Ou Beach is a beach in Ou, Tamagusuku, Nanjo City, in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island.
Ou Island (Ojima) is a small island about 1.7 km around, linked to the main island by a bridge about 100 m long, so you can drive straight across.
Ou Beach is a natural beach on the north side of the island, right after you cross Ou Bridge.
There is a free parking lot and restrooms, plus some shade, so it is also a handy place to take a break while exploring the island.
Ou Island is also famous as the “home of Okinawan tempura”, and a row of tempura shops sits right by the beach.
Our Rating of Ou Beach
Basic Information on Ou Beach
| Swimming season | Year-round *Not an official swimming beach |
| Hours | None in particular |
| Admission | Free |
| Safety net | None |
| Lifeguards | None |
| Showers | Yes (paid) |
| Lockers | None |
| Swim gear rental | None |
| Activities | Available (glass-bottom boats, etc.) |
| Shop | Available *A few shops in front of the beach |
| Restrooms | Available (free) |
| Official website | None |
Ou Beach is not a managed swimming beach, so there are no lifeguards or safety nets (box jellyfish nets).
On the other hand, it has restrooms, paid showers and shops, so you will rarely be short of facilities.
Please take great care with safety when you go in the water.
Highlights
Easy to find, right after the bridge
Ou Beach is right after you cross Ou Bridge.
You will not get lost, and a big plus is that you can park and be at the water in moments.
The island is only about 1.7 km around, so you can park at the beach and walk around the whole island.
Calm waves, with local kids playing in the water
Ou Beach sits in a sheltered bay, so the waves are relatively calm.
In summer the beach rings with the voices of local children swimming; it is a beach rooted in the community.
It gives you a taste of everyday Okinawa, quite different from touristy resort beaches.
Restrooms, showers and shops
Ou Beach has separate flush toilets for men and women, plus an accessible toilet.
There are also paid showers, and a few shops in front of the beach.
There is shade as well, so you can take breaks even in midsummer.
The home of Okinawan tempura is right next door
Ou Island is known as the “home of Okinawan tempura”.
A row of tempura shops stands just past Ou Bridge, popular with locals and visitors alike.
We recommend picking up some freshly fried Okinawan tempura and eating it on the beach while looking out to sea.
Ou Island Kannon-do
Ou Island Kannon-do enshrines a statue of Kannon given to the islanders in thanks for rescuing the crew of a shipwrecked Chinese vessel in the 1600s, and it remains a focus of local faith.
The building and the golden Kannon statue were lost in the war, but the hall was rebuilt afterwards, and a ceramic Kannon statue is now carefully enshrined there.
Things to Note
Ou Beach is not a managed swimming beach, so there are no lifeguards or safety nets.
At high tide the sand can almost disappear, so check the tide before you go.
When swimming in summer, we recommend wearing a rash guard as a precaution against box jellyfish.
The beach is right next to a fishing port and a village. Please take all your rubbish home and be considerate of local residents.
Access & Parking
| Access | About 40 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Ou, Tamagusuku, Nanjo City, Okinawa |
| Parking | Available (free, about 10 spaces) |
| Restrooms | Available (free) |
Ou Beach has a free parking lot.
It holds only about 10 cars, so at busy times check the other parking spaces on the island.
See the Google Map below for details.
Around Ou Beach
Ou Island Beach
Ou Island Beach is a beach on the south side of the same island.
It is known for its rugged rocky shore, with scenery quite different from Ou Beach, so try visiting both.
Recommended Activities in Nanjo City
Nanjo City offers all kinds of marine activities.
You can book glass-bottom boat rides around Ou Island, as well as snorkeling, SUP and more.
If you are interested, why not check out the activities on Viator or GetYourGuide?
A Rental Car Is the Way to Go in Okinawa
A rental car is by far the best way to explore Okinawa’s main island.
Sights such as Shuri Castle in Naha, the beautiful beaches of the north and American Village in Chatan are spread across the island, so with a car you can explore freely at your own pace. Buses are infrequent and often late, so having a rental car makes a big difference to how much you get out of your trip.
Bookings fill up quickly in peak season, so we recommend reserving early once your travel dates are set.
Summary
In this article, we introduced Ou Beach.
Ou Beach is on Ou Island in Nanjo City, easy to find right after you cross the bridge.
The waves are calm, and with restrooms, paid showers and shops, it is easy to drop by.
Its look changes a lot between low and high tide, so check the tide before you visit.
Okinawan tempura shops line the street right nearby, so we recommend enjoying them too.
When you visit Nanjo City, be sure to stop by Ou Beach!
Thank you for reading to the end.
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