In this article, we introduce 20 recommended beaches on Okinawa’s main island.
Okinawa’s main island has every kind of beach, from resort beaches full of visitors to hidden gems.
If you would rather browse by area, we also have separate articles on the southern area, central area and northern area, so take a look if you are interested.
Here are 20 recommended beaches hand-picked by the Okinawa Bookmark editor, who has reviewed more than 100 beaches on the main island.
- Zanpa Beach
- Sunmarina Beach has about 400 meters of beautiful sand, along with MegaZIP and a long list of other activities.
- Kouri Beach
- Tropical Beach
- Manza Beach
- Churasun Beach
- Sesoko Beach
- Kanucha Beach
- Emerald Beach
- Nirai Beach
- Azama Sun Sun Beach
- Naminoue Beach
- Odo Beach (John Mung Beach)
- Ikei Beach
- Araha Beach
- Nashiro Beach
- Okuma Beach
- KIN Sunrise Beach
- Anchi Beach
- Busena Beach
Those are the 20 beaches.
- Zanpa Beach
- Sunmarina Beach
- Kouri Beach
- Tropical Beach
- Manza Beach
- Churasun Beach (Tomigusuku City)
- Sesoko Beach (Sesoko Island, Okinawa)
- Kanucha Beach
- Emerald Beach (Motobu, Okinawa)
- Nirai Beach
- Azama Sun Sun Beach
- Naminoue Beach
- Odo Beach (John Mung Beach), Itoman City
- Ikei Beach
- Araha Beach
- Nashiro Beach
- Okuma Beach
- KIN Sunrise Beach
- Anchi Beach (Sesoko Island, Okinawa)
- Busena Beach
- Activities on Okinawa’s Main Island
- In summary
Zanpa Beach
Zanpa Beach is a beach in Yomitan Village in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
With white sand and blue sea, it is a classic Okinawan resort beach and a popular spot that draws many visitors every year.
It has good swimming facilities, and besides swimming there are plenty of activities.
You can try banana boats, snorkeling, wakeboarding and more, and there are good showers and changing rooms.
| Access | About 60 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 1933 Uza, Yomitan Village, Nakagami District, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Sunmarina Beach
Sunmarina Beach is a beach in Onna Village in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island.
It has about 400 m of beautiful sand and plenty of activities such as the Mega Zip.
The Sheraton is right next to the beach, which gives the whole place the feel of a proper resort.
The facilities are good too, from parasol rental to MegaZIP, and the activities work for children and adults alike.
It was a while ago, but the sea zipline was even featured on the Japanese TV show “Ariyoshi no Fuyuyasumi”, so it is a really fun activity.
| Access | About 65 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 66-1 Fuchaku, Onna Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (paid) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Kouri Beach
Kouri Beach is a beach on Kouri Island, an outlying island of Nakijin Village in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is an outlying island, but a bridge connects it to the main island, so you can drive there.
Blue water, white sand, and a view of Kouri Ohashi Bridge make it a genuinely lovely place.
It is one of the popular beaches that draw crowds in summer — somewhere you can spend an unhurried afternoon on the sand, or swim and try marine activities.
| Access | About 100 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Kouri, Nakijin Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Tropical Beach
Tropical Beach is a man-made beach in Ginowan City in the central 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.
Large numbers of locals and visitors come here every year, and people in Okinawa call it “Tropi” for short.
Its facilities are excellent, with BBQ, marine activities, showers and lockers, so it is a place where both adults and kids can have fun.
| Access | About 30 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 4-2-1 Mashiki, Ginowan City, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Manza Beach
Manza Beach is a beach in Onna Village in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island.
What defines it is emerald water and clean white sand.
There is a wide choice of activities, so it works for adults and small children alike.
With Manzamo and resort hotels nearby, it offers a classic Okinawan resort experience.
| Access | About 70 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 2260 Seragaki, Onna Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (paid) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Churasun Beach (Tomigusuku City)
Churasun Beach is a beach in Tomigusuku City in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is a man-made beach with about 700 meters of sand, and that long stretch is its defining feature.
The facilities are well set up, so you can swim and try water activities.
It also has plenty of facilities, including a barbecue area, a cafe and a basketball court.
It is about 15 minutes by car from Naha Airport, and it draws large crowds every year.
| Access | About 15 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 5-1 Toyosaki, Tomigusuku City, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (paid) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Sesoko Beach (Sesoko Island, Okinawa)
Sesoko Beach is a beach on Sesoko Island, an outlying island of Motobu Town in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island.
Sesoko Island is an outlying island, but the Sesoko Bridge connects it to Okinawa’s main island, so you can drive there.
Its water is so clear it takes your breath away in person, and the sand is beautiful too. With Hilton Okinawa Sesoko Resort nearby, it is also a popular sightseeing spot.
The swimming facilities are well kept, snorkeling and other activities are all on offer, and it is a popular beach that adults and children alike can enjoy.
A beautiful beach, a resort atmosphere, and marine activities all in one place — it is a genuinely indulgent spot.
| Access | About 100 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 5583-1 Sesoko, Motobu Town, Kunigami District, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (paid) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Kanucha Beach
Kanucha Beach is a beach in Nago City in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island.
It feels like a private beach for the resort hotel Kanucha Resort.
The beach still has unspoiled nature, and it is a great choice if you want a taste of resort life in Okinawa.
Activities and rentals are plentiful, and the adjoining beachside pool is available to use as well.
| Access | About 110 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Abu, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Facility fee | ■Guests of Kanucha Resort Free ■Non-guests Adults: 1,650 yen, Children: 550 yen |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (paid) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Emerald Beach (Motobu, Okinawa)
Emerald Beach is a beach in Motobu Town in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is a beautiful beach known for its clear water and lovely white sand.
