10 Popular Activities to Enjoy on Mizuna Island! How to Enjoy and Attractions!
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What is Mizuna Island like?
Minna-jima is a small crescent-shaped island off the Motobu Peninsula of Okinawa's main island.
It is also known as "Croissant Island" because it looks like a bread croissant from above.
The island was once uninhabited, and the entire island was sanctified as "Mennano Utaki," but in 1903, 13 households from Sesoko Island moved to the island to engage in the sugar industry.
The island's name is said to derive from the "waterless island" with scarce water resources.
Currently, the water is supplied from the main island of Okinawa.
The island's population is about 50, and the island's tourism industry is primarily based on its beaches and other tourist resources, with the Mizuna Island Lighthouse located at the eastern end of the island.
There are no ATMs, banks, police, hospitals, supermarkets or convenience stores on the island.
Of the many remote islands around Okinawa, this is the closest to the main island, only 15 minutes by high-speed boat one way from Tokuchi Port, making it possible to take a day trip even if you are going all out.
The island's circumference is approximately 4 km, and the popular spot of Suina Beach stretches right next to the boat landing.
Directions from Naha Airport and Watakuchi Port
To get to Watakuchi Port from Naha Airport, take the Yanbaru Express Bus.
Board the bus at the Naha Airport bus stop No. 2 and get off at the "Motobu Museum Mae" bus stop; the trip takes about 2 hours.
It is about a 10-minute walk from the bus stop in front of the Motobu Museum to Watakuchi Port.
Note that the Yanbaru Express Bus is a local bus, so reservations are not required.
For more information, including timetables, please visit the Yanbaru Express Bus website.
From Watakuchi Port to Mizuna Port on Mizuna Island, use the New Wing Minna, a high-speed boat operated by Mizuna Kaiun.
Since the high-speed boat cannot be reserved in advance, you will need to arrive at Watakuchi Port early and purchase a round-trip ticket at the ticket counter during the season when crowds are expected.
Also, be sure to check the number of high-speed boats in operation, as they vary greatly depending on the season.
Why choose Mizuna Island?
The main reason why people choose Mizuna Island is that it is so accessible that it is only a 15-minute high-speed boat ride from the main island of Okinawa, making it possible to visit the island on a day trip.
The shining white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, which are incomparable to the beaches on the main island, allow visitors to enjoy marine sports and sightseeing, attracting approximately 60,000 tourists a year.
Another point of interest is that the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is only a 10-minute drive from Tokuchi Port, the main island entrance to Mizuna Island.
You can also combine sightseeing with Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium after having a lot of fun at Mizuna Island or before crossing over to the island.
Attractions of Mizuna Island
One of the charms of Mizuna Island is its location, just 15 minutes by high-speed boat from Tokuchi Port on the main island of Okinawa.
The shallow waters are ideal for swimming, and the coral reefs that surround the island and the colorful tropical fish are popular with many divers who want to observe them up close.
Facilities on Mizuna Island include showers and changing rooms, toilets, stores, and coin lockers.
Therefore, it is a nice point to be able to take a shower and go home refreshed after enjoying activities to the fullest.
In addition, parasols and beach mats, which are absolutely necessary for shading from the sun on beaches without shade, are available for rent, so you can enjoy sightseeing on Mizuna Island with nothing.
Beaches with blue sea and white sand
Mizuna Beach on Mizuna Island is a favorite among locals for its beautiful contrast of white sand and crystal clear water.
Buoys and nets are posted offshore of the beach, and lifeguards are on duty, so families with small children can play safely.
Furthermore, the beaches of Mizuna Island have been selected by the "Michelin Green Guide Japon," the travel edition of the famous Michelin Guide, making it a spot that has attracted attention from around the world.
Enjoy marine activities!
On Mizuna Island, visitors can not only spend time relaxing on the beach and swimming, but also enjoy a variety of activities.
The area offers a wide variety of safe and secure marine sports such as snorkeling, diving, SUP, parasailing, and more.
Beautiful cobblestone streets
The road leading from the harbor to the village of Suina is a beautiful white stone-paved road with quaint masonry walls on the sides.
Looking back toward the sea from inside the village, the scene unfolds like a path with a spectacular view that leads you to the blue sea.
On a fine day, the contrast between the blue sky and the white road is stunning.
Incidentally, this is the only road connecting the harbor and the village of Mizuna. Visitors to the island tend to focus on the beaches on either side of the harbor, but if you take a walk in the village, you will find that there is more to Mizuna Island than just the ocean.
10 Popular Activities to Enjoy on Mizuna Island
Here are 10 popular marine activities that can be easily enjoyed on Mizuna Island.
snorkeling
Snorkeling is a great classic marine activity.
Snorkel, underwater mask, and fins are worn to observe the underwater environment while floating on the surface of the water.
Fun & Attraction
Unlike diving, snorkeling does not require a license and can be enjoyed by anyone.
Furthermore, by wearing a highly buoyant life jacket or wetsuit, even those who are not confident swimmers can easily float.
The shallow ocean with calm waves is also a major attraction, allowing even small children to enjoy underwater swimming in peace.
diving
Diving allows you to breathe underwater and enjoy the all-encompassing blue world at your leisure, at the same eye level as the fish swimming underwater.
It is highly popular along with snorkeling.
Fun & Attraction
Diving requires a license, so if you do not have a license, join a trial diving tour where you will dive with an instructor.
