Miyako-jima

For the local government area for the island, see Miyakojima, Okinawa. For the island administered by the Tokyo Metropolitan government, see Miyakejima.

Miyako

Native name: Miyakojima (宮古島?)
The location of Miyakojima City in Okinawa.
Location in Japan
Geography
Location	Okinawa Prefecture
Coordinates	24°46′N 125°19′E / 24.767°N 125.317°E / 24.767; 125.317
Archipelago	Ryukyu
Major islands	Okinawa
Area	158.70 km2 (61.274 sq mi)
Highest elevation	115 m (377 ft)
Highest point	Nakao
Country
Japan
Demographics
Population	55,914 (as of 30 October 2006)
Density	275.4 /km2 (713.3 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Ryukyuans

Miyakojima - Higashi-hennazaki

Miyakojima (Miyako: [mjaːku]; Okinawan: [naːku, mjaːku]; Japanese: 宮古島) is the largest and the most populous island among the Miyako Islands of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It lies approximately 400 kilometres east of Taipei, Taiwan. With an area of 158.70 square kilometres, Miyako is the fourth-largest island in Okinawa Prefecture.

Miyakojima is well-known for its beauty, particularly the Eastern Cape (東平安名岬, Higashi-hennazaki^?), which is considered by many as one of the most beautiful spots in Japan. Other places worth noting include Maehama beach, the German Cultural Center, Painagama Beach, and the sights on Irabu-jima. Miyako also has its own version of Miyako soba.

There are two close islands which are connected by bridges to Miyako-jima:

• Ikemajima (池間島, Ikema-jima^?)
• Kurimajima (来間島, Kurima-jima^?)

The Miyako language, one of several Ryukyuan languages, is spoken here.

Miyako airport is the only airport on the island.

Rites unique to Miyakojima

There is a unique festival called Paantu (パーントゥ), which occurs in the ninth month of the old (lunar) calendar. Three men dressed in grasses and mud go about smearing it everywhere. They carry sticks in one hand and a simple but scary mask in the other. Those people who have been dirtied by the Pantu will have a year of protection. Owners of new homes will also invite Pantu to give a 'blessing' to their homes.

Miyako culture

• Otori is a custom of drinking Awamori, a distilled beverage native to Okinawa Japan. It is performed by people sitting (usually around a table). One offers a toast, drinks from a small glass, and then offers some to each person at the table making a round, and usually going to the right. When the toaster makes his way back to his spot the person who passed the Otori before pours him another glass. He then announces "TSUNAGIMASU" and drinks his second glass. After some brief interval it is then the turn of the next person to pass the Otori. This continues until the celebration is ended.

Further information: Otori

Points of interest

• Miyakojima City Tropical Plant Garden
• Japan Airlines maintains a ticketing office on Miyakojima island. It is only for domestic flights.^[1]

See also

• Paantu

References

1. ^ "JAL Group Offices Information." Japan Airlines. Retrieved on July 22, 2011. "MIYAKO Only Domestic Ticketing Available Address 223 Nishizato Hirara Miyako City, 906-0012" Map

External links

	Japan portal
	Geography portal

• Miyakojima Website (Japanese)
• Pantu in Japanese
• Iphone website in english of miyakojima
• WLCM.net, Miyako Folklore English translation by Mark Wisniewski
• WLMC.net, Miyako Natural Science English translation by Mark Wisniewski