The rushed pace of life in Tokyo feels a continent away on Miyako Jima, a small island on the southern tip of Japan, writes WILLIAM BURTON
WITH international tourism numbers declining in light of its nuclear disaster, why not divert to Japan’s southern islands for a slice of the country you will not find in any tourist brochure? Turquoise water and stunning coastal scenery will show you there is far more to Japan than the tourist-heavy mainland.
When you think of Japan, people usually conjure up romantic images of picture-perfect gardens, geishas walking neatly through Kyoto or vast swathes of neon lights illuminating the Tokyo skyline.
Well, there is a different Japan. A Japan where the intense heat is tempered by cool winds and sand so soft, and water so turquoise, that you question your preconceived images of the country.
The rushed pace of life that one can feel in Tokyo and Osaka feels a continent away as your bus trundles past the vast fields of corn in Miyako Jima. Miyako Jima is a small island near the bottom of a long line of islands 300km south of Okinawa.
The island has a wealth of snorkelling and beach activities, as well as very accessible tourist facilities.
A word of warning: you will need an international driving licence to hire a car in Miyako Jima. Bus travel around the island can be a long and drawn out affair.
Miyako Jima has yet to bloom on the international traveller scene due to its location. We did not see any non-Japanese tourists for the week we were there. Beaches tend to be deserted as the Japanese shun the midday sun and only venture out when the heat retreats.
The island, and in particular Maehama beach, is a magnet for kite-surfers who take advantage of the consistent winds and the laid-back style of the island. Grab yourself an ice-cold Asahi beer and watch the kite-surfers fly through the air.
It was not only kite-flyers who were airborne. With a child-like shrill my girlfriend could not control her laughter as a fistful of Japanese yen decided to emulate the kite-surfers and somersault and backflip out of my hand and into the car park. I soon made friends as the reserved and mannerly Japanese spilled out of the bar to help me grab and chase the money. We were soon celebrating over yet more Asahi and the potent Japanese saki.
BEING KEEN WALKERS my girlfriend and I decided to walk to Higashi Henna-Misaki, a cape jutting out into the Pacific Ocean.
Surrounded by pounding surf and wall-to-wall sunshine, the walk was spectacular. We soon had locals warning us about the length of the walk, and to make sure we knew to keep drinking water.
The worried locals re-appeared 15 minutes later with bananas and energy drinks for us to make sure we were prepared.
We decided to start our three-week trip in Japan in Miyako Jima and work our way up to the mainland. It was the right decision.
After a relaxing week on the island we took a short flight to Okinawa and then an overnight ferry to Kagoshima, on the southern tip of the mainland.
If you are looking for a different side of Japan, one that does not conform to the Japanese stereotype, then Miyako Jima is for you.
Armed with a pile of books from your “to read” list and an appetite for exploring, Miyako Jima will surprise and delight you – just as we were.