Miyakojima Beaches: Maehama, Sunayama and Reef Snorkeling

Miyakojima sits roughly 300 km southwest of Okinawa's main island, a flat coral island with no mountains and no big rivers. That geography is the secret behind its water: with little runoff to cloud the sea, the lagoons stay startlingly clear, shading from pale turquoise over sand to deep blue past the reef. Add three long bridges that link Miyako to its neighbouring islands, and you have one of the easiest places in Japan to spend a week moving from beach to beach.

The catch is that each beach suits something different. Some are made for lying on the sand, some for snorkeling straight off the shore, and a few are best simply looked at. Here is how to tell them apart.

Getting there and getting around

Direct flights connect Miyako Airport with Tokyo's Haneda Airport and, depending on the season, a few other mainland cities, and short hops run from Naha in under an hour. Some flights also use Shimojishima Airport on the far side of the Irabu Ohashi bridge.

Once you land, rent a car. Buses exist but run infrequently and miss most of the beaches, and taxis add up fast. The island is small and the roads are quiet, so driving is relaxed; no beach is much more than an hour from any other.

The beaches

Yonaha Maehama Beach

Maehama is the island's signature beach: around 7 km of fine white sand on the southwest coast, facing Kurima Island and the bridge that leads to it. The water is shallow and usually calm, which makes it the best choice for families and for anyone who wants to swim rather than snorkel. There is not much reef here, so do not expect many fish. Come for the sand, the colour of the water and the sunset.

Sunayama Beach

North of Hirara, the island's main town, a short walk up and over a sand dune drops you onto a small cove framed by a weathered limestone arch. It is one of the most photographed spots on Miyako, at its best in the late afternoon when the light comes through the arch. The rock is fragile, so obey any ropes or signs around it. The sand is lovely, but the beach is small and gets crowded around sunset.

Yoshino Beach and Aragusuku Beach

These two east-coast beaches are the reason many snorkelers come to Miyako. Coral grows just a few metres from the waterline, so you can walk in and be over the reef within minutes, surrounded by the kind of colourful reef fish you would normally need a boat to reach. Both have rental shops for masks, fins and life jackets in season. Snorkel at mid to high tide: at low tide the coral sits close to the surface, and it is easy to scrape yourself or damage it.

Imgya Marine Garden

On the south coast, a narrow inlet opens into a lagoon sheltered almost completely from the open sea, with a walking path and a small viewpoint around it. The calm, enclosed water makes it one of the gentlest places on the island for children and first-time snorkelers.

Painagama Beach

Painagama is the town beach in Hirara, within walking distance of many hotels. It is a handy spot for a quick swim or a sunset on your first or last evening, when you do not want to drive anywhere.