Miyakojima Shore Excursion Guide

We took the Gulangyu Cruise, which offers both guided tours and free exploration options. This Mid-Autumn Festival, there was a special promotion, and the remaining guided tour spots on the cruise were sold at just $45 per person. 🚍 Guided Tour Advantages: ⏰ Disembarkation time is about half an hour earlier than free exploration. Disadvantages: 🕐 Less flexibility, as you need to follow the guide's schedule. Price Comparison: 👨👩👧👦 If you have a larger group, a private car for free exploration is more comfortable. 👫 If you have a smaller group and prefer less walking, a guided tour might be a better choice. We ultimately chose the private car option for free exploration! 🚗💨 🕘 Itinerary (Private Car for Free Exploration) We got the early bird tickets and disembarked at 9:30 AM ship time (Beijing Time). After clearing customs, we started our journey at 11:30 AM Japan Time. Route: 1️⃣ Miyako Shrine (Approx. 15 minutes) ⛩️ A small shrine where you can offer a simple prayer and take photos. 2️⃣ AEON Supermarket (Approx. 1+ hour) 🛍️ Have a meal and shop all in one go! 3️⃣ Irabu Bridge (Approx. 15 minutes) 📸 A perfect spot for stunning photos! 4️⃣ Makiyama Observatory (Approx. 40 minutes) 10 minutes to climb up, 10 minutes to descend, and 20 minutes for photos. 🌊 The ocean view is spectacular and well worth the visit! 5️⃣ Kurima Bridge (Approx. 15 minutes) Another beautiful bridge with an observation deck nearby. 📷 I took the cover photo here—absolutely breathtaking scenery! Plus, it’s only 2 kilometers from Naha Maehama Beach. 6️⃣ Naha Maehama Beach We arrived at 4 PM and stayed until 5 PM. 🕠 If you’re feeling adventurous, you can arrive at 4:30 PM, stay until 5:30 PM, and return to the port by 6 PM. (The ship’s boarding deadline is 6:30 PM.) 🌅 After 4:30 PM, the sun isn’t as harsh, giving you more time to enjoy or even add another stop. We even saw a 🌈 rainbow along the way, which made us super happy! 7️⃣ 5:30 PM Return to the Port 🎉 The entire trip allowed us to experience Miyakojima’s stunning "glass blue" ocean color—absolutely satisfying! 💬 With a private car for free exploration, you’re in control of your schedule. Stop whenever you want, go wherever you like—it’s incredibly comfortable! 😎