Observe tropical fish in the crystal clear waters of Mizuna Island! Introducing activities and popular tours where you can meet tropical fish!

What is Mizuna Island like?

Have you ever heard of Minna-jima Island?

Mizuna Island, also nicknamed Croissant Island, is a small, remote island that can be reached by day trip from the main island of Okinawa.

The origin of the croissant metaphor is the shape of the island, which resembles a crescent moon.

The island is blessed with beautiful sea and nature, and although it has a population of less than 50 people, it has become one of the most popular resort destinations visited by many tourists every year.

And a major feature of Mizuna Island is that it is very suitable for snorkeling and diving.

The underwater scenery, filled with tropical fish and other marine life, is spectacular, making it one of the most highly regarded spots in Okinawa Prefecture.

In this issue, I would like to introduce the charm of Mizuna Island and the marine creatures that live in its neighboring waters.

↓ First time visitors to Mizuna Island are also welcome☆.
Click here for recommended tours of Mizuna Island

 

Directions from Naha Airport and Watakuchi Port

Away from Naha City, heading north, there is a high-speed boat service to Mizuna Island from a place called Watakuchi Port.

The main means of transportation from Naha Airport to Watakuchi Port is by rental car or bus.

If you are renting a car, you can go to Watakuchi Port either by public road or highway.

It takes a little over an hour on the open road and 50 minutes on the highway.

We are glad that there is free parking at the harbor, so we don't have to worry about parking fees being too much while we are on the island.

There are several bus routes, and the shortest and most convenient is to take the "Yanbaru Express Bus" for about two hours and get off at the "Headquarters Museum" stop.

Alternatively, you can take a local or highway bus and transfer at the "Nago Bus Terminal" to reach "Tanicha," but both of these routes take more than three hours and require both time and energy.

After arriving at Watakuchi Port, a high-speed boat to Mizuna Island is available, and the round-trip fare is 1,710 yen.

Please note that reservations cannot be made for boats bound for Mizuna Island.

Basically, same-day tickets must be purchased on a first-come, first-served basis, especially during the summer, which is the high season for tourism.

↓For more information about the ferry to Mizuna Island, click here.

Click here for tours with ferry to Mizuna Island

 

Why choose Mizuna Island?

It is estimated that an average of 6,000 people visit Mizuna Island each year.

Among the many remote islands in Okinawa Prefecture, the most notable feature of Mizuna Island is its proximity to the main island of Okinawa.

The boat ride from Watakuchi Port to Mizuna Port takes only 15 minutes.

The return flight leaves relatively late, around 5:00 p.m., making it possible to include a day trip to Mizuna Island in the schedule of a trip to the main island of Okinawa.

 

Attractions of Mizuna Island

Proximity to the main island of Okinawa is not the only appealing point.

Mizuna Island is also an island with many attractions.

With a compact circumference of only about 4 km, Mizuna Island is ideal for exploring the island on foot, and the points of enjoyment are not limited to the ocean fun that tends to be the highlight of an Okinawa trip.

Of course, the island's climate is subtropical, unique to Okinawa Prefecture, and the entire island is enveloped in a warmth that is comforting any time of the year.

Click here to see the ranking of popular tours to Mizuna Island.

 

Beaches with blue sea and white sand

Of course, Mizuna Island has a very rich seaside environment.

There are several beaches scattered throughout the island where visitors can enjoy swimming, activities, or just strolling along the shore, ranging from busy beaches to quiet beaches.

In particular, the main beach, Mizuna Beach, stretches right next to the harbor and is a spot where you can enjoy the beautiful location to the fullest.

 

Enjoy marine activities!

Mizuna Beach is also a very good activity spot.

As a popular tourist beach, it is well equipped with showers, toilets, and stores, making it a perfect environment for ocean fun, which is a major feature.

Various types of activity equipment are available for rent, so as long as you remember to bring your swimsuit, you will be able to enjoy marine activities to your heart's content.

The crystal-clear waters offer excellent underwater scenery, making it an ideal environment for snorkeling and other activities.

 

Beautiful cobblestone streets

And one of the land symbols of Mizuna Island is the beautiful cobblestone pavement laid out on the road that stretches from the harbor to the village.

