Miyako Island is a remote island belonging to Okinawa Prefecture. The crystal clear sea, called Miyako blue, is very popular, and there are many other famous tourist spots and spectacular scenic spots where you can enjoy the beautiful ocean. Here, we will introduce some of Miyako Island’s classic and scenic sightseeing spots.
40 Sightseeing Spots & Spectacular Views on Miyako Island
Beautiful beaches & crystal clear waters
Miyako Island has beautiful beaches with 360-degree clear waters. Among them, we introduce ten famous beaches perfect for sightseeing trips!
Yonaha Maehama Beach
Yonaha Maehama Beach is one of Miyako Island’s most famous tourist spots. It is also renowned as the most beautiful beach in the East and has been featured in various media magazines. Here, visitors can enjoy a 7-km-long white beach. The contrast between the white sandy beach and the Miyako blue sea can only be experienced here.
Aragusuku Beach
Aragusuku Beach is one of the best beaches on Miyako Island. It is also famous as a tourist spot with the best sunrise. The beach facilities are all fully equipped with showers, changing rooms, toilets, and stores, so you can have a pleasant time and have lunch. Furthermore, the shallow waters make it safe even for small children. Tourists will also be happy to know that there are buoys to mark the locations where the bears live.
17END
This place is famous for its enjoyable activities and is still a little-known, new spot. You will be able to enjoy the sunset in the evening, and at low tide, you will enjoy the white beach that stretches far into the distance. In addition, you can watch a touch-and-go (landing and then taking off again) training exercise at a nearby airfield. This is a great place to visit on a girls’ trip or a couple’s trip and a great place to take pictures.
Nakanoshima Beach
Nakanoshima Beach is an excellent spot for snorkeling and beach entry diving. It is also famous for the presence of tropical fish, even knee-deep in the sea. As soon as you enter the ocean, the water is as deep as 10 meters to enjoy the coral reefs and tropical fish on the ocean floor.
Shigira Beach
Shigira Beach is owned by “Shigira Seven Miles Resort,” one of the leading hotels in Miyakojima. It is also famous as a tourist spot where sea turtles can be seen. Near the well-maintained beach are cabanas, a covered space for relaxing, so you can relax. There are also a variety of marine activity rentals available.
Yoshino Coast
出典：4travel
With a coastline that stretches 500 meters, Yoshino Beach also has spots surrounded by coral reefs called in, where you can enjoy snorkeling in areas with gentle currents. Parking is charged, but you can enjoy the beautiful ocean for the price. We highly recommend this spot.
Toguchi Beach
出典：4travel
Toguchi Beach is a famous beach on Irabu Island, which a bridge can cross from Miyako Island. The beach is crescent-shaped, and you will see a wide white beach as long as 800 meters. There are stores, toilets, and showers, so it is recommended for visitors with children. It is a secluded spot where you can enjoy the spectacular view typical of Okinawa, but there are no lifeguards, and the terrain is prone to waves, so please play with caution.
Yabiji
The Yaebiji area of rich coral reefs stretches about 25 km north of Miyako Island. As a result, it is famous as a mecca for snorkeling and diving. In 2013, it was designated as a national natural monument because it is one of Japan’s largest coral reef zones. The clarity of the sea here is outstanding, so enjoy the mysterious sea by participating in various activities.
Blue Cave
The Blue Cave is among the most famous caves on Miyako Island among tourists. This cave, which can be reached by boat entry, is 10 meters long and has a wide dome shape, making it a mysterious place with a blue glow inside the cave. Because of the northerly winds, there are days when boats cannot be launched during the winter, but we highly recommend snorkeling or diving in the sea that fills the cave, as just looking at it will give you a sense of adventure.
Sunset Beach
This is an artificial beach on Miyako Island with convenient access. Located just a short drive from Hirara Port, it is close to the city center and the airport and is netted for jellyfish so visitors can play safely. It is also known as a parasailing landing site. Watching a beautiful sunset on a beach close to the city center is excellent. If you are traveling as a couple, why not spend a romantic moment at Sunset Beach?
