Shioya Beach is a beach in Shioya, Ogimi Village, in the north of Okinawa’s main island.
It is a natural beach inside Shioya Bay, a quiet inlet ringed by green hills, and unlike the open sea the water here is remarkably calm.
There is free parking for 50 cars, so it is an easy place to pull in on a drive.
It suits paddling activities such as kayaking and SUP better than swimming.
Please take care of your safety if you go into the water.
Shioya Beach Ratings
*Ratings are the subjective assessment of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in Okinawa Prefecture.
Shioya Beach Basic Information
| Swimming season | No set hours |
| Opening hours | No set hours |
| Admission | Free |
| Jellyfish net | None |
| Lifeguard | None |
| Showers | None |
| Lockers | None |
| Swim gear rental | None |
| Activities | Yes (kayak tours and more) |
| Shop | None |
| Restrooms | None |
| Official site | None |
Shioya Beach is not a managed swimming beach, so there are no lifeguards and no jellyfish net.
The beach itself has no restrooms, showers, or shop, so bring whatever you need with you.
Please take care of your safety if you go into the water.
Highlights
Set inside the calm waters of Shioya Bay
Shioya Beach sits inside Shioya Bay, an inlet ringed by green hills.
Because it lies within the bay, waves from the open sea rarely reach it and the surface stays very calm.
Rather than the vivid blue sea Okinawa is known for, what you get here is the quieter scenery of Yanbaru, where the hills come right down to the water.
Well suited to kayaking and SUP
With its calm water, Shioya Bay is an excellent place to try kayaking and SUP.
Kayak tours that paddle around the bay are also run, and first-timers can join with a guide.
Booking a tour sometimes gets you the use of a shower, so it is worth checking in advance.
If any of that appeals, take a look on Viator or GetYourGuide.
There is free parking
Shioya Beach has a free parking lot.
For an off-the-beaten-path beach the parking is unusually good, so you are unlikely to have any trouble.
It sits right on National Route 58, which makes it easy to stop at on the way up to Yanbaru.
No restrooms or showers
The beach has no restrooms, showers, changing rooms, or lockers.
As it is not a swimming beach, there is no swim gear rental or shop either.
You can sometimes use the restroom at a nearby convenience store, but it is the shop’s facility, so please buy something out of courtesy if you do.
Points to note
Shioya Beach is not a managed swimming beach, so there are no lifeguards and no jellyfish net.
The water inside the bay is calm, but currents can change. Please do not swim out towards the open sea.
If you go in during summer, we would recommend wearing a rash guard as protection against box jellyfish.
Please take all rubbish home with you, and be considerate of the neighbouring village.
Getting there and parking
| Access | About 110 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Shioya, Ogimi Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (free, 50 spaces) |
| Restrooms | None |
Shioya Beach is on National Route 58, right by the Shioya Ohashi Bridge that spans Shioya Bay.
With free parking for 50 cars, it is very easy to reach by car.
Please check the Google Map below for details.
Nearby Information
Nerome Coast
Nerome Coast is another beach in Ogimi Village, the same village as Shioya Beach.
It faces the open sea, so the scenery is quite different from Shioya Bay. It is worth visiting both.
Activities in Ogimi Village
Ogimi Village offers a range of marine activities.
From kayak tours on Shioya Bay to SUP and snorkeling, you can book them all.
If any of that appeals, it is worth seeing what is on offer through Viator or GetYourGuide.
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
This article introduced Shioya Beach.
Shioya Beach is a natural beach inside Shioya Bay in Ogimi Village, where the water stays remarkably calm.
With free parking for 50 cars and a spot right on National Route 58, it is an easy place to stop on a drive.
It suits kayaking and SUP more than swimming, so take the chance to spend some time out on the water amid the quiet scenery of Yanbaru.
On your next trip to Ogimi Village, do pay Shioya Beach a visit.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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