skyticket >
TRAVEL GUIDE TOP >
Genre >
Sightseeing >
[Miyako Island] Introducing spots you can enjoy even on rainy days
[Miyako Island] Introducing spots you can enjoy even on rainy days

[Miyako Island] Introducing spots you can enjoy even on rainy days

Jul 30, 2025
9 views

"Rain during my long-awaited trip to Okinawa?!" Some people may feel disappointed because they were expecting to enjoy sightseeing under Okinawa's sunny skies.
However, it’s too early to despair!

This time, we’ll introduce several sightseeing spots on Miyako Island, Okinawa, that you can fully enjoy even on rainy days

table of contents

[x] close

[Miyako Island] Introducing spots you can enjoy even on rainy days

Miyako Island Spots You Can Enjoy Even on Rainy Days① Miyako Island Shell Museum

Surprisingly, the Miyako Island Shell Museum is a museum all about shells. The entire area is part of a regional tourist zone called Asobi Town, where you can spend the whole day making shell crafts or enjoying lunch with an ocean view. Among these, the Miyako Island Shell Museum is considered Asia’s No. 1 shell museum.
You can enjoy viewing 12,000 shells personally collected by the museum's iconic director (!!) from dives and expeditions all over the world

Name: Miyako Island Shell Museum
Address: 591-1 Bora, Gusukube, Miyakojima City, Okinawa 906-0101

Miyako Island Spots You Can Enjoy Even on Rainy Days② Miyako Island Underwater Park

The Miyako Island Underwater Park is a facility where you can “enter the sea while keeping your clothes on.” Through underwater observation windows located 3–5 meters below sea level, you can watch fish swimming as if you were in a natural aquarium. It's a delight for all ages, from children to seniors.

You can also shop for souvenirs and take a break at the café when you get tired.

Name: Miyako Island Underwater Park
Address: 2511-1 Karimata, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa 906-0002

Miyako Island Spots You Can Enjoy Even on Rainy Days③ Yukishio Museum

One of the most popular souvenirs from Miyako Island is Yukishio (snow salt). Just as the name suggests, this salt is soft and powdery like snow and contains nigari (bittern), which is part of what makes it so beloved. Here, you can learn about the salt production process at the salt factory.

You can also enjoy shopping for items like Yukishio soft-serve ice cream (only available here!) and Yukishio skincare products, making it especially recommended for girls’ trips!

Name: Yukishio Museum
Address: 191 Karimata, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa 906-0002

Miyako Island Spots You Can Enjoy Even on Rainy Days④ Miyakojima City Museum

Located in the quiet forest area of Ōno Forest, the Miyakojima City Museum is a cultural facility where you can learn about the island's natural history, history, folklore, and culture.

Learning about Miyako Island’s historical and cultural heritage will surely become one of your most memorable travel experiences.

Name: Miyakojima City Museum
Address: 1166-287 Higashinakasonezoi, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa 906-0011

Miyako Island Spots You Can Enjoy Even on Rainy Days⑤ Miyakojima City Handicraft Experience Village

Miyakojima City Handicraft Experience Village is a hands-on workshop facility located inside the Miyakojima Tropical Botanical Garden. You can try activities such as pottery, woodworking, shell crafts, Miyako weaving, local cuisine, and even horseback riding on native Miyako horses.

You can create your own original shīsā (guardian lion-dog statue) at the pottery studio, make folk crafts at the chigaya (grass weaving) workshop, or try on traditional Ryukyuan attire or craft a kaleidoscope—these are creative experiences you can only have in Miyako Island!

Why not make your own one-of-a-kind souvenir to remember your trip?

Name: Miyakojima City Handicraft Experience Village
Address: 1166-286 Higashinakasonezoi, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa 906-0011

Enjoyable Spots in Miyako Island Even on Rainy Days⑥ Okinawa Goods Market Wato Wato

Okinawa Goods Market Wato Wato is a fair-trade goods store and café that originated in Miyako Island.

They offer a wide range of tableware including famous Kyushu pottery such as Arita ware and Hasami ware, as well as yachimun and Ryukyu glass. You can also find handicrafts and handmade items from Kyushu and Okinawa.

You can take a relaxing break at the café or grab something to go

Name: Okinawa Goods Market Wato Wato
Address: 401-4 Shimozato, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa 906-0000

Enjoyable Spots in Miyako Island Even on Rainy Days⑦ Taragawa Distillery

For those who love sake, we recommend visiting Taragawa Distillery in Miyako Island! With a 70-year history, Taragawa continues to produce awamori using traditional methods passed down since its founding.

Taragawa Distillery also has a special customer-only cave storage facility called Uipyā Upuusu-gura, where you can store your purchased awamori base liquor for up to five years!

Of course, you can also buy awamori, so be sure to find your favorite after the distillery tour

Name: Taragawa Distillery
Address: 85 Sunagawa, Gusukube, Miyakojima City, Okinawa 906-0108

Enjoyable Spots in Miyako Island Even on Rainy Days⑧ Farmers Market Miyako “Atarasu Market”

The word “atarasu” means “beloved” in Okinawan dialect. This market is loved not only by tourists but also by locals. You’ll find regional specialties such as pumpkin, goya, wax gourd, Miyako beef, and mangoes. Offerings vary by day, but Okinawan gourmet items are always available — including star fruit, sea grapes, and Okinawa's famous chinsuko cookies.

During the summer, Miyako Island mangoes are especially popular, attracting many buyers from outside the prefecture

Name: Farmers Market Miyako “Atarasu Market”
Address: 1440-1 Nishizato, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa 906-0012

Enjoyable Spots in Miyako Island Even on Rainy Days⑨ Miyakojima Public Market

At Miyakojima Public Market, you can enjoy shopping for Okinawan souvenirs and local produce. Whether you’re after seasonal or standard items, they have it all.

On the second floor, at “Miyako Zenzai and Home Cooking Shop Machaya,” you can savor local Miyako cuisine. Their signature zenzai (sweet red bean soup) features a rare local black adzuki bean and is highly recommended!

Name: Miyakojima Public Market
Address: Ichiban-chi, Shimozato, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa 906-0013

Enjoyable Spots in Miyako Island Even on Rainy Days⑩ Miyakojima City Traditional Craft Center

At the Miyakojima City Traditional Craft Center, you can learn about the history of traditional crafts and purchase products like Miyako Jōfu and Miyako textiles.
These traditional crafts, with a history of over 600 years, are popular souvenir choices from Miyako Island.

Name: Miyakojima City Traditional Craft Center
Address: 1190-188 Ueno Nohara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa 906-0000

◎ Enjoy Miyako Island Even on a Rainy Day!

How was that? These are all unique experiences you can only enjoy in Miyako Island. Of course, they’re great to visit even on sunny days!

If your beach plans get rained out, we hope this article gives you plenty of ideas for an alternative adventure.

RELATED ARTICLES

REGIONS

CATEGORIES

FEATURED ON Okinawa

MOST POPULAR ON Okinawa