Emerald Green Sea: A Trip to Miyako Island

Day 2 

Today’s sightseeing focused on Irabu Island and Shimoji Island, located to the northwest of Miyako Island, with a population of around 5,000. In 2015, the “Irabu Bridge,” a free-to-use bridge extending 3.5 kilometers from Miyako Island, opened, making travel to these islands more accessible. We crossed the Irabu Bridge and visited the Makiyama Observatory on Irabu Island, which offers a great view of the bridge and is a popular spot for photos. After about a 30-minute drive, we explored Sawada Beach, known for its unique landscape created by massive boulders said to have been washed ashore by a large tsunami in the Edo period. Sawada Beach is also listed among the "Top 100 Beaches in Japan."

Next, we planned to photograph the arriving and departing aircraft at Shimoji Island Airport’s 17END (a publicly accessible area for watching planes). Unfortunately, due to the wind direction, the planes were taking off and landing in the opposite direction, which was disappointing. For lunch, we each had Miyako soba in Miyako City.

In the afternoon, we began our sightseeing at Sand Hill Beach. After climbing the small sand dune from the parking lot, we were rewarded with a stunning view of the emerald green sea and white sandy beach below. There was an arch-shaped rock formation at Sand Hill Beach, but it was closed to visitors due to severe weathering. The beach does not have restroom facilities, so it's recommended to use the restrooms at the parking lot beforehand.

Next, we crossed the Ikema Bridge to Ikema Island, where we visited a souvenir shop and café called Kai-meeru. The shop has stairs leading to a rooftop with a spectacular view of the Ikema Bridge. There are also stairs leading down from the back of the shop to a sandy beach, known as Ohama Beach, which also offers a beautiful view of the Ikema Bridge.

Our final sightseeing stop for the day was Nishihenna Cape, located at the northwest tip of Miyako Island. The landscape, with its row of wind turbines, is very tranquil, and there is an observatory that is famous for its sunset views. On the way back, we saw the largest mangrove forest in the Miyako Islands, the Island-Sirui Mangrove, and concluded the day's itinerary.

　　　　　　　　　　　【Accommodation: Hotel Trefee Miyakojima Resort】

Our sightseeing started at Higashi-Henna Cape, located at the easternmost tip of Miyako Island, facing both the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The cape features a stunning viewpoint with a lighthouse at the tip. The lighthouse, which requires an entrance fee, offers a 360-degree panoramic view from the top.

Next, we visited Yonaha Maehama Beach, located about a 20-minute drive from Miyako Airport. This beach stretches approximately 7 kilometers and is renowned for its fine white sand and the beautiful contrast with the cobalt blue sea, earning it the title of the best beach in the Orient. Since our visit was in mid-November, there were few people swimming or engaging in marine sports. Additionally, the view of Ikema Island, connected by Ikema Bridge, was also spectacular. It was definitely a beach worth visiting.

Finally, we headed to Ikema Island, located directly across from Miyako Island. Ikema Island is connected to Miyako Island by the Ikema Bridge, which is Japan’s longest agricultural bridge, stretching 1,690 meters. The island itself is relatively small, with a circumference of about 8 kilometers. Although the island has a small population due to depopulation, there are recent efforts by people from the city who have renovated vacant houses to start cafés and guesthouses.

                 【Accommodation: Hotel Trefee Miyakojima Resort】

Depart from Miyako Airport: 10:40 (JTA556)

Arrive at Naha Airport: 11:35

Depart from Naha Airport: 12:10 (JAL2084)

Arrive at Itami Airport: 14:00