12 recommended spots on Miyako Island
Table of Contents
- 1 12 recommended hole-in-the-wall spots
- 2 Started handling rental cars!
- 2.1 Anaerobic Spots on Miyako Island 1. Hora Izumi Beach Park
- 2.2 A hole-in-the-wall spot on Miyako Island 2. Imugyah Marine Garden
- 2.3 3. Muigah Cliffs, a hidden spot on Miyako Island
- 2.4 Painagama Beach, Miyako Island's Hole-in-the-Wall Spot 4.
- 2.5 Miyakojima City Tropical Botanical Garden
- 2.6 Miyakojima's Anaerobic Spot 6. Shimajiri Mangrove Forest
- 2.7 Miyako Island's Holey Spot 7. Ikema Marsh
- 2.8 8. Ikema Village, a hidden spot on Miyako Island
- 2.9 Anaerobic Spot 9. Octopus Park Shimo Beach (Kurema Island)
- 2.10 A small cove in front of Nakanoshima Beach (Shimoji Island)
- 2.11 Anaerobic Spots on Miyako Island 11. Ogami Island
- 2.12 Miyako Island Hole-in-the-wall Spot 12. Kamamalingu Park
- 3 summary
12 recommended hole-in-the-wall spots
The Miyako Island region is rapidly gaining popularity to the extent that it is said to be in a bubble! Not only first-time visitors, but also many people who have become obsessed with the charms of Miyako and keep coming back for a second, third, and so on. These people have probably already visited all the famous beaches and tourist attractions that are mentioned in tourist magazines and the like.
Some first-time visitors may also think, "I came here to relax, but there are quite a lot of people here...". For those people, we would like to introduce several sightseeing spots on Miyako Island that are not so crowded!
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Anaerobic Spots on Miyako Island 1. Hora Izumi Beach Park
Boragaa Beach is located in the southeast of Miyako Island, Okinawa Prefecture, just before Higashi Heiannazaki. It is marked by the "Kaihokan" facility, which also has a restaurant. Go down the steep slope past the open gate on the left and park your car in the free parking lot on the right.
From there, walk down the hill. After a while, you will see an overly beautiful view of the Miyako blue sea on your right! The beautifully stacked stone walls on both sides, the bright tropical flowers such as deigo and hibiscus, and the Miyako blue ocean will make you stop in your tracks. There is also a pavilion on the way, so you can take your time and enjoy the view.
Further down the slope is a beach house and a beautifully maintained beach. The location is outstanding, with cliffs in the back, white sand in front of you, and the Miyako blue ocean. It is not a large beach, but it is well maintained and cleaned and always beautiful. Even when I was there, I rarely saw trash on the beach...!
Boraga Beach is a managed beach, so the swimming area is set according to the sea conditions of the day. The red flags (no swimming) are often quite strict, but the level is quite high, so it's fun to just relax on the beach and forget about the time. If you are blue flag (can swim), please enjoy the underwater world to the fullest. As soon as you enter the ocean, you can see corals and tropical fish up close.
There is a pay-per-use pool that can be entered for a few hundred yen, parasols and ocean equipment for rent, a poolside parlor where you can eat snacks, and showers, toilets, changing rooms, and lockers for your convenience! In any case, the beach is conscientious, clean, and too cozy. Also nearby is "Pumpkin Hole", a famous power spot on Miyako Island.
For more information about the spot, click here↓.
For more information and a list of plans for the Pumpkin Hole Expedition, click here↓.
A hole-in-the-wall spot on Miyako Island 2. Imugyah Marine Garden
Imugyah Marine Garden is a cute cove that appears shortly after you drive along Prefectural Route 235 from Ueno, where the food stall village is located, in the direction of Higashi Heian-Nanazaki. The name "Imgayah" means "surrounded by spring water," and the cove is so named because of the underground water gushing out of the cove.
Imgah Marine Garden is an underwater park that makes use of a natural cove, and the rocky mountains surrounding the beach make it very calm at any time of the year. It is ideal for snorkeling with the family, as you can see many fish as soon as you enter the water! The deeper areas are about 15 meters deep and are also used for diving lessons.
The beautiful and impressive ocean tends to catch the eye, but the rocky mountains surrounding the cove are not to be forgotten! You should definitely take a walk along the promenade that stretches to the top of the rocky mountain, also called Goganzan! It is more of a hill than a mountain, so you can just take a short stroll.
The eyes of the cow sculpture at the top of the mountain gaze out at a breathtaking view of the Miyako blue ocean! The contrast between the white of the Inoh waves and the deep, bright blue of the East China Sea is out of this world! The name may make you think that this is a facility that charges a fee, but in fact, it is a public facility and anyone can use it for free.
For more information about the spot, click here↓.
3. Muigah Cliffs, a hidden spot on Miyako Island
From Ueno, take Prefectural Route 235 along the coast, pass Imgaya Marine Garden, and continue on, and the next stop is Mui Gah Cliffs, where the dynamic scenery of the sea and cliffs is breathtaking. The word "muy ga" means "spring," and there is indeed a spring down there, and it is said that people used to go down the cliffs to fetch water for drinking.
A boardwalk and pavilion were built in the spring of 2018, making it much easier to walk. Whales can sometimes be seen in the spectacular view of the ocean spreading out from the cliffs. This may be the most powerful and exhilarating driving course on Miyako Island, except for the Ohashi Bridge connecting the islands.
In spring, there are beautiful tepee lilies with white flowers on vertical cliffs, but please do not beg your boyfriend or husband for those lilies (laughs).
For more information about the spot, click here↓.
Painagama Beach, Miyako Island's Hole-in-the-Wall Spot 4.