The view of Ie Island from Emerald Beach is genuinely beautiful, too.
Emerald Beach is part of Ocean Expo Park, and the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is close by, which makes this a spot large numbers of visitors come to every year.
The swimming facilities are well kept, and it is a popular beach that adults and children alike can enjoy.
| Access | About 100 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 424 Ishikawa, Motobu Town, Kunigami District, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
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.
It has good swimming facilities, plus snorkeling and other activities and a pool, making it a popular spot where both adults and kids can have fun.
| Access | About 60 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 600 Gima, Yomitan Village, Nakagami District, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Available (free) A paid lot is available when the free one is full |
| Restroom | Yes |
Azama Sun Sun Beach
Azama Sun Sun Beach is a beach in Nanjo City, in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island.
This beach draws many visitors every year; the water is very clear and the long stretch of white sand is beautiful.
Beyond swimming there is plenty to do, from banana boats and snorkelling to wakeboarding, and facilities such as showers and changing rooms are well provided.
With hotels and restaurants nearby, it is a beach where everyone from watersports fans to families with young children can relax.
| Access | About 45 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 1141-3 Chinen Azama, Nanjo City, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (paid: 500 yen) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Naminoue Beach
Naminoue Beach is a beach in Naha City in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island.
Naminoue Beach is man-made, but its beautiful white sand, blue sea and well-maintained facilities make it very appealing.
It is the only sandy beach in Naha City and is loved by tourists and locals 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.
| Access | About 10 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 1-25-9 Wakasa, Naha, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (paid) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Odo Beach (John Mung Beach), Itoman City
Odo Beach (John Mung Beach) is a beach in Itoman City in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island.
This natural beach is famous as a popular snorkeling spot, and also as a place where sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs.
The Japanese name is read Oodo-kaigan.
It is also nicknamed “John Mung Beach”, apparently because John Manjiro landed at Odo when he returned from America.
| Access | About 35 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Odo, Itoman City, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (both paid and free lots) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Ikei Beach
Ikei Beach is a beach on Ikei Island, a small island in Uruma City in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is an island, but a bridge connects it to the mainland, so you can simply drive there.
Ikei Beach is a beautiful beach known for its clear water and white sand.
There is a good range of marine activities on offer too, from jet skis to island tours around Ikei and snorkeling.
There is an admission fee, so please check before you go.
| Access | About 80 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 405 Yonashiro Ikei, Uruma City, Okinawa |
| Facility fee | Adults: 400 yen Children: 300 yen |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Available (paid, included in the facility fee) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Araha Beach
Araha Beach is a beach in Chatan Town in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is known for its sand that stretches about 600 m, and many visitors come every year.
It is also loved by locals, who walk the promenade along the beach, and many children play in Araha Park.
Araha Beach has good swimming facilities, so you can enjoy activities as well as swimming.
It is a great choice if you want to make the most of Okinawa’s sea.
| Access | About 45 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 2-21 Chatan, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Nashiro Beach
Nashiro Beach is a beach in Itoman City in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is almost a private beach for Ryukyu Hotel & Resort, and it is very well kept.
The swimming area is enclosed by a safety net, so both adults and kids can swim with peace of mind.
Ryukyu Hotel & Resort next to the beach also has pools, so guests can enjoy both the pools and the sea.
| Access | About 25 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 963 Nashiro, Itoman City, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes |
| Restroom | Yes |
Okuma Beach
Okuma Beach is a beach in Kunigami Village in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island.
With clear water and beautiful sand, it is a place where you can enjoy a real Okinawan resort feel.
There is a US military facility nearby, which gives it a slightly foreign atmosphere.
It is a great choice if you want to enjoy Okinawa’s beautiful nature.
| Access | About 120 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 913 Kunigami, Kunigami Village, Okinawa |
| Admission | Adults 1,500 yen, children 1,000 yen *Free for guests of Okuma Private Beach & Resort |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes |
| Restroom | Yes |
KIN Sunrise Beach
KIN Sunrise Beach is a beach in Kin Town in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island.
KIN Sunrise Beach is a beautiful beach known for its sand that stretches about 800 m and its clear water.
You can also enjoy activities such as banana boats, as well as barbecues, on the beach.
A jellyfish net and lifeguards are in place, so everyone from adults to children can play safely.
| Access | About 80 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 1089-4 Kin, Kin Town, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Anchi Beach (Sesoko Island, Okinawa)
Anchi Beach is a beach on Sesoko Island, an outlying island of Motobu Town in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island.
Sesoko Island is an outlying island, but the Sesoko Bridge connects it to Okinawa’s main island, so you can drive there.
Anchi Beach is known for its white sand and clear water.
The swimming facilities are well kept, and plenty of visitors snorkel and paddle SUP boards here.
| Access | About 90 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Sesoko, Motobu Town, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Three Both paid and free |
| Restroom | Yes |
Busena Beach
Busena Beach is a beach in Nago City in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island.
This is an upscale resort beach with clear water and white sand.
The European-style hotel buildings around it add to the resort feel.
With rentals, activities and a shop on site, it is a place where both adults and kids can have fun.
| Access | About 80 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 1808 Kise, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Activities on Okinawa’s Main Island
Okinawa’s main island has many beautiful beaches where you can try all kinds of marine activities.
If you want to try diving, snorkeling, SUP and more, why not check out the activities on Viator or GetYourGuide?
In summary
In this article, we introduced 20 recommended beaches on Okinawa’s main island.
Okinawa’s main island has every kind of beach, from popular beaches full of visitors to hidden gems.
We also introduce “15 hidden beaches on Okinawa’s main island” in another article, so take a look if you are interested.
We hope this article helps you choose a beach.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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