Spots with spectacular views
Miyako Island has colorful seas and virgin mangrove forests. Here we introduce some of the most spectacular spots for sightseeing.
Triangle point
出典：スナップレイス
The Triangle Point offers a spectacular view of Miyako Island. You can enjoy a spectacular view of the crystal clear ocean from the top of the cliff. You can have the sea and sky of Miyako Island all to yourself. You can also experience the thrill of falling from the top of the cliff, where a fall would result in serious injury! The spectacular view will surely excite you.
Irabu Bridge
The Irabu Bridge is the longest in Japan, spanning from Miyako Island to Irabu Island. Its total length is 3,540 meters, an unimaginable length. It takes about 4.5 minutes by car, so you can enjoy the Irabu Ohashi Bridge while driving slowly and sightseeing. Moreover, you can see Miyako Island’s clear and beautiful sea around the bridge, so just going on the bridge is a pleasant experience.
Dragon’s Palace Observatory
A spectacular spot to enjoy Miyako Island’s sea is Kurima Island, just across the bridge. From the building with the motif of a dragon’s castle on the island surrounded by sugar cane fields, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the crystal clear ocean and Yonaha Maehama Beach. The path leading to the observatory can also be enjoyed, making it a spot that kills two birds with one stone.
Pumpkin Hole
Pumpkin Hole is a typical limestone cave on Miyako Island. It is also famous as the best power spot on Miyako Island. Because it can only be entered at low tide, it is also known as the “Phantom Cave,” Once inside, you can see pumpkin-shaped stalactites. We hope you will enjoy the scenery of Miyako Island’s stalactite caves, which were created over a long period.
pond in a garden
The Street Pond is an unusual sightseeing spot on Miyako Island’s Shimoji Island. The two ponds are connected underground through a cave, and visitors can enjoy the scenery that changes with the ebb and flow of the tide. Diving through this underground is popular. It is designated a national natural monument, so be sure to visit.
Yuni no Hama
Yuni no Hama is a small island seen from the Irabu Bridge over Miyako Island. It is a sightseeing spot that can be reached by kayak or boat from Sunset Beach and can also be seen from the Irabu Bridge. Yuni” means “heap” in the Okinawan language, and you can see the sand rising and floating in the sea. Once ashore, you will be surrounded by a 360-degree view of the ocean.
Higa Road Park
You are located in the northeastern part of Miyako Island, between Ikema Island and Higashi Heiannazaki. Higa Road Park is a spectacular spot to stop by while driving. Here, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the crystal-clear waters of Miyako Island from a high, well-fenced hill. Moreover, nearby is Yoshino Beach, where you can watch people snorkeling.
Historical Sights
Miyako Island, a remnant of the Ryukyu Dynasty, has spectacular scenic spots and historical sights. Here we introduce sightseeing spots for adults to enjoy.
Harimizu Utaki
出典：4travel
Among the many sacred sites scattered throughout Miyako Island, Harimizu Utaki is unusually free to enter. It is considered one of the holiest sites on Miyako Island, with buildings even older than those of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Nearby is a banyan tree, which is considered to be sacred.
Visit Taragawa Brewery
出典：4travel
Okinawa is famous for its old sake (kusu), making it an ideal spot for adult tourists. Among them, more than 60% of the sake made at Taragawa on Miyako Island is old that has been laid down for over three years, making it a must-try for any sake lover. A nice feature of the Taragawa Sake Brewery is that visitors can observe the production process.
Tomb of Nakasone Toyomichika
Okinawa has many unique graves, and Nakasone Toyomichika’s Tomb (Nakasone Toyomichika’s Tomb) is one of the largest on Miyako Island. There are graves and steps made of Ryukyu limestone, 13 degrees high, so that you will feel the history.
