Sakiyama Beach, known locally as Usabama, is a beach in Nakijin Village in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island.
The water is exceptionally clear and coral spreads across the seabed, which has made it a well-known spot for snorkeling and diving.
Hardly anyone comes here, so you get the feeling of having a private beach to yourself — that is its real appeal.
The entrance is hard to find, though, and there are no facilities at all, so it is worth preparing before you set out.
If you plan to swim or snorkel, take care when going into the water.
Sakiyama Beach (Usabama) ratings
*Ratings are the subjective assessment of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in Okinawa Prefecture.
Sakiyama Beach (Usabama) at a glance
| Swimming season | None in particular |
| Hours | None in particular |
| Admission | Free |
| Jellyfish net | None |
| Lifeguard | None |
| Showers | None |
| Lockers | None |
| Swim gear rental | None |
| Activities | None |
| Shop | None |
| Restroom | None |
| Official website | None |
Sakiyama Beach is not a managed beach, so there are no lifeguards and no box jellyfish net.
There are no restrooms, showers or shops either, so pick up anything you need in central Nakijin beforehand.
If you plan to swim or snorkel, take care when going into the water.
Highlights
A snorkeling spot with coral and rock formations
Sakiyama Beach is known in Nakijin as a spot for snorkeling and diving.
It is not only the coral that makes it worth the trip: the rock has been carved into tunnels and crevasses, and that terrain is the real draw.
The water is clear enough that you get a proper look at everything below the surface.
If any of that appeals, take a look on Viator or GetYourGuide.
Almost nobody else here
Sakiyama Beach has never been developed as a tourist beach, and almost no one visits.
Time it right and you may well have the whole place to yourself, with the unhurried feel of a private beach.
Go in around high tide
Around high tide, you can walk straight off the sand and into the water at Sakiyama Beach.
Around low tide the reef rock comes up above the surface, so wear marine boots to avoid cutting your feet.
Checking a tide table before you go makes the whole visit easier.
No Restrooms or Showers
There are no restrooms, showers, changing rooms or lockers.
It is not a swimming beach, so there is no equipment rental or shop either.
Points to Note
The entrance to Sakiyama Beach sits in a patch of scrub woodland and is genuinely hard to spot, and the track down to the parking space is a steep slope.
The road is narrow as well, so if you are not a confident driver, another beach is the better choice.
With no lifeguards and no jellyfish net, do not go in on days when the wind is strong or the waves are high.
In summer, a rash guard is a sensible precaution against box jellyfish while you are in the water.
Access & Parking
| Access | About 100 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Sakiyama, Nakijin Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (free, room for about 3 cars) |
| Restroom | None |
Sakiyama Beach has a free space with room for about three cars.
It is not a proper parking lot, and it sits at the bottom of a steep slope, so parking here takes some care.
If you are using a car navigation system, setting “Sakiyama Kominkan” (Sakiyama community hall) or “Nakijin-son Sakiyama” as your destination will get you close. Google Maps does list “Sakiyama Beach”, but there are no signs for the last 100 m or so, so go by the lay of the land.
See the Google Map below for details.
Nearby Information
Recommended Activities in Nakijin Village
Nakijin Village has a range of marine activities on offer.
You can book diving, snorkeling, SUP and more.
If you would like to enjoy diving or snorkeling, why not see what is available on Viator or GetYourGuide?
A rental car is the way to go in Okinawa
A rental car is by far the best way to get around the main island of Okinawa.
The places worth seeing are scattered across the island, from Shuri Castle in Naha to the beautiful beaches of the north and American Village in Chatan, and with a car you can take them at your own pace. Buses are infrequent and do not always run on time, so having a car or not makes a real difference to the trip.
Cars fill up quickly in the peak season, so we recommend booking early once your travel dates are set. One important note for overseas visitors: to drive in Japan you must obtain an International Driving Permit (Geneva Convention) in your home country before you depart, and remember that traffic in Japan drives on the left.
Beaches in Nakijin Village
Nakijin has beaches of every kind, from the popular ones on Kouri Island to quiet spots only locals know about.
We have gathered the beaches of Nakijin, Sakiyama included, into one article — take a look if you are interested.
Summary
This article covered Sakiyama Beach, known locally as Usabama.
Sakiyama Beach is a little-known beach in Nakijin with clear water and coral spreading across the seabed.
The tunnels and crevasses in the rock make it especially worthwhile if you enjoy snorkeling or diving.
There are no facilities at all and the entrance is hard to find, but in exchange you get a quiet stretch of sea largely to yourself.
If you are heading to Nakijin, do make time for Sakiyama Beach.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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