The white cobblestone pavement looks great in the tropical sunlight, adding a clean, stylish atmosphere to the idyllic remote island mood.

When visiting the island in various directions, one must start and end at the village, and the cobblestone paths around the village are well-maintained and easy to walk on.

If you look at the tropical flowers planted here and there, you are guaranteed to enjoy the most exquisite tropical travel experience.

 

Observe tropical fish in one of Okinawa's most beautiful waters!

Once you dive into the waters of Mizuna Island, you can enjoy swimming face to face with many tropical fish.

For example, at Mizuna Beach, it is possible to reach the point where many tropical fish live by swimming just 20 meters from the beach.

Encounters with tropical fish are one of the most exciting aspects of swimming and snorkeling on Mizuna Island.

 

Marine life found on Mizuna Island

Let me introduce some of the marine creatures you are likely to see in the waters of Mizuna Island.

All of them are unique creatures, so you will be deeply moved if you visit with a little knowledge about them beforehand.

 

ornate pygmy-goby

There are as many as 2,100 species of gobies known today, and they are probably familiar and not uncommon to those who enjoy fishing.

However, because of its timid nature, the benkei goby is a type of goby that is not commonly seen in ordinary fishing and swimming.

They have yellowish bodies with vertical white lines and charming faces, and are often found hiding behind rocks in the waters of Mizuna Island.

 

rock frog (Rana rugosa)

The rock frogfish is a rare fish that can only be seen in southern seas such as those near Okinawa in Japan.

Because of their ecology, which is based on living in coral crevices, they are not suited to living in any environment other than the southern seas.

They have adorable faces that look as if they are smiling when viewed from the front, and if you were able to encounter them in the ocean, you would be sure to be soothed.

 

rope weapon with a sickle on one end and a ring on the other

A tropical fish with a rather gaudy appearance, with a bright red body and white horizontal lines, is the Tatejima snakeskin dolphin.

It is only about 4 cm long, but if you see it in the water, its strong coloration will surely leave a lasting impression.

You may have a chance to see them while snorkeling, as they live in waters that are not too deep with coral reefs and rocky reefs.

 

cave pygmy-goby

The blue-gray goby is another fish with unique characteristics that can be encountered in the waters of Mizuna Island.

The blue-gray goby is quite small, measuring only 3 cm in length, but what is interesting is its habit of looking up at the surface of the sea, which is the origin of its name, blue-gray goby.

If you see a small yellowish, shiny fish drifting in a posture that looks up at the surface of the sea, keep in mind that it is probably a blue-gray goby.

 

Yasha pygmy goby (Eviota yasha)

This is also a type of goby.

The yasha goby, with its white body and sparse orange horizontal lines, is one of the most representative tropical fish of the marine environment of Mizuna Island.

The yasha goby, a fish about 5 cm long, is also found in other areas, but it lives only in sandy areas at considerable depths, making it a difficult fish to meet.

However, on Mizuna Island, they have been observed living in the sandy bottom of the relatively shallow sea, and can be easily seen by a little snorkeling.

 

twospot dascyllus (Dascyllus trimaculatus, species of damselfish from the Indo-West Pacific)

The Futasushi rudderfish lives mainly near branching corals and is a fairly major species of tropical fish found on Mizuna Island.

They are easy to spot, with black lines running down their white bodies, and their tendency to swim in schools means that they are not difficult to spot.

If you can swim with them, you will surely enjoy the best of underwater swimming.

 

humpback unicornfish (Naso brachycentron, species of Indo-Pacific tang)

The most photogenic looking of all the tropical fishes we are introducing here is the tenk kingfish, which is known for its colorful appearance.

The tench leatherback is about 4 to 7 cm long and has a light blue body with yellow dots, a very vivid body color.

Their appearance is very unique, and if you encounter one, it will be a good memory of your trip to Mizuna Island.

 

sea turtle

In the sea of Mizuna Island, there is even a possibility of encountering sea turtles.

In some cases, you may be able to see them in shallow water that you can swim to on your own, or you may be able to see them on a boat snorkeling tour that takes you farther out to sea.

The chance to see sea turtles depends on the time of year and weather conditions, but if you are lucky enough to see one, you may even be able to swim next to it.

