Miyakojima Beach In Japan
About the Miyakojima Beach Camera
This camera looks over a beach on Miyakojima, the main island of the Miyako group, roughly 300 kilometres southwest of Okinawa's main island.
Miyakojima's water clarity has a straightforward geological explanation. The island is a low, flat platform of uplifted coral limestone with no mountains and effectively no permanent rivers. Rain drains through the porous rock rather than running off, so almost no sediment reaches the sea and the water stays clear even after heavy weather. The sand is coral-derived, which is what gives the shallows their bright blue-green cast.
The seasons here are subtropical rather than temperate. Winter brings northerly winds and higher swell, spring and early summer are the calmest, and typhoons are a genuine factor from roughly July through October. The water shows its strongest colour around midday when the sun is high.
Highlights & Nearby
- •Watch for: water colour over the shallows, sea state and swell, cloud building offshore
- •Nearby: Yonaha Maehama beach, Irabu Bridge, Sunayama Beach, Ikema Bridge
- •Note: colour is strongest around midday; typhoon season runs roughly July to October
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Miyakojima beach camera live?
Yes. The beach on Miyakojima, Okinawa streams live 24 hours a day.
What can I see on this camera?
The colour of the water over the shallows, sea state, the beach itself and the weather offshore.
Why is the water around Miyakojima so clear?
The island is flat uplifted coral limestone with no mountains and no permanent rivers. Rain soaks through the porous rock instead of running off, so very little sediment reaches the sea.
When does the sea look best?
Around midday, when the sun is high enough to bring out the blue-green colour over the shallows.
