Yomitan Village has a great many beaches, from famous names that draw the crowds to quiet finds that feel like private beaches.

The ranking below reflects how well known the Okinawa Bookmark editor believes each beach to be.

• Zanpa Beach
• Nirai Beach
• Toguchi Beach
• Kanai Beach
• Uza Beach (Uza Coast)
• Melody Beach
• Sobe Beach
• Tokeshi Beach
• Momenbaru Beach
• Rindoubaru Kaizuka Beach
• Yubanta Beach
• Tinnohama
• Senaha Beach
• Nagahama Coast
• Namihira Coast (Namihira Beach)

*The ranking is the personal view of the Okinawa Bookmark editor

Every beach in Yomitan Village

Zanpa Beach

Zanpa Beach is known for its white sand and blue water, with the resort feel people picture when they think of Okinawa.

It draws large crowds every year and is hugely popular.

The swimming facilities are excellent, with banana boats, snorkeling, wakeboarding and plenty more on offer.

Shower rooms and changing rooms are well provided for too, making it a beach everyone from children to adults can enjoy.

Zanpa Beach | Activities, Hours, Parking and What’s Nearby

A complete guide to Zanpa Beach in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa. White sand, blue water, full swimming facilities an...

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Nirai Beach

Nirai Beach sits in Yomitan Village, in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.

This beach has a real resort feel, with naturally soft sand and blue water as its main draw.

The shallows teem with sea life and there is plenty of coral and Ryukyu limestone, so you can take in the kind of nature Okinawa is known for.

The swimming facilities are complete, with snorkeling and other activities as well as a pool, making it a popular spot that everyone from children to adults can enjoy.

Nirai Beach | Hours, Snorkeling, Parking and What’s Nearby

A complete guide to Nirai Beach in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa. Naturally soft sand, water rated AA for quality, sn...

okinawa-bookmark.com

Toguchi Beach

Toguchi Beach is less a magnet for tourists than a beach the locals love.

You can barbecue here and snorkel here, and the swimming facilities are well provided for.

It is known for its soft white sand and blue water, with large rocks scattered across the shore that let you feel Okinawa’s natural side at the same time.

There are restaurants and a park close by, making it a good spot for a day out with children — do stop by Toguchi Beach.

Toguchi Beach | Snorkeling and Barbecues by the Sea — Parking and What’s Nearby

A guide to Toguchi Beach in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa. Soft white sand, clear water and Ryukyu limestone, with sn...

okinawa-bookmark.com

Kanai Beach

The Cristea Chapel stands near Kanai Beach, making this a wonderful spot for weddings and for watching the sunset.

With white sand and beautifully clear water, it is a popular choice for wedding and sunset photography.

Only a handful of people go in the water here. Rather than a place for swimming, it suits visitors who want to relax on the sand and take their time.

There are plenty of other lovely beaches nearby too, including Nirai Beach and Tokeshi Beach.

Kanai Beach | A Quiet Find Next to Nirai Beach — Parking and How to Get There

A guide to Kanai Beach in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa. White sand, clear water and the Cristea Chapel make it a fav...

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Uza Beach (Uza Coast)

Uza Beach is known for its clear water and white sand.

The Aqua Grace Chapel stands along the shore and is sometimes used for weddings.
There is also a promenade and several thatched shelters, so you can take your time in the shade.

It is not a place that draws big crowds, which makes it a good choice if you want to relax quietly by the sea.

Zanpa Beach is close by, so head there if swimming is what you are after.

Uza Beach (Uza Coast) | Parking and What’s Nearby

A guide to Uza Beach in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa. Clear water, white sand, a chapel on the shore and shaded rest...

okinawa-bookmark.com

Melody Beach

Melody Beach is known for its clear water, white sand and countless beautiful rocks.

Nearby are well-known attractions such as Murasakimura, Gala Aoi Umi and Nirai Beach.

It is not a place that draws big crowds, but the beach is beautiful and the sheer scale of the Ryukyu limestone is genuinely overwhelming.

It is a quiet find for anyone who wants to feel Okinawa’s natural side, or to spend time on a beach with hardly anyone around.

Melody Beach (Nakkouri Beach) | A Beautiful Natural Beach — Parking and What’s Nearby

A guide to Melody Beach (Nakkouri Beach) in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa. Clear water, white sand and striking Ryuky...

