Around 4km northeast of Miyako Island, there is a mysterious small island where the locals believe that gods of nature reside. There are numerous sacred sites where entry is forbidden without permission. It is said that during the Uyagan Festival (祖神祭 (ウヤガン祭)), even the islanders aren’t allowed to enter those areas. In fact, to Miyakojima’s […]
Ōgami Island – The Most Sacred Island in Miyakojima City Read More »
Shimoji-Shima Island (下地島) is one of the eight islands in Miyakojima City. Having one of the only two airports located on the island and with the completion of the 3,540-meter-long Irabu Bridge, Shimoji-Shima is the next most accessible island in the city after Miyako Island. Although its size isn’t the biggest in the region, Shimoji
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On Shimoji-Shima Island, there are two round ponds with colors changing by the tidal conditions, known as Tōriike Pond (通り池). The ponds were formed by seawater erosion of the limestone layer. Because they are connected with the sea, don’t be surprised if you see people popping out of the pond. They are definitely not mermaids
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The best photogenic beach on Shimoji Island has to be 17END (ワンセブンエンド), which spreads under the road surrounding the runway of Shimojishima Airport. At low tide, the sandy beach appears, and the stunning shallow blue sea spreads!
17END: The Best Photogenic Beach on Shimoji Island Read More »
Amongst the three super long bridges that Miyakojima City has, the most magnificent bridge has to be the more than 3km long Irabu Bridge. It is also the landmark of Irabu Island (伊良部島), where the bridge is connected. Thanks to the bridge’s completion in 2015, when we visit Miyakojima today, the stunning spots on Irabu
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Speaking of Blue Cave in Okinawa, the one at Cape Maeda (真栄田岬) on Okinawa’s main island is much more famous, but Irabu Island also has one! The Blue Cave (青の洞窟) on Irabu Island is a sea cave underneath a 70-meter cliff. As you enter the cave, you will enter a world of blue.
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Irabu Bridge (伊良部大橋) which connects Miyako Island to Irabu Island, is Japan’s longest toll-free bridge. The bridge doesn’t just have an artistic shape, but the scenery from the bridge is just simply awe-inspiring! Irabu Bridge has a total length of 3,540 meters. With many coral reefs underneath and the breathtaking azure-colored ocean, any photo with
Irabu Bridge in Miyakojima: Japan’s Longest Toll-Free Bridge Read More »
Miyakojima is one of the top destinations in Okinawa. But you might not be aware that there are a couple of smaller islands around Miyako Island, with three of them connected to Miyako-jima by a very long but majestic bridge! Ikema Island is one of the islands that can be reached from Miyako-jima without a
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On the north of Ikema Island, there is a compact beach that includes all the elements of Miyakojima‘s beautiful beaches within a small area. The white sandy beach shore, the crystal clear azure color seawater, coral reefs, and tropical fishes can all be found at Funaks Beach (フナクスビーチ). You can even hide behind the big
Funaks Beach: The Must-Go Hidden Gem on Ikema Island Read More »
You might have heard of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the world’s largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs. Well, Japan has something similar, but just smaller in scale. The Japanese version of the Great Barrier Reef is the Yabiji Reef (八重干瀬), also known as Yae-Kise. It is located north of
Yabiji Reef: Japan’s Largest Stunning Coral Reef System Read More »