Miyako Island City Experience Craft Village
出典：4travel
If you want to experience the history of Miyako Island through hands-on experience, visit the Miyako Island City Hands-on Craft Village. We recommend making shisha, taking pictures in Ryukyuan costumes popular among women, experiencing Miyako Island’s indigo dyeing, and making folk tools used by people in the olden days.
Family-friendly attractions
Families with small children are inevitably limited in how they can play and sightsee. Here are some recommended sightseeing spots for families.
Miyako Island Marine Park
Visitors can enjoy Miyako Island’s crystal clear waters without changing into a bathing suit. Inside the building, you can view the ocean through as many as 24 pieces of transparent glass. It is an excellent point to enjoy the underwater world without getting into the water, even in the fall and winter when the temperature drops. The museum is also famous because visitors can try making things by hand using shells from Miyako Island and other materials.
Miyako Island Kaiho-kan
出典：じゃらん
Miyako Island Kaihokan is a sightseeing spot where you will never get bored, even if you spend the whole day there, with shells from all over the world. Here, you can enjoy various activities, such as snorkeling and diving. This is a place you should visit with your family.
Ueno German Cultural Village
出典：4travel
This is a theme park located in Ueno, Miyako Island. It holds underwater boats and SUP and kayaking in the bay. It is famous as where a shipwreck from Germany was rescued in the Meiji era (1868-1912), and various events are held here. A visit with the family is sure to be a satisfying experience.
Shigira Golden Hot Spring
出典：4travel
This hot spring is at “Shigira Seven Miles Resort,” a typical hotel on Miyako Island. It is one of the few natural hot springs on a tropical island. There is also a jungle pool where you can enter wearing a swimsuit, which is rare in Okinawa. Here, visitors can fully enjoy the natural hot spring water that bubbles up from 1,250 meters underground while enjoying the surrounding subtropical wilderness. Since the jungle pool is accessible in swimsuits, it is a highly recommended tourist spot for families to relax after a hard day’s work.
Sightseeing spots that can be enjoyed even on rainy days
Sudden rain on a trip to Miyako Island… sometimes your original plans fall apart… Here are some sightseeing spots you can enjoy even on a rainy day!
Snow Salt Museum
Visitors can learn how to make Miyako Island’s famous snow salt in this museum. You can learn all about snow salt, from the production process to recommended uses. There is also a store where you can try snow salt soft serve ice cream. Nearby is Nishi no Hama Beach, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Ikema Ohashi Bridge and Ikema Island.
Miyako Island Hot Spring (Miyako no Yu)
出典：じゃらん
Spend a rainy day relaxing in one of Miyako Island’s famous hot springs. Since it is close to Miyako Airport, it is especially recommended for those who have a flight to catch after snorkeling or other tour activities. In addition to the large baths, there are private hot springs for families with children to enjoy alone.
Roadside Station Miyako
出典：シネマズPLUS
One of the best things to try on your trip to Miyako Island is the tropical fruit, the mango. If you want to purchase souvenirs, this is the place to go. At Miyako Island’s Roadside Station Miyako, many mangoes are available at reasonable prices. Furthermore, you will enjoy soft ice cream made from mangoes.
Utopia Farm Miyako Island
出典：ぐるたび
Visitors can enjoy fruits and plants grown on Miyako Island at Utopia Farm. In addition to the famous mangoes, you can enjoy pineapples, dragon fruits, and other fruits growing on the island. In addition, you can eat the fruits at the fruit parlor, which is recommended on rainy days.
Miyako Island City Tropical Botanical Garden
出典：4travel
Visitors can walk through 120,000 square meters of the garden at the Miyako Island Tropical Botanical Garden. Visitors can observe more than 1,600 kinds of plants and organisms and enjoy the tropical atmosphere, even on rainy days.
