Hello, this is tuna (@miyakojimalife_) (^^)
Today, I’m going to talk about how the small island of Miyakojima has two airports.
Given that some prefectures don’t even have an airport, you probably wouldn’t imagine that such a small island would have two.
Since the two airports are quite far apart and are served by different airlines,
ending up at the wrong airport on your return flight would be a real tearjerker (´д⊂)
Apparently, this actually happens…
I think knowing this when booking your trip to Miyako Island will help your trip go more smoothly, so
so please keep this in mind♪
The airport on Miyako Island is “Miyako Airport.”
Miyako Island originally had Miyako Airport
When people from Miyako Island hear the word “airport,” this is the first thing that comes to mind
I think it’s safe to say that this is still the main airport
It has a tropical atmosphere with its red-tiled roof.
Miyako Airport is easily accessible
Miyako Airport is located on the main island of Miyako Island
It’s less than 10 minutes from the city center.
My impression is that many people living on Miyako Island also see Miyako Airport as being close and convenient.
Taxis are usually available as long as it’s not too late
However, as is typical on an island, there’s a good chance there won’t be any taxis waiting for the last flight…
Miyako Airport is served by JAL and ANA.
The two major airlines operating flights to and from Miyako Airport are JAL and ANA
From Miyako Airport, you can travel to and from five airports: Haneda, Osaka (Kansai), Nagoya (Chubu), Naha, Tarama (an outlying island of Miyako Island), and Ishigaki.
There are a fair number of flights, so it has a reputation for being quite convenient
There are no lounges at Miyako Airport
It’s a bit of a shame that there are no services (such as lounges) for JAL and ANA elite members.
Since it’s a compact airport on a small island—even though it’s the main airport—this may be unavoidable.
Incidentally, there are no lounges available for non-airline Gold Card members either.
There are souvenir shops, restaurants, and fast-food outlets (A&W), so you can kill some time before your flight.
(Source: Miyako Airport Terminal Building)
San-A Miyakojima City will open within walking distance
The good news is that Sanei Miyakojima City will open within walking distance of Miyako Airport in the summer of 2022!
San-A is a supermarket chain based in Okinawa Prefecture (listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange).
It originally started on Miyako Island under the name Orita Shoten.
Since there’s nothing but sugarcane fields around Miyako Airport, the only real way to kill time was inside the airport itself
Having a small shopping mall within walking distance will be a great resource in case of emergencies.
Located on Shimojishima Island is “Miyako Shimojishima Airport.”
Miyako Shimojishima Airport is located on Shimojishima Island, which is connected to the main island of Miyako by a bridge.
This is a new airport that reopened in 2019 following a renovation.
Previously, Nansei Airlines (now JTA) operated flights to Naha, but it withdrew from service in 1994.
After that, JAL and ANA used it as a pilot training airport.
It is currently operated by Mitsubishi Estate.
Although small in scale, it has become a resort airport brimming with a tropical atmosphere
If you’re traveling here, I think you’ll find it more exciting than Miyako Airport
Access to Miyako-Shimojishima Airport is a bit inconvenient
It’s not a problem if you’re staying on Irabu Island or Shimojishima, but if you’re staying on Miyako Island, access becomes a bit more difficult
It’s about 30 minutes from downtown Miyako Island.
From areas outside the city center, such as Shirobe or Ikema, it takes about 50 minutes
There aren’t many traffic lights on Miyako Island, but I think it’ll still take about that long.
By the way, Irabu Island is connected by a bridge, and the airport is on Shimojishima, but
people on Miyako Island often refer to all of them collectively as “Irabu.”
Miyako Shimojishima Airport is served by Jetstar and Skymark
Miyako-Shimojishima Airport is served by the low-cost carriers Jetstar and Skymark
From Miyako-Shimojishima Airport, you can fly to and from five airports: Narita, Haneda, Osaka (Kansai), Kobe, and Naha.
Previously, only Jetstar operated domestic flights, so the only destinations were Narita and Osaka
Since Skymark began operating there in November 2020, the addition of flights to and from Haneda is great news for people living in the Kanto region
When I lived in Saitama, I used Narita, but it was just too far away…
It’s great that people in Chiba Prefecture can use both Narita and Haneda ( ;∀;)
However, the main drawback with LCCs is that they have few flights and the schedules aren’t very convenient.
This is the main reason it’s considered a secondary airport.
Miyako-Shimojishima Airport feels like one big lounge
There isn’t a lounge at Miyako-Shimojishima Airport either
However, the entire airport has plenty of spacious areas where you can relax, just like a lounge
In particular, the boarding waiting area past security is very spacious.
It’s just like the entrance to a hotel.
Once inside, it feels like a hotel lobby or an airport lounge
Chairs, tables, and sofas are placed throughout the area, allowing you to relax and unwind until it’s time to board your flight
Even the boarding gates have a tropical vibe.
When boarding the plane, you walk down the runway!
Here’s the surprise
When you scan your boarding pass to board the plane, you actually walk down the runway to get on board
People who live in cities probably haven’t experienced this very often. (laughs)
Tourists often take photos in front of the plane.
Actually, Miyako Airport used to operate this way too
It’s a real pain on rainy days, isn’t it…
Miyako-Shimojishima Airport is an international airport!
It’s a small airport on a small island, but surprisingly, it’s an international airport.
That said, the only destination available right now is Hong Kong, but I’m hoping for more routes in the future
The airline operating flights there is the LCC Hong Kong Express
It launched shortly before the coronavirus pandemic, amidst a lot of negative publicity surrounding Hong Kong and China, but I hope it will continue to operate regular flights in the future
As of 2021, flights have been suspended due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The international terminal has a somewhat desolate atmosphere.
As a side note, this is also the airport where ultra-high-net-worth individuals arrive via private jet
Just writing this makes me want to travel so badly I can’t stand it
I really hope the COVID-19 pandemic ends soon (￣人￣)
I hope this article helps someone who might find themselves thinking, “I went to the wrong airport ( ;∀;)”
Thank you for reading all the way to the end! *ᴗ ᴗ)⁾⁾
