Hong Kong to Miyakojima and Irabu: Flight Guide

Hong Kong is about 2 hours 15 minutes from Shimojishima Airport, the small runway that sits inside Irabu Island itself. For three seasons of the year, HK Express flies there directly — which makes Hong Kong the only major English-speaking market with a nonstop flight to these islands. This guide explains when that route runs, what to do the rest of the year, and the airport mix-up that trips up more visitors than anything else.

Quick Facts: Hong Kong to Miyakojima and Irabu Island

Question	Answer
Direct flight?	Yes, HK Express, HKG to Shimojishima Airport (SHI), roughly 29 March to 24 October 2026 only
Flight time (direct)	About 2 hours 15 minutes
Frequency (direct season)	Around four flights a week
Winter option	HKG to Naha (OKA), then a domestic flight to Miyako Airport (MMY)
Do you need a car?	Yes — public transport is very limited
Can you drive on your Hong Kong licence?	No, but an International Driving Permit (form TD51, HK$80) works
Which side of the road?	Left — same as Hong Kong
Typhoon risk	June to November, worst August to September

How to Get to Irabu Island from Hong Kong

There are two genuinely different ways to make this trip, and which one applies to you depends entirely on the calendar. Get the season wrong and you will be searching for a route that simply is not flying that week.

Direct: Hong Kong to Shimojishima Airport (Summer Only)

HK Express operates a direct flight from Hong Kong (HKG) to Shimojishima Airport (SHI), the small airport built on Shimoji Island. For the 2026 season this route is scheduled from roughly 29 March to 24 October, with around four flights a week and a flight time of about 2 hours 15 minutes. STARLUX has also listed fares on this route at times, so it is worth comparing both when you search.

This is the important part: the direct route does not operate in winter. If you are planning a trip from November through March, stop looking for a nonstop flight — there isn't one, and you should plan around the Naha connection below instead.

Winter Alternative: Hong Kong to Naha, Then a Domestic Connection

Outside the direct season, fly HKG to Naha (OKA) — a high-frequency route served by HK Express, with Cathay Pacific also selling codeshare seats — then take a short domestic flight on to Miyako Airport (MMY). It adds a connection and a bit of airport time, but Naha itself is a reasonable stopover if you want to break up the journey with a night or two on the main island.

For the domestic leg and onward transport once you land, our guide to flights and buses serving Irabu Island covers both airports in more detail.

Shimojishima Airport or Miyako Airport? Getting the Rental Car Right

This is the single most common planning mistake among visitors to this area, and it is worth being blunt about: Shimojishima Airport (SHI) and Miyako Airport (MMY) are two different airports, roughly 20 minutes apart by car and separated by the Irabu Bridge.

Shimojishima Airport sits on Shimoji Island, which is joined to Irabu Island by six short bridges — a few minutes' drive. If you fly the direct HK Express route, you land already on the Irabu/Shimoji side, close to most of the beaches this site covers, with no bridge crossing required.

Miyako Airport is on Miyako Island proper, on the other side of the 3,540-metre, toll-free Irabu Bridge. If you fly via Naha in winter, you will land here instead, and you will need to cross that bridge to reach Irabu Island.

The practical risk is your rental car booking. Reserve a car at the wrong airport and you will either waste time backtracking or pay for a one-way drop fee you did not plan for. Always check the airport code on your rental voucher against the airport code on your flight ticket before you leave home. For more on driving between the two, see our guide to driving routes and rental tips on Irabu Island.

Direct Route vs Winter Route: Side by Side

	Direct (summer)	Via Naha (winter)
Airline(s)	HK Express (direct), STARLUX has also shown fares	HK Express or Cathay Pacific codeshare to Naha, then domestic carrier
Route	HKG to Shimojishima Airport (SHI)	HKG to Naha (OKA), then OKA to Miyako Airport (MMY)
Approx. flight time	2 hours 15 minutes, one leg	Naha leg plus a separate domestic flight and connection time
Season	Roughly 29 March to 24 October	Year-round, essential in winter
Lands closest to Irabu beaches	Yes — Shimoji side, minutes from Irabu	No — Miyako side, cross Irabu Bridge to reach Irabu Island
Typhoon exposure	Overlaps June to October risk window	Lower during peak winter months

Driving on Irabu and Miyako: What Hong Kong Drivers Need to Know

Public transport across Irabu, Shimoji and Miyako is genuinely limited — for most itineraries, a rental car is effectively required, not optional.

