Day 1 in Miyakojima

Welcome to Miyakojima! Upon arrival at the airport, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do!

We recommend you get acquainted with the city, take a walk down Shimozato Street, Nishizatodori Street runs parallel to it and is basically the main downtown area of the island. Here you can find a variety of restaurants, bars, and shops, stop into one of the local restaurants for some lunch and browse the shops for some authentic souvenirs such as Awamori, mangoes, and salt. This street leads down to Painagama Beach where you can relax and sunbathe on this stunning picturesque beach, swim in the beautiful clear blue waters, do some snorkeling, where you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of some sea turtles. Breathe in the fresh sea air, take in the spectacular surroundings while you adjust to the laid back island life.

The island is full of lots of fun sights and activities including fishing, snorkeling and diving in the surrounding coral reefs and even playing dress up! Miyakojima Sanshin Kobo is the place to dress up in traditional garments known as `ryuso` and transform back to the times of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Visitors here can dress up and have their photos taken in a stunning garden setting, which is a fun memento for your island trip.

Check out some of the interesting and fun places on the island such as the Tuyumya Grave where Nakasone Tuyumya, a leader of Miyako during the 16th century is enshrined. The grave features a unique style and is a designated cultural asset to the island.

The Miyakojima City Botanical Gardens are a beautiful location to check out. A spacious park brimming with tropical plants and walking trails through the vibrant gardens which are home to over 1,600 different types of plants, trees, bushes and flowers from Miyako, Hawaii, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. Strolling along the paths is a nice way to spend the afternoon and get some much-needed shade from the sun.

Make your way to Higashi-Hennazaki situated in the southeastern tip of the island. The beautiful cape sits at the tip of the peninsula where there is a stunning lighthouse, which you can climb up for spectacular views over the island and the breathtaking surrounding waters. This is a great location to capture a magnificent island sunset and bask in the beautiful natural surroundings.

After sunset head for dinner at one of the beachfront restaurants. Sip on a tropical cocktail while waiting for your delicious meal which will most likely consist of freshly caught seafood, Sashimi is a famous dish on the island, the local islanders like to eat it with hot `island pepper` in their soy sauce!

If you want to check out some of the island nightlife, there are an abundance of beachside bars where you can sit with your toes in the sand and a drink in your hand under the star-filled sky listening to the waves and some live music.

Day 2 in Miyakojima

Start your day with a stroll along one of the many pristine beaches that the island is famous for, stop in at one of the local cafes or restaurants to enjoy some coffee and breakfast before you head out on your adventures for the day.

We suggest hiring a bike, cycling around the island roads gives you the chance to stop in at beaches and other hidden areas that you would not see when driving. Miyakojima is connected to three smaller neighboring islands by some pretty spectacular bridges. Irabu Bridge is the longest toll-free bridge in Japan spanning for just over 2 miles over to Irabu Island. Take a scenic bike ride over the bridge which features a gentle curve and check out some of the beaches and sights on Irabu.

Head out on a glass-bottom boat tour to do some diving or snorkeling. These boat captains know exactly where to find the most exciting spots to discover all the vibrant corals, tropical fishes, and even sea turtles. They can also show you the largest single coral in the entire world, which has grown to a huge underwater mountain since it developed 1,400 years ago!

You can also do some snorkeling just off the coast, Yoshino Beach is situated at the southeast side of the island where snorkeling gear can be rented and snorkelers only need to swim out a few meters to be right amongst some of the most beautiful vibrant coral and colorful shoals of fish

Head to the southwest side of the island for another spectacular subtropical sunset. Taka`s Parlor is an open-air cafe where you can sit down on the terrace and sip on some coffee and watch one of the best sunsets.

Hirara is the main downtown area on the island with a variety of restaurants offering delicious local cuisine. Try Miyakojima`s umibudou, sea grapes which are the islands famous delicacy. Miyako Beef, Miyako Soba, and Yushi dofu are other popular menu items.

The town is transformed at night. It becomes the lively epicenter of the island with restaurants, pubs, and bars playing live music and offering drink deals. The Chura Chura club is the place to be at night to enjoy live music or the Bunmyaa Club owned by local famous musician Koja Masayuki who sometimes performs his own tunes with his bank Sha-ca.

Additional Days in Miyakojima

If you are able to spend additional days in Miyakojima attend the Paantu festival, which occurs in the ninth month of the lunar calendar. Three men wander around the island dressed in grass, leaves, and mud smearing mud on houses, cars, and people. Legend has it that if you have been muddied by the Pantu it will bring you a year of protection and good fortune.

Your Last Day in Miyakojima

Depart from your hotel to the airport for your return flight home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer to the airport if so the representative will meet you at your hotel with plenty of time to get you to the airport for your flight out. /p>