How to get to and play in Miyakojima Underwater Park!
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Hello everyone! You may want to play in the ocean since you have come all the way to Miyako Island, but you may not be able to go into the ocean with a baby or with an elderly person. In such a case, we recommend the underwater park! The Underwater Park in Miyako Island is an underwater observation facility built by cutting down a cove, so you can observe the underwater and ocean floor of Miyako Island with your clothes on. This article introduces such underwater parks in Miyakojima.
What is Miyakojima Underwater Park?
Miyakojima Underwater Park is an observation facility where visitors can observe the underwater world with their clothes on, located near Ikema Ohashi Bridge in the northern part of Miyakojima. Before the park, there was nothing but the sea and limestone rocks. The cove was demolished and completed.
Unlike an aquarium, this facility was built in a corner of a cove, allowing visitors to observe the natural undersea environment. 24 large acrylic panels allow visitors to observe the undersea environment, and a guide will introduce the creatures and guide them through the museum. The facility can be enjoyed by everyone from small children to the elderly. There is also an observation deck and a restaurant.
Take a look at the view before entering the underwater park. You can observe the emerald blue sea overlooking Miyako Island! It is so beautiful that you can even see where the gara are swimming.
Anglers come to the beach near Miyakojima Underwater Park to catch big fish. It is a quite a secluded spot, so it is highly recommended. There is also an observatory, so taking a break outside to savor the scenery can also be very enjoyable.
There is a large underwater park rock in front of the entrance. It is an easy to spot landmark. After parking, you will see the entrance to the facility ahead. Once inside the facility, there is a ticket booth at the entrance, so buy a ticket. The set price with the café at the nearby facility is a good deal, so it is a good idea to have lunch and go have fun. There are hamburgers, snacks, and drinks available, so stop by!
Buy a ticket and proceed for a while until you reach the stairs. The stairs are designed to be barrier-free and wheelchair accessible. The stairs have the names of fish written on them, so that even small children can remember the names of fish.
Descending the stairs, one arrives at a glassed-in bluish place. The vertical windows are powerful. It looks like an aquarium, but there are only natural fish. If you are lucky, you can see gara and sharks. The height is more than 10 meters, so you can observe the fish from below, which is a fresh experience.
There are no coral reefs nearby, but sand and algae attract fish. You can also observe spiny dogfish, sea eels, and mealybugs. If the seawater is good, you can see them swimming up to 50 meters away, so take your time to observe them.
On the opposite side of the vertical window of the underwater park, there is a chart explaining the dangerous creatures that can be seen on Miyako Island and an exhibition of rare shells. Some of the shells can only be seen in Okinawa, so how about visiting for free research during your summer vacation?
You will have a chance to snorkel in Miyako Island. We recommend that you take a look at the underwater park beforehand to avoid injury while snorkeling.
As you can see from the above shells, they are very manic. Some of these shells are almost identical in appearance. So experts are analyzing them one by one.â
People tend to think that underwater parks are devoid of fish, but dozens of species of fish swim in schools.
The representative fishes of Okinawa are also depicted. Even the gurukun and irabucha served at izakaya (Japanese style pubs) are pictured, so please remember them.
There is also a rare shako mussel, which is also rare in Okinawa.
Miyako Island Underwater Park Access
Uminchu Park Park is located approximately 25 minutes by car from Miyako Airport. From Miyakojima Airport, exit to Prefectural Route 243 and head to Prefectural Route 83 via Prefectural Route 78. After exiting to Prefectural Route 230, you will arrive at a stone sign for Uminchu Park.
Facilities around Miyako Underwater Park
1) Restaurant Sumubari
Sumubari Restaurant is located about 2 km from Miyakojima Underwater Park. At Sumubari, you can enjoy island octopus caught in the sea of Miyako Island. In addition to octopus, you can also enjoy Miyako soba (buckwheat noodles), a popular gourmet dish on Miyako Island. The restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes such as noodles and rice bowls, so you are sure to find something to your liking!
Related Rankings:Set menus and cafeterias | Miyakojima City
(2) Snow Salt Salt Mine
The Snow Salt Factory is located 2.7 km away from Miyakojima Underwater Park. Here, visitors can observe the production process of Miyako Island's specialty "snow salt" and purchase products made from snow salt. Snow salt is made from seawater of Miyako Island by a special process, and is said to have the highest mineral content and variety in the world.
