips make the island suitable for bicycle transportation.
The sea breeze blows strongly due to the lack of obstructions, and in good weather, a pleasant breeze will soothe your body after a day of biking.
However, even though it is easy to run, it is still a long road, stretching 100 km around, so those who are unfamiliar with it should take it easy!
By not assuming that you will complete the entire tour, but rather by planning in advance where you will turn back to the city if things get too tough, you will be able to enjoy your journey to the very end.
Bicycle rentals are often available at hotels, so it is convenient to check in advance!
You can tour around the sightseeing spots at a leisurely pace! Sightseeing Bus
This tour includes a bus ride to the Ohashi Bridge with its spectacular view of Miyako Island and several tourist attractions!
You can visit five Miyako Islands (Miyako Island, Ikema Island, Irabu Island, Shimoji Island, and Kurima Island) and spectacular scenic spots such as the Irabu Bridge in a single day. On the bus, a guide who knows the island inside out will happily introduce deep information about Miyako Island!
In a rental car, the view of the ocean may be blocked by the parapet, but in a bus, you can see the spectacular ocean from the window!
Ideal for driving! Sightseeing Spots in Miyako Island
There are many sightseeing spots in the Miyako Islands.
The following is a list of spots on each island that are especially recommended by local guides!
From royal spots to hole-in-the-wall spots, this is all you need to know!
Miyako Island (Okinawa)
Miyako Island is located approximately 300 km southwest of the main island of Okinawa.
Here are some of the sightseeing spots on Miyako Island, which is surrounded by six islands of various sizes.
1) Yonaha Maehama Beach
If you look up tourist spots on Miyako Island, this beach is the first one that comes up.
The 7-km stretch of sandy beach, which has been called the best in the East, is as fine and silky as snow, and marine sports such as banana boats and jet skis are popular on the beach.
The beach is shallow, making it a good place for swimming!
(2) Imgarma Marine Garden
Imgarmah Marine Garden was developed by taking advantage of the topography and is a seaside park created under the theme of "creating a town rich in light, water, and greenery.
The beach in the cove is very calm and ideal for activities such as SUP and canoeing.
In addition to playing on the beach, the park also has a boardwalk and an observation deck where visitors can enjoy the spectacular views while strolling through nature.
A stroll along the promenade will lead you to a 30-meter-high observatory from which you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the area, which will surely relieve your travel fatigue.
Shinshiro Coast
Aragusuku Coast (Aragusuku Kigan) is a popular beach for snorkeling.
The sea of Miyakojima is very beautiful just by looking at it, but you can enjoy a different view once you enter the sea.
The Shinshiro Coast has shallow waters, expanses of coral, and bright, lovely tropical fish.
You have a high probability of encountering sea turtles on this beach, so be sure to snorkel there!
(4) Shigira Beach
As the name suggests, Shigira Beach is located near the Shigira Seven Miles Resort Hotel.
The beach is open to everyone, not just hotel guests, and is surrounded by rocks, making it a safe spot for children as the current is gentle!
If you go a little deeper, you will find abundant coral reefs and a habitat full of bear clams and colorful tropical fish, making this a very popular snorkeling spot as well!
5) Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach, as the name suggests, is a beach where you can see very beautiful sunsets.
You can watch the sunset as it slowly sinks into the horizon from land, or cruise around on a SUP or canoe!
Enjoy the only time you can see and feel the passage of time!
6) Miyakojima Underwater Park
Miyakojima Underwater Park" allows visitors to observe the underwater world in their everyday clothes.
Visitors can enjoy the 3 to 5-meter-deep ocean as if it were an aquarium, allowing them to appreciate tropical fish and sea snakes that cannot be seen without entering the ocean.
It is a good spot for rainy days in particular, as there are also cafes and other facilities.
Irabu Island, Shimoji Island
Irabu Island is located in the northwestern part of Okinawa Prefecture and has a population of about 5,000.
