Akuna-hama is a beach on Miyagi Island, a small island in Uruma City in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is an island, but a bridge connects it to the mainland, so you can simply drive there.
This is an untouched natural beach where Okinawa’s wilder side really comes through.
It has become well known lately as a filming location for the NHK drama Chimudondon.
A beach this undeveloped is rare even in Okinawa, and it sits somewhere that takes a bit of effort to reach by car.
You may run into a handful of other visitors, but for the most part it is an empty, beautiful beach.
Ratings for Akuna-hama
*Ratings are the subjective assessment of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in Okinawa Prefecture.
Akuna-hama at a glance
| Swimming season | None in particular |
| Hours | None in particular |
| Admission | None |
| Jellyfish net | None |
| Lifeguard | None |
| Showers | None |
| Lockers | None |
| Swim gear rental | None |
| Activities | None |
| Shop | None |
| Restroom | None |
| Official website | None |
Akuna-hama has no swimming facilities whatsoever.
There is no jellyfish net and no lifeguard either, so please take care of your own safety in the water.
Highlights
A beautiful beach in the middle of nowhere
Clear water
The water is beautifully clear, making this a lovely beach.
Photos do not do it justice; seeing it in person leaves you lost for words.
A glamping site along the beach
It was still under construction when we visited, but a glamping site called glampark resort Akunahama is now open.
The site opened in April 2023, with dome tents lined up right beside the beach and BBQ and sauna facilities on offer.
*For details on glampark resort Akunahama, see here
No swimming facilities
Akuna-hama has no swimming facilities at all.
There is no jellyfish net and no lifeguard either, so please take care when you go into the water.
Note that glampark resort Akunahama next door is for guests staying there, so the beach itself is still without facilities.
A filming location for the drama Chimudondon
It became known as the spot with the shikuwasa tree used in Chimudondon.
That shikuwasa tree was apparently planted for the filming.
Enormous rocks on the sand
Limestone outcrops are dotted along the sand, and they are very large indeed.
They do not look big in photos, but in person they are huge and the scale of the place is quite something.
Parking & Access
| Access | About 80 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Yonashiro Miyagi, Uruma City, Okinawa |
| Parking | None (there is an unpaved open area) |
| Restroom | None |
Akuna-hama has no dedicated car park.
Almost everyone simply parked at the roadside.
See the photo and map below for details.
What’s nearby Akuna-hama
Kafuu Banta
Kafuu Banta means “cape of happiness” in the Okinawan dialect: kafuu is “happiness” and banta is “cliff” or “cape”.
Kafuu Banta is well known for its views, and lately plenty of visitors make the trip just to see them.
The surrounding area also has largely undeveloped spots such as Ikei Island and Hamahiga Island, with no shortage of beautiful places to take in Okinawa’s natural side.
It is about five minutes by car from Akuna-hama.
Activities in Uruma City
Uruma City offers all kinds of marine activities.
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?
Hotel Hamahigashima Resort
Hotel Hamahigashima Resort is a lovely place to stay with ocean views.
Muruku Beach is within walking distance, and there is an outdoor pool looking out to sea.
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.
Shuri Castle in Naha, the beautiful beaches up north, American Village in Chatan and the rest are scattered all over the island, so having a car lets you explore at your own pace. Buses are infrequent and rarely run to time, so whether or not you have a car makes a real difference to the trip.
Popular seasons book up quickly, so reserve early once your dates are set.
In summary
This article introduced Akuna-hama.
Akuna-hama is an untouched natural beach where Okinawa’s wilder side really comes through.
With glampark resort Akunahama opening in April 2023, this is a beach that could well grow in popularity.
If you are heading to Miyagi Island, do stop by Akuna-hama.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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