What is the Mizuna Island Lighthouse? Introducing nearby beaches and recommended sightseeing spots.

What is Mizuna Island like?

Mizuna Island is a remote island located in the southwestern part of Okinawa's main island.

Although small, with an area of only 0.56 km, the island is relatively close to the main island, and is said to attract as many as 60,000 tourists throughout the year.

And the most distinctive feature of the island is its overall croissant shape.

It is also called "Croissant Island" because of this distinctive shape.

 

Directions from Naha Airport and Watakuchi Port

There are two main ways to get to Mizuna Island from Naha Airport.

First, if using a rental car, head to the Hsuuda IC via the Okinawa Expressway and then via Route 58 to Watakuchi Port (about 1.5 hours).

From Watakuchi Port, take the "New Wing Minna" high-speed boat, which will take you to Mizuna Island in about 15 minutes.

To get to Watakuchi Port by bus, take the Yanbaru Express Bus, a local bus that leaves from Naha Airport, and get off at "Motobu Museum Mae" (about 2 hours).

From the bus stop where you get off, it is about a 9-minute walk (700m) to Watakuchi Port.

Mizuna Island can be enjoyed as a half-day or day trip!

Mizuna Island is only 15 minutes from the main island of Okinawa by high-speed boat, and can be enjoyed as a half-day or day trip.

However, during the high season, both ferries and beaches are crowded, so it may be better to join a tour of Mizuna Island to enjoy the island without getting caught up in the crowds.

 

Why choose Mizuna Island?

With a population of only about 50, Mizuna Island offers a pleasant harmony of pristine nature and moderately maintained beaches.

There are many tours available, and we recommend them for those who are visiting the islands for the first time.

Best of all are the colorful coral reefs that surround the island and the beautiful ocean views!

Time spent on Mizuna Island is special, and you will experience plenty of extraordinary sensations, as if you are not in Japan, but on a distant southern island.

 

Attractions of Mizuna Island

Here are some of the attractive points of Mizuna Island, which attracts many tourists!

 

Beaches with blue sea and white sand

The attractive beaches of Mizuna Island are outstandingly photogenic, with their beautiful emerald green waters contrasting very nicely with the white sandy beaches.

Mizuna Beach, the most popular beach on the island, is almost directly connected to the boat landing, and with a rental store for marine goods, showers, toilets, changing rooms, and a monitoring station, you can enjoy the beach to the fullest even if you do not have anything to hand.

In addition, the ocean is shallow and the waves are calm, making it perfect for swimming.

 

Enjoy marine activities!

On Mizuna Island, visitors can experience various marine activities such as snorkeling, diving, banana boating, and parasailing.

There is a store on Suina Beach where you can rent marine goods, but during the high season there are many tourists.

Therefore, it is better to join a tour to ensure that you can enjoy marine activities more reliably.

 

Beautiful cobblestone streets

The road leading from the village of Mizuna Island to the beach is paved with beautiful white cobblestones.

The stone pavement has a pattern like a turtle's shell and a giraffe, and there are also walls made of piled stones on both sides.

In addition, there are many white flowers and greenery called "hamayu," which are familiar to Okinawans, and this scenery is just as photogenic as the beach.

 

What is the Mizuna Island Lighthouse?

The Mizuna Island Lighthouse is located at the eastern end of the island.

It plays a very important role for vessels operating in the vicinity of Mizuna Island.

 

About Mizuna Island Lighthouse

The Mizuna Island Lighthouse is not usually open to the public, and its perimeter is fenced off so that visitors cannot approach it.

This lighthouse was installed in 1972 to signal boats operating between Mizuna Island and Sesoko Island.

The beautiful lighthouse with white tiles is 13 meters high and shines a white light once every three seconds.

 

Directions from Mizuna Port

To reach Mizuna Island Lighthouse, walk from Mizuna Port toward the east on Mizuna Beach.

It takes about 15 minutes to get there, but please watch your step as there are areas near the lighthouse where hubs are likely to appear.

Beautiful beaches nearby!

Mizuna Beach is the most famous beach on Mizuna Island, but there are also several other private beaches that are more secluded.

