Ou Island Beach is a beach in Nanjo City, in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island.
It lies on the small island of Ou, but a bridge links it to the mainland, so you can drive straight there.
There is no safety net and no lifeguard on duty, so please take real care if you go into the water.
Ratings for Ou Island Beach
*Ratings are the personal impressions of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in Okinawa Prefecture
Ou Island Beach at a glance
| Swimming season | No set hours |
| Opening hours | No set hours |
| Swimming fee | Free |
| Safety net | None |
| Lifeguards | None |
| Showers | None |
| Lockers | None |
| Equipment rental | None |
| Activities | None |
| Shop | None |
| Restrooms | None |
| Official website | None |
There are no lifeguards and no safety net here, so take care if you go in the water.
The area around the beach has plenty of tempura shops and seafood restaurants.
What to look out for
Rugged rocks
Ou Island Beach is split between a rugged rocky section and a sandy one.
The rocks are home to plenty of creatures, so it is a good spot for looking at marine life.
A diving spot for those in the know
The dive site off Ou Island Beach is a beautiful spot known mainly to those in the know.
You can check what is on offer through GetYourGuide or Viator.
Clear water
It is not a beach with a long sweep of sand, though there is a small sandy stretch.
Camping and barbecues are allowed
You can camp and barbecue at this beach.
Nobody manages the beach, so please take your rubbish home with you.
A mysterious building
There is a curious, almost derelict-looking building at Ou Island Beach.
It showed no signs of being in use.
Getting there and parking
| Access | About 40 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 186 Tamagusuku Ou, Nanjo City, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restrooms | None |
Ou Island Beach has a free car park.
Please check the map below for details on parking.
What’s nearby Ou Island Beach
Mibaru Beach
Mibaru Beach is a natural beach known for its very clear water and, together with Hyakuna Beach, a two-kilometre stretch of sand.
There are plenty of marine activities on offer too, from banana boats and Marble rides to glass-bottom boats.
Mibaru Beach is about 10 minutes from Ou Island Beach by car.
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.
Hyakuna Garan
Hyakuna Garan is a luxury resort hotel known for its cuisine made with seasonal Okinawan ingredients and its ocean views.
Set right on the coast, it looks out over the Okinawan sea from atop a cliff.
Room rates are a little above average, but the service and hospitality more than make up for it.
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 Ou Island Beach.
Ou Island Beach is a place where plenty of people come to camp and barbecue.
Nobody manages the beach, so there is no safety net or other swimming infrastructure – please take real care if you go into the water.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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