Close to the entrance of Nishihennazaki Cape, there is a salt museum you will want to drop by for the award-winning Miyako-jima Snow Salt! Miyakojima no Yukishio Museum (雪塩ミュージアム) may not seem big to you, but on weekends and public holidays, it can receive more than 1,000 visitors a day!
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At the south end of Miyako-jima, a gigantic western castle is close to the beach shore. While the idea of having a German castle constructed in Okinawa doesn’t quite make sense, the castle was built to commemorate a historical event and the virtue of the locals’ fraternity. In addition, Ueno German Culture Village (うえのドイツ文化村) is
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The main reason to visit Miyako Island for many is most likely its stunning beaches. After all, the island often managed to fill in more than half of the spots of Japan’s top 10 beaches to visit. But, Miyako-jima is around 290km away from Okinawa‘s main island. So it also has its unique culture and
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Miyakojima City Museum (宮古島市総合博物館), located around 1km from Miyakojima Tropical Botanical Garden, is where the island’s important historical materials and daily utensils are stored and exhibited. Miyako Island‘s culture and tradition are introduced in a simple way that can be easily understood. Although all notations in the museum are in Japanese, there is an English
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We are all familiar with the idea of a dam. But have you heard of an underground dam? If you think the idea is unreal, you must stop by Miyakojima Underground Dam Museum (宮古島市 地下ダム資料館) when you visit Miyako-jima Island! The idea of an underground dam is simple. Instead of damming up rainwater, it is
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If you plan to visit Miyako-jima, Yonaha Maehama Beach (与那覇前浜) is the spot that you have to visit. It is the most beautiful beach on Miyako Island or even in Okinawa. The beach stretches about 7km southwest of the island and is formed with powder, snow-like white sand. With the sandy beach and the highly
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Close to Yonaha Maehama Beach, there is a tropical orchard that keeps all fruit lovers happy. Maipari Miyakojima Tropical Orchard (まいぱり 宮古島熱帯果樹園) doesn’t just have fruit trees but also farm animals that you can meet! The orchard also has a cafe, perfect for a rest from swimming and other beach activities!
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In addition to the buildings in the Shurijō Castle Park, Shikina-en Garden (識名園) was another spot that was registered as a part of the World Heritage, Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryūkyū (琉球王国のグスク及び関連遺産群) in 2000. The villa complex, also a designated Special National place of Scenery Beauty, has architecture and gardens
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A nice spot to stop by after your visit to the Shurijō Castle Park is the Shuri Kannon-dō (首里観音堂). The temple just a 10-minute walk from Tamaudun (玉陵) is one of the six temples around the castle that survived the turbulence in the last 400 years. In addition, the temple that the Ryūkyū imperial family
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It might come to you as a surprise, but there is a spot in Okinawa where it is said that the Goddess of the Sun in Japanese mythology, Amaterasu-Ōmikami (天照大御神), once briefly stopped by before she headed off for Ise (伊勢). And that holy spot happens to be at the side of Naha‘s city center!
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