Cross the 1,425-metre Ikema Ohashi Bridge from northern Miyako Island and Ikema Island opens up ahead.
What defines this area is the mix: beaches busy with visitors sitting alongside quiet ones only locals seem to find. Offshore lies Yabiji, one of Japan’s largest coral reef systems, and beyond that Ogami Island, the island of the gods, reached by ferry.
This guide covers the seven beaches of Ikema Island and northern Miyako, along with the viewpoints worth visiting and the two places you reach by boat, Yabiji and Ogami Island.
The seven beaches covered here are as follows.
- Ohama Beach
- Funakusu Beach
- Ikizu Beach
- Kaginmi Beach
- Mijunmahida
- Nishi-no-hama Beach
- Manatsu Beach
Let’s take a look.
7 Beaches of Ikema Island and Northern Miyako
Ohama Beach
The first striking beach you meet after crossing the Ikema Ohashi Bridge is Ohama Beach.
The sight of a pure white bridge set against emerald water is unmissable if you are visiting Ikema Island. Beyond the clarity of the water, it has parking and restrooms, which makes stopping by easy.
Sitting right at the end of the bridge, it slots naturally into the start of a day on Ikema Island.
| Access | About 30 minutes by car from Miyako Airport |
| Address | Ikema, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa |
| Activities | Available |
| Parking | Available (around 10 spaces) |
| Restrooms | Available |
Funakusu Beach
The best-known snorkeling spot on Ikema Island is Funakusu Beach.
The clear water people call Ikema Blue spreads out here, and swimming just a few metres from shore brings you to coral and tropical fish. Most visitors come specifically to snorkel, making this the most popular beach on the island.
There are no restrooms, so it is worth stopping somewhere beforehand.
| Access | About 30 minutes by car from Miyako Airport |
| Address | Ikema, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa |
| Activities | Available |
| Parking | Available (around 15 spaces) |
| Restrooms | None |
Ikizu Beach
On the eastern side of Ikema Island, Ikizu Beach is a hidden spot that almost no one but locals visits.
The clarity rates a full 5.0, and the open view has nothing in the way. On the other hand there is no parking, no restrooms, and no swimming facilities, so come properly equipped.
It suits anyone who wants unhurried time by a quiet, empty sea.
| Access | About 35 minutes by car from Miyako Airport |
| Address | Ikema, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa |
| Activities | None |
| Parking | None |
| Restrooms | None |
Kaginmi Beach
Kaginmi Beach is another of Ikema Island’s quiet finds.
Clear water and untouched surroundings remain here, and you will rarely see another visitor. There is no dedicated car park, so check the roadside space nearby before you go.
It is a good choice if you want Ikema Island’s water without the crowds.
| Access | About 30 minutes by car from Miyako Airport |
| Address | Ikema, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa |
| Activities | Available |
| Parking | None |
| Restrooms | None |
Mijunmahida
Mijunmahida is a beach set within Ikema Island’s residential streets.
Rather than a tourist site, this is the sea right beside island life, and time passes quietly here. Around ten parking spaces make it easy to reach by car.
It suits anyone who wants to see the island as it actually is, before tourism shapes it.
| Access | About 30 minutes by car from Miyako Airport |
| Address | 136 Maezato, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa |
| Activities | None |
| Parking | Available (around 10 spaces) |
| Restrooms | None |
Nishi-no-hama Beach
On the main-island side of the Ikema Ohashi Bridge, in Karimata, sits Nishi-no-hama Beach.
From here you can see both Nishi-Hennazaki and Ikema Island, with a row of wind turbines adding to the scene. The water is clear too, making it a good place to simply look out at the sea.
There is no parking and no restrooms, so treat it as a stop to fold into a trip to Nishi-Hennazaki.
| Access | About 30 minutes by car from Miyako Airport |
| Address | Karimata, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa |
| Activities | None |
| Parking | None |
| Restrooms | None |
Manatsu Beach (Manatsu Coast)
Manatsu Beach in Karimata is a quiet spot where you can also snorkel.
At 20 minutes by car from Miyako Airport it is the easiest place in this area to reach, and free parking is provided.