Painagama Beach is located within walking distance from the city center and is a beach where locals and tourists alike enjoy and relax. You may be thinking, "If it's so close to the city center, doesn't that mean the ocean is not that clean? But don't worry! The beautiful Miyako blue ocean stretches out before your eyes!
The path leading to the beach from the free parking lot is paved with gentle slopes and handrails, and is friendly to children who have just started walking, the elderly, and the handicapped. Wheelchair-accessible toilets and showers are also available.
You can enjoy the view in the morning, listen to the sound of the waves while eating bread from the convenience store in front of you, relax at the pavilion during the day, swim, and enjoy watching the beautiful sunset in the evening, no matter what time of day you go. It is a friendly beach for everyone.
For more information about the spot, click here↓.
Miyakojima City Tropical Botanical Garden
Miyakojima City Tropical Botanical Garden is located about 10 minutes by car north of Miyako Airport, and is the largest botanical garden in Okinawa Prefecture, with a vast area covered with various kinds of subtropical trees, plants and flowers. Admission is free!
The park is not all glitz and glamour (lol), but it is very well maintained and suitable for eco-observant walkers no matter what time of year you visit. I recommend it to those who are tired of the crowds and want to be healed by tropical flowers and trees.
For more information about the spot, click here↓.
Miyakojima's Anaerobic Spot 6. Shimajiri Mangrove Forest
Shimajiri Mangrove Forest is the largest mangrove forest among several mangrove forests on Miyako and Irabu Islands. Mangrove is a general term for a group of plants that grow in the muddy soil of brackish water (area where sea water and fresh water mix) in the subtropical zone, and is also called "sea forest. There is a well-maintained boardwalk along the water's edge, so visitors can comfortably tour the area.
The attraction of this area is that it looks very different depending on the ebb and flow of the tide. At low tide, you can observe crabs and other creatures unique to the mangroves that live on the mud flats, and at high tide, you can enjoy the unique scenery of the mangroves floating green in the sea.
It is a tourist attraction with a parking lot and restrooms, but no matter when you visit, it is always empty, so you can take your time to observe nature. Mangrove canoe tours are also offered in the mangrove forests of Shimajiri!
For more information about the spot, click here↓.
For more information about mangrove canoe tours in Shimajiri, click here↓.
Miyako Island's Holey Spot 7. Ikema Marsh
This is a rare marshland located near the center of Ikema Island. It is a habitat for a variety of freshwater creatures and a resting place for waterfowl. Huts for observation and simple footpaths are provided for easy nature observation. There is also a parking lot for easy access. Relatively empty at any time, it is a perfect hole-in-the-wall spot for relaxing and contemplating nature observation.
For more information about the spot, click here↓.
8. Ikema Village, a hidden spot on Miyako Island
There is only one village on Ikema Island, near Ikema Harbor, where the fishing industry is thriving and nets are hung out to dry, creating a nice fishing village atmosphere. You may be surprised to see a shark skull hanging from the eaves of an ordinary house! The people of Ikema are going about their daily lives, so please go around quietly so as not to disturb them.
The roads are all narrow, just barely narrow enough for a light car, so it is tough with an unfamiliar rental car. Do not go there by car.
For more information about Ikema Island, click here↓.
Anaerobic Spot 9. Octopus Park Shimo Beach (Kurema Island)
Octopus Park" on Kushima Island. Is it full of octopuses?" You may think, "Are there a lot of octopuses? The name "Octopus Park" comes from the octopus sculpture that suddenly appears as you walk along the promenade, while subtropical plants block your way.
The best spot to visit is the long, narrow cove surrounded by the shore below the octopus park! It is a hidden snorkeling spot where children can safely enjoy snorkeling in the calm sea like a natural swimming pool with many fish.
For more information about the spot, click here↓.
A small cove in front of Nakanoshima Beach (Shimoji Island)
After crossing the Irabu Bridge, driving around to the left will eventually take you to the famous "Nakanoshima Beach," but actually there is a small cove with a little white sand beach on the ocean side about 1 km before that.
This cove is like a swimming pool at low tide, where you can safely swim, and the sea is beautiful, too, with many clownfish living here as if they were living in a mansion...♪ Your children will surely be delighted! Perhaps because all the tourists who come to Irabu Island are sucked into Nakanoshima Beach, it is basically empty with only 1~2 groups... ♪
For more information about the spot, click here↓.
Anaerobic Spots on Miyako Island 11. Ogami Island
Ogamijima is a mysterious island said to be inhabited by gods, and only those who have been chosen by the gods are allowed to enter. Although there are four to five regular daily flights that cost only a few hundred yen to board, few people have ever been to the island.
Once you enter the island by regular boat, you can greet the gods, go up to the far view platform via a paved path for a spectacular 360-degree view, and enter the snorkel spot in front of the plaza for the ocean dragon's palace! In addition to the awe-inspiring view, we recommend that you only take the limited number of people who can board the regular boat, so it is never crowded with people.
For more information about Ogami Island, click here↓.
Miyako Island Hole-in-the-wall Spot 12. Kamamalingu Park
It is not for tourists, and is probably not listed in general Miyako Island guidebooks! It is a large park located on a small hill next to the relocated New Miyako Hospital, just up from Painagama Beach with its back to the ocean.
Of particular note is the giant Shisa that sits in the center of the park. Is it a guardian god? but in fact, this is a playground equipment for children. Inside is a secret base, and the arms of the Shisa are slides.
Knowing this place, you can let your children play energetically with Shisa while your parents take a break to relax and enjoy the view of the Irabu Bridge and Irabu Island from Hirara City!
For more information about the spot, click here↓.
summary
How was it? We recommend these spots for a relaxing and less crowded experience.
Please visit and get hooked on deep Miyako Island!