They will give you a lecture on how to use the equipment from the very beginning, so even first-timers can dive with relative ease.
Even if you are diving for the first time, if you have an airplane flight planned afterward, it is not recommended to dive because of the risk of decompression sickness due to the sudden change in air pressure.
Diving after the flight is not permitted.
SUP
SUP, which was born in Hawaii and is rapidly gaining popularity, stands for stand-up paddleboard.
This activity involves standing on a board and paddling to the surface of the ocean.
Fun & Attraction
SUP requires a good sense of balance, so you start out in an upright position.
As you gradually become accustomed to standing, you will feel as if you are standing on the sea, which is an exhilarating experience.
Canoe/Kayak
Canoeing/kayaking involves boarding a small boat and paddling on your own to cruise the open ocean.
Many tours paddle canoes and kayaks to beaches and uninhabited islands.
Fun & Attraction
Canoeing and kayaking are a great way to see tropical fish swimming close up because the distance between your body and the water is so great.
parasailing
Parasailing is an activity in which participants travel to the point by motorboat, open a parachute on board, and look out over the open ocean from above.
Fun & Attraction
The parachute is pulled by a motorboat, which catches the wind and soars into the sky like a kite, allowing visitors to enjoy a panoramic view of the sea and sky with an outstanding sense of exhilaration.
Since there is little chance of getting wet, even non-swimmers can enjoy the experience without worry.
glass boat
The glass boat is a glass boat with a glass bottom that allows visitors to observe the underwater world through the glass.
Fun & Attraction
At the point, anchor and observe coral reefs and tropical fish.
There are also detailed explanations of coral reefs and tropical fish by guides.
If sea conditions are good, there are also tours that allow visitors to experience feeding the fish from the boat, which is a different kind of fun.
marine sports
For marine sports on Mizuna Island, a tour combining several marine sports is recommended.
Fun & Attraction
The most common type of tour that includes multiple marine sports is snorkeling as the basic activity, with two or three other options to choose from.
You can enjoy multiple marine sports in one tour, which is both satisfying and economical for those who want to enjoy active sightseeing.
whale watching
Whale watching is a popular winter-only (January to March) activity in Okinawa, where visitors board a cruise ship and observe whales in the wild.
Fun & Attraction
The whales that can be seen in Okinawa waters are humpback whales, which migrate to the warmer waters of Okinawa every winter to raise their young and breed.
The thrill of witnessing the dynamic performance of wild whales right before your eyes is too great for words.
The cruise ship departs from Motobu Port, which is just a short distance from Watakuchi Port, from where the high-speed boat to Mizuna Island departs.
If you visit Okinawa in winter, why not try whale watching, which can only be seen during this season, before or after sightseeing on Mizuna Island?
cruising
For cruising on Mizuna Island, we recommend a charter cruise that can be rented out to a small group of people.
The boat is not a passenger boat, but a chartered boat, so you can spend your time leisurely, and they can accommodate a wide range of requests.
Fun & Attraction
Whale watching is the most popular charter cruise during the winter season.
At other times of the year, we can organize optional tours just for like-minded friends and families, such as snorkeling, diving, fishing, and sunset cruises around Mizuna Island.
How about a higher grade trip to Okinawa on a charter cruise?
photo tour
On Mizuna Island, some snorkeling and diving experiences with an instructor include photography during the experience in the tour fee.
There are also unusual photo tours, such as the "Underwater Photo Wedding Plan," in which you enter the ocean in your dress.
Fun & Attraction
The photography service for snorkeling and experience diving does not require participants to prepare special equipment such as a waterproof camera in advance, and the staff's camera will capture scenes of memorable and precious experiences.
Of course, you can get all the shooting data, so you can add another memory to your collection.
The Underwater Photography Photo Wedding Plan allows you to go into the ocean in your dress for underwater photography as well as for beach photos with beautiful white sandy beaches.
Underwater photography will be done in swim wedding gowns and underwater-ready tuxedos.
Why not add a touch of splendor to your memorable wedding with our underwater photo wedding plan, where you can take pictures in the overwhelming clarity and beautiful colors of the ocean that only a remote island can offer?
Three recommended tours to enjoy on Mizuna Island
Here are three recommended tours that can be easily enjoyed on Mizuna Island.
Snorkeling at Mizuna Island! (No.604)
A very popular boat entry snorkeling plan where you can see colorful corals and fish!
Boat entry takes you directly to the point by boat, so you can enjoy a bit of a cruising sensation while snorkeling at your leisure.
Experience diving in Mizuna Island! (No.605)
With the support of your instructor, dive into a world of excitement!
Clear waters, beautiful corals, and vivid fish welcome you.
Boat entry allows you to dive directly to the dive site by boat, so you do not have to walk around with heavy equipment on your back.
Summer Only] Mizuna Island Swimming Free Plan (with parasol) (No.613)
Let's make your own original plan by combining your choice of different types of swimming at Mizuna Island!
Of course, you can apply for swimming only! We can make a plan according to your travel schedule.
summary
We have introduced the charm of Mizuna Island, a very popular remote island in Okinawa Prefecture visited by 60,000 tourists every year, and the activities that can be enjoyed here.
The clear, azure waters that take the breath away of everyone who visits the island are not only great for experiencing marine activities, but also for relaxing and admiring the beautiful scenery.
Please take a short trip from the main island of Okinawa and visit Mizuna Island!
Thank you for taking the time to read this to the end.
