Ogami Island | Sightseeing Guide: A Model Day-Trip Course from Miyako

Have you heard of “Ogami Island” (Ogami-jima), a tiny remote island floating off the north of Miyako Island?

True to its name, it is called “the island where the gods dwell” — a power spot wrapped in untouched nature and a sacred atmosphere. It is just a 15-minute boat ride from Miyako Island.

It is a compact island you can fully explore in half a day, making it perfect for a day trip during your Miyako Island vacation.

In this article, we cover everything from the basics of Ogami Island and how to get there, to a walkable model course, and the key points you absolutely need to know before you visit.

What kind of island is Ogami?

Ogami Island is a small island lying about 4 km north-northeast of Miyako Island. Roughly 3 km around with a population of about 20, this small, pyramid-shaped island is surrounded by beautiful seas and rich, unspoiled nature, yet sees few tourists and preserves a quiet, everyday way of life.

Its defining feature is the legend that, true to its name, it is “the island where the gods live.” Most of the island outside the village is sacred ground, and wandering in carelessly is to be avoided. Faith is still very much alive here — during the island’s religious rites, visitors may even be unable to cross over at all.

At the same time, its age-old nature remains intact, and it is a captivating island where you can enjoy sights such as the mushroom-shaped “Notch” rock formations and snorkeling in coral seas. Known as a power spot for good fortune, rising luck, and the cleansing of body and mind, it is a wonderful getaway for anyone who wants to find calm and center themselves in the quiet.

How to get to Ogami Island

You can reach Ogami Island by ferry.
A regular boat runs from Shimajiri Port in northern Miyako Island to Ogami Fishing Port on Ogami Island.

There are currently 4 sailings a day, and the crossing takes about 15 minutes each way.
Fares are roughly 370 yen for adults and 180 yen for children one way, or 710 yen for adults and 360 yen for children round trip.

*Departure times may change with the season and weather, so please check the “official Ogami Kaiun website” for operating information.

便	宮古島（島尻漁港）発	大神島発
Sailing 1	08:30	08:50
Sailing 2	10:30	11:15
Sailing 3	13:30	14:00
Sailing 4	16:20	16:40

A model sightseeing course for Ogami Island

From Shimajiri Port to Ogami Fishing Port

The trip starts at Shimajiri Port. The port has a small ticket-office building and a covered boarding area; when it is time, an attendant comes to sell boarding tickets. The voyage is only about 15 minutes, but we recommend the outdoor seats — taking in the scenery of Miyako Island and the blue sea is wonderful.

When you arrive at Ogami Fishing Port, a box for a “100-yen island entry fee” is set up right where you step off the boat, so please contribute as a way of supporting the island’s environmental conservation.

Gathering information at Opuyu Shokudo

Right in front of the port stands the island’s only eatery, its white exterior wall marked “Opuyu Shokudo.” It is both a diner and a guesthouse, and also the island’s shop, selling groceries and sundries.

We recommend stopping here first to ask about conditions on the island and how to get around. The island has three worship sites (yohaijo), but they are hard to find, so it is reassuring to look them up in advance or ask a local.

Business hours vary from day to day, and depending on timing the kitchen may not be ready to serve meals, so a smart approach is to ask about the situation when you arrive and come back once they are ready.

Also, since there are almost no vending machines or shops on the island, we strongly recommend buying drinks on the Miyako Island side.

Ogami Island Lookout (Tomi-dai)

Before refueling with a meal, head first to the island’s symbol. The lookout, also called “Tunbara,” is the first place you’ll want to visit on Ogami Island. Standing atop a small hill about 75 meters high near the island’s center, it offers a 360-degree view of the island’s beautiful panorama. You can see Miyako Island and Ikema Island, and on clear days even Yabiji, famous as a snorkeling spot.

About 15 minutes from the port brings you up to the height, with views over Ogami Fishing Port below and out to distant Miyako Island and the Ikema Ohashi Bridge. After climbing the stairs until you’re out of breath, an endless 360-degree Miyako Blue spreads before you. On a clear day the view is nothing short of divine. Looking down at the sea from the lookout, you can also spot a mysterious place called “Kamikakisu,” where rocks large and small form a circle enclosing a natural, pool-like tide pool.

The stairs are tough in the heat, so don’t forget to stay hydrated. Also, the lookout may be closed and off-limits during island events.

A rest at the Ogami Island multipurpose plaza

After coming down from the lookout, head to the multipurpose plaza on the island’s east side. It is linked by a walking path and makes a good waypoint on a stroll.

Take a breather on a bench and savor the sea spread out before you and the island’s quiet air. Set across from the Kamikakisu reef you saw from the lookout, the sea viewed from here is also exceptional.

The former Ogami Junior High School site

Near the village lies the site of a former school. Ogami Island now has a population of about 20, but it once had Ogami Elementary and Ogami Junior High Schools that local children attended. As the number of children fell, the elementary school was suspended in 2006 and the junior high in 2008, and closure was decided in March 2011. All the school buildings were demolished; today only the gateposts remain, with a monument erected on the site.

There was a time when Ogami Island had 200 residents. Standing on the quiet site, you can feel the island’s history and the changes in its people’s lives.

