Miyakojima with Kids: Our Family Trip + What We Actually Thought
Last Updated on September 29, 2026 by Kay
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We just got back from a trip to Miyakojima (Miyako Island), and I am not exaggerating when I say it was one of the best family vacations we have ever had in Japan, hands down. (And I say this as a mom living in Japan with her family.)
Miyakojima, located south of Okinawa’s main island, is truly a piece of paradise in Japan. I first visited the island with my friends 16 years ago, and I knew I always wanted to go back with my family.
Having been to Okinawa a few times with my daughter, we decided to spend a few days this summer in Miyakojima instead, and I’m happy to report that my entire family had an amazing time. (Including my husband, who typically does not like island vacations; he only goes because I drag him there. He would rather be on a mountain, so this is saying a lot.)
In this article, I’ll share what my family did on Miyakojima, as well as some tips, so that you can have just as amazing a time as we did.
What Is Miyakojima Like for a Family Vacation?
Miyakojima is known for its stunning cerulean waters and fantastic beaches with very soft, fine sand. If your family likes beach vacations, there is truly no other place to go in Japan than here.
That being said, there are a few things to do that don’t involve the water, which is nice if your child gets exhausted from being in the ocean all morning (like mine). I’ll cover these activities later on in the article.
What We Did in Miyakojima with Kids (and What Was Actually Worth It)
As mentioned earlier, there are some activities to do that are not purely focused on beaches. We spent four days on the island, and we weren’t able to see and do everything kid-friendly that the island has to offer.
I think if you are staying for four days and want to do various things on the island with your kids while having time to relax at the hotel, four to five days is great. However, if you’re staying for a week and don’t want to focus primarily on water activities, then your family might be a bit bored. In that case, I would recommend Ishigaki Island.
That being said, I loved Miyakojima and found it was perfect for our family in terms of balancing water activities and relaxing. We went back home to Osaka feeling like a million bucks!
Here’s a look at what we did on Miyako Island with our family.
Snorkeling with Turtles
I feel like this is a must when you’re in Miyakojima. My daughter has been snorkeling once before, and although she was still scared, she really wanted to see turtles, so she mustered up the courage to go again.
The nice thing is that pretty much all snorkeling with turtles experiences are from the beach and last about an hour, so your child won’t be overwhelmed. If your child doesn’t know how to snorkel, some snorkeling tour guides provide a swim ring and an underwater viewing scope.
My daughter had a little raft and a viewing scope (we brought it from home but you can rent it from tour operators as well). This was pulled by the tour guide. She had a snorkel on her, and when we found a turtle, she went into the water. We were so proud of her!
My friend even took her two-year-old, who was in a swim ring and had an underwater viewing scope, and he had a great time!
The two best family-friendly beaches to see turtles in Miyakojima are Shigira Beach, where my friend saw turtles with her toddler, and Aragusuku Beach, which is where my family went.
If you want to do a snorkeling tour in Shigira, I recommend Sunshine Marin (we might do a snorkeling tour with them next time). Make sure you book this in advance because they have limited availability.
For Aragusuku Beach, we booked a private tour with an operator directly on the beach. They said they can speak English, but to what extent I have no clue. Our guide was great, though, and we saw two turtles! He also took photos of us, which we got for free. The lifejackets were a little old, but we got anti-fog spray for our snorkeling mask (which another tour didn’t provide), which I appreciated.
If you want an English-speaking tour guide at Aragusuku Beach, you can book a tour in advance here.
For another English-speaking guide, I would look at SUGAR3 Miyakojima Marine. They choose the snorkeling location depending on the sea conditions that day, which can give you a better chance of seeing turtles. I’m actually considering doing this tour the next time I’m in Miyakojima.
You don’t necessarily need to book a tour to see the turtles, but since it’s nature, you might end up spending some time trying to find one, which is not something you want to do with a young child.
Since it’s nature, you’re not 100% guaranteed to see a turtle. Tours increase the chance since the guides know where to look.
Apparently Waiwai Beach should have turtles, but we did a private snorkeling tour there using an operator called Ocean King, and sadly, we didn’t see a single turtle, although we did see plenty of fish.
According to the guide, a typhoon the previous month had swept out most of the turtles’ food and coral that were located closer to the shore.
Apparently, we might have been able to see a turtle had we swum further out, but the waters were quite choppy, and since we had a 7-year-old, we decided to call it a day.
Ocean King also doesn’t use anti-fog spray in order to protect the environment, so this is also something to keep in mind when booking a tour. If you do go to Wai Wai Beach, know that there aren’t many people there, at least when we visited. Had there been a turtle, we would have been the only ones to see it, which would have been great!
