The island paradise of Miyakojima offers any kind of beach day you could desire, from relaxing on the impossibly soft white sands of Yonaha Maehama Beach to snorkeling the shallow offshore reefs of Yoshino Kaigan Beach or Imugya Marine Garden in search of tropical fish and sea turtles. Certified divers will want to go deeper, as Miyakojima and other nearby islands offer excellent dive sites with underwater caverns, tunnels and coral reefs. For views from above, hike the narrow peninsula of Cape Higashi-Hennazaki to the lighthouse overlooking the rocky cliffs, spectacular shoreline, and waters in the most captivating shades of blue you can imagine. The colors here are so striking that simply crossing a bridge between islands to gaze upon the sea is an enchanting experience. Follow the bridge to the tiny isle of Kurimajima to take in vistas from the Ryugujo Observatory, and then search for a stretch of beach so secluded that it hasn’t been named. One of Japan’s longest toll-free bridges leads to island of Irabu, where you’ll find the Makiyama Observatory, and the views from the bridge itself as you traverse the luminescent waters are equally stunning.