Miyako (Okinawa)

By plane

• Miyako AirportOffers direct connections to Tokyo (Haneda), Naha and Ishigaki on JTA and Air Nippon. Chances are you will be transferring in Naha so consider spending some time on the main Okinawa Island as well.

By ferry

By bus

By taxi

By car

• Kagisuma Rent-a-Car

  phone: +81 980-76-3722
  This is a local operation run by a very nice couple. Cars are well maintained and fully insured. Remove all your trash and empties, and fill the tank before returning the car. It is possible to arrange to drop off your car at the airport, lock the keys in the car and phone to tell them the parking space.

• Tomikusa Motors

  phone: +81 980-72-3031
  address: 288 Nishizato
  50cc scooter ¥2,000/day, mountain bike ¥1,500/day

• Sunayama is nice place to take a photo but not a particularly good place to swim. Drive 30 minutes north on Rt. 83 to Rt. 230 and cross the bridge to Ikema. Get a drink at the tourist trap, climb up and look at the view. Continue clockwise around the island just to say you did it, and less than a kilometer from the tourist trap you will find two excellent beaches named after their prominent features, one called Rope and one called Block. There are no signs, but maybe a car or two parked beside the road. Block has some nice coral, just be careful of the currents.
• Next head way back south and east on Rt. 83 in the direction of Gusukube. On the way you will find Aragusuku, a great shallow beach with lots more fish and coral. Two groups rent stuff and sell refreshments during the summer months. Go to the left side and feel free to sit at the tables. The proprietress is the chamisen playing, occasionally booze drinking, beach loving Yasuyo-san. She also runs a nearby pension. Yoshino is another decent place a couple kilometers down the road. They charge ¥500 for parking.
• Though it's not actually a beach, follow the signs to Higashihenazaki is a picturesque point with a lighthouse. As it's the easternmost point on the island, it is a popular place to watch the sun rise.
• Head back to Rt. 83 was in the direction of Bora and the very commercial Bora Beach Park. Stop in or continue west on Rt. 235 to Shigira a once wild place that has been taken over by mercenaries from Tokyo. The rocky beach is now manicured but still open to the public so you can bring your cooler and chill at their expense. The cove is fairly well protected, so a good option for kids or when the weather is bad. Swim out to the middle and just before the rock formation there are some anonome fish.
• Continue west on Rt. 235, cross the bridge to Kurima. Park in the lot on the left just after you cross and take the stone path 10 minutes to Tako. There are fish in the tide pool and lots more to see on the other side of the rocks, but be careful. Next stop Nagamahama. Follow the signs to 長間浜, look for a couple cows tied to a tree. Park in the lot and walk to the ocean.
• Head back across the bridge, turn left and proceed to Maebama, Miyako's most popular beach. Locals tend to hang out near the boat launch on the bridge side, though they also frequent Windy, a beach house serving Miyako-soba (¥500) and other very reasonably priced food. Maebama continues for almost 10 km somewhere turning into the secluded kite-board spot Nishi-hama and then the slightly odd Sanitsu-hama. During low tides you can walk the beach from Maebama to Sanitsu-hama (just sneak through the Tokyu Hotel's bogus private area) but there are also paved jogging trails on land.
• After leaving Sanitsu-hama take Rt. 390 from Shimoji back toward Hirara and Painagama Beach just before Hirara Port. Paiangama isn't a particularly good beach by day, but convenient after a night on the piss. Just be safe!

• Aqua Story

  phone: +81 980-73-5432
  address: 市平良字下里482-1
  The staff may not speak English, but this is a reputable dive shop

• M-Air Kiteboarding

  address: 233 Yonaha, Shimoji
  If you don't know, is a huge kite in the sky and a board (usually) in the water with a crazy-ass fool in the middle.

• Windy MaehamaAsk the owner about having a sunset BBQ on the roof.

• Shi-Sa Monogatari

  address: 246 Shimozato, Hirara
  Make your own shi-sa. Perfect for a rainy day. If you like what you create you can have it fired and shipped anywhere in Japan.

• PotanLocal craftsmen.

• KaikoubouLocal craftsmen.

• Sabo

  address: Across from the A&W on Shimozato O-dori.
  A T-shirt shop. Decent designs that usually say Miyako on them.

• Uminchu Miyako

  address: 2 minutes on foot, past A&W and the Sabo shop
  A T-shirt shop. Catch 22 here: the fact that you are buying an overpriced T-shirt means that you are not 海人, but the stuff inside is cool just the same.

• Miyakojima Kankou Bussan Center - Hanashiro

  address: Hirara
  King of kitsch souvenirs. For a fee, ship anywhere in Japan.

• Miyako Mokkou GeiA sanshin shop.

