Miyagi Coast is a beautiful stretch of shoreline in Sunabe, Chatan, in central Okinawa.
The water here is exceptionally clear and the coral is beautiful, 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 ratings
*Ratings are the subjective assessment of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in Okinawa Prefecture.
Miyagi Coast at a glance
| Swimming season | None in particular |
| Hours | None in particular |
| Swimming fee | Free |
| Jellyfish net | None |
| Lifeguard | None |
| Showers | None |
| Lockers | None |
| Swim gear rental | None |
| Rentals | None |
| Activities | Yes |
| Shop | Yes (cafés and restaurants nearby) |
| Restroom | None |
| Official website | None |
You can swim here, but there is no jellyfish net and no lifeguard on duty.
Please take great care when entering the water at Miyagi Coast.
The Highlights
A wide sweep of blue water
Look down from Miyagi Coast and the blue sea stretches out in every direction.
The waves get rough at high tide, so tetrapods have been placed along the water’s edge.
A popular snorkeling and diving spot
Miyagi Coast is well known as a snorkeling spot.
When we visited, quite a few people were out snorkeling.
The water can get choppy, so we recommend snorkeling with an instructor or in a group so that someone is always looking out for you.
If you would like to try diving or snorkeling, why not book through GetYourGuide or Viator?
A dramatic difference between high and low tide
As the photo above shows, at high tide the waves reach right up to the sea wall.
At low tide the water pulls back, and hunting for the small creatures living among the rocks is surprisingly good fun.
A lovely view along the shore
There are places to sit and rest along the coast.
Some people settle in there and simply watch the sea for a while.
Perhaps because of all the foreign-style houses and hotels, the colorful buildings give the area an almost overseas feel.
There are plenty of stylish cafés and bars, and many foreign residents live nearby.
Beautiful sunsets at Miyagi Coast
The sunsets at Miyagi Coast are quite something.
As the sun goes down, people gather along the shore to take it in at their leisure.
Plenty of stylish cafés
There are a lot of stylish cafés around Miyagi Coast.
Many of the customers are foreign residents, which adds to the feeling of being abroad.
Access & Parking
| Access | About 45 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
|---|---|
| Address | Miyagi, Sunabe, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (free, 5:00-22:00) |
| Restroom | None |
Free parking spaces are set aside along the shoreline at Miyagi Coast.
We did not count them exactly, but there is room for roughly 50 cars.
As the sign indicates, parking is limited to the hours between 5:00 and 22:00, so please follow the rules.
Around Miyagi Coast
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.
Personally, the sunset seen from Depot Island in American Village is my favorite.
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 Miyagi Coast.
Miyagi Coast is well known as a snorkeling spot thanks to its clear water and beautiful coral.
There are stylish cafés nearby too, so it suits anyone who wants to take their time or simply sit and watch the sea.
If you are heading to Chatan, do stop by Miyagi Coast.
Chatan has plenty of other beaches besides Miyagi Coast, from busy favorites to quieter hidden gems.
We have also put together a guide to every beach in Chatan, so please take a look if you would like to know more.
We hope this article was of some help.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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