Miyako Airport MMY

Miyako Airport is the gateway to Miyakojima, the Okinawan island known for its beaches and sea. It is the island’s main airport and the third busiest in the prefecture: in 2019 it handled about 1.74 million passengers. It has a single 2,000-metre runway. It began in 1943 as an Imperial Japanese Navy airbase; civilian flights started in 1956 and jets arrived in 1978.

Terminals

There is one three-storey terminal with five gates, so there are no transfers between buildings. The building has an observation deck overlooking takeoffs and landings.

Airlines and destinations

ANA, Japan Airlines, Japan Transocean Air and Ryukyu Air Commuter operate here. The main destinations are Tokyo (Haneda), Naha, Nagoya (Centrair) and Ishigaki, with a short hop to Tarama island and, seasonally, flights to Fukuoka. All flights are domestic: to travel abroad you need to connect at another Japanese airport.

Services

The terminal has a shopping promenade and four restaurants, including a branch of A&W. It is a good place to pick up a souvenir or local product before flying.

Tips

Miyakojima has a second airport, Shimojishima, with a 3,000-metre runway, which has received Jetstar Japan and Skymark flights since 2019. Check your ticket to see which of the two your flight uses before deciding how to get there or away. If you are arriving from abroad and connecting at another Japanese airport, leave plenty of time between flights.