Miyako-jima

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For the Okinawan city, see Miyakojima, Okinawa.

For the island administered by the Tokyo Metropolitan government, see Miyakejima.

Miyakojima (Miyako: mjaːku; Okinawan: naːku, mjaːku; Japanese: 宮古島) is an island in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It lies a few hundred kilometres east of Taipei, Taiwan. With an area of 158.70 square kilometres, Miyako is the fourth-largest island in Okinawa Prefecture.

Miyakojima is well-known for its beauty, particularly Higashi-Hennazaki (Eastern Cape), which is considered by many as one of the most beautiful spots in Japan. Miyako also has its own version of soba.

The Miyako language, one of several Ryūkyūan languages, is spoken here.

The airport code is MMY.

[edit] Rites unique to Miyakojima

There is a unique festival called Pantu (パーントゥ), which occurs in the ninth month of the old (lunar) calendar. Three men dressed in grasses and mud go about smearing it everywhere. They carry sticks in one hand and a simple but scary mask in the other. Those people who have been dirtied by the Pantu will have a year of protection. Owners of new homes will also invite Pantu to give a 'blessing' to their homes.