 

whale (Cetacea spp.)

Another significant feature of Mizuna Island is that whale watching is held on the island, where humpback whales can be seen.

As one would expect, whales are not in a position to be seen by snorkeling or other activities, but the encounter rate is quite high if you take a whale-watching tour, where skilled staff will search for whales for you.

Winter and early spring are the best seasons for whale watching, so if the timing is right, we recommend that you join us!

↓ Click here for recommended whale watching tours ↓ Click here for recommended whale watching tours

 

If you want to see tropical fish, take a tour!

While it is possible to meet tropical fish on Mizuna Island by snorkeling from the beach on your own, the waters a short distance from the island are more suitable for viewing tropical fish.

There are many tours available that will take you to these spots, and if your goal is to see tropical fish, I highly recommend that you join one.

Many tours meet at the main island of Okinawa and also arrange travel, so you can enjoy an efficient trip without the hassle of figuring out your own transportation.

 

Activities to observe tropical fish

Among the various activities you can experience on Mizuna Island, we would like to introduce a few that are suitable for tropical fish watching.

All of these activities are very attractive!

 

snorkeling

Snorkeling is one of the most popular marine activities in Okinawa.

You only need to bring your own swimsuit and can rent equipment such as a snorkel, wetsuit or rash guard, and fins.

This is a very popular activity that requires no qualifications or knowledge, and everyone from children to the elderly can participate.

 

Fun & Attraction

The waters of Mizuna Island are clear blue, and coral reefs can be seen in abundance in the nearby waters.

The variety of tropical fish is as I mentioned above, and what is even more exciting is that Mizuna Island has a temperate environment.

Summer is naturally hot, but even in winter, temperatures on Mizuna Island often reach 20°C (68°F) during the day.

The temperature stays around late summer to early fall, so snorkeling can be enjoyed comfortably even in the middle of winter.

Travel costs are lower during the winter months, so please enjoy snorkeling on Mizuna Island in any season.

↓ Click here for recommended snorkeling tours ↓ Click here for recommended snorkeling tours

↓ Learn more about snorkeling ↓

 

diving

Like snorkeling, diving is a popular activity to enjoy under the sea.

This is a serious type of diving that requires a license and heavy equipment, including oxygen tanks.

The hurdle is a little higher, but it is an activity that allows you to enjoy the waters of Mizuna Island in greater depth.

 

Fun & Attraction

It is difficult to get involved in diving when you hear that you have to obtain a license, but it is important not to overlook the fact that this license does not expire once it is obtained.

This is an activity that can be a lifelong hobby, and I highly recommend that those who want to enjoy the ocean without breathing restrictions sit down and get one.

Also, if you don't want to go through that much trouble but are interested in diving, how about joining a trial diving tour?

Since an instructor accompanies you on the dive, you can enjoy the sights of the ocean floor even if you do not have a license.

↓ Click here for recommended diving tours ↓ Click here for recommended diving tours

↓ Learn more about diving ↓

 

glass boat

The two activities listed above are very enjoyable, but both suffer from a high physical threshold for small children and the elderly.

Therefore, when traveling with children or the elderly, we recommend that you take a glass boat ride, where the bottom of the boat, or the entire hull, is made of transparent glass.

The activity is simply a ride to admire the scenery, so anyone can enjoy it without worry.

 

Fun & Attraction

From the bottom of the glass boat, it is possible to look down on the ocean as if it were a natural aquarium.

Looking through the glass at the crystal clear ocean, you will feel so immersed in the experience that you can almost reach out and touch the coral and tropical fish.

Of course, the material used for the transparent part of the boat is very sturdy, so there is no need to worry about safety.

There are several tours available on Mizuna Island, so why not consider joining one?

 

Three recommended tours

Finally, we would like to introduce three sightseeing tours you can enjoy 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

This is an introduction to sightseeing on Mizuna Island and the tropical fish that can be found there.

Because the island is blessed with a beautiful environment, we hope that when you visit the island, you will not only look at the location, but also at the creatures.

All of them are adorable creatures, and you are guaranteed to become more attached to Mizuna Island.

↓ Click here to read the article in conjunction with ↓ ↓