Japan
Miyako Island
Bridges spanning to tiny coral islands across water so blue it hurts to look.
The beach goes on for seven kilometres. Yonaha Maehama runs along Miyako Island's south-western shore in white sand that heads every ranking of Japan's best beaches, and the island's roads run out over reef flats to its smaller neighbours on bridges that seem to float on turquoise so loud it looks digitally enhanced. It is not.
Miyako is one of the Okinawan islands with no habu, the venomous pit viper that lives on the main island and many of its neighbours. The Irabu Bridge carries the road 3,540 metres to Irabu Island — the longest toll-free bridge in Japan — over a reef flat that changes colour with the tide, and smaller bridges reach Ikema and Kurima and their quieter beaches. Paddleboards go out over the coral at Imugya, kayaks slip into the sea cave at Pumpkin Hole, and the flat ground makes a bicycle the easy way round. The sea has its own rules here — currents and, from June to October, box jellyfish — so the staffed beaches are the ones to swim from. Mangoes ripen from June to August.
Couple
Seven kilometres of beach, bridge drives over turquoise reef flats, and none of the mega-resort sprawl — Miyako is tropical Japan for couples who prefer space.
Friends
Paddleboards over the coral, a kayak into a sea cave, beach barbecues and bridge drives between islands give groups a varied week with minimal planning.
- Yonaha Maehama runs seven kilometres of white sand and tops the rankings of Japan's best beaches.
- The Irabu Bridge carries the road 3,540 metres over reef-flat turquoise — the longest toll-free bridge in Japan.
- There are no venomous habu snakes here, unlike Okinawa's main island.
- Paddleboards go out over the coral at Imugya, and kayaks slip into a sea cave called Pumpkin Hole.
Miyako soba — pork and fish cake tucked under the noodles, lighter than the Okinawan mainland bowl.
Miyako mangoes in June, July and August, so ripe they are best eaten over the sink.
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