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Sobe Beach

Sobe Beach is known for its soft white sand and beautiful water.

There is a park nearby, and it is very much a place where local families come to spend time.

It is a small beach, tucked quietly into a residential area.

There are almost no tourists here — it is mainly local families with young children.

Sobe Beach | A Quiet Local Find in Yomitan Village — Parking and What’s Nearby

A guide to Sobe Beach in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa. Soft white sand, clear water and a park next door make it a f...

okinawa-bookmark.com

Tokeshi Beach

Tokeshi Beach is known for its clear water, white sand and beautiful Ryukyu limestone.

It works almost as the private beach of Hoshinoya in Yomitan Village, with the resort built around the shore.

Kanai Beach, which we covered above, is right next door, so the pair make a good combination if you want to take your time by the sea.

Tokeshi Beach (Tokeshi Coast) | The Beautiful Beach Beside Hoshinoya Okinawa

A guide to Tokeshi Beach (Tokeshi Coast) in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa. Soft sand, clear water and dramatic Ryukyu...

okinawa-bookmark.com

Momenbaru Beach

Momenbaru Beach lies in Yomitan Village.

Known for its clear water and white sand, and with gentle waves, it is the kind of beach that feels almost private.

There are hardly any tourists — just a handful of locals and people working at the US base — so it really does have that private-beach atmosphere.

It is a great pick if you want to spend some unhurried time in Okinawa.

Momenbaru Beach | Calm, Quiet and Beautifully Empty — Parking and What’s Nearby

A guide to Momenbaru Beach in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa. Clear water, white sand and gentle waves on a stretch of...

okinawa-bookmark.com

Rindoubaru Kaizuka Beach

Rindoubaru Kaizuka Beach is small, but the soft sand and crystal-clear water make it a lovely place.

Swim out a little and the water deepens, with plenty of fish and coral, making this a good spot for snorkeling.

There is hardly ever anyone here, so it feels almost like a private beach.

There are, of course, no lifeguards and no safety net, so please take real care if you go in the water.

Rindoubaru Kaizuka Beach | A Near-Private Beach You Can Snorkel At

A guide to Rindoubaru Kaizuka Beach in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa. A small beach with soft sand and clear water, g...

okinawa-bookmark.com

Yubanta Beach

Yubanta Beach has soft sand and beautifully clear water as its main draw.

Yubanta Park and Sobe Beach are both nearby, and there were families and children out playing happily when we visited.

There are almost no tourists here — it is mainly local families with young children.

Yubanta Beach | A Beach in a Quiet Residential Corner of Yomitan Village

A guide to Yubanta Beach in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa. Soft sand, clear water and a park next door make this a ga...

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Tinnohama

Tinnohama is a natural beach known for its roughly one kilometre of sand and its wonderfully clear water.

There are few visitors — usually just a handful of guests from the hotel next to the beach.

It is the sort of quiet find that does not appear in guidebooks, and it suits anyone who wants to take their time on the sand.

Tinnohama | A Beautiful Beach with Nearly a Kilometre of Sand

A guide to Tinnohama in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa. A natural beach with roughly a kilometre of sand and beautiful...

okinawa-bookmark.com

Senaha Beach

Senaha Beach is a small spot with hardly any visitors, but the setting is rich in nature and genuinely beautiful, with a natural spring that gives the place a real sense of energy.

There is also a well known as Senaha Gaa, and until mains water arrived, people apparently lived off its spring water.

*”Gaa” means “well” in the Okinawan dialect

Senaha Beach | A Local Secret with Snorkeling and a Natural Spring

A guide to Senaha Beach in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa. A small, beautiful beach with almost no visitors, plus the ...

okinawa-bookmark.com

Nagahama Coast

Nagahama Coast lies in Yomitan Village.

The shallows here are designated as an aasa (sea lettuce) harvesting area, so it is not really suited to swimming — but the water is full of life and you get a real sense of the natural world.

We saw people watching the sea with friends and partners, and others flying drones to film it.

It is not a place for swimming, but there are other ways to enjoy it.

Nagahama Coast | A Beautiful Shoreline in Yomitan Village

A guide to Nagahama Coast in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa. The shallows are designated for sea lettuce harvesting so...

