Naminoue Beach is a man-made beach in Naha, in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is a man-made beach, but the clean white sand, blue water and well-kept facilities make it a genuinely appealing place.
It is also the only beach in Naha with sand, and it is a favorite with visitors and residents alike.
Showers, restrooms and other facilities are all in place, and there is plenty to do in the water, from diving and snorkeling to SUP.
Naminoue Beach ratings
*Ratings are the subjective assessment of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in Okinawa Prefecture.
Naminoue Beach at a glance
| Swimming season | April-June 9:00-18:00 July-August 9:00-19:00 September-October 9:00-18:00 |
| Hours | Same as the swimming season |
| Swimming fee | Free |
| Jellyfish net | Yes |
| Lifeguard | Yes |
| Showers | Yes |
| Lockers | Yes |
| Swim gear rental | None |
| Water sports | Yes |
| Shop | Yes |
| Restroom | Yes |
| Official website | https://www.naminouebeach.jp/ |
Naminoue Beach has lifeguards and a jellyfish net, so everyone from adults to children can enjoy the water safely.
There is a good range of water sports, and barbecues are possible too.
[Water sports] ・Intro diving & snorkeling ・SUP & SUP yoga *For prices and details, please see this page
[Barbecue] ・Several operators run barbecues here, so pick the one that suits you *For prices and details, please see this page
The Highlights
Clear Water
For a beach in the middle of a city, the water at Naminoue is remarkably clear.
It sits beneath a bridge and does look man-made, but it is a lovely spot all the same.
White, Beautiful Sand
The sand is clean and beautifully soft.
You can walk on it barefoot without any discomfort at all.
The beach is wide, and we saw people sunbathing and playing on the sand.
Well-kept facilities
There are benches facing the water, and plenty of people were sitting and watching the sea.
Naminoue Beach has restrooms and showers.
There is a charge, but the showers and coin lockers are available to use.
There are swings and a horizontal bar too, so there is space for children to play.
Plenty of places to rest
Covered pavilions and benches are in place, and people were taking their time resting there.
Trees planted in the middle of the benches throw a natural patch of shade, which is a nice touch.
Points to Note
There are posted rules for using Naminoue Beach, so please follow them.
Access & Parking
| Access | About 10 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 1-25-9 Wakasa, Naha, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
The Wakasa Seaside Park parking lot is close to Naminoue Beach.
There is a charge, but you can leave your car here and spend the day at the beach.
The rates are shown in the photo above.
Please check the map below for the location of the parking.
Around Naminoue Beach
Activities in Naha
Naha, in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island, offers plenty of activities including diving and snorkeling.
You can book through GetYourGuide or Viator, so do take a look at what is on offer.
Kokusai Street
Kokusai Street is Naha’s best-known shopping street.
Around 600 shops and businesses line it, including department stores, restaurants, souvenir shops and hotels — everything a visitor is likely to need.
It is about 10 minutes by car from Naminoue Beach to Kokusai Street.
Naminoue Shrine
Naminoue Shrine is a shrine in Naha, in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island.
One of Okinawa’s leading shrines, Naminoue is much loved for its history and standing.
It is known as one of the eight Ryukyuan shrines and as a power spot. It is also associated with matchmaking and safe childbirth, and many people come here to make a wish.
Rihga Royal Gran Okinawa
Rihga Royal Gran Okinawa connects directly to Asahibashi Station on the Yui Rail monorail, and is as little as five minutes by car or about ten by monorail from Naha Airport.
A Japanese-Western-Ryukyuan buffet breakfast at Dining 19 on the top floor, a welcome drink in every room and valet parking all add up to a genuinely comfortable stay.
You can check it on Booking.com, so do take a look.
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, and with a car you can take them at your own pace. Buses are infrequent and do not always run on time, so having a car or not makes a real difference to the 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
This article introduced Naminoue Beach.
Naminoue Beach is the only beach in Naha with sand, and it is beautifully kept.
There is plenty to do in the water too, from diving and snorkeling to SUP.
A beach this clean in the middle of a city is a rare thing, so do pay Naminoue Beach a visit.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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