Top 10 Tourist Attractions & Best Things to Do in Miyako-jima Island, Okinawa

Miyakojima is the fourth largest island in Okinawa prefecture and is full of spectacular scenery and beautiful beaches. Miyakojima is known for great beaches and clear waters, and it is a popular destination for vacation. There are also interesting cultural spots and places of untouched nature besides beaches in Miyakojima. In this article, the best 10 places you must visit in Miyakojima will be introduced.

1. Kurima Bridge

photo by sa_to_28   /   embedded from Instagram

The Kurima Bridge (Kurima Ohashi) is a bridge connecting the main island of Miyakojima and Kurimajima which is one of the neighboring Islands. The 1,690 meters long bridge is gracefully designed and has a shape of an arch for vessels to pass under the bridge.

When you are ascending the bridge, it makes you feel like as if you were walking or driving toward the sky.

You will be surrounded by clear blue waters and breathtaking views when crossing the Kurima Bridge. The bridge is one of the most popular tourist spots that you cannot miss in Miyakojima.

2. Cape Nishi Henna-zaki

photo by rie.lie124   /   embedded from Instagram

Cape Nishi Henna-zaki is a cape sticking out to the East China Sea. This cape has one of the astonishing view points, and you can overlook Ikema Island and the Ikema Bridge from the observation tower.

You can enjoy a great view of Miyakojima’s transparent sea any time of the day, but its sunset is exceptionally beautiful. You can have amazing scenery of Miyakojima’s blue sea turning into red as the sun goes down.

Cape Nishi Henna-zaki is a perfect place to have a romantic sunset view with someone special. If you are traveling with loved one, make sure you add Cape Nishi Henna-zaki on the list of places to visit.

3. Shigira Ougon Onsen

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Do you know there is a natural hot spring in Miyakojima? Shigira Ougon Onsen is a natural hot spring in Miyakojima and the Japan’s most southern hot spring as well.

Shigira Ougon Onsen has open-air hot spring baths, and you can swim at the Jungle Pool that uses hot spring water. You can have a different experience from a traditional hot spring at Shigira Ougon Onsen.

Shigira Ougon Onsen is a sodium chloride hot spring and the color of hot spring’s water is golden. They also offer special rooms with private open-air hot spring baths and massages. After spending a fulfilling day visiting around Miyakojima, Shigira Ougon Onsen is a great place to relax.

→The 10 Best Hot Springs (Onsen) You Must Visit in Okinawa, Japan

4. Miyakojima Marine Park

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Miyakojima Marine Park is a underwater observatory that you can watch many kinds of tropical fish swimming in the island. It is a convenient place to have an underwater experience without getting wet.

If you have small children or want to look under the water without actually going into the water, Miyakojima Marine Park would be the best place to visit.

Miyakojima Marine Park has an underwater observatory and a fish pool where you can actually touch fish. This is a nice place to see many tropical fish around Miyakojima. At Miyakojima Marine Park, you can have an easy access to the underwater world with a reasonable price.

5. Yonaha-Maehama Beach

photo by ha_na_1123   /   embedded from Instagram

Yonaha-Maehama Beach is the seven kilometers of white sand coastline, and you can enjoy astonishing landscape. As its beautiful white sand is described as the most beautiful sand in the east, it is a perfect place to sun bathing and relax.

Spending a relaxing time at Yonaha-Maehama Beach makes you feel like as if you were inside a post card. You can also enjoy variety of marine sports, such as snorkeling, yacht, and boat.

At Yonaha-Maehama Beach, everyone can find things to do, such as marine sports, sun bathing, swimming, and relaxing on the beach. If you cannot decide which beach to go, you should go to Yonaha-Maehama Beach.

 
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→Top 10 Tourist Attractions & Best Things to Do in Okinawa, Japan

6. Shimajiri Mangrove Forests

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There are many mangroves in Okinawa, and Shimajiri Mangrove Forests is the largest one in Miyakojima. You can have an unordinary experience, such as finding wild crabs or enjoy bird watching, at Shimajiri Mangrove Forests.

What makes Shimajiri Mangrove Forests special is that you can find wild spices and explore mangroves while sea kayaking. You can have a kayaking experience and enjoy tropical scenery all at once at Shimajiri Mangrove Forests.

7. Cape Higashi Henna-zaki

Cape Higashi Hennna-zaki is located at the most eastern part of Miyakojima. Its picturesque scenery is often picked as one of the 100 best sceneries in Japan. Enjoy a walk to the tip of the cape with an extraordinary view of the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

There is a nice white lighthouse at the tip of Cape Higashi Henna-zaki. This handsome lighthouse is chosen as one of 50 lighthouses in Japan, and a panoramic view of the ocean below is spectacular. Cape Higashi Henna-zaki is one of the most beautiful places that you must visit in Miyakojima.

→The 10 Best Places for Stargazing in Okinawa, Japan

8. Painagama Beach

photo by emiko.vanden   /   embedded from Instagram

Painagama Beach is accessible by walk from a town and is popular among families with children. The beach offers a netted area for swimming and has a safe and clean beach. It is a perfect place to swim in the transparent water or to relax on the beach.

Painagama Beach is also known for its beautiful sunset. If you are looking for a romantic place in Miyakojima, you should try Painagama Beach.

9. Yabiji

photo by tomocyaaan   /   embedded from Instagram

Yabiji (or Yaebishi) is a big group of coral reefs located in the northern part of Miyakojima and is also famous for its diving and snorkeling spots in the world.

Yabiji can be accessed only by boat, but it is definitely worth a trip. Once a year during the spring tide, the coral reefs appear above the water. If you are in Miyakojima during this time period, you must include Yabiji for a place to visit.

10. Sunayama Beach

Sunayama Beach is one of Miyakojima’s most famous beaches and is chosen as the best beach in Japan three years in a row. After ascending a narrow path of a sandy mountain, it opens to a breathtaking view of the powdery white sand and transparent waters that are so clear that you could see through the bottom.

Sunayama Beach is a famous and popular beach for locals and tourist, yet it is surprisingly quiet and never crowded. This is the beach that you can fully enjoy Miyakojima’s beautiful sea. You must visit the most beautiful beach in Japan while you are in Miyakojima.

→The 10 Best Beaches You Must Visit in Okinawa, Japan

Let’s enjoy Miyakojima’s magnificent scenery and beautiful sea!

Miyakojima offers beautiful beaches and spectacular scenery and is full of attractions. You can benefit its unique nature of the tropical island in Miyakojima. Let’s plan a trip to Miyakojima and enjoy its magnificent scenery and beautiful sea!