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Namihira Coast (Namihira Beach)

Namihira Coast (Namihira Beach) lies in Yomitan Village.

What sets this beach apart is how untouched it is, and how few people — tourists or locals — you will find here.

The land nearby is mostly farmland and there is hardly anyone about. Now and then you might see a couple of people free diving or out on a SUP.

It is a quiet find for anyone who wants to feel Okinawa’s natural side, or to spend time on a beach with nobody around.

Namihira Coast (Namihira Beach) | Beautiful and Completely Untouched

A guide to Namihira Coast in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa. An untouched stretch of shore with large rocks and beauti...

okinawa-bookmark.com

Around Yomitan Village

Activities in Yomitan Village

Yomitan Village offers a variety of marine activities.

You can book diving, snorkeling, SUP and more.

If you would like to try diving or snorkeling, why not take a look at the activities available in Yomitan Village?

Cape Zanpa

Cape Zanpa is a headland in Yomitan Village, in the central part of Okinawa’s main island, and a well-known attraction where roughly 30-metre cliffs run for about 2 kilometres.

It is also famous for its large lighthouse, and draws plenty of visitors and locals alike.

The scenery at Cape Zanpa is beautiful, and it is known as a filming location for the BTS music video “Let Go”.

Nearby are Zanpa Beach, Cape Zanpa Park, the Grand Mercure Okinawa Cape Zanpa Resort and Okashi Goten (a souvenir shop), among others, so there is plenty to keep everyone from kids to adults entertained.

Cape Zanpa | Sweeping Views from Sheer Cliffs, Parking and What’s Nearby

A guide to Cape Zanpa in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa. Roughly 30-metre cliffs run for about 2 kilometres, with a 31...

okinawa-bookmark.com

Hotels in Yomitan Village

Yomitan Village has everything from resort hotels to condominium-style stays, and many of them are within easy reach of the beach.

There is plenty of choice, whether you want a resort stay right on the water or somewhere quiet to take things slowly.

Hotels in Yomitan Village are listed on Booking.com and Expedia, so please check availability and rates there.

A rental car is the way to go in Okinawa

For sightseeing on Okinawa’s main island, a rental car is by far the best option.

The places worth visiting are scattered across the island, from Shuri Castle in Naha to the beautiful beaches up north and American Village in Chatan, and with a car you can work through them at your own pace. Local buses are infrequent and rarely run to schedule, so having a rental car makes an enormous difference to how much you get out of 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.

Summary

In this article we introduced all 15 beaches in Yomitan Village.

This is only a personal view, but first-placed Zanpa Beach and second-placed Nirai Beach are overwhelmingly the most popular, and they draw large numbers of visitors.

Third-placed Toguchi Beach sees fewer tourists, but plenty of locals come here, often just for a walk.

Everything from fourth place down feels very much like one of Yomitan’s quiet finds.

We have also put together articles on the most popular beaches in Yomitan Village and the quieter beaches of Yomitan Village, so we would be glad if you read those too.

Thank you for reading to the end.

Yomitan Village | The 3 Most Popular and Best-Known Beaches

Three of the most popular beaches in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa — Zanpa Beach, Nirai Beach and Toguchi Beach — wit...

okinawa-bookmark.com

12 Quiet Beaches in Yomitan Village You Probably Haven’t Heard Of

Twelve lesser-known beaches in Yomitan Village, central Okinawa, with ratings, facilities and parking details for each —...

okinawa-bookmark.com

The post Yomitan Village | All 15 Beaches Ranked, from Famous Names to Quiet Finds first appeared on Okinawa Bookmark.

Chatan sits on the west coast of Okinawa’s main island and is packed with attractions, American Village among them.

Chatan has several beaches and coastal spots, ranging from busy, well-known favorites to quiet places the locals keep to themselves.

The five beaches and coastal spots covered here are:

• Araha Beach
• Chatan Park Sunset Beach
• Sunabe Beach
• Miyagi Coast
• Mihama Coast

Let’s take a look.

Araha Beach

Araha Beach is defined by roughly 600 metres of sand and remarkably clear water.

Crowds of visitors come every year, but it is loved by locals too: people walk the promenade along the shore, and Araha Park is always full of children.