Note that all turtle snorkeling tours in Miyakojima require you to swim from the beach.
Relaxing at the Hotel
We stayed at Hilton’s Canopy Hotel Miyako Island, which is brand new and has an amazing rooftop pool. We loved coming back here in the afternoon and just relaxing by the pool.
Going to Adorable Playgrounds
There is a super cute and colorful playground right next to the Hilton called Painagama Umisora Sukoyaka Park. It takes about 15 minutes to walk there from the hotel, but they have free parking, too.
I love that the playground is ocean-themed, with fish and boat decor at the top.
There is also another playground somewhat nearby called Kamamamine Park that has a stone Shisa slide, but we didn’t have time to go there.
Making Sugarcane Juice
We went to an amazing sugarcane factory where you can feed a piece of sugarcane into a machine and make your very own juice! The juice tastes fantastic, too.
You can also reserve a spot to cut your own sugarcane, but this was unavailable when we visited.
Doing an Underwater Boat Tour
If your kiddos don’t want to get wet, consider taking them on this underwater boat tour.
Although my daughter loved snorkeling, she enjoyed this boat tour just as much! We were able to see turtles and much larger fish compared to our snorkeling tours.
It lasts about 45 minutes, and for the latter half, you can sit at the top of the boat and see the view, as well as the guide feeding fish.
Just note that some people get seasick on this tour, as we saw some green-in-the-face folks running to the deck. The commentary is also entirely in Japanese.
Looking for Miyako Mamoru-kun
While we were driving throughout Miyako Island, we made sure to keep an eye out for Miyako Mamoru-kun, which made us both shriek in laughter and somewhat in terror when we first saw him.
This statue is a policeman stationed along roads around the island to promote traffic safety, and he’s become somewhat of a symbol of Miyako Island.
Kid-Friendly Beaches We Visited on Miyako Island
Miyakojima’s beaches are so diverse that it’s really fun to spend time checking them out. However, not all of them are swim-friendly, which means you might not want to visit them with your kiddos in tow.
When it comes to beaches on Miyako Island you can comfortably swim at with families, here is what I recommend based on my experience:
Yonaha Beach
The sand here is so delicate and fine that it feels absolutely marvelous to walk on and run your hands through. The water is also crystal-clear and a perfect blue color. Best of all, it doesn’t have any rough waves, making it perfect for families.
However, this beach is not good for snorkeling as there aren’t any coral reefs.
Yonaha Beach also has kid-friendly facilities with rental items, free parking, and free washrooms.
Our rating: 4.5/5
I don’t recommend swimming at the beaches at Kurima Island, located across Kurima Bridge (which you can see from Yonaha Beach), such as Nagamahama Beach and Musunun Beach. They’re quite wild with lots of rocks and waves. Musunun Beach is nice to visit for the sunset, though, and we found some pretty cool seashells there. Your kids might also like going to Tako Park, which has a huge statue of an octopus. It takes 7 minutes to walk there from the parking lot, though, and our kiddo was pretty beat at this point so we decided not to go.
Toguchi Beach
This is the first beach we went to when we arrived in Miyakojima, as we wanted to have lunch at Blue Turtle, which is right next to the beach.
My daughter has been an ocean-hater for about two years, so imagine my surprise when she ran straight into the water here and refused to come out (I guess I don’t blame her; the water is super inviting after all)!
What my daughter and I loved about this beach is that the water is quite shallow for several metres, making it the perfect depth for kids who want to splash around but not necessarily swim. I especially recommend it for families with babies and toddlers.
We played a game where we would jump after every shallow wave, which was super fun for both of us.
Like Yonaha Beach, Toguchi Beach has fine sand and crystal-clear water, but this also means that there are few fish, so it’s not good for snorkeling. Also, keep in mind that the sand here will get everywhere. I had to wash my bathing suit three times to get all the sand off it, and this was after I took it off! (I had quite the surprise when I went to the washroom and sand seeped out of my bikini bottom like an hourglass.)
Toilets, showers, parking, and a small shop are available at Toguchi Beach. However, this is a natural beach, so don’t assume there will be lifeguards or a jellyfish net.
Our rating: 5/5
Shigira Beach
As mentioned earlier, this beach is known for its turtle sightings and turtle snorkeling tours. It has free toilets, free parking, restaurants, as well as shops to buy snorkeling gear if you need it. The loungers are quite pricey to rent, though.