Easily accessible from Miyako Island by crossing the Irabu Bridge, the island offers clear waters and a great sense of nature!
Including the adjacent Shimoji Island, the circumference is about 30 km, and it takes about 45 minutes by car or 2 hours and 45 minutes by bicycle to go around the island.
There are spots that are rich in nature because they are rich in nature.
(1) Irabu Bridge
The Irabu Bridge spans between Irabu Island to the northwest.
The Irabu Bridge is 3,540 meters long, making it the longest bridge in Japan that can be crossed free of charge!
The long bridge stretching over the blue sea is an extraordinary sight, and is not only highly popular as a driving course, but also as a photogenic spot for social networking.
If you go down to the beach by the bridge, you can look over the bridge, so you may want to try taking pictures from here before crossing the bridge.
Please note that it is prohibited to stop your car in the middle of the bridge.
(2) Watariguchi Beach
Watakuchi beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Miyako Island!
The sea is of course blue, and the sand is so smooth and white that it can be said to be the whitest and finest in the Miyako Islands, making you want to walk barefoot!
Watakuchi Beach, located in the western part of Irabu Island, is an 800-meter-long stretch of pure white sand.
(c) nudocubiabu
Nudokubiabu is a spectacular and yet little-known viewpoint and power spot on Irabu Island.
When Miyako Island is mentioned, everyone imagines the ocean, but this is a point rich in nature that is different from the ocean.
Standing at the bottom of Ndokubiabu, which has existed quietly and hidden from the public eye, one feels a sense of wonder coupled with the silence of the place.
Several banyan tree aerial roots hang down from the ground as if they were pouring down from the heavens.
(4) Street Pond
Although people tend to think of a pond as a hole in the ground, it is in fact connected to the ocean and other ponds at the bottom of the sea floor.
Doriike is also a sacred place, also known as the "Eye of the Dragon" due to one theory that it is "the eye that sees everything in the world.
Street Pond, a popular diving spot, can be viewed from outside or inside, and offers a deep, dark blue color unlike any other beach!
5) 17END
The name "17END" is derived from the fact that the runway is oriented at an angle of 170 degrees, with north being 0 degrees, and the runway identification number is "17," and that the end of the runway is called "Runway End" in aviation terms.
If you visit at low tide, you can see the fantastic beach!
The clarity of the water is extremely high, and you can see colorful sea creatures without having to enter the water.
Kurima Island
Kurima Island is a remote island southwest of Miyako Island.
It is also accessible by car from Miyako Island, so it is recommended for those who want to enjoy the remote islands in a limited amount of time!
Perfect for half-day sightseeing on the first or last day!
The circumference of the island is less than 10 km, so it is easy to go around the island.
Here are some of the recommended spots on Kurema Island.
(1) Raima Bridge
First is the Kushima Kushima Bridge, which connects Miyakojima and Kushima.
The second longest bridge after the Irabu Bridge is the Kuruma Bridge, with a total length of 1,690 meters!
Although the Kurima Bridge is inferior to the Irabu Bridge in terms of scale as a bridge, many people actually recommend this bridge as a spot for viewing the ocean.
The strait across which the Raima Bridge crosses is characterized by faster currents than other bridge locations, and the deepness of the water helps to maintain a high level of water clarity at all times.
The ability to see the beautiful sea at any time of the year is a great advantage for sightseeing trips with a limited itinerary.
Furthermore, the Kuruma Ohashi Bridge has a pedestrian walkway attached to it, and there is even an observation area in the middle of the bridge where visitors can sit and rest, making it an ideal spot for those who travel on foot.
It is a good distance for walking, about 3 km round trip, so it would be a good idea to walk across.
(2) Nagama Beach
Nagama Beach is a natural beach on the west side of Kuruma Island.
Nagama Beach is a great location to enjoy private space, as the beach is almost completely deserted.
The beach faces west, so sunset can be seen beautifully.
