Chinen Cape Park is a headland in Nanjo City, in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island.
Below the cape, reef and clear blue water stretch out in a genuinely beautiful view.
On a clear day you can even make out Kudaka Island, known in Okinawa as the island of the gods.
With a car park, a lookout and gazebos on site, it is an easy place to sit for a while and take in the scenery.
Ratings for Chinen Cape Park
*Ratings are the personal impressions of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other capes in Okinawa Prefecture
Chinen Cape Park at a glance
| Opening hours | No set hours |
| Admission | Free |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
| Shop | Yes |
| Official website | None |
What to look out for
The view from the headland
The panorama from the high ground at Chinen Cape is genuinely beautiful.
It draws plenty of visitors year after year.
Because the cape juts out into the sea to the east, the horizon sweeps around from straight ahead to your left. It is also known as a spot for watching the sunrise.
With nothing to block it, the wind can be strong here – hold on to your hat.
Clear water and coral reef
Walk out to the tip of the cape and you get the view pictured above.
The combination of clear water and coral reef is beautiful enough to leave you lost for words.
A wonderful outlook
Even the little harbour below looks lovely from up here.
The reef in the water and the deep blue of the sea are stunning.
The sculpture “Infinite Memory from the Axis of the Universe”
The park is home to a silver sculpture titled “Infinite Memory from the Axis of the Universe”.
It was created by Oyakawa Matsukiyo, an artist from the former Chinen Village, and the stone forming its base is natural rock taken from this very site.
The meaning of the work has never been spelled out, leaving each viewer to read it their own way. Seen with the sea behind you, it makes a different impression again.
Gazebos
There are gazebos on site too, so you can take a proper break.
The whole headland is laid to lawn, with several benches dotted about. There is little shade, so make good use of the gazebos in summer.
YouTube Short
Here is a YouTube Short of Chinen Cape.
Getting there and parking
| Access | About 40 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Chinen Kudeken, Nanjo City, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
Chinen Cape Park has a free car park.
It is a large car park, and outside the busiest times you will rarely struggle to find a space.
The same car park also serves visitors to neighbouring Sefa Utaki. If you are seeing both, it is easiest to park here and walk.
Please check the map below for the car park.
What’s nearby Chinen Cape Park
Sefa Utaki
Sefa Utaki is a World Heritage site, said to have been the most sacred place in the entire Ryukyu Kingdom.
It is about five minutes away from Chinen Cape Park by car.
Azama Sun Sun Beach
Azama Sun Sun Beach draws large numbers of visitors every year.
The water is beautifully clear and the long white sand makes it a genuinely lovely beach.
Beyond swimming there is plenty to do, from banana boats and snorkelling to wakeboarding, and facilities such as showers and changing rooms are well provided.
With hotels and restaurants nearby, it is a beach where everyone from watersports fans to families with young children can relax.
Recommended activities in Nanjo City
Nanjo City offers a wide range of marine activities.
You can book diving, snorkelling, SUP and more.
If you would like to try diving or snorkelling, take a look at what is available on GetYourGuide or Viator.
Yuinchi Hotel Nanjo
Yuinchi Hotel Nanjo offers reasonable rates and a natural hot spring – a rarity in Okinawa.
On clear days you can also enjoy fine views of the sea from its hilltop setting.
A rental car is the way to go in Okinawa
For sightseeing on Okinawa’s main island, a rental car is by far the best option.
Shuri Castle in Naha, the beautiful beaches up north, American Village in Chatan – the places worth seeing are scattered across the island, and having a car lets you explore at your own pace. Buses are infrequent and rarely run on time, so having a car makes a real difference to the trip.
Cars book up quickly in peak season, so reserve as soon as your dates are set.
Summary
In this article we introduced Chinen Cape Park.
Chinen Cape Park is a place to take in sweeping views and clear blue sea from high ground.
Free to enter, with a big car park, and easy to combine with Sefa Utaki and Azama Sun Sun Beach – that is a large part of its appeal.
It is especially recommended if you want to see Okinawa at its most scenic.
If you are heading to Nanjo City, do make time for Chinen Cape Park.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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