Is Miyakojima safe?
Very safe from crime. Sea conditions, strong sun, typhoons and tired drivers on dark roads are the real risks.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-14.
- Homicide rate in Japan: 0.2 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Japan: 3.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
Safety in Miyakojima at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Almost none beyond occasional theft from parked cars at beaches. |
| At night | Hirara's izakaya streets are safe and open late; the rest of the island is dark and quiet. |
| Solo women | Very safe alone. Remote beaches empty out at dusk, so plan transport back. |
| Other risks | Typhoons Jul–Oct can cancel flights; Box jellyfish and strong UV; Rip currents at open beaches |
Scams, areas and local laws
Take care
- Swimming alone outside marked beaches: strong currents and reef drop-offs
- Night driving on unlit roads: poor visibility and wandering animals
Laws visitors break by accident
- Short-term visitors must carry their passport at all times; police may ask for it.
- Adderall and strong pseudoephedrine decongestants are banned; check medicines before packing.
- Cannabis, including CBD with THC, is illegal; using it has been a crime since Dec 2024.
How Miyakojima compares in Japan
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kyoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Osaka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hiroshima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nara | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sapporo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Okinawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakone | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Fukuoka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kawaguchiko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Niseko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Yokohama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kanazawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Takayama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagoya | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nikko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kamakura | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kobe | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakuba | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Ishigaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagasaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Shirakawa-go | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Miyakojima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakodate | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Otaru | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Beppu | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Matsumoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Koyasan | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Furano | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sendai | 5/5 · Very safe |
Quick answers
Is Miyakojima safe for solo female travelers?
Very safe alone. Remote beaches empty out at dusk, so plan transport back.
Is Miyakojima safe at night?
Hirara's izakaya streets are safe and open late; the rest of the island is dark and quiet.
What is the crime rate in Miyakojima?
Almost none beyond occasional theft from parked cars at beaches. Nationally, Japan records 0.2 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Miyakojima?
Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
More about Miyakojima
Going to Miyakojima solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Miyakojima City tourism
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.