Resort House Inkaji

We were a middle-aged couple with no experience in marine sports, but the owner’s knowledge of the ocean helped us enjoy snorkeling in Miyakojima. We’re really grateful. He’s a talented, accomplished sportsman who runs the lodge on his own and makes everything by hand. It feels more geared toward marine sports and experienced travelers. If you’re comfortable with a backpacker-style atmosphere, there are private rooms too. We’d love to come back.

For snorkeling, this place was a great find. The local owner rents gear at a reasonable price and gave me detailed help using it, even though I was a beginner. Afterward, there’s a sink and water tap in the front yard for rinsing the equipment. I also got useful local tips, including where turtles are often spotted and which beach parking areas locals use for free. Imugyah Marine Garden is only a 5-10 minute walk away, nice for an early stroll. There’s a huge rooftop veranda too, where I watched stars for hours. If the weather’s good, it beats most stargazing spots. The guesthouse is a bit far from the city center, but renting a car makes that no problem. There aren’t any convenience stores, supermarkets, or restaurants nearby, so eat out or buy groceries before you arrive. It’s not especially clean or spacious, more like a family home with a strong Okinawan local feel. I stayed two nights last October in a second-floor room. The owner is a little like a nosy older relative 😁. He asked us to call when we finished snorkeling safely, but we were busy traveling and forgot, so we got a bit of a lecture, haha. He was worried because accidents can happen. I spoke with him in Japanese, and he can speak English too. I recommend staying here if you’re after stargazing and snorkeling 👍🏻

I picked this place for stargazing, and Ingya Marine Garden is about a 3-5 minute walk away. I stayed in a first-floor triple room, but it smelled awful. That floor has the owner’s room, a two-person room, and the triple room. Upstairs there are two more rooms for two people each, and those guests can use the terrace. People staying downstairs can’t use it. The kitchen on the first floor has a usable refrigerator, cookware, and seasonings. You can cook there. The freezer is stocked with various frozen items for about 550 yen. There’s also a shower room that can fit two people at once, plus one clean toilet stall, so getting to the toilet could be inconvenient when there are lots of guests. Smoking is prohibited throughout the building and outside. If you smoke far away but come back smelling of smoke, you may be fined 5,000 yen. It’s okay. I’m not going to Dyaumenyung!

Getting to Ingya Marine is just a short walk, so I could see the stars and go snorkeling early, before many people were around. The owner told me about the challenges of life on Miyakojima, and it’s impressive how he makes things himself when they aren’t available. He runs the guesthouse alone and was very friendly. He even let me relax in the living room, which made my summer holiday stay really comfortable. I’ll definitely come back.