The next day was forecast for dodgy weather so we had a chilled morning, I did some work and Pete watched motorbike racing.
Then we headed out to buy a cool bag and some snorkels and masks. Daiso didn’t let us down. Y100 each (less than 50p) for a cool bag and an ice block and Yen 450 for a snorkel and mask. We also commenced a flip flops search for Pete. We also checked out an area in the West of the island that had mangroves.
We went to our local cafe (before it closed at 6.30pm) for dinner and I tried a mango mojito- yum.
The following day we were forecast good weather so hit Aragusuku beach for some snorkelling. We hoped to see turtles and it did not disappoint! There were so many and we had one each side of us at one point. You didn’t know where to look. It was fab. We also saw a sea snake and lots of fish but the turtles were the main show. We did decide to return to Daiso and splash out on some water shoes each – less than £2 each.
We carried on South to the most southerly point of Miyakolima Island – Cape Higashi-Hennazaki. It was lovely to walk around the headland with all the birds, flowers and stunning sea views.
The next few days were a bit stormy so we kicked back a bit. One day we drove to Irabu Island (over a very impressive bridge with several rises in it) in the rain for lunch as Pete had seen an advert for Korean Kimbap. As we got served, the heavens opened so the lady escorted us to our car with her umbrella.
We returned on a less rainy day to explore Irabu Island and the connected Shimoji-shima. On the West coast there were some lovely beaches, coves and caves but it was too windy to snorkel – reminded us of the Isle of Man wind. We walked the boardwalk between the
Toriike Ponds (waterfilled sinkholes formed by limestone erosion).
Next we walked around the small airport runway which has the most amazing approach at 17 End over the lovely white sand beaches and turquoise sea.
Back on Irabu, I managed to pursuade Pete to visit a cafe (Kuninaka Shoten) – a rarity !! He tried a pesto cheese pastry and I had a yummy slice of cheesecake. It had lovely gardens overlooking the mangroves which attach the two islands. This island doesn’t have all the posh hotels and resorts. It has lots of small farms and many people living there in very old and often dilapidated houses. I did read that Okinawa is the poorest prefecture in Japan – also to do with 17% of the main Okinawa Island being taken up by US Military bases meaning that the locals can’t farm that land.
Another day we explored Kurima Island, the last and smallest island connected to Miyakojima. We climbed a couple of observation towers, had a nosey around a posh resort one of Janet’s customers is going to stay at (one of only a couple of places to stay on the island) and checked out a few beaches. The island is filled mainly with farms and I don’t think we saw one convenience store!!!
Sporting our new sea shoes, we tried another day to snorkel with turtles at Shigara Beach. There were no turtles to be seen but lots of lovely coloured fish and varied coral. Shigara Beach area is the most touristy area with the Shigara resort spread over 7 miles, including a German Culture Park and castle!!!!
We quite liked Boraga Beach as it had a couple of swimming pools open to the public and the Imgyaa Marine Garden was stunning with lots of coral but unfortunately both times we visited the tide height was too low to swim and snorkel there.
On our last morning, we stopped at Wai Wai beach but could see no turtles in the small sheltered bay and it was too rough outside the breakwater so we headed back to our trusted Aragusuku beach. They had started a massive beach clean since our last visit which was great to see.
Upon walking into the water, we straight away saw a turtle, and then another and another. It was just lovely. We followed the turtles around for ages as they ruched on the sea grass. I’m sure they knew we were there but didn’t seemed bothered by our presence at all.
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