This beach was disappointing for us, though. The sand wasn’t as soft as the aforementioned beaches, and the water was quite murky with little bits of garbage floating in it. This might have been because there was a typhoon a few days beforehand, but it paled in comparison to the other beaches we visited in Miyakojima.
If you want to do a guided snorkeling tour (which I recommend if you’re with small kids), book a tour in advance. Spots fill up very quickly and on the day reservations will likely not be possible, as you can see in the picture I took below:
Our rating: 3/5
Aragusuku Beach
This was our favorite beach in Miyakojima. The water is clear, and the coral reefs here have so much wildlife — and yes, you can see turtles! If you want to encounter them on your own, head to the left side of the beach and go during high tide.
There are free toilets here, coin-operated showers, food, and rental loungers and tables, as well as water equipment such as snorkeling gear and clear kayaks. There are also some tours that you can book on the day if you’re lucky. Note that pretty much everything operates with cash only.
The one problem is that this beach can be crowded, and free parking is limited. If you don’t manage to snag a free parking spot (which can be gone as early as 8:30 AM on weekends), you will need to shell out 2000 yen. So make sure to bring enough cash (I recommend at least 20,000 yen, especially if you want to do tours).
Another thing to be aware of is that there are no lifeguards, it is not a designated swimming area by Okinawa Prefecture, and there is dangerous marine life in the water.
Our rating: 4.5/5
Beaches Recommended by My Friend
My friend S, who is from an island and used to live in Okinawa, visited Miyakojima with her two-year-old a few months before we did.
Apart from the beaches I introduced, here are additional beaches she visited and would recommend.
Funakusu Beach
This beach is a bit on the wilder side. You need to climb down a rope to get there, but the wall is not really high, about 1.5 meters, so she was able to do it while carrying her 2-year-old. The sand has a lot of dead coral, so you need marine shoes. The beach is really good for snorkeling, and you can see tons of fish right in front of you, so there’s no need to even go into the water.
There is a small free parking area and toilets, but no showers.
Sunayama Beach
Do not swim here because there are jellyfish and sharks!
So why is my friend recommending this beach? It’s because of the beautiful view, especially at sunset. The soft sand is also excellent for kids to run around and play on. You can see little crabs on the beach as well, which make her toddler really happy.
This beach has free parking and toilets. Showers are available but costs a few 100 yen coins.
Where to Eat in Miyakojima with Kids
If you’re wondering where to dine with your kiddos, I’ve shared my family’s favorite eats in this article.
Our Miyakojima Family Itinerary: How We Planned Our Trip
Wondering exactly how our family spent our time in Miyakojima? Here’s a look at our Miyakojima itinerary so that you have an idea of how you might want to plan your trip with your family.
Other Things to Do with Kids on Miyakojima
These activities are on my list to do next time our family is in Miyakojima.
Miyako Island Underwater Park
Miyako Island Underwater Park lets you see fish and other marine life in their natural habitat through windows in an underwater observation area, so it’s a good option for young kids who can’t snorkel yet.
The observation room is about 4 meters underwater, with 24 windows looking directly out into the surrounding sea.
We wanted to see what this was like, but when we arrived, there was a sign at the entrance (pictured below) saying that water visibility was quite poor, so we decided against it. But I hope to go here again next time!
My daughter got to see some spotted garden eels for free from the aquarium at the entrance (her favorite!), so she wasn’t too disappointed.
Note for families with babies: You can bring a stroller to Miyakojima Underwater Park, but you’ll need to leave it at reception before going down to the underwater observation area, which involves going down (and then up) 75 stairs.
Miyakojima Botanical Garden
Miyakojima Botanical Garden is a large, free botanical garden with around 1,600 species of subtropical plants and colorful flowers throughout the year. It’s a nice place for a walk and is also home to Miyakojima Taiken Craft Village, so visitors can easily visit both at the same time.
Miyakojima Taiken Craft Village
Miyakojima Taiken Craft Village is inside the Miyakojima City Tropical Plant Garden and has several workshops where families can try making things such as pottery, shell crafts, island sandals, woven and dyed items, and kaleidoscopes (which I know my daughter will absolutely love).
It seems like a particularly good option if you want a break from the beach or need something to do on a rainy day.
Miyakojima City Museum
Miyakojima City Museum is a small local museum where you can learn more about the history, culture, traditional customs, nature, and arts of the Miyako Islands. Admission is also pretty cheap (300 yen for adults, 100 yen for kids), making is great way for kiddos to learn more about the island beyond beaches.
Miyakojima Horses
My friend’s son loves horses, so she took him to this ranch that has Miyakojima horses, a species that’s only found on Miyako Island and had almost become extinct.
