Hello, tuna(@miyakojimalife_) (^^)
Thank you for always reading my blog♪
Miyakojima has many beaches, and the ocean views vary from place to place.
Sandy beaches with fine, soft sand; sandy beaches formed by coral deposits
White sandy beaches, yellowish sandy beaches
Pale blue sea, blue sea, emerald green sea
A sea with beautiful sunrises, a sea with beautiful sunsets
I think one of the things that makes Miyakojima so interesting is that, even though it’s a small island, the scenery changes from beach to beach.
Maehama Beach, which we’re featuring today, is
- White, fine sand
- The pale blue sea
- A beach that stretches on and on
It’s the kind of tropical beach everyone imagines (^^)
Maehama Beach is absolutely beautiful, but there are a few things to watch out for, so I hope you find this information helpful.
I hope this article helps someone have a great time on Miyakojima.
A beach where blue and white stretch as far as the eye can see
First, here is a photo of Maehama Beach.
It’s a truly indescribable view, isn’t it?
Even though I was born and raised here and have visited countless times, this beach never fails to move me.
The whiteness of the sand and the clarity of the water are truly beautiful.
Here’s what it looks like up close
The clarity of the water is truly remarkable.
Maehama Beach is very spacious
On Miyakojima IslandThe farthest-away sandy beachThis is Maehama Beach.
Its length7 km!!
While it doesn’t come close to the famously long Kujukuri Beach, this 7-kilometer stretch of blue and white is truly breathtaking.
I’ve gone for walks on the sandy beach at Maehama a few times, but if you don’t turn back even when you’re just thinking, “I’m a little tired,” you’ll regret it.
Maehama Beach has no rocky areas
One of the advantages of Maehama Beach is that there are no rocky areas.
The sand is so fine—like powder snow—that it doesn’t hurt even when walking barefoot.
Since there are no rocky outcrops underwater, you can swim and play with peace of mind.
Although there are no rocky areas, so you can’t see colorful tropical fish, schools of white fish about the size of horse mackerel swim here.
Take a really close look.
Kurima Island and the Kurima Bridge as well
Beyond Maehama Beach, you can see Kurima Island and the Kurima Bridge.
The Kurima Bridge was built in 1995 and was the longest farm road bridge in Japan at the time.
This is the second bridge to be built on Miyakojima, following the Ikema Bridge.
You can take photos with the bridge and the island in the background, and if you want a shot with just the ocean and sandy beach behind you, I recommend trying a different angle (^^)
Its beauty, ranked as the finest in the East, is also recognized in various rankings.
Maehama Beach, said to be the best in the East
Its beauty is reflected in the rankings on various travel websites.
In particular, the ranking results from “TripAdvisor,” the world’s largest travel review site, are
I believe this is proof that many travelers were satisfied.
TripAdvisor, a travel review site
“Travelers’ Picks! 2020 Ranking of Popular Waterfront Spots Among Japanese People” 1st Place
No. 1 on “Travelers’ Choice™: World’s Best Beaches 2019”
Incidentally, in the “Best Beaches in Japan 2019” list, Sunayama Beach ranked second and Shinshiro Coast ranked tenth—both beaches on Miyakojima Island made the list.
[Sunayama Beach] Sunset and the Magic Hour Viewed from the Rock Arch
Jalan, a travel magazine
“Nationwide Beach and Swimming Area Rankings” – 1st Place
“Ranking of Beaches on Remote Islands” No. 1
Important Notes for Maehama Beach!
It’s a very beautiful beach, but it’s the open ocean there.
There are risks associated with this that you won’t find at man-made facilities.
Since I’ve actually nearly drowned myself, I’ve put together a list of dangerous spots.
The current is fast
Maehama Beach, located between Miyakojima and Kurima Island, has strong tidal currents.
Moreover, there is a current running parallel to the beach.
Looking at an aerial map, you can visualize the tide flowing in the direction of the arrow.
At first, the current flows parallel to the beach, but because the beach curves,At some point, you’ll be swept out toward the open sea.
Before I knew it, I had drifted out to sea and started to panic.
I miss my high school days when my friends and I swam desperately to the beach (it was really scary ( ；∀；))
Suddenly gets deep
There are places where, even if you’re about 170 centimeters tall and walking in water that’s only chest-deep, you can suddenly sink all the way up to your head.
I’m not sure if it’s because of the tide, but the sandy beach has suddenly eroded, and the water is now too deep to stand in.
Since I’d been used to this since childhood, I was really impressed by the shallow waters off the Shonan coast—where the water never got deep no matter how far out I swam. Haha
There’s nothing to hold onto
The lack of rocky areas is what makes Maehama Beach so beautiful, but I think it also poses a potential danger.
If you’re swept out to sea or find yourself in water too deep to touch the bottom, there’s nowhere to hold on to.
Well, since it’s the ocean, there usually isn’t anywhere to hold on to…
The waters popular for snorkeling are rocky, with many areas where rocks jut out from both below the surface and above the water, so
You can hold onto it in an emergency (though please refrain from climbing on it indiscriminately, as it is also a coral habitat)
Accidents have occurred that have resulted in fatalities.
There have actually been fatal accidents at Maehama Beach in the past.
While the number of accidents has risen due to the recent increase in tourists, there was also a local resident who passed away when I was a child.
This is a beach where you can enjoy fun moments with family, couples, or friends, but please keep in mind that there are potential dangers as well.
How to Get to Maehama Beach
Maehama Beach is located on the west side of the island (formerly Shimoji Town)
It’s only about 10 to 15 minutes away from downtown and Miyako Airport.
There are two parking lots
There is one parking lot on the Tokyu Resort Hotel side and one on the Maehama Fishing Port side.
Tokyu Resort has plenty of parking spaces available.
The harbor area is primarily for tour buses, and there are few parking spaces available for the general public.
Both tend to fill up quickly.
Equipped with shower rooms
The number of shower rooms along the coast of Miyakojima has increased significantly compared to 30 years ago.
What’s more, most of these places are free.
However, the shower rooms at Maehama Beach require a fee…
I think it was 100 yen for 5 minutes (sorry, my memory is a bit fuzzy).
If you’re going shopping
If you want to buy drinks or food on your way there or back, the A-Coop in Shimoji is close by and convenient.
If you head toward the city center, you’ll also find a FamilyMart.
When I was a kid, I’d either bring rice balls from home, buy some at A-Coop, or stop for some Miyako soba on the way back.
I was definitely most excited about the Miyako soba, but I was also really looking forward to A-Coop.
Of course, please don’t litter on the beach (｡>人<｡)
I hope this article helps someone have a safe and enjoyable trip.
Thank you for reading to the end*ᴗ ᴗ)⁾⁾
