Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Coral hunters and fish collectors at Yabiji Reef during the lowest spring tides in March.
1 MIYAKOJIMA 宮古島
Miyako Island ( 宮古島 ; Miyako-jima) lies approximately 235 miles (376 kilometers) east of
Taipei, Taiwan, and 175 miles (280 kilometers) southwest of Naha, Okinawa. Roughly trian-
gular in shape, Miyakojima is about 19 miles (30 kilometers) long from its southeasternmost
point to its northernmost tip. Across its base, east to west, it's 12 miles (20 kilometers) wide.
At not quite 62 square miles (160 square kilometers) in area, it is the southern Ryukyu's and
Okinawa Prefecture's fourth largest island. The island's circumference measures 70 miles (112
kilometers) and its highest point is 375 feet (115 meters) above sea level. It is the largest and
most populous island in the Miyako Island group. Most of the island is planted with sugar
cane.
Miyako's capital and only real city is Hirara ( 平良 ; Hirara), a very pleasant place of 35,000
residents. It's located on the central west coast of the island and surrounds the harbor ( 宮古港
or 平良港 ; Miyako-kō or Hirara-kō). If you're staying in any of the hotels or minshuku inns
in town, you can walk, as it's a compact city. Although there is no longer any long-distance
inter-island ferry service to Okinawa or Ishigaki, Miyako's port is still the place of shipping,
cargo, freight and commerce. After all, it's an island and islands need constant replenishment
of a myriad of supplies. Miyako's Airport is only about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from downtown
and takes 5-10 minutes by car or taxi to get there.
There are several large resort hotels not far from town and several dozen smaller hotels
and minshuku in town. If you're not eating at your hotel, there are many restaurants in Hir-
ara. For some reason, Miyako is famous for having more bars and nightclubs per person than
any other place in Japan. The nightlife scene is very popular. Drinks of choice include Ok-
inawa's Orion beer and awamori ( 泡盛 ), which in Miyako is usually 30 percent alcohol.
Awamori , incidentally, is at the center of a Miyako drinking custom known as Otōri (
トーリ ). Otōri usually involves 5-10 people but there is no set number. Each person in turn
Search WWH ::




Custom Search