Pamasasu

Walk north along the loop road that runs down the island’s west side. Ogami Island’s beaches are known to be strikingly beautiful even among the Miyako Islands, and bear names such as Taka, Kakinuba, Mauke, and Pamasasu. Of these, the white-sand beach at Pamasasu, farthest to the northwest, is beautiful beyond compare.

That said, although Pamasasu is the island’s largest beach, it only reveals itself fully at low tide. It is best to check a tide table before your visit and time your trip to coincide with low tide.

The Notch rock formations

Heading further north from Pamasasu, you reach one of the highlights of an Ogami Island visit: the strange “Notch” rocks. On the coast just before the island’s northern tip, mushroom-like rocks rise up out of the beautiful sea.

These notches were originally rocks that tumbled from the surface as the island uplifted; over many years, wave erosion gradually carved away their bases, giving them their present, curious shapes. Several look as though they might topple at any moment — it may be a sight you can only see now.

Note that the road ends at the slope on the northern tip and becomes a dead end, so return the way you came to reach the port. This loop road being cut off partway is said to be because, during past road construction, the workers and islanders fell one after another to an unexplained illness and the work was halted — an anecdote well known for conveying the island’s sacredness.

Relax back at the Ogami Island multipurpose plaza

On the way back toward the port, stop by the multipurpose plaza again for a rest. Rest your tired legs and spend the time until the return boat at a leisurely pace.

If you have time to spare, a slow stroll through the village is also recommended. On the gateposts of the houses hang spider conch shells (suijigai), shaped like the kanji for “water” and used as charms against fire and evil. Walking while seeking out such uniquely island scenes makes for an enjoyable time.

Nnapazu and Kamikakisu

Spreading out on the sea side of the multipurpose plaza is “Kamikakisu,” where strange rocks line up in a semicircular ring.

The inside is a natural, pool-like tide pool where colorful fish can be seen in the crystal-clear water. Walk a few minutes east from there and you reach “Nnapazu,” the end of the road.

You can descend from the steps to the rocky shore and observe coral and tide-pool creatures up close. Both are quiet, mystical seaside spots that represent the island’s east side.

You can also book a snorkeling tour online, so be sure to check the options below.

From Ogami Fishing Port to Shimajiri Port

Depart Ogami Fishing Port on an afternoon sailing for Shimajiri Port. Before boarding, check that you haven’t left anything behind. And most importantly: you must not take anything from the island home — not even a single stone.

Etch your memories into photos and your heart, and set off home with gratitude to the island.

Points to note about Ogami Island

Finally, here is a summary of the key points you should know before visiting Ogami Island.

Never enter the sacred areas

Most of the island outside the village is sacred ground, and wandering in carelessly is to be avoided. The island has many places called “sanctuaries” (seiiki) that must not be entered casually. Stay on the paths and do not approach off-limits areas.

Do not take anything from the island home

You are not to take even a single stone. The same goes for shells and sand.
Please keep this in mind when you visit Ogami Island!

Prepare drinks and food in advance

Since there are almost no vending machines or shops on the island, it is a rule of thumb to secure water on the Miyako Island side.

Places like the lookout in summer, in particular, involve quite a bit of walking.

Mind the boat times and the weather

Sailings may be suspended or changed due to weather. Since there are few of them, always check the time of your return boat and head back to the port with time to spare.

Precisely because it has not been over-commercialized, Ogami Island is a place where genuine island time and a sacred atmosphere remain. If you observe the island’s rules and manners and visit with respect, it is sure to be an unforgettable day. On your Miyako Island trip, do consider making the day trip out here.

Ogami Island activity information

You can also snorkel at Ogami Island

Coral reefs spread around Ogami Island, and it is in fact popular as a snorkeling spot. The water is so clear you can see straight to the bottom, and you can observe colorful fish and coral up close.

The eastern tip of the island, “Nnapazu,” in particular is known as an easy beach-entry point, with only a short distance to the reef edge.

You can also book a snorkeling tour online, so be sure to check the options below.

Renting a Car on Miyako Island

A rental car is by far the best way to get around Miyako Island.

Breathtaking spots such as Yonaha Maehama Beach and the Irabu Ohashi Bridge are spread out across the island, so having a car lets you explore freely at your own pace. With only a handful of local buses running on Miyako, whether or not you have a rental car makes a big difference to how much you can enjoy your trip.

Cars fill up quickly in the peak season, so we recommend booking early once your travel dates are set. One important note for overseas visitors: to drive in Japan you must obtain an International Driving Permit (Geneva Convention) in your home country before you depart, and remember that traffic in Japan drives on the left.

Summary

This time, we introduced Ogami Island, the “island of the gods,” reachable in just 15 minutes by boat from Miyako Island.

The 360-degree Miyako Blue seen from the lookout, the mushroom-like Notch rocks, the natural pool-like Kamikakisu, and island time at Opuyu Shokudo, the island’s only diner — though it is a small island only about 3 km around, it is packed with scenery and experiences you can find nowhere else. It’s also a plus that you can easily make a day trip on the ferry, which runs 4 times a day.

That said, before it is a tourist destination, Ogami Island is a sacred place where the islanders’ lives and faith are alive. Above all, it is essential to observe the rules and manners — not entering the sacred areas, not taking anything from the island — and to visit with respect.

On your Miyako Island trip, do go a little further to Ogami Island. It is sure to be an unforgettable island journey that washes the heart clean in the quiet.