 | ||
| Miyako Islands | ||
| prefecture | Okinawa | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | unknown | |
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | ||
| height | 115 m | |
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
| ||
The Miyako Islands(Japanese: 宮 古 列島, Miyako-rettō) named after the main island of the group, Miyako-jima, they are part of the southern Japanese Okinawa Prefecture. They are closer to the Chinese province Taiwan as the Main island of the prefecture. Eight of the twelve islands are inhabited; apart from the main island, only Irabu / Shimoji-jima and Tarama are really significant.
background
The islands consist of limestone and coral, are therefore comparatively flat and are used inland for the cultivation of tropical fruits. Some farmers have a farm sale.
Along with those 30-40 kilometers away Yaeyama Islands one also speaks of the Sakishima Islands(Japanese: 先 島 諸島), Sakishima-shotō).
Spokesman of the Miyako languageThere are hardly any people under 70 years old, at best it is still preserved in folk songs.
getting there
By plane
Internationally, you will usually travel via Naha.
Daily direct flights to Tokyo Haneda, Osaka-Kansai, and regionally several times a day to Ishigaki, Naha and Tarama. A taxi into town costs around ¥ 1500.By boat
There is no longer a passenger ferry from Naha. Cruise ships call at the island.
Sailors with their own yacht should note that the next "open port" is that of Ishigaki is, for the Miyako Islands, a “closed port” permit must be obtained beforehand from the coast guard, at least two weeks in advance.
Ferries to Tarama (1 Mon-Sat .; 2 hours) leave from Hirara.
Miyako-jima
In the city and on the 160 km² island, usually between 8.00 a.m. and 7.30 p.m. 7 bus routes not too often. Car rental companies are numerous.
There is a near the port Ninto-sei(Japanese: 人頭 税 石) called stone. It is said that in ancient times the inhabitants had to line up here to be measured. Anyone taller (about 1.40 m) had to pay poll tax.
The beaches are close to town Paigama(Japanese: パ イ ナ ガ マ ビ ー チ), south of the port as well as the larger one Sunset before the bridge to Irabu.
activities
In April there is a triathlon with up to 1500 participants.
The clear water, abundance of fish and corals invite you to snorkel diving. All public beaches are equipped with showers and toilets. Package tourism is concentrated around the south coast in Ueno
More pleasant, because less crowded, are:
- 1 East coast beach (About 1½ km from the museum / bot. Garden; no bus). A good 1½ km long sandy beach.
- 2 Araguskukaigan Beach. Sandy beach, to the east end of the island, past the golf course it becomes rockier.
- 3 Yoshino-kaigan (吉野 海岸). Immediately behind the coast is that Open links-Golf course.
- 4 Boraga beach (保 良 泉 ビ ー チ) (On the south coast, which is otherwise steep. Bus 1). Partly sand, partly rocky, also with a pool. Restaurant. A shell museum in the village (Japanese: 海 宝 館).
In the North:
- Ikema Island (Japanese: 池 間, upstream of a headland to the north):
- 5 Ikizu beach (Bus 6). The path leads on the headland to the bridge on the island through mangroves. Here you can also see the local YukishioVisit the saltworks (Japanese: 雪 塩 製 塩 所)which advertises to produce the world's most mineral-rich salt. The breeding station for Miyako pony one of the eight endemic Japanese horse breeds.
- 2 Kaichu-koen (宮 古 島 海 中 公園), 字 狩 俣 -2511-1 Hirara (Still on the main island, bus 6). Sitting comfortably on the sofa you can look out into the sea underwater.Open: 10.00-18.00.
accommodation
Most of the basic accommodations are in Hirara.
- At Maehama Beach (前 浜 ビ ー チ)
Right next door is that Marine Lodge Marea (3*).
Significantly easier Lady's Pension Coo (☎ 81 980-76-3368) or Uitsu Minshuku (☎ 81 980-76-3923).
- Yonaha and Sanitsu-hama (サ ニ ツ 浜)
There are at least five minshuku in the village by the sheltered beach in the bay. There is also a mangrove nature trail here (Japanese: マ ン グ ロ ー ブ の 遊 歩 道) signposted.
Ogami
The small island of Ogami (Japanese: 大 神 島) can be reached, 5 times a day in 15 minutes, from the offshoot in the village of Shimajiri (Japanese: 島 尻; Bus 6)
Yabiji reef
Irabu- and Shimoji-jima
On Irabu (Japanese: 伊 良 部 島) can be reached via a 3½ km long bridge or by bus line 7.
The Nishi-kaigan, is, as the name suggests, a marine reserve to the west of Irabu.
There are six bridges to the nearby neighboring island:
On the 9.5 km² Shimoji-jimaJapanese: 下地 島 is the Shimojishima Airport(IATA: SHI). It is mainly maintained for training and military purposes (the controversial Sengaku Islands are within reach), there are currently no commercial flights, but there are plans for 2019[outdated] to build a simple terminal for low-cost airlines. There are not twenty houses on the island itself, the interior is used for agriculture, and the community golf course is also located here (Sashiba links).
Parts of the two islands are under nature protection (as Japanese: 伊 良 部 県 立 自然 公園, Irabu kenritsu shizen kōen). This also includes the two as Tōri-ike well-known saltwater ponds. They are connected to the sea underground, and their level rises and falls with the tides.
- accommodation
- It is very small Coral-mura Minshuku, ☎ 81 980-78-6008
- Outwardly, it reminds me of a primary school Coral Hotel, ☎ 81 980-78-6787 to which also that Ocean House heard next door.
- Solid Japanese middle class is that South Iceland Hotel, with restaurant. Single 2018: ¥ 4500-6000, 3-bed: ¥ 3500-5000 p.p.
- A hostel with bunk beds in the dormitory (¥ 2500) is close to the beach Guest House Neso (earlier Birafuya), ☎ 81 980-78-3380
- Part of a Chain of middle class hotels is this Peace Island (Another branch is in the south of Miyako).
- shop
There is a local one Shojū distillery with factory outlet.
Kurima-jima
Another small island in the southeast, which can be reached via a bridge (bus 4, rare). The settlement is right at the end of the bridge. The island itself is used for agriculture, but has a protective forest belt near the coast.
There is such a thing as accommodation Hotel Hibiscus (☎ 090-7962-6449. Dormitory ¥ 2500, single to ¥ 4000) with bike and moped rental and a minshuku.
Tarama
The small island of Minna can be reached by boat in twenty minutes. The route is not regularly operated, occasionally a ride is offered if one of the handful of residents has to go shopping to Tarama.[1]
literature
See the information in general Okinawa.
Web links
- Miyako City Council (only jp.)
- Kurima-jima (jp. with German machine transfer.)
- ↑2016 census data: 5 people, almost 100 cows.