Ishigaki Island-Miyara-dennai
Early reservations are recommended as they fill up quickly.
◆Tuk-tuks and electric trikes are also popular!
Scenery at Miyara Donchi
Exterior |
Admission Fee Information |
Gateway |
Exhibits Inside |
Source:4travel
Enjoy a comfortable trip with a rental car!
We'll also make reservations in advance for car rentals, which fill up quickly!
↓Click here for more information.
About Miyara-den
Located in Ishigaki City, about a 15-minute walk from the Remote Islands Terminal, this is a magnificent samurai residence with a red-tiled roof, built in 1819 by Matsushige Tōen.
Head north on Sanbashi Street and turn left at the Okawa Minami intersection.
It is the only archaeological site in Okinawa featuring an interior hall structure, and it boasts a Kyoto-style dry landscape garden arranged with massive limestone boulders.
The building is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, and the garden is designated as a National Scenic Spot.
The admission fee is 200 yen.
How to Get to Miyara-den
It is located about a 15-minute walk from the Remote Islands Terminal and can be reached by car or bus.
・If you're coming by car
From the Ishigaki Island Remote Islands Terminal, head north on Route 730, then turn left onto Miyara-denchi Street to reach Miyara-den.
From New Ishigaki Airport, head south along Route 390, turn right at the Bunkan-mae intersection, then turn left onto Miyara-denchi Street, and you’ll see Miyara-dennai.
・If you're traveling by bus
From the bus terminal, take the Higashi Unyu Bus on the Yoshihara Line to Sanbashi-dori.
Head south on Sanbashi Street, turn right at the first intersection, and you'll arrive.
How to Enjoy Yourself at Miyara Hall
A must-see spot for fans of dry landscape gardens♪
It’s a Kyoto-style dry landscape garden, but it has a unique atmosphere that sets it apart from others.
Even though the building is about 200 years old, it’s still in good condition.
Let's sit back and relax on the veranda and take in the view.
Detail of Miyara-dennai
The Miyara Residence was the estate of Miyara Chikagami Tōen, who served as the head of the Yaeyama region, and is now a historic site located in the heart of Ishigaki Island’s downtown area.
The Miyara Residence was built by Matsushige Tōen. In addition to its red-tiled roof, which is characteristic of the Yaeyama Islands, the structure is built using materials such as inumaki, sendan, and Yakusugi cedar, making it resistant to moisture and insects.
Thanks to its beautiful craftsmanship and solid construction, it remains intact even today, some 200 years later.
The garden is known as "Ichiban-za" and was created by the landscape architect Shiroama Oyakami.
It is characterized by its unique scenery, featuring artificial hills made of coral limestone and dry waterfalls connected by stone bridges.
In addition, trees such as Fukugi, Sago palms, and Japanese cypress contribute to the garden’s three-dimensional composition.
It is such a beautiful spot that it has been designated as a National Scenic Spot.
The perimeter of the Miyara compound is surrounded by a stone wall, and a main gate in the Yakui-mon style has been erected on the south side.
Inside the Miyara Shrine grounds is a walled enclosure, and rituals are performed at the central gate in the middle of it.
It has been designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan because it still strongly retains the architectural features of the residences of the high-ranking samurai class from the Ryukyu Kingdom era.
The gardens and exterior of Miyara-den are beautiful, and the interior houses historical documents, such as the Miyara-den Archives, which chronicle the history of the Yaeyama Islands.
The Miyara Palace Archives contain extensive records on various topics, ranging from the Meiwa Tsunami to the Ryukyu Annexation, making them an important cultural asset for the history of the Yaeyama Islands.
One of the most representative documents from the Miyara family collection is the *Manshufu-shū*, a manuscript written by Miyara Toshichika, the 9th head of the family, who lived in the residence that is now the Minamishima Ethnological Museum.
The Miyara Shrine complex is a site that survived the war intact.
Although most of the traditional Yaeyama-style mansions were destroyed during World War II, the Miyara-den is the only residence in Okinawa Prefecture that remains from the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Although there are some restored estates, none of them date back to that era, so compared to other estates, this one has a unique, solemn atmosphere that evokes a sense of history.