International Driving Permit (Form TD51)

Hong Kong is a Geneva Convention signatory, so an International Driving Permit is valid for driving in Japan. Apply before you leave using form TD51; the fee is HK$80. Bring the permit itself, not just your Hong Kong licence — rental counters in this area check for it and will not hand over keys without one.

Left-Hand Driving: One Less Thing to Worry About

Here is the reassuring part: Japan drives on the left, exactly like Hong Kong. If self-driving abroad makes you nervous, this is usually the biggest source of that anxiety, and for this trip it simply is not an issue. Road signage on Miyako and Irabu is minimal outside the main routes, so a phone with offline maps loaded is still worth having.

Best Time to Visit: Balancing Flight Season and Typhoon Risk

The direct flight season and typhoon season overlap, and it is worth being upfront about that trade-off rather than glossing over it. Typhoon season runs June through November, peaking in August and September — squarely inside the window when the direct HK Express route is flying.

This does not mean avoid summer. It means build in slack: check the Japan Meteorological Agency's English forecast map in the week before you fly, and avoid booking a itinerary so tight that a one-day delay wrecks it. Late March to early June, and October, sit inside the direct-flight window with comparatively lower typhoon risk. If a guaranteed clear week matters more to you than a direct flight, winter via Naha is the safer bet — flights run reliably, even though the connection takes longer. Our guide to Irabu Island in a typhoon covers what actually happens on the ground if your dates coincide with a storm.

Is Miyakojima Worth the Trip from Hong Kong?

Search around and you will find plenty of mixed reviews — "overrated," "big disappointment," visitors debating whether Ishigaki is the better choice instead. It is worth answering honestly rather than just selling the destination.

Miyakojima had its highest ever visitor year in FY2025, with 1,263,397 arrivals, and Hong Kong is now the single largest source market for Okinawa overall — 779,168 visitors in FY2024, up 37.8% on the year before, according to figures tracked by the Miyakojima City Tourism Association. The beaches genuinely are among the best in Japan for clarity and sand quality. But the disappointment reviews usually trace back to the same two causes: travellers who did not rent a car and found themselves stranded near one hotel, or travellers who arrived expecting Ishigaki-level infrastructure — reefs, dive shops on every corner, English menus — and did not find it.

If you rent a car, plan around the tides for beach visits, and go in with realistic expectations about a quiet, sparsely developed pair of islands rather than a resort town, most visitors leave happy. If you want a built-up, English-friendly base with more restaurant variety, Ishigaki suits that better. For a first look at what Irabu specifically offers, our Irabu Island sightseeing guide is a useful starting point before you commit to dates.

Know Before You Go

A short checklist for anything not already covered above:

Before You Fly

International Driving Permit: apply with form TD51 in Hong Kong before departure — you cannot get one on arrival.
eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi: arrange this before you land. Coverage on the islands is fine, but you want it working the moment you leave the terminal.
Accommodation: book ahead, especially in the direct-flight months. See our Irabu Island accommodation guide for villas versus hotels.

On the Ground

Cash vs card: convenience stores and larger shops take cards, but small diners and beach-side stalls are often cash-only. ATMs are available in convenience stores.
English levels: English is rarely spoken outside hotel front desks. A translation app is genuinely useful, not just a nice-to-have.
Booking platforms: Klook and Trip.com are the platforms most Hong Kong travellers already use for flights, cars and activities here.

FAQ

Does HK Express fly to Shimojishima all year?

No. The direct route runs roughly late March to late October. Outside that window, fly to Naha and connect to Miyako Airport instead.

Which airport should I book my rental car at — Shimojishima or Miyako?

Match it to your arrival airport exactly. Shimojishima Airport sits on the Irabu side; Miyako Airport is across the Irabu Bridge. Booking at the wrong one costs you time and sometimes a drop fee.

Can I drive in Japan on my Hong Kong licence alone?

No. You need an International Driving Permit, applied for with form TD51 before you leave Hong Kong.

Is a rental car really necessary?

For nearly all itineraries, yes. Public transport across Irabu, Shimoji and Miyako is very limited, and the best beaches are not walkable from any single hotel.

Should I worry about typhoons if I book the direct summer flight?

It is a real trade-off, not a reason to avoid summer entirely. Typhoon risk peaks in August and September; late March to early June and October carry the direct flight with comparatively lower risk. Check the Japan Meteorological Agency forecast in the week before you fly and keep your itinerary flexible.