Each year, travel website TripAdvisor comes out with their Traveler's Choice Awards, which include several categories including popular destinations, trending destinations, and emerging destinations. For the 2021 awards, the Okinawan island of Miyakojima made the emerging destinations list, which is calculated by measuring positive Tripadvisor traveler review ratings for accommodations, restaurants and attractions, along with increases in searches, saved destinations, and actual bookings.

If you're wondering what Miyakojima has to offer, JapanTravel has a range of great articles on this part of Japan already!

The article Summer in Sunny Miyakojima showcases some of the island's gorgeous beaches and all the fun of a paddle boarding session - if you enjoy water sports, there are plenty of options to choose from here.

This piece is a great list of things to do and see on the island, from the Miyakojima Botanical Gardens to the Yuki Shio Saltworks and a myriad of destinations in between.

Diving is another popular water-based activity here, and JapanTravel has two articles about it: this piece titles the island "A Diver's Paradise", and this one describes it as "A Diver's Oasis".

Lastly, if you've also got your eye on Miyakojima as a travel destination in the future, you might be looking for accommodation options. The Hotel Breeze Bay Marina is just one of the choices available, and it comes with oceanfront views.

Getting there

Miyakojima has its own dedicated airport (Miyako Airport, code MMY). Domestic flights are available on Japan Airlines flying from Tokyo's Haneda Airport, Naha Airport, the New Ishigaki Airport, and Tarama Airport, and via ANA from Nagoya's Centrair Airport, Naha Airport, Osaka's Kansai Airport, and Tokyo's Haneda Airport. A seasonal route also operates through ANA from Fukuoka to Miyakojima.

Various car rental companies are available at the airport, including the likes of ORIX, Nippon Rent-a-Car, and Nissan.