There is also a beautiful and quiet beach just below the above-mentioned Mizuna Island Lighthouse.

 

Beach below the lighthouse

The beach has not been given a proper, unique name.

It is called "the beach under the lighthouse" just as the beach is located.

 

Recommendations

The beach below the lighthouse is located just inside the croissant when the entire island is compared to a croissant.

The white sandy beach is very fine and silky because the beach is called a beach where the tide has receded and there are tidal flats.

It is also very quiet because there are few visitors.

Please note, however, that showers and changing rooms are not provided as they are at Mizuna Beach.

 

Directions from Mizuna Island Lighthouse and Mizuna Port

If you are going from Mizuna Island Lighthouse, the beach is located off a side road near the lighthouse, so you will not get lost.

Also, from Mizuna Harbor, you can see the lighthouse as you walk toward the east on Mizuna Beach, and then you can reach the beach by taking a nearby side road in the same way.

Enjoy the sights of Mizuna Island surrounded by nature!

With the exception of Mizuna Beach, Mizuna Island is a largely untouched wilderness.

There are some dangerous spots, such as rugged rocky terrain and hubs lurking in the grasslands, but even so, there are spectacular views that are worth seeing at least once.

One option would be to take a tour accompanied by a staff member in case of emergency.

 

Recommendations from locals

Here are some of the best places to visit, as recommended by the locals!

There are certain points of attraction that can only be understood by those who live in the area.

 

Suina Beach

Mizuna Beach is the most famous tourist spot on Mizuna Island.

It is no exaggeration to say that most tourists visit this beach.

 

Recommendations

The easy accessibility of the hotel, which is almost directly connected to Mizuna Port, and its excellent facilities are very attractive.

Although it is a bit of a bottleneck in that it is very crowded during the high season, most of the famous marine activities can be experienced, and there is a lifeguard on duty, so it is safe.

 

Directions from Mizuna Port

As soon as you exit Mizuna Harbor, Mizuna Beach stretches out in front of you, so you will not get lost.

Seagull Rock Beach

Seagull Rock Beach is located on the opposite side of Suina Harbor.

Located south of Mizuna Island, it can be explored on foot when the tide rises, but be careful where you step as there are many rocky areas.

 

Recommendations

As the name "Seagull Rock" suggests, birds called terns, which belong to the gull family, come to the rock when it is time for them to raise their young.

The area off the beach is a diving spot, attracting many divers from the main island of Okinawa and Sesoko Island.

However, there are no toilets, showers, or changing rooms on this beach, so you can go to Suina Beach

Be sure to prepare well in advance before heading out.

 

Directions from Mizuna Port

From Mizuna Harbor, walk through the island's village toward the south, which takes about 6 minutes.

Nishi no Hama Beach

Nishi no Hama Beach is a quiet beach located not far from Mizuna Beach.

 

Recommendations

This beach is definitely worth a visit in the evening!

Located on the west side of Mizuna Island, the beach offers unobstructed views of the beautiful sunset right in front of the beach.

There are no streetlights around the beach and some roads are not well maintained, so please be careful on your way home after dark.

 

Directions from Mizuna Port

From Mizuna Harbor, follow the road to the right.

A 10-minute walk will get you there.

If you use a car, it takes about 4 minutes to get there.

　

Hamlet of Suina

In fact, the village that stretches just off Mizuna Harbor is also a popular sightseeing spot.

 

Recommendations

The village that stretches up the hill from Mizuna Beach has unique Okinawan houses and tropical plants.

Also, be sure to stop by the island's only souvenir shop, "Sea and Island General Store.

T-shirts with original designs, postcards, and jellyfish ball accessories are available for purchase.

 

Directions from Mizuna Port

From Mizuna Harbor, walk approximately 3 minutes in a southerly direction.

summary

We have introduced the lighthouse and recommended sightseeing spots on Mizuna Island.

Although the island is famous for its beautiful sea and sandy beaches, there are also many other sights and spectacular photo opportunities, so please enjoy sightseeing on Mizuna Island as much as time permits.

You will surely make the best memories!