Recommended Sightseeing Spots Near Miyara Castle
Euglena Mall
Euglena Mall is Ishigaki Island’s largest shopping district, located a short distance south of Miyara-den, and home to more than 100 shops, including restaurants, souvenir shops, and clothing stores.
When you walk down the shopping street, the shopkeepers call out cheerfully to customers, creating a very lively atmosphere.
It offers a wide selection of souvenirs and daily necessities, and with its cafes and rest areas, it’s the perfect spot to stop for a quick break while sightseeing.
They also sell fresh food, so it's the perfect place to pick up ingredients for a barbecue!
Since some stores stay open late into the night, it’s a great opportunity to pick up a few more souvenirs or buy drinks and snacks for a night in.
Name: Euglena Mall
Location: 207 Okawa, Ishigaki City, Okinawa, Japan
Access: 25 minutes by car from Ishigaki Airport, 7 minutes on foot from the remote island terminal
Parking: Available
Meals (nearby): Available
Toilet: Yes
730 Intersection
The 730 Intersection is located in the heart of Ishigaki Island’s downtown area, along the route from Miyara-den to the Remote Islands Terminal.
It is a large intersection where National Route 390 and three major streets—City Hall Street and Sanbashi Street—intersect.
Roads extend in all four directions from the intersection, and each street has its own unique character and is bustling with activity.
The main street in the northern part of town is City Hall Street, which is lined with many izakayas and lodging facilities.
The road heads east toward the new Ishigaki Airport; while there aren’t many shops along the way, you can see the ocean on your right.
If you follow the road, you'll come to the Southern Gate Bridge, which connects to Minamihama Town.
The Remote Islands Terminal is located to the west, and you can travel to and from the various remote islands from there.
To the south, it connects to the Maesato area, home to the popular artificial beach, Maesato Beach.
Because Okinawa was under U.S. occupation after World War II, its traffic rules followed those of the United States, and cars drove on the right side of the road.
On July 30, 1978—six years after the reversion of Okinawa in 1972—traffic rules reverted to those of Japan, and traffic began driving on the left.
To commemorate this, a large stone monument engraved with the number 730 was erected at this intersection, and it has since come to be known as the 730 Intersection.
Location Name: 730 Intersection
Address: 3 Misaki-cho, Ishigaki City, Okinawa, Japan
Access: 5 minutes by car from the remote island terminal
Parking: None
Restaurant: Available
Toilet: None
Gushiken Youtaka Monument
The Yoshitaka Gushiken Monument is a statue of Yoshitaka Gushiken located in front of the pier at the Ishigaki Remote Islands Terminal, which is situated south of the Miyara Hall grounds.
Mr. Gushiken, a native of Ishigaki Island, is now often seen on variety shows as a funny guy, but back then he was a former professional boxer—an amazing athlete who achieved the remarkable feat of successfully defending his WBA World Junior Flyweight Championship title 13 times in a row!
A monument was erected in front of the Remote Islands Terminal to honor that achievement.
The golden statue of Yoshitaka Gushiken depicts him in his champion days and is known as a popular photo spot.
Since the golden statue is backlit in the morning, we recommend visiting in the afternoon if you plan to take photos.
As for Mr. Gushiken, in addition to the monument, the Gushiken Yoko Memorial Museum—which displays memorabilia related to him—is located west of the Remote Islands Terminal, so please be sure to visit it as well.
Also, since you can travel to nearby islands such as Taketomi Island, Iriomote Island, and Kohama Island from the Remote Islands Terminal, be sure to check it out.
Name: Gushiken Youkou Monument
Location: 1 Misaki-cho, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture (in front of Ishigaki Port Remote Island Terminal)
Access: 30 minutes by car from Ishigaki Airport
Parking: Available
Meals (nearby): Available
Toilet: Yes
Detail of Miyara-dennai
| name | Miyara-dennai |
| Location | 178 Okawa, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture (View in MAP) |
| Access | About a 15-minute walk from the Remote Islands Terminal |
| parking lot | nashi (Pyrus pyrifolia, esp. var. culta) |
| Dining (vicinity) | nashi (Pyrus pyrifolia, esp. var. culta) |
| toilet | nashi (Pyrus pyrifolia, esp. var. culta) |
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