(3) Octopus Park
Octopus Park is a park on Kurima Island with a symbolic octopus monument.
A boardwalk with subtropical vegetation makes for an exploratory walk, and there is also a beach at the bottom.
This beach, known as Ingama, is surrounded by a shoreline and looks like a natural swimming pool.
Ikema Island
Ikema Island is a small island located 1.5 km northwest of Miyako Island and is said to have a population of about 600.
The island is surrounded by sugar cane fields, and there are several beaches around the island, giving it a peaceful atmosphere.
To the northeast is Yaebise, one of the largest coral reef groups in Japan, and the island is rich in nature.
There is also a beach that was used as a filming location for NHK's morning drama and Yaehigashio, a famous diving spot, just beyond Ikema Island.
It is only a 30-minute drive from Miyako Airport, so if you are looking for a place with a spectacular view, you should not forget to visit.
(1) Ikema Bridge
First, we will introduce the 1425-meter-long Ikema Ohashi Bridge, which connects Ikema Island with the island.
When looking out over the ocean at low tide from the observation deck at the foot of the bridge, the shallows created by the receding water are glistening white.
From there, as the depth of the water increases, you can enjoy a gradation of shifting colors, from emerald green to a more bluish sea as you move further away from the land.
Looking north-northeast from the observatory, you can see Ogami Island, which is restricted as a sacred place in the Miyako Islands.
(2) Heart Rock
Heart Rock exists on the beach known as Ikidu Beach.
It was the location for NHK's morning drama "Jun to Ai," and was named "Heart Iwa" (meaning "heart rock" in Japanese) because its shape looks like a heart due to the erosion of coral reefs by waves over a long period of time.
If you can aim for noon at low tide, you will be able to see the heart firmly.
(3) Funax Beach
This point, also known as the Ikema Block, has a spectacular view, although it is rocky and has poor footing.
The view is good because it is slightly elevated from the sea, offering a far-reaching view of the Ikema blue sea with its beautiful gradations.
Corals and other creatures can be seen from land on days when there are no waves!
3 activities to experience during your round Miyako Island trip
Here are some ocean activities you can do while circling Miyako Island!
You can enjoy driving around Miyako Island, but by participating in activities, you will be able to actually get into the sea and enjoy it even more!
Seeing and experiencing are two completely different kinds of fun.
(1) SUP/Canoe
The first thing I recommend is SUPor canoeing, which can be done on the beach!
Both activities involve cruising on the ocean, where you can experience the waves and currents firsthand.
If you are canoeing, you will be amazed at how close you are to the ocean.
SUP is an activity that is rapidly growing in popularity! It offers a high degree of freedom and is especially popular among young people.
Why not take this opportunity to experience it in the beautiful sea of Miyako Island?
(2) Snorkeling
The next recommendation is sea turtle snorkeling.
When we think of Miyako Island, we think of the "sea. I think it is a waste to just look at such azure sea!
You can actually go in and swim with sea turtles and see tropical fish up close and personal!
We invite you to experience the inside of the sea of Miyako Island, which is said to be a natural aquarium.
(iii) Caving
And on Miyako Island, there exists a limestone cave known as the Pumpkin Cave.
The only way to get there is to participate in activities.
The entrance only appears when the ocean is at low tide, and you have to go there by canoe to reach it.
This may make it a bit of a chore.
But every single person who visits the Pumpkin Cave is left speechless by its magnificence.
This is a must-visit point when visiting Miyako Island.
summary
We have introduced several recommended sightseeing spots in the Miyako Islands.
There are a number of islands in Japan that are considered tourist destinations, but Miyako Island is by far the most suitable among them for a round-the-clock tour.
There are many more points we would like to introduce, but too many options would be the end of the story, so we will introduce them at another time!
If you visit Miyako Island, please try a round-the-clock tour of Miyako Island!
It will surely be a special memory!
This article was written by.
