On the second day in Miyakojima, we had coffee ground and brewed at the inn, and breakfast of handmade "Spam musubi" (optional: 4 pieces for 1,200 yen) from the "Ana Gohan" service, which we used the night before. Since it is a large portion, I had one for breakfast and carried the rest as a supply. Unlike onigiri (rice balls), these are rectangular and flat, making them easy to put in a bike jersey

After checking out, we were glad to know that we could leave our luggage at the inn as is. First, we headed for "Ikema Island" in the northern part of Miyako Island. The temperature is expected to rise to around 20°C on the second day, so a short-sleeved jersey and bib shorts will be fine. I wore arm covers so that I could adjust the temperature, and Tsucchi wore a gilet and a rain jacket.

Stop by "Shimajiri Mangrove Forest" about 10km after starting from the inn. You can view the mangrove forest from the top of the well-maintained boardwalk. There are no vending machines or restaurants, but there are restrooms in the parking lot, so this is a good spot for a break.

Check location on map

As we entered the Karimata area, a light rain began to fall, so we took shelter from the rain at Karimata Matchers, a small store along the road. We took a break while enjoying warm green tea lattes and Spam musubi (rice balls). The shopkeeper told us that this store was originally opened by a joint investment of people in the Karimata area. I was surprised to see the old-fashioned business style, including a ledger book of payment (a method of settlement in which all payments are made at the end of the month), which is rarely seen today.

Check location on map

We crossed the Ikema Ohashi Bridge to Ikema Island. Like the Irabu Bridge the previous day, this one is also free of charge. It is less than half the distance of the Irabu Ohashi (3.5km) at 1.4km, and is easy to ride with little traffic. From here, we will ride counterclockwise around Ikema Island, which is approximately 10km in circumference.

After crossing to the island, it takes about 15 minutes to arrive at Heart Rock, a sightseeing spot on Ikema Island. It is said to have gotten its name from the shape of a rock that appears at low tide. We were told that it was a short walk from the ice cream shop's premises, but it was off-limits due to construction. Hearing that there was a detour, we approached from a sandy beach a short distance away. However, the route ahead took us up and down a steep rocky hill, which was difficult with my camera equipment on my back. Tsucchi took on the important mission of photographing the heart rock alone. About 15 minutes later, he returned safely with a photo of the heart rock. However, I was a bit underwhelmed, "It does look a bit like a heart shape..." I commented.

Check location on map

We regained our composure and rode further around Ikema Island. The only vehicles we saw were the occasional rental car, so it was a stress-free ride. The island itself is small, so if you don't stop at Heart Rock, you can complete a full circuit in about 30 minutes. Crossing the "Ikema Ohashi Bridge" again, we return to Miyakojima. This time, as we were riding counterclockwise around Miyako Island, we encountered rain again as we were heading toward the center of the island. The precipitation rate is high on Miyako Island in winter.

After about an hour of running in light rain, we stopped for a quick snack at "Mago Tofu" located in the Miyako City Public Market in the city center. The store's name comes from the desire to pass on the taste of tofu, which was started by a grandmother, to her grandchildren. The tofu, which won the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award, the first prize at the "National Tofu Fair," is a dessert-like delicacy made of sweet, rich soybeans.

Check location on map

Today's second bridge, "Kurima Ohashi Bridge". On the other side of "Yonaha Mae Beach," the most beautiful beach in the East, you can see Kushima Island with a population of about 200. According to Tsucchi's's preliminary research, the island is known for its fashionable eating places and girl friendly sightseeing spots. We crossed the Kurima Bridge with high expectations.

Check location on map

Cross over to Kurima Island for a lunch break. There are several cafes and restaurants on the main street in the center of the island. On Kenta's hunch, we stopped at "Island Tea House Yakka Yakka" and had "Miyako beef curry" and coffee. The terrace with a large palm tree and swing is perfect for a relaxing break.

Check location on map

After an hour's ride from Yakka Yakka, you will arrive at the easternmost cape. A five-minute walk from the parking lot brings you to the edge of the cape. Waves rise far from the shore, probably due to the coral reefs. It was impressive that the surrounding grass had hard leaves to withstand the strong winds blowing from the sea.

Check location on map

We found a panel with the faces of "Mamoru-kun and Maruko-chan" near the entrance of Higashi Heiannazaki. The two of us have seen many Mamoru-kuns on the island, and this is a must-see! We stuck our faces into the panel and took a commemorative photo.

There was very little traffic and no traffic lights on the east side of Miyako Island. We arrived at the "Kataaki no Sato" inn, the starting point of the ride, just as the sky was getting brighter, as if to conclude the last half of the Miyakojima ride. The ride was quite peaceful, with no mechanical problems or punctures. We left our luggage at the inn and were able to ride around the island empty-handed, which we were very thankful for. We were also able to take a shower to wash off all the sweat and dirt.

We headed to Miyako Airport with our checked luggage on our backs. After arriving at Miyako Airport, I retrieved my bike bag that I had left in a coin locker. This was the first time I used Ostrich's bike bag (OS-500). I was impressed with how smoothly the wheels and pedals could be removed for storage.

Click here for more information about OS-500.

After checking in, we had dinner at A&W, a major fast food restaurant in Okinawa Prefecture. Taking advantage of the free topping service day, we toasted with root beer topped with vanilla ice cream! The combination of the aroma of root beer and vanilla ice cream was a perfect match, and we had a great time. We ended our two-day and one-night trip to Miyakojima with American food. The direct flight from Haneda provided a quick escape from the winter cold, and we were able to enjoy Miyako Island to the fullest even on a 2-day/1-night ride.