A must-see for first-time visitors to Miyako Island! 6 recommended beaches in Miyako Island

My first trip to Miyako Island. The thing I'm most looking forward to is, of course, the beach!
The beautiful ocean and white sandy beaches you see in guidebooks are something many people dream of.
But when you actually start looking... you might find yourself thinking, "There are so many beaches, I don't know which one is best!"
For those with limited time on their trip, we'll share information and tips on choosing the perfect Miyako Island beach so you can enjoy it to the fullest without any regrets!

<Contents>
1. Basic knowledge about Miyako Island's beaches
1-1. Location of Miyako Island Beach
1-2. What can you do on the beaches of Miyako Island?

2. Choose a Miyako Island beach based on what you want to do!

2-1. Want to fully enjoy the scenery? Beautiful, classic beaches
2-1-1. Sunayama Beach
2-1-2. Yonaha Maehama Beach

2-2. I want to go to a hidden gem beach! A beach with few people.
2-2-1. Beaches on Kurima Island

2-3. I want to go snorkeling!
2-3-1. Yoshino Coast

2-4. I want to see a romantic sunset!
2-4-1. Sawada Beach, Irabu Island

2-5. I want to enjoy swimming in the sea with small children.
2-5-1. Boraga Beach Park

2-6. [Bonus Episode] Yabiji, the legendary continent that appears only once a year

3. Useful things to bring to the beach

1. Basic knowledge about Miyako Island's beaches

1-1. Location of Miyako Island Beach

Miyako Island is known for its beautiful sea, which boasts some of the clearest waters in the world.
Miyako Island boasts numerous beaches where you can enjoy white sand and the ocean.
This time, we'll introduce six different types of beaches. We hope you find your favorite!

1-2. What can you do on the beaches of Miyako Island?

[Relaxing beach trip]
If you want to relax and forget about time, a swim in the sea is perfect! Some beaches have shops that rent out beach umbrellas, inner tubes, and chairs, so you can enjoy yourself without bringing a lot of luggage.

[Snorkel]
For an easy way to enjoy the beautiful ocean, try snorkeling! You can enjoy coral reefs and lots of fish up close. ⇒Click here for more information about snorkeling in Miyako Island

[Watching a beautiful sunset]
When you think of tropical resorts, watching the sunset is a wonderful experience, isn't it? Here are a few sunset viewing spots to check out.

2. Choose a Miyako Island beach based on what you want to do!

2-1. Want to fully enjoy the scenery? Beautiful, classic beaches

First up is a super famous and classic beach that's often said to be the go-to spot when you think of Miyako Island!
Here are some beaches that you'll often see in guidebooks and other publications, and that you should definitely visit at least once.

2-1-1. Sunayama Beach

The natural arch formed by uplifted coral is incredibly famous. Many people have probably seen pictures of it, right?
Sunayama Beach is quite famous on Miyako Island and attracts many tourists. The sand is fine and powdery. It's conveniently located just 4km from the city center.

【important point】

To get from the parking lot to the beach, you have to go over a large sand dune.
The return trip is particularly challenging because you have to climb up a fairly steep sand dune.
Please be careful if you are elderly or traveling with children. Also, be mindful of restrooms and any forgotten items!

<Sunayama Beach>
Access: 10 minutes by car from Hirara town center
Parking: Approximately 50 spaces (free)
Facilities: Showers and toilets are available in the parking lot. However, they are a bit far from the beach and require crossing a sand dune.
Shade: Slightly on the rocky areas

2-1-2. Yonaha Maehama Beach

Maehama Beach, which ranked first in TripAdvisor's 2014 Japan Beach Rankings, is a beautiful beach also known as "the whitest sand beach in the Orient."
A long, 7km stretch of sandy beach runs along the coast. Surprisingly, it's not very crowded, allowing you to enjoy a relaxing time.

<Yonaha Maehama Beach>
Access: 15 minutes south from Miyako Airport
Parking: Approximately 40 spaces
Facilities: Shower and toilet
Shop: Yes
Rentals: Parasols, chairs, snorkel sets, etc.
Nearby hotel: Miyakojima Tokyu Resort (short walk)

2-2. I want to go to a hidden gem beach! A beach with few people.

Kurima Island Beach

Kurima Island is a small island located west of Miyako Island, and can be reached by car across the Kurima Bridge.
The beaches on Kurima Island are all small and relatively uncrowded, giving them a private beach feel! You can also enjoy watching the sunset.
Furthermore, because it's located away from the center of Miyako Island, you can enjoy a beautiful starry sky.

