Udui Gama is a sea cave on the coast near Cape Manzamo in Onna Village, in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
In the Okinawan language, “udui” means “dance” and “gama” means “cave”.
True to its name, it is said to have been where the Onna district rehearsed the performances for its village theatre, held in the eighth month of the lunar calendar.
Today it is a designated cultural property (folk cultural property) of Onna Village, and a quiet place that very few tourists visit.
Step through the cave and the sea opens up in front of you, and the waters offshore are also known as a diving spot.
Ratings for Udui Gama
Udui Gama at a Glance
| Swimming season | None *This is not a swimming beach |
| Hours | None in particular |
| Admission | Free |
| Jellyfish net | None |
| Lifeguard | None |
| Showers | None |
| Lockers | None |
| Swim gear rental | None |
| Activities | Yes (diving, etc.) *A guide is required |
| Shop | None |
| Restroom | None |
| Official website | None |
Udui Gama is not a swimming beach. There are no lifeguards or jellyfish nets, and rip currents occur easily offshore, making these dangerous waters.
Never go into the sea without a local guide.
Visiting the cave is free, and you can go in freely.
Highlights
A cave designated as a cultural property of Onna Village
Udui Gama is a designated cultural property (folk cultural property) of Onna Village.
In the past, the Onna district rehearsed the performances for its lunar eighth-month village theatre here, which is why it came to be called “Udui (dance) Gama (cave)”.
Note that Apogama, which is very close by, is a different cave from Udui Gama. It lies further on, beyond Udui Gama, and the two are easily confused.
A dive spot offshore for intermediate divers and above
The waters off Udui Gama are part of a dive site that divers call “Apogama” (this is the name of the dive site, which is a different place from the Apogama cave).
About 50 m from shore there is a drop-off, and the seabed falls away to around 35 m.
There are several underwater caves, making it a popular, otherworldly spot among divers.
However, rip currents occur easily here, so diving with a guide is strongly recommended.
If you are interested, why not see what is available on GetYourGuide or Viator?
A cave that stays cool even in summer
The cave is about 15 m deep, 5-6 m wide and 2-3 m high.
Sunlight streams in through the entrance, and inside it stays cool even in summer.
Hardly any tourists come here, so it is a quiet place to take a break.
The sea opens up right in front of you beyond the cave
Step through the cave and the sea spreads out right in front of you.
The rock-framed scenery is unique, with an atmosphere completely different from Onna’s tourist spots.
It feels like a hidden spot, so it is also recommended for anyone who wants to take photos.
Points to Note
Udui Gama is not a swimming beach. There are no lifeguards or jellyfish nets, and rip currents occur easily, making these dangerous waters.
Never go into the sea without a local guide.
Car break-ins are said to be common around the parking area. Do not leave valuables in your car.
This is a designated cultural property, so do not damage or write graffiti inside the cave.
Always take your rubbish home and be considerate when visiting.
Access & Parking
| Access | About 80 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Onna, Onna Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa *Near Cape Manzamo |
| Parking | None *Roadside parking is possible |
| Restroom | None |
There is no dedicated car park at Udui Gama. Some cars were parked along the road.
It is a farm road, so you can park as long as you do not get in anyone’s way.
See the Google Map below for details.
Around Udui Gama
Apogama Beach
Apogama Beach is the beach at Apogama, a separate cave located beyond Udui Gama.
It is a different place from Udui Gama but close by, so visit both as a little cave tour. It is a popular snorkeling and diving spot, but rip currents occur easily, so always go into the sea with a guide.
Cape Manzamo
Cape Manzamo is Onna Village’s signature sight, famous for its rock shaped like an elephant’s trunk.
It is only a short drive from Udui Gama, so visit both together.
Recommended Activities in Onna Village
Onna Village has plenty of marine activities to choose from.
You can book snorkeling and diving at the Blue Cave, as well as SUP, parasailing and more.
If you are interested, why not see what is available on GetYourGuide or Viator?
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.
The places worth seeing are scattered across the island, from Shuri Castle in Naha to the beautiful beaches of the north and American Village in Chatan, so a car lets you get around freely at your own pace. Local buses are infrequent and rarely on time, so having a rental car makes a big difference to your trip.
Cars fill up quickly in the peak season, so we recommend booking early once your travel dates are set. One important note for overseas visitors: to drive in Japan you must obtain an International Driving Permit (Geneva Convention) in your home country before you depart, and remember that traffic in Japan drives on the left.
In summary
In this article we introduced Udui Gama.
Udui Gama is a sea cave near Cape Manzamo in Onna Village, and a designated cultural property of the village.
Its name comes from its past as the place where village theatre dances were rehearsed.
The inside of the cave stays cool even in summer, and beyond it the sea opens up in front of you – it feels like a hidden world.
Rip currents occur easily offshore, making these dangerous waters, so never go into the sea without a guide.
When you visit Onna Village, be sure to stop by Udui Gama!
Thank you for reading to the end.
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