Experience Spots & Endemic Species
Miyako Island belongs to the subtropical zone. It is good to enjoy the unique flora and fauna of Miyako Island. Here we introduce some of Miyako Island’s most popular sightseeing spots and creatures.
coconut crab (Birgus later)
The coconut crab is an endangered species in the Yaeyama Islands that can be seen at night, and it is also found here on Miyako Island. The nocturnal coconut crab, covered with a shell, has a vast body extending beyond your hand’s palm. How about observing coconut crabs for your creature-loving children’s free research during summer vacation? Children will undoubtedly be very excited to see the giant coconut crabs.
Sagaribana
The sagaribana, which can be seen from May to July, is the flower that heralds the arrival of summer on Miyako Island. It is known as the “phantom one-night flower” because it blooms from evening to night and falls in the morning. Dozens of white and pink long, slender flowers bloom and glow, especially in the dark of night. The sweet vanilla-like fragrance of the sagaribana is a must-see.
Sea turtle
On Miyako Island, you can see loggerhead turtles, green turtles, and hawksbill turtles, all designated as endangered species. Although you can usually only see these turtles on TV, there are spots where you can almost certainly meet them, so please try swimming with them in the sea of Miyako Island.
Shimajiri mangrove
Miyako Island is famous for its crystal clear ocean, but besides the sea, you can also enjoy the mangrove jungle typical of the subtropical zone. In the mangrove forest at Shimajiri, all five species of mangroves found on Miyako Island can be seen. It is recommended to visit when the tide is low, as at low tide, the area becomes a mudflat where you can observe a variety of creatures.
Remote island spots that can be reached from Miyako Island
The Miyako Islands, including Miyako Island, include remote islands connected by bridges and those accessible only by boat or plane. Depending on your travel schedule, you may wish to visit Miyako Island and other outlying islands.
Irabu Island
If you cross the longest bridge in Japan that stretches from Miyako Island to the north, you will reach Irabu Island. This island has a population of about 5,000 people and a beautiful ocean. It is easily accessible from Miyako Island, and the beautiful sea makes it a popular spot to visit when you come to Miyako Island.
Shimoji Island
Shimoji Island is a small island across a bridge from Miyako Island via Irabu Island. Shimojishima Island This is a “cape diving” spot for those in the know, and the sea around here is famous for its unusual terrain. Other beaches with spectacular views, such as “17END”, are also recommended.
Ikema Island
Ikema Island can be reached by crossing the Ikema Ohashi Bridge from Miyako Island. Crystal-clear waters surround the island, and there is a place called Ikema Marsh in the middle. Furthermore, the culture of Ikema Island has something that Miyako Island does not have, and it is an island that has attracted the attention of many people.
Kurima Island
Kurima Island is a remote island full of nature that can be visited by rental car from Miyako Island. There are beaches overlooking the crystal clear ocean and ruins called “Smulya Myaka. Also, visit a café called “Rakuen no Kajitsu” (Fruits of Paradise) for its delicious mangoes.
Tarama Island
Tarama Island is located about two hours by ferry from Miyako Island. It is located just between Ishigaki Island and Miyako Island and is a delightful place to enjoy both glasses of water. It is rich but also has a sacred place called Shiokawa Utaki, a great place to visit.
Minna Island
Minna-Jima (水納島) is a small island 8 km north of Tarama Island. There are no regular boats to the island, and visitors must take a chartered boat from Tarama Island. Because the uplift of coral reefs formed Mizuna Island, the surrounding area is also covered with coral reefs, making it an excellent snorkeling spot. On the island’s west side, there is a beautiful, endless stretch of pure white sandy beach that looks like heaven. Because of its inaccessibility, the island is rarely visited by tourists, making it a genuinely unexplored and unexplored part of the island.
in conclusion
Miyako Island is relatively small among the remote islands in Okinawa Prefecture, but many tourist attractions exist. We recommend renting a car or taking a tour if you want to explore the island. Please enjoy the spectacular scenery that can only be seen on Miyako Island.
