Uken Beach sits in Uruma City, in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
Uken Beach is a well-kept man-made beach much loved by locals.
There are BBQ facilities on site, and plenty of residents come every year to swim and cook out.
It is well equipped for swimming, with showers, changing rooms and restrooms, plus a good range of activities.
It has a jellyfish net and lifeguards on duty, so everyone from adults to children can relax here.
Ratings for Uken Beach
*Ratings are the subjective view of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in the prefecture
Uken Beach at a glance
| Swimming season | From the season opening until the end of October 9:00-18:00 (until 19:00 during the summer holidays) |
| Hours | 9:00-18:00 (until 19:00 during the summer holidays) Closed over the New Year period |
| Jellyfish net | Yes |
| Lifeguard | Yes |
| Showers | Yes |
| Lockers | Yes |
| Rentals | Yes |
| Activities | Yes |
| Shop | Yes |
| Restroom | Yes |
| Official website | https://ukenbeach.com/ |
Uken Beach is well equipped for swimming, with showers, changing rooms and restrooms, plus a good range of activities.
It has a jellyfish net and lifeguards on duty, so everyone from adults to children can relax here.
[Activities] - Banana boat - Flyboard and more *For prices and details, see here
[BBQ] For details on the BBQ facilities, see here.
Highlights
Well-kept sand
It is a man-made beach, but the sand is beautifully maintained.
Calm water
The sea here is calm, which makes it a good beach for swimming.
It has a jellyfish net and lifeguards on duty, so everyone from adults to children can relax.
Well equipped
Restrooms, showers, a shop and more are all provided.
There are vending machines too, so you can pick up a drink or an ice cream.
Plenty of places to rest
Uken Beach has several gazebos set up as rest areas.
They are free to use, though BBQ customers have priority.
BBQs are available too
You can hold a BBQ at Uken Beach using the gazebos and other areas.
Tents and the like are available to hire, so do ask about what suits your group size.
[BBQ] For details on the BBQ facilities, see here.
Access & Parking
| Access | About 70 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Uken, Uruma City, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (paid: 500 yen) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Uken Beach has a paid car park with room for about 250 cars.
See the photo and map below for parking details.
What’s nearby Uken Beach
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?
The Kaichu-doro sea road
The Kaichu-doro is a road about 5 km long that runs across the water like a bridge.
It links four islands off the Katsuren Peninsula: Hamahiga, Henza, Miyagi and Ikei.
All four are islands, but the Kaichu-doro connects them to the mainland, so you can drive straight across.
Hamahiga Island
Hamahiga Island is a very small island, 6.69 km around, with a population of 531 according to Wikipedia.
It is one of several islands in Okinawa known as an “island of the gods”, and legend has it that Amamikiyo (Amamichu) and Shinerikiyo (Shirumichu), the deities said to have created Ryukyu, once lived here.
Locals and visitors alike come to take in the atmosphere at places such as the Shirumichu shrine and the tomb of Amamichu.
The beaches are not widely known, but Hamahiga Island has plenty of hidden gems.
Source: Wikipedia *as of 3 November 2021
Ikei Island Onsen AJ Resort Island Ikei
Ikei Island Onsen AJ Resort Island Ikei is a resort hotel on Ikei Island, one of Okinawa’s smaller islands.
Every room has an ocean view, and there is an outdoor pool and hot spring on site.
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 Uken Beach.
Uken Beach is a well-kept man-made beach much loved by locals, and with BBQ facilities on site, plenty of residents come every year to swim and cook out.
It has a jellyfish net and lifeguards on duty, so everyone from adults to children can relax here.
If a BBQ on the beach appeals, Uken Beach is well worth the trip.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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