At the Snow Salt Museum, you can enjoy snow salt soft serve ice cream, which is available only here. The salty taste enhances the sweetness of the ice cream, giving it a unique flavor. Products made with snow salt are sold online, but many are only available in person, so be sure to visit the museum.
Address: 191 Hirara Karimata, Miyakojima City, Okinawa, Japan
Phone number: 0980-72-5667
Access: 20 minutes by car from Taira Port
Manatsu Restaurant
Manatsu Restaurant is located 2.4 km from Miyakojima Underwater Park and is a popular set meal restaurant for both tourists and locals. It offers a variety of Okinawan dishes such as Goya Chanpuru (bitter melon stir-fry) and Miyako soba (buckwheat noodles). The reasonable prices and generous portions make it an excellent choice. Of course, the taste is also excellent! The famous lobster set meal is an unbeatable 1,900 yen. Please enjoy the lobster set meal when you visit Dining Place Manatsu.
Related Rankings:Okinawan cuisine | Miyakojima City
Details of Underwater Park in Miyako Island
Miyakojima Underwater Park is a facility where visitors can view the sea of Miyakojima in its natural state. The difference from an aquarium is that visitors can directly observe the natural sea. Since the sea is in its natural state, you can observe the changes in the sea and its creatures, which change their expressions according to changes in weather and sea conditions.
Visitors can enjoy looking around the sea of Miyakojima in their normal clothes, from children to the elderly, as they are not allowed to go into the sea. In addition to colorful tropical fish, you can also see octopus and sea snakes, and enjoy encounters with a variety of living creatures.
Guides are available at the facility to explain the changes in the ocean and the creature ecology and species. Visitors can watch fish swimming on the ocean floor at a depth of 3 to 5 meters with their clothes on. Inside the facility is Seaside Cafe Kaiyu, where you can stroll around and stop for lunch or a short break. You can enjoy a poke bowl made with tuna caught in the sea of Miyako Island, a menu using Miyako beef that represents Miyako Island, as well as desserts using mangoes produced in Miyako Island.
The facility has a variety of hands-on activities, which are introduced below!
Photo frame making experience
Fee: 1,800 yen
Time required: 30 minutes to 1 hour
Seashell Shisa Making Experience
Fee: 1,800 yen
Time required: 30 minutes to 1 hour
Seashell Accessory Making Experience
Fee: 1,650 yen
Time required: 20 to 30 minutes
UV resin seashell crafting
Fee: 1,650 yen
Time required: 30-45 minutes
Shisa experience
Fee: 1,650 yen
Time required: 30-45 minutes
Island Zori Shisa Experience
Fee: 2,000 yen
Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Seashell Wall Hanging Shisa Experience
Fee: 2,000 yen
Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour
UV Resin Necklace Experience
Fee: 2,000 yen
Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Address: 2511-1, Aza-Karimata, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa, Japan
Access: 28 minutes by car from Miyako Airport
Phone number: 0980-74-6335
Admission: Adults 1,000 yen, Junior high school students (800 yen), Children (elementary and junior high school students) 500 yen, Children under 6 years old free
Hours of operation: 10:00 to 18:00
Closed: No holidays
Parking: Available
Toilet: Yes
Click here for related activities
How to Enjoy Miyako Island Underwater Park
The best way to enjoy the Underwater Park is to observe the real sea of Miyako Island through the giant acrylic panels! Visitors can watch fish chasing each other, schooling together, and eating in the sea of Miyako Island in a natural, stress-free environment.
In addition, there are many other experiences to enjoy, such as a souvenir shop and a hands-on crafts corner. You can also enjoy island foods such as fish caught in Miyako Island and mangoes produced in the island. There is also a plan that includes admission and a meal at Seaside Cafe Kaiyu, so be sure to take advantage of it!
summary
We have introduced the Underwater Park in Miyako Island. How was it? You can feel the real sea and creatures of Miyako Island in their natural state depending on the weather and sea conditions, and you can enjoy the park in a different way from an aquarium. The café and hands-on experience corner are abundant and full of fun! If you are not able to go in the ocean, please come here to experience the real sea of Miyako Island. Thank you for reading to the end.
