Miyako Airport (MMY/ROMY) is located in Okinawa Prefecture althpough being 300km southwest of Okinawa/Nahe itsself. This small island is really popular among tourists, especially in the summer season, as there are beautiful lagoons like in Hawaii. The airport was opened back in 1943 for the navy and handles about 1,3 million passenger a year now. About four carriers are operating to Miyako, ANA, JAL, JTA and Ryukyu Air Commuter RAC. The biggest aircraft visiting Miyako are the Boeing 787-8 and 767-300ER and the most common type down here is the B738 with lots of flights to/from Naha by ANA and JTA.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Atsuhsi Yoshioka. Last Update: 2022

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
04/22	2000m (Asphalt)
Terminals
T1	Handling all operations.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Recommend to have a ladder with 3 or 4 steps. You can buy one at the “Makeman Miyako”, north of the airport for around 2000-3000JPY.
Car/Public Transport	Recommend to use a rental car as there is no public transport to the locations. If you want to go to Shimojishima Airport (30 mins by car from Miyako Airport) you need a car. There is a public bus between Miyako Airport and Shimojishima Airport but not too much.
Drinks/Food	You can buy drinks and foods at convenience store around the airport. There are some of “Family Mart” where you can buy almost everything.
Hotels	There is one very close to the terminal but not for plane spotting.
Season	The summer is the best season in Miyako, even if its get very hot. Normally there is a rainy season between first or second week of May to end of June, afterwards there is beautiful blue sky. Winter is not recommended for spotting as it is cloudy and you have strong wind almost everyday.
Security	There is no problem with security. Very easy for spotting everywhere.
Runway Usage
General Info	In winter 04 is in usage more often normally and in summer 22.

	Spot #1 – Observation deck – 04/22 + Taxiway + Apron
WHERE	Located in passenger terminal, you can access it by stairs or elevator from the 1st floor. There is a fence at the airport side, you need to take pictures thru/between the mesh/fences.
WHAT	The whole apron as well as nearby runway/taxiway parts.
TIME	Morning from 8am till early noon roughly.
MISC.	There are some small shops inside the terminal, you can buy drinks or food and there is some restaurant too: A&W is a local hamburger shop in the Okinawa area which is quite good.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-300mm B738 on apron = 100mm

MMY-Spot1

	Spot #2 – Agricultural Glasshouses – 04 Movements + heavy 22 traffic
WHERE	Located on east side of RWY04 at the southern end. There is public road along the airport fence and you just stop here nexto to some agricultural/growing glasshouses, but actually you stand all along the fence, this spot is no exact position.
WHAT	You can spot departure traffic from RWY04 and arrival tarffic into RWY04 and RWY22 (when the traffic comes to end of the runway).
TIME	Sunrise till late noon.
MISC.	There is nothing around here, take drinks and food or anything before coming here. Nearest shop is Familymart about 15 mins drive away.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm 763 = 70mm

	Spot #3 – Radar antenna – 04 Movmements + heavy 22 traffic
WHERE	Simply on the other side of the runway, again there is a small road next to the main road along the runway. Just stand here wherever you want to around the little radar facility airside.
WHAT	You can spot the aircraft using turning pad after landing on RWY22 or prior departure from RWY04.  You can also see landing aircraft on RWY04 but unable to shoot with the ground in the bottom normally, they are still to high.
TIME	Early afternoon till sunset.
MISC.	There is nothing around here, take drinks and food or anything before coming here. Nearest shop is Familymart about 15 mins drive away. You don’t have to use a step ladder here.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm B738 = 200mm

	Spot #4 – Public Road – 04/22 Movmements
WHERE	Located along a public road along RWY04/22, you can move along the fence depending on the movement. But a lot of cars use this public road, you have to be careful when you cross the road.
WHAT	Here you see all runway movements.
TIME	Only in the afternoon around from 3pm to sunset, so perfect to use this spot for NH88 (normally it will depart around 4pm) to Tokyo because it is the biggest aircraft at this airport.
MISC.	There is nothing around here but you can buy drink at a vending machine 5 min from this spot. Do not park on the public road along the roadside and at bakery. Best option for parking is the little sand depot/factory west of the street.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm 738 = 130mm / 788 = 80mm

	Spot #5 – Forest corner – 22 Arrival + Line up
WHERE	Located at east side of RWY22’s northern end. There is public road along the airport fence and you can find a big parking area a little bit north of spotting position (see the map for details). Then just walk down till you reach the forest corner
WHAT	You can spot movements on 22: arrival and departures (back taxi) but especially in summer time the grasses are growing up and there will be problems with the landing and during taxi with nose gear – both partly covered by grass then.
TIME	Sunrise till late noon.
MISC.	There is nothing around here, if you want to buy something, you have to go Don Quijote or Familymart. Recommended to bring everything before you go this position.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm 763 = 120mm