[Nagamahama]

This is the largest and most famous beach on Kurima Island. Development has progressed recently, and you might see many tourists depending on the time of year.
After passing through a tree-lined path, a white sandy beach and the sea appear! There is free parking available for approximately 50 cars.

[Nagasaki Beach]

This is a small, cozy beach. The path is easy to follow. There are no lifeguards, so if you go into the sea, proceed at your own risk and with caution.

<Access to Kurima Island>
By car: 20 minutes by car from Miyako Airport after crossing the Kurima Bridge.
Bus: Miyako Kyoei Bus operates two Yonaha-Kadekaru lines daily, connecting Hirara city center and Kadekaru, passing through Kurima Island.

2-3. I want to go snorkeling!

2-3-1. Yoshino Coast

This beach is extremely popular as a snorkeling spot.
The coral reefs are close to the coastline, and at high tide you can see a variety of colorful tropical fish that you would normally only see by going far out to sea.
It's also famous as a nesting ground for sea turtles!

【important point】
• At low tide, the coral reefs are exposed, making swimming difficult. Be sure to check the tide table beforehand.
Coral reefs take a very long time to recover once they are damaged. To protect the beautiful nature of Miyako Island, please be careful not to bump into or stand on the coral reefs!

<Yoshino Coast>
Access: Head south on Route 83 along the east coast of Miyako Island towards Higashi-Hennazaki Cape. 35 minutes by car from Hirara town center and Miyako Airport, and 5 minutes by car from Higashi-Hennazaki Cape.
Parking: Approximately 50 spaces (500 yen, free)
Facilities: Shower and toilet
Shop: Yes
Rentals: Parasols, chairs, snorkel sets, etc.

2-4. I want to see a romantic sunset!

2-4-1. Sawada Beach, Irabu Island

Irabu Island is home to Sawada Beach, which has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Beaches.
A distinctive feature of the area is the abundance of rocks scattered offshore, which are said to have been carried there by the Great Meiwa Tsunami (1771).
Facing northwest, you can enjoy watching the sunset as it sinks horizontally. Camping is also possible here.

<Sawada Beach>
Access: Approximately 10 minutes by car from Sarahama Port
Parking: 10 spaces (free)
Facilities: Shower and toilet
Shop: None
Rental: None

2-5. I want to enjoy swimming in the sea with small children.

2-5-1. Boraga Beach Park

At Boraizumi Beach, you can see coral and tropical fish up close, enjoy snorkeling, and because a swimming area is designated within the reef and beach staff are always present, children can play safely.
Additionally, there are swimming pool facilities adjacent to the beach where you can enjoy water slides and other attractions.

<Horaizumi Beach Park>
Access: Approximately 25 minutes by car from Miyako Airport
Parking: Available (Free)
Facilities: Shower and toilet
Shop: Yes
Rentals: Parasols, chairs, snorkel sets, etc.

2-6. [Bonus Episode] Yabiji, the legendary continent that appears only once a year

Are you familiar with Yaebise, also known as the "phantom continent"? This coral reef, normally submerged beneath the sea surface, appears above the water when the tide recedes during the spring tide on the 3rd day of the 3rd month of the lunar calendar (around early April).
The day when the tidal range is at its greatest only happens two days a year!
Miyako Island Ferry will be offering a reef landing experience tour. If you really want to land on the reef, please plan your participation for this date.

Furthermore, because it is normally a coral reef area, it is a popular spot for snorkeling and diving!
You can see colorful coral reefs and tropical fish.

★The ocean you've been hoping for awaits you in Miyako Island!★

3. Useful things to bring to the beach

Whether you're just relaxing, swimming, or snorkeling, here are some items that will come in handy at the beach!

【sunglasses】
Okinawa has incredibly strong sunshine. Having sunglasses makes a huge difference in comfort. They're also convenient when driving.

[Sunscreen]
To avoid skin problems from getting too sunburned during your fun trip, be sure to bring sunscreen.

[Sunshade or sun-shade tent]
Many beaches on Miyako Island lack shade or don't offer parasol rentals. That's when having something like this comes in handy. If you can't carry a large parasol, at least a sun umbrella would be a good idea.

【drink】
On the remote islands of Okinawa, it's common to find shops and vending machines that aren't readily available. Be sure to bring your own drinks to help prevent heatstroke.

[Flashlight]
If you're going to the beach to watch the sunset, it gets completely dark outside, so a flashlight will come in handy.