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The Michelle family lives in the Shonan area of Kanagawa Prefecture. Their father, Julien, works as an art director; their mother, Atsuko, values connecting with nature through outdoor learning activities at the sea and in the mountains; and their three children, ages 2, 3, and 6. The family of five took a seven-day break from work and traveled all the way to Miyakojima with their energetic children to relax in nature and fully enjoy every corner of the island.
A creative way to spend time at "the rescape," surrounded by nature
We headed straight for the beach in front of us. The kids couldn't wait to get out and get barefoot before hitting the sand. They played in the sand, snorkeled, found and observed hermit crabs, made beach flags out of squid skulls, and ran wild in the natural surroundings.
After a day of playing, it was time for lunch at the restaurant in the reception building. The kids devoured their kids' plates, which included an original green curry and sandwiches packed with Miyakojima vegetables.
After playing to their heart's content and eating a hearty meal, the kids took a nap in their room. Kino, the oldest son, woke up early and took another swim with his dad in the room's pool. They had fun taking underwater photos.
Miyakojima's weather is unpredictable, and rain can suddenly fall. Puzzles and board games are available for rental in the reception building, perfect for relaxing in your room on those days. There are also in-room craft workshops available, and programs you can try with your children. Another great thing about Miyakojima is that you can experience local materials and traditional techniques and take home handmade memories.
Interaction and Learning—Experience with All Five Senses
One way to enjoy Miyakojima, which is about 100km around, is to take a leisurely drive through the sugarcane fields. Exploring the islands connected by bridges or enjoying the stunning private beaches that appear everywhere, Michelle and her family chose a spot they could enjoy with their children and got in the car.
This interactive farm and cafe, run by Shiro Farm, offers goat-feeding and milking experiences. From baby goats to adult goats, they roam freely through the large aloe vera fields, helping to control weeds.
This interactive farm and cafe, run by Shiro Farm, offers goat-feeding and milking experiences. From baby goats to adult goats, they roam freely through the large aloe vera fields, helping to control weeds.
Go at Cafe 214-1 Ueno Miyakuni, Miyakojima City Business Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Phone: 090-3982-0460 Irregular Holidays
Next, we headed to Utopia Farm Miyakojima, a tourist farm. Children happily ran around the greenhouse, where bougainvillea, the city flower of Miyakojima, was in full bloom. In addition to tropical flowers like hibiscus, you could also see passion fruit, mangoes, and dragon fruit growing on the trees.
Utopia Farm Miyakojima Tourist Farm1714-2 Miyakuni, Ueno, Miyakojima City, Miyakojima City. Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Admission Fee: ¥350 (Free for junior high school students and younger). Phone: 0980-76-2949. Open daily (except October 20th).
Our final stop was a ranch for the Miyako horse, one of Japan's eight native horse breeds and a prefecturally designated natural monument. Currently, there are only about 40 Miyako horses on Miyako Island, and this ranch keeps more than half of them, 29, for preservation purposes. Thanks to the owner's kind arrangement, our children had the opportunity to feed the horses and get up close and personal with the friendly Miyako horses, which are smaller than thoroughbreds.
Another stop on our trip was the studio of Kyoko Ogawa, a kuba artist who creates baskets and art pieces woven from the kuba plant, a palm tree. Atsuko, a textile designer, decided to visit the rescape after seeing the artwork displayed in the rooms and restaurant. "I was just deciding on a lampshade for my home, and when I saw the artwork, it gave me inspiration. My family and I visited the studio, and after talking with Mr. Ogawa, we decided to ask him to create one." This was another connection between the hotel and Miyakojima.
"Studio Yui"549 Shimosato, Hirara, Miyakojima City
On the final day, which was a beautiful sunny day, we set off on a cruise out to sea. Hoping to swim and fish in the crystal-clear waters, we set sail in high spirits, but the waves were higher than expected, and we couldn't stay out long. Taking advantage of the beautiful weather, Julian returned to the ocean to start fishing. While his children swam and napped on the adjacent beach, he persevered alone, but unfortunately, he ended up empty-handed.
A trip where you can play and learn with your whole body, with an experience that can only be had here.
Michelle and her family said that their week-long stay was "so much fun that it went by so quickly." They enjoyed an experience that can only be had here, at their own pace, without any rush, and the children played to their heart's content every day until they ran out of energy.