The swimming facilities are well set up and there are activities as well as ordinary bathing, so it is a good pick if you want to make the most of Okinawa’s sea.

Araha Beach | Hours, parking, activities and everything nearby

A guide to Araha Beach in Chatan, central Okinawa. Roughly 600 metres of sand and clear water are its calling cards, and...

okinawa-bookmark.com

Chatan Park Sunset Beach

Chatan Park Sunset Beach is defined by its neatly kept sand and clear water.

It is a man-made beach, but it is well maintained and there is no shortage of photogenic corners.

American Village, a cinema and other popular attractions are all close by.

You will need to book, but barbecues are allowed on the beach, which makes it a good spot for a beach party.

Chatan Park Sunset Beach | Barbecues on the sand, plus parking and what’s nearby

A guide to Chatan Park Sunset Beach in central Okinawa. Neatly kept sand and clear water are its strengths, and you can ...

okinawa-bookmark.com

Sunabe Beach

Sunabe Beach is defined by its white sand and clear water.

The area around Sunabe Beach sits close to Kadena Air Base and is home to many foreign residents; you will often see them walking along the shore or taking their children to nearby Sunabe Baba Park.

It feels less like a tourist site and more like somewhere the local community comes to unwind.

Sunabe Beach (Sunabe Coast) | A beautiful man-made beach, with parking and nearby spots

A guide to Sunabe Beach in Chatan, central Okinawa. White sand and clear water are its strengths. With many foreign resi...

okinawa-bookmark.com

Miyagi Coast

Miyagi Coast has exceptionally clear water and beautiful coral, which has made it a well-known snorkeling spot.

The surrounding area is full of foreign-style houses, and you will see plenty of residents and foreign visitors strolling along the shore.

Besides snorkeling, many people come here to dive, surf, fish and swim.

Miyagi Coast | A popular snorkeling spot, with parking and cafés nearby

A guide to Miyagi Coast in Sunabe, Chatan, in central Okinawa. The water is exceptionally clear and the coral is beautif...

okinawa-bookmark.com

Mihama Coast

Mihama Coast is defined by its colorful tetrapods and beautiful blue water.

American Village is right there, and settling into a café to watch the shoreline is about as relaxing as it gets.

The sunset from Mihama Coast is beautiful, so it suits anyone who wants to sit in a café and look out over the sea.

Mihama Coast, Chatan | A beautiful shoreline beside American Village, with colorful tetrapods

A guide to Mihama Coast in Chatan, central Okinawa. Colorful tetrapods and blue water are its signature. American Villag...

okinawa-bookmark.com

Around Chatan

Activities in Chatan

Chatan offers a wide range of water sports.

You can book diving, snorkeling, SUP and more.

If you are interested in diving or snorkeling, why not take a look at what is on offer in Chatan?

American Village

American Village is exactly what the name suggests: rows of American-themed buildings housing fashion brands, homeware shops and restaurants aimed at a younger crowd.

It is especially popular with young visitors and is a great place for photos.

DoubleTree by Hilton Okinawa Chatan Resort

DoubleTree by Hilton Okinawa Chatan Resort is a resort hotel.

It is a smart, recently opened resort, and guests can use two outdoor pools as well as the indoor pool at the adjoining Hilton.

American Village is within walking distance, and Mihama Coast is right next door.

It is a good choice if you want to slow down and enjoy a resort stay in Okinawa.

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 the beaches and coastal spots in Chatan.

Chatan has everything from busy, well-known beaches to quiet places the locals keep to themselves.

If swimming is the goal, Araha Beach is the most popular, followed by Chatan Park Sunset Beach.

This is only a personal view, but here is a quick summary of each beach and coastal spot.

• Araha Beach – well equipped for swimming and water sports
• Chatan Park Sunset Beach – swimming, shopping and barbecues all in one place
• Sunabe Beach – a quiet spot that only locals seem to use
• Miyagi Coast – well known as a snorkeling spot
• Mihama Coast – the place to relax in American Village and watch the sunset

Each one has its own character, but all of them are beautiful.

If you are heading to Chatan, do stop by.

We hope this article was of some help.

Thank you for reading to the end.

The post Chatan Beaches | All five, from the busy favorites to the hidden gems first appeared on Okinawa Bookmark.