Oki is my shorthand for mainland Okinawa prefecture.
Miyakojima, it’s my first time here. Beautiful swimmable beaches with great snorkeling off them. That’s why people come here. Also, as you can image, it has fewer people and no rush hour traffic.
The small things: it’s clean and has well maintained streets. Has many bus companies to get people around without a car even though it too has no real rail system. Two lines to get to/from airports and even an island loop bus. Wow, image that!
Two small islands Miyakojima and Shimojishima is connected by one of the longest car only bridges in japan, and get this – they both have international airports!
Streets in both commercial and residential areas are wide and in many place lined with shade trees. I have never seen that in Oki! Not even in parks. Because they are wide open in Oki for team sports activities. (Perhaps south of Naha airport?) many parks and green space in neighborhoods, never seen that much in Oki. Public buildings are new, modern and well maintained, like the city hall and library. Don’t get start on crime, both major and petty.
I am really trying to figure why Oki can’t be like this. If you tell me it’s because of lack of large diverse population, I can just point to cities big and small in Honshu. Yes, it seems to be more like a small tour town mainland in Japan here.
I suspect there some hard and ugly truths that this comparison reveals. Bring it on!
by Kooljerk007