• Self CateringMax-Value has a pretty decent selection of stuff to keep you nourished. The food prepared in the market, ranging from fried chicken, sushi, bento "lunch boxes", and etc. are all pretty good. The retort packs of curries, pasta sauces and "hashed beef" coupled with the microwavable rice packs are cheap and convenient if nothing more. There are two locations in Hirara, one on Rt. 78 and one on 390. Both are in mini-malls with a pharmacy next door. The Italian restaurant next to the Max on Rt. 390 serves relatively good pizzas and has a ¥1,000 lunch buffet. Bass Line, near the Max on Rt. 78 serves cheap, large portions of decent food and has a picture menu. Sane-, on Mateita-dori, is your best bet for low priced meats and veggies.

• Miyako sobaAvailable everywhere and is a cheap filling meal. Miyako soba is more like pasta or udon than the traditional Japanese buckwheat noodles. It usually has a piece of "rafute" and some "kamaboko" in it for protien. Rafute is a fatty piece of pork that has been simmered in broth. Japanese will tell you that the gelatinous fat is good for you. Kamaboko looks like plastic but it is steamed fish paste and fairly healthy. You can also get soba with souki (spare-rib) or tebichi (pig's feet). Add the condiments slowly as they are quite spicy.

• Maruko-chan

  address: Downtown Hirara
  Very retro taco shop with gambling and interesting regulars. Recommendations: breakfast set, tacos, taco-rice, steak. The tables are vintage 1980s game tables and the slot machines do pay-off. How it works is a mystery to be solved some rainy day.

• Painagama Shokudo

  address: Hirara
  Excellent mom and pop shop serving typical Japanese/Miyako fare at reasonable prices. Think of it as visiting your Japanese granny's house for dinner.

• Pani-Pani

  address: Kurima Island
  Relaxed place run by a nice ossan (uncle). Recommendations: Pizza dog, fruit juices. Stop here on the way to Tako beach or Nagamahama Beach.

• Chuzan

  phone: +81 980-73-1959
  address: 1-10 Nishizato, Hirara
  Good "izakaya" with a nice selection of Miyako food.

• A-Dish

  address: 215-3 Shimozato, Hirara
  Reasonable Italian fare, wood fired pizza, relaxed atmosphere and a good bar upstairs.

• Hakuai Saikan

  address: Hirara
  Small Chinese place serving massive portions for ridiculously cheap prices. Best to go with a group.

• Copacabana

  address: 175-5 Nishi-zato
  A standard bar with a reasonable staff and clientele, stays open as long as there is someone standing.

• New York, New York

  address: Gaisen-dori
  Another standard sports bar with a big screen TV, billiards and decent bar food.

• Guesthouse Miyakojima

  address: 233 Yonaha, Shimoji
  Located near Maebama, Miyako's main beach, and even closer to Nishihama and Sanitsuhama, two prime kite-boarding spots. The owner, Shu-san, speaks good English and also runs M-Air Kiteboarding school/shop. Shared kitchen and shower room. Free use of internet, marine sporting goods, washer, BBQ, bicycles and 50cc scooters. You must have a valid International Driver's License.

• Deigo

  address: Hirara city
  In Hirara city, near shopping, restaurants and bars. Shared kitchen, and living room. Always a highly recommended guesthouse.

• Greek Pension Ilios

  address: 285-1 Azamaesato
  Funky place with a great Greek restaurant.

• Marea Diving Resort

  address: 847-3 Yonaha, Shimoji
  A really nice place catering to divers of all levels. 6-hour dive for ¥14,000, 4-day open water diving course ¥61,000.

• Miyako-jima Minaai MansionGreat, romantic option for a couple on a one week or longer vacation. Just to clarify, mansion in Japanese actually means condo. These fully furnished places were built in 2006 and are convenient to Kurima Island, Maehama Beach and overlook the Emerald Coast Country Club.

• Miyakojima Paradise

  phone: +81 9047163209
  Fully furnished studio for rent front of the Painagama beach. English/French/Japanese staff always available for support and request. Full private apartment. Rental bicycle/car possible (valid international Driver's License required). Free internet access in the studio.

• Private House Miyagawa

  address: 1276 Aza Higashinakasonezoe, Hirara (east of the AP)
  This two-bedroom house is perfect for a family of 4 and could hold a lot more if the kids wanted to sleep in a tent in the yard. It would also be nice for two couples though not discreet enough for loud shagging. The location is convenient though not spectacular. Since the price includes a car this is not a problem. International Driving Permit required

• Villabu Resort

  phone: +81 980-78-6777
  address: Irabu Island
  Incongruous with the surroundings, absolutely gorgeous bungalows with restaurant, private beach, pool. Ooh but the price!

• Moritaya

  phone: +81 80 6490 3580
  address: Hirara Nishizato 335-1
  Apartment-style lodging, with a Japanese-style room, fully equipped kitchen/dining area and a private bathroom with a washing machine. One person ¥4200, two ¥6200, three ¥7800. Free A/C, but no Internet. Can be booked online in English from booking.com, but only for 2-3 people. For one person, can be booked in Japanese from Rakuten Travel or similar.