Clarity and openness both rate highly, yet few people come, which makes it ideal for snorkeling in peace.
| Access | About 20 minutes by car from Miyako Airport |
| Address | 3482-1 Karimata, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa |
| Activities | None |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restrooms | None |
Other Sights of Ikema Island and Northern Miyako
Nishi-Hennazaki Cape
Nishi-Hennazaki is a slender cape reaching out from the northwestern tip of Miyako Island.
From the observation deck you take in the Ikema Ohashi Bridge, Ikema Island, and a line of wind turbines. Facing west, it is also known for sunsets and draws a crowd at dusk.
Free parking and restrooms are in place, so you can pull up and step straight out.
| Access | About 30 minutes by car from Miyako Airport |
| Address | Karimata, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
Shimajiri Mangrove Forest
In Shimajiri, Hirara, the Shimajiri Mangrove Forest is one of the largest mangrove stands on Miyako Island.
A boardwalk runs through it, letting you look closely at the mangrove roots and the crabs and mudskippers living among them. Allow 20 to 40 minutes.
It sits right by Shimajiri Port, where the ferry to Ogami Island departs, so it also works as somewhere to spend the wait.
| Access | About 30 minutes by car from Miyako Airport |
| Address | Shimajiri, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa |
| Time needed | About 20–40 minutes |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
Yabiji Reef and Ogami Island, Reached by Boat
Yabiji Reef
Spreading across the open sea north of Ikema Island, Yabiji is one of Japan’s largest coral reef areas, with more than 100 reefs running roughly 12 km north to south and 7 km east to west.
In 2013 it was designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument. Because the reefs surface only during the spring tides, it is also known as the Phantom Continent.
Visiting requires a boat tour, and departing from Ikema Fishing Port gets you there fastest, in 15 to 20 minutes.
| Access | About 40 minutes by car from Miyako Airport to Ikema Fishing Port |
| Address | Ikema, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa (Ikema Fishing Port) |
| Parking | Use the parking area designated by your tour operator |
| Restrooms | None (use the facilities at the meeting point) |
Ogami Island
About 15 minutes by ferry from Shimajiri Port lies Ogami Island.
It is a small island of some 20 residents, and because the island as a whole has long been an object of faith it is known as the island of the gods. Some utaki sacred sites are off limits, so following local rules as you walk is essential.
From the Tomidai lookout you can see across to Miyako Island and Ikema Island, and the notched rock formations are a sight in themselves. With only four ferries a day, plan a day trip backwards from the last return sailing.
| Access | About 25 minutes by car from Miyako Airport to Shimajiri Port |
| Address | Ogami, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa |
| How to get there | About 15 minutes by ferry from Shimajiri Port |
| Sailings | Four per day |
| Parking | Available (Shimajiri Port) |
| Restrooms | Available (Shimajiri Port) |
Around Ikema Island and Northern Miyako
Activities on Miyako Island
Snorkeling, diving, SUP, and other marine sports in Miyako Island’s crystal-clear water are hugely popular.
Yabiji tours can be booked here as well. Popular plans fill up early, so reserve as soon as your dates are set.
Renting a Car on Miyako Island
A rental car is by far the best way to get around Miyako Island.
Ikema Island and northern Miyako lie away from town, with the beaches spread out. Bus services on Miyako Island are infrequent, and having a car makes a huge difference to how much you can fit in.
Reservations fill up quickly in peak season, so book early once your travel dates are decided.
Crystal Villa Ikema
Crystal Villa Ikema stands on Ikema Island, reached by bridge from Miyako Island, and is known for white buildings that recall Santorini in Greece.
Every room looks out over the exceptionally clear water known as Ikema Blue, so you can take in breathtaking views and beautiful sunsets from your own private space.
Pools, jacuzzis, and other well-appointed facilities make it a superb place to stay, with the sound of the waves letting you forget everyday life entirely.
Summary
This guide has covered the seven beaches of Ikema Island and northern Miyako.
Ohama Beach and Funakusu Beach are popular spots with facilities to match; Ikizu Beach and Kaginmi Beach are quiet finds few people reach. Even on the same island, the character differs sharply.
Add the sunset at Nishi-Hennazaki, the nature of the Shimajiri Mangrove Forest, and Yabiji and Ogami Island reached by boat, and this area alone will fill an entire day.
When you visit Miyako Island, be sure to make time for the beaches of Ikema Island and northern Miyako.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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