The highlight of a Miyakejima trip is cycling while enjoying spectacular views!
Cycling around Miyakejima Island has been gaining attention as an ideal activity for creating summer memories. Located about 180km from central Tokyo, this remote island captivates visitors with its beautiful nature and unique topography. In this article, as a preparation guide for cycling around Miyakejima, I’ll introduce in detail the information you should know in advance and the island’s attractions.
The Rising Popularity of Miyakejima Cycling Tours
Cycling tours around Miyakejima have been rapidly gaining popularity in recent years due to their accessibility and appeal. There are several reasons for this.
1. You Can Thoroughly Explore Miyakejima’s Attractions
The joy of cycling is being able to thoroughly explore Miyakejima’s great nature
By cycling around the island, you can efficiently visit tourist attractions. You can fully experience Miyakejima’s charms, including its volcanic topography, beautiful coastline, and rich nature.
2. Only One Main Road, Making It Difficult to Get Lost
Since Miyakejima has only one main road, there’s very little worry about getting lost. Even beginners can enjoy cycling with peace of mind.
3. Climate Is Milder Compared to Mainland Japan
Miyakejima is relatively cool even in summer, making it suitable for cycling. You can pedal comfortably in an environment that’s not too hot, with pleasant winds.
4. Electric Bicycles Provide Reassurance Even for Those Lacking Confidence in Their Physical Fitness
With electric bicycles, even some hills are no problem!
All rental bicycles provided by the Miyakejima Tourism Association come with power assist. With these electric-assist bicycles, you can enjoy cycling with confidence even on the island’s many slopes, regardless of your fitness level.
What You Should Know in Advance
To safely enjoy cycling on Miyakejima, it’s necessary to acquire some prior knowledge. Keep the following points in mind.
1. Reservations Are Required
Since there’s a limited number of rental bicycles on Miyakejima, it’s recommended to make a reservation in advance. Especially during the summer tourist season, early reservations are necessary.
You can secure the necessary number of bicycles in advance by contacting through the Miyakejima Tourism Association website below.
Rental fees vary depending on the type of bicycle and rental time. Based on a daily rental fee of 2,500 yen, the amount will differ according to the hours or days used. While this may be slightly higher than the daily fee for Docomo Bike in Tokyo, it’s well worth it considering the unique experience you can enjoy only on Miyakejima!
3. There Are Many Hills
Since Miyakejima is a volcanic island, there are many ups and downs. There is almost no flat ground, and the journey involves repeatedly going up hills, then down, and up again. Even with an electric-assist bicycle, you’ll need a certain level of stamina and determination.
4. Be Mindful of Battery Management
Battery management is very important for long-distance riding. When rented, the bicycle will be handed over with a fully charged battery sufficient for circling the island twice, but as a precaution, check the charging status at rental time and take care not to run out of battery midway.
Note that battery replacement is available only at the Miyakejima Tourism Association inside the Ako Port passenger waiting room (Here Port), and only during business hours from 9 am to 5 pm. Additionally, if you stay at certain affiliated guesthouses, it may be possible to charge the battery at your accommodation.
5. 30km Around the Island
For those who have never cycled 30km, it might be a bit of a challenge?
The journey around Miyakejima is about 30km. As for how long this takes, while making occasional detours to tourist spots, it took about 3 hours of actual cycling time. In reality, considering the time spent off the bicycle – eating meals, cooling off at the lake, flying drones over volcanic terrain, etc. – the total journey took about 6 hours.
These times are based on the author’s own experience and may vary from person to person, so please use them only as a reference.
6. Beware of Heat Stroke
For summer cycling, frequent hydration is essential. Even though it’s cooler than the mainland, the risk of heat stroke cannot be avoided on Miyakejima.
In particular, there are many areas along the way without shops or vending machines, so prepare water and light snacks in advance.
7. Recommend a 3-Day, 2-Night Trip
Don’t forget the ocean adventure when visiting Miyakejima!
Miyakejima offers abundant underwater activities as well, such as dolphin snorkeling, swimming, and diving. With a 2-day, 1-night stay, there’s rarely enough time or physical energy left to enjoy water activities along with a cycling trip, so secure at least 3 days and 2 nights and allocate time for cycling.
8. Many Attractions Created by Volcanic Terrain
The wonder of a volcanic island is enjoying strange scenery that looks like spilled paint.
I’ve focused a lot on precautions, but let me end with the most important thing. Miyakejima features landscapes characteristic of volcanic terrain. Spots showcasing the grandeur of nature are scattered throughout – desolate lava plateaus, impressive cliffs, and the contrast between the blue sea and green vegetation.
Cycling around the island allows you to fully enjoy these otherworldly sceneries unique to Miyakejima. As a privilege for those with electric-assist bicycles, enjoy the Miyakejima life to your heart’s content!
To Enjoy Miyakejima Even More
The cycling journey around Miyakejima is an activity that can be enjoyed by everyone from beginners to veteran cyclists. Its appeal lies in having only one main road, eliminating worry about getting lost, and the use of electric-assist bicycles, allowing even those lacking confidence in their physical fitness to take on the challenge with peace of mind. While you might feel daunted upon hearing about a 30km island circuit, thanks to electric-assist bicycles, the cycling is actually quite easy, and the journey ends before you know it.
In the next article, I’ll deliver an actual experience report. Stay tuned as I delve deeper into Miyakejima’s attractions and specifically communicate how amazing cycling is!
30 kilometers might be hard to visualize, but thinking of it as once around the Yamanote Line might make it easier to imagine? (For international readers: that’s approximately the length of the main circular railway line in Tokyo)
