Gesashi Uppama Beach is a beach in Higashi Village, in the north of Okinawa’s main island.
It is a natural beach known for its beautiful sand, and you will hardly see another tourist here.
When I visited, a few people were camping, but they were relaxing in the shade and looked to be having a wonderfully unhurried time.
There are almost no swimming facilities, but the basics such as restrooms and showers are provided.
Gesashi Uppama Beach Ratings
*Ratings are the subjective assessment of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in Okinawa Prefecture.
Gesashi Uppama Beach Essentials
| Swimming season | No set hours |
| Opening hours | No set hours |
| Swimming fee | Free |
| Jellyfish net | None |
| Lifeguard | None |
| Showers | Yes |
| Lockers | None |
| Swim gear rental | None |
| Activities | None |
| Shop | None |
| Restrooms | Yes |
| Official website | None |
Gesashi Uppama Beach is an unmanaged natural beach, so there are no swimming facilities.
Tourists rarely come here, which makes it a good choice if you want to take it slow in the shade or on the sand.
Highlights
A wide, long stretch of sand
Gesashi Uppama Beach has beautiful sand and is a long beach.
It does not feel especially managed, but the white sand set against the surrounding forest is beautiful in a way that is hard to put into words.
Water that is remarkably clear
The water here is extremely clear.
Photos may not do it justice, but seeing it in person is genuinely surprising.
The shallows turn emerald green, and of all the beaches I have visited, this one ranks among the most beautiful.
Time to relax in the shade
Some visitors had set up chairs in the shade and were simply gazing out at the beach.
Campers stay here too
A few people had pitched tents and were camping.
There are no trash collection facilities, so be sure to take your rubbish home with you.
A beach beautiful enough to leave you speechless
The beach comes into view after a walk of about 30 meters through the trees, which gives it the feel of a hidden retreat.
I had rarely been to the Higashi Village area, and it felt almost a shame not to have known a beach this beautiful was here.
Restrooms and showers on site
Restrooms and showers are both provided.
The showers are around the back of the restroom building.
Uppama Park
There was a sign for Uppama Park, but rather than any special facilities it consists of the parking area, restrooms, and shower rooms.
Points to Note
There was a sign asking beach users to take their rubbish home, so please follow the rules when you visit.
Getting there and parking
| Access | About 110 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Gesashi, Higashi Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
Gesashi Uppama Beach has a free parking area.
The parking area has space for around 8 cars.
Please check the map below for the parking area.
Around Gesashi Uppama Beach
Activities in Higashi Village
Higashi Village offers plenty of activities built around the nature of Yanbaru.
Everyone from adults to children can get out into Okinawa’s wilder side, so they are well worth trying.
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.
Shuri Castle in Naha, the beautiful beaches up north, American Village in Chatan – the places worth seeing are scattered across the island, and having a car lets you explore at your own pace. Buses are infrequent and rarely run on time, so having a car makes a real difference to the trip.
Cars book up quickly in peak season, so reserve as soon as your dates are set.
Michi-no-Eki Sunrise Higashi
Michi-no-Eki Sunrise Higashi is a roadside station selling local produce and souvenirs from Higashi Village.
Higashi Village is famous for pineapples, and whole pineapples and pineapple juice were among the items on sale.
You can have lunch here as well, so it is a good place to stop when you are in Higashi Village.
Summary
This time we covered Gesashi Uppama Beach.
It is a beach beautiful enough to leave you speechless, and the clarity of the water and the white sand are striking when you see them for yourself.
With almost no other tourists around, it is a great place to unwind on the sand or in the shade of a natural beach.
When you are in Higashi Village, do make time to visit Gesashi Uppama Beach.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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