How Do You Stay Safe in the Sea and in Typhoons Around Miyakojima?

Published 2026-10-04 · Sources checked 2026-10-04 · Treasure Hunting Co., Ltd.

This guide is for visitors who want to know what to do if something goes wrong in the sea or in bad weather around Miyakojima. It covers the city's own water safety advice, how to use a snorkel, venomous sea life, typhoons and the emergency numbers.

We used the website of Miyakojima City, the official Okinawa travel site run by the Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau (OCVB) and the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). All pages were read on 2026-10-04. This guide is not an emergency plan. In an emergency, follow the instructions of the authorities.

Three numbers to remember

• 118, the Japan Coast Guard. Miyakojima City says to call 118 for any incident or accident at sea, or to ask for rescue.
• 119, fire and ambulance. JNTO says to call 119 for a fire, and when someone is seriously sick or injured.
• 110, the police. JNTO says to call 110 for a traffic accident or a crime.

JNTO also runs the Japan Visitor Hotline in English, Chinese and Korean. It is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at 050-3816-2787.

The city's water safety rules

Miyakojima City says that every year there are fatal accidents during snorkeling and diving. Its page asks visitors to follow these points:

• Wear a life jacket.
• Where there is a protective net in the sea, swim inside the net.
• Avoid going into the water alone. Go with at least one other person, and never take your eyes off children.
• Do not swim after drinking alcohol, or when you are tired or short of sleep.
• Check the weather and wave height before you go. The weather can change suddenly while you are in the water.
• Drink enough water, because long hours in the sun can cause heatstroke.

If a rip current pulls you away, the city says not to panic. Swim parallel to the shore to get out of the current.

How to use a snorkel safely

A separate city page explains that snorkeling accidents are the most common water accidents in Okinawa Prefecture. The usual cause is breathing in seawater that has got into the snorkel without the swimmer noticing.

The city's advice is to breathe in slowly and breathe out hard. Breathing out hard clears water from the tube. Fill your lungs before you put the snorkel in your mouth.

Wear something that floats, such as a life jacket or wetsuit. Limit each session to about one hour, then rest well before going in again. Never go into the sea before or after a typhoon. The city also suggests using a dive shop or similar service where you can.

Venomous sea life

OCVB lists the venomous animals in Okinawa's waters, with first aid for each. Two examples show why the first aid differs:

• Box jellyfish. OCVB says they are usually seen between May and October, sometimes in water only 50 centimeters deep. Leave the water and pour plenty of vinegar on any tentacles. Do not rub. Then cool the area.
• Portuguese man-of-war. Rinse with seawater and remove the tentacles. OCVB says never use vinegar for this one.

For stonefish, lionfish and sea urchins, OCVB says to remove any spines and soak the area in warm water of about 40 to 45°C. Cone snails, sea snakes and blue-ringed octopuses need a hospital at once. The city suggests a wetsuit and gloves to protect your skin.

Typhoons

OCVB says typhoons mainly affect Okinawa from June to September. During a typhoon, stay away from beaches and the sea. Stay inside until the warning is lifted, even if the weather seems to calm down.

Flights may be cancelled, and bridges may become inaccessible. Power cuts can stop traffic lights. OCVB asks visitors not to go sightseeing during a typhoon, and to avoid marine activities for some time after it passes.

For help in other languages, OCVB points to the OKINAWA Multilingual Contact Center. It also suggests the Safety tips for travelers app from JNTO.

Sun and heat

OCVB says the sun in Okinawa is very strong and it is easy to burn. Use sunscreen often, avoid the midday sun, and wear a hat and sunglasses. Drink water and take in enough salt to prevent heatstroke.

What we could not verify, and therefore left out

• The phone number of the OKINAWA Multilingual Contact Center. We did not read its own page.
• Whether 110, 118 and 119 calls are answered in English. The pages we read did not say.
• Where the evacuation shelters on Miyakojima are.
• Which hospitals on Miyakojima can treat visitors in English.
• Whether habu snakes live on Miyakojima. OCVB's page covers Okinawa as a whole.

Related guides

• How do you get to Miyakojima and around its bridged islands?
• What are Miyakojima's beaches like, and where can you safely swim?

Sources

All URLs retrieved 2026-10-04.

1. Be careful of water accidents (Miyakojima City, in Japanese) — (fatal accidents every year; safety rules; rip currents; call 118)
2. How to use a snorkel safely (Miyakojima City, in Japanese) — (cause of accidents; breathing; one-hour limit; typhoons)
3. Enjoying Okinawa Safely - VISIT OKINAWA JAPAN (Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau) — (venomous sea life and first aid; sun; heatstroke)
4. Typhoon Precautions in Okinawa - VISIT OKINAWA JAPAN — (season; what to do; transport; multilingual contact center)
5. For safe travels in Japan - Guide for when you are feeling ill (Japan National Tourism Organization) — (119 and 110; Japan Visitor Hotline)