Here’s what she told me:
“You have to make a reservation first before going. The guy who works there will give you a complete tour, and you’ll get to see every horse. And if you’re lucky, you’ll maybe get to see a foal (it’s quite rare). At the end, you get to feed them (my son absolutely loved that part).” -S
Nakabari Limestone Cave
Nakabari Limestone Cave is a small limestone cave in southern Miyakojima that you can walk through in just a few minutes. It’s not a major attraction, but I think it would be a fun little adventure for kids if you’re already exploring this part of the island, especially if you want to see something a bit different from beaches and viewpoints.
Toriike Pond
This is recommended by my friend S. She said there’s a little path you can walk along, and the landscape is beautiful and picture-worthy. Kids can also see planes take off from Shimojishima Airport.
Shigira Hot Spring
My friend S said this is a nice place to go with kids. There are two sections, one with an onsen pool that requires bathing suits, and another gender-separated section where you have to strip down.
She said it’s “a fun introduction to onsen for kids with an island touch. If kids are a bit older, you can go when it’s dark. Different colored lights create a fun atmosphere.”
Blue Seal Ice Cream
No trip to Okinawa is complete without having some of their famous Blue Seal ice cream! My daughter is a little strange and doesn’t like ice cream, but if your kiddos do, my friend S suggests heading to the Blue Seal Painagama branch in Miyakojima. This store has not only many flavors of delicious ice cream, but their displays are absolutely picture-worthy!
How Many Days Do I Think You Actually Need in Miyakojima?
The number of days you spend in Miyakojima depends on what you hope to do. For instance, if you want to snorkel at various beaches with your kids, I would plan the morning around that but set aside time in the afternoon for winding down at your hotel, especially if your child wants to enjoy the pool.
We spent four days in Miyakojima, but I would recommend at least five days if you want to fully experience the island. My friend S stayed there for a week with her family, and she found that it was perfect.
Should Families Rent a Car in Miyakojima?
We rented a car for our time in Miyakojima, and I highly recommend all families do the same.
Although you can spend the entire trip at a beachside resort, I think it’s quite a shame not to leave and explore the island. This way, you can not only see the diversity of the beaches and aquatic life here, but you’ll also be able to experience Miyakojima culture (especially at restaurants).
This is why I highly recommend renting a car for your stay, which is what we did.
Where to Stay in Miyakojima with Kids
We stayed at the Canopy by Hilton, which is a new hotel that has a stunning rooftop pool that overlooks the ocean. I cannot recommend this hotel enough; we loved it so much!
The only downside is that you’re not allowed to use flotation devices in the pool, which is rather deep, so it might not be great for kids who can’t swim.
We chose Canopy by Hilton because my friend S stayed at the next-door Hilton Okinawa Miyako Island Resort with her family, and she highly recommended it. Since Canopy was new, we decided to try that hotel first, and we had such a great stay, so I’m glad we did!
My husband said he wants to try staying at Hilton Okinawa Miyako Island Resort next time to see the difference, but honestly, I feel like I want to stay at Canopy again (especially since Canopy guests can use the Hilton facilities and pools, but Hilton guests can’t access Canopy’s rooftop pool)!
Another great option for families is Allamanda Imgya Coral Village. It has been certified as a “Welcome Baby” hotel, with facilities and services designed to make stays with little ones easier. The hotel is right next to Imgya Marine Garden, where families can spend time in the water. The hotel also offers activities such as kayaking and snorkeling, including some programs for children as young as three. You also get access to the restaurants, beaches, hot spring, and other facilities around Shigira Seven Miles Resort, so there’s plenty to do without having to spend every day driving around the island.
I have also been eyeing Shigira Bayside Suite ALLAMANDA. The rooms are all suites, so you have more space than you would in a typical hotel room, and some room types even come with a private pool. Kids can also see sea turtles swimming in the hotel’s lagoon. Since ALLAMANDA is part of the huge Shigira Seven Miles Resort, you can easily access Shigira Beach, restaurants, activities, and the resort’s hot spring, with a shuttle bus running between the different areas.
So, Is Miyakojima Worth Visiting with Kids?
Miyako Island is absolutely worth visiting for kids, but of course, it depends on your family.
We absolutely loved our time in Miyakojima, so much so that we think we will try to visit every year! It’s perfect for active families who want to swim, snorkel, and experience other water-based activities, as well as families who want to relax by the beach or hotel, and those who want a little bit of both.
When we were flying home, my daughter drew a picture of her favorite moment in Miyakojima, which was snorkeling with turtles:
