Ie Island is an outlying island off northern Okinawa, lying just beyond the Motobu Peninsula. It is only about 30 minutes by ferry from Motobu Port, so a day trip works perfectly well.
It is a compact island of some 22 km in circumference, yet it has everything from a well-equipped popular beach to hidden beaches without so much as a sign — and how sharply the character of each stretch of sea differs is part of what makes Ie Island interesting.
This article covers five beaches on Ie Island, along with sights such as Gusukuyama, the island’s landmark peak, and its viewpoints.
The five beaches covered here are as follows.
- Ie Beach
- GI Beach
- Watarūji
- Green Beach (Ishara-hama)
- Ari-hama
We also cover the following sights.
- Gusukuyama (Ie Island Tacchu)
- Wajī Observation Deck
- Nyatiya Cave
Let’s take a look.
Five Beaches on Ie Island
Ie Beach
About 10 minutes by car from Ie Port, Ie Beach is the best-equipped and most popular beach on the island.
Brilliant white sand and emerald-green water stretch out in front of you, and with a jellyfish net and lifeguards in place, everyone from adults to small children can swim safely.
There are showers, restrooms and a shop, and you can camp here too. If you want to swim on Ie Island, this is the first beach to consider.
| Access | About 10 minutes by car from Ie Port |
| Address | Agarie-mae 2439, Ie Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes |
| Restroom | Yes |
GI Beach
GI Beach is a hidden beach on Ie Island that is still not widely known.
Clear water and white sand stretch along the shore, and with few visitors it is an easy place to relax.
There is parking and a restroom but no swimming facilities, so take care of your own safety in the water.
| Access | About 10 minutes by car from Ie Port |
| Address | Kabira, Ie Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes |
| Restroom | Yes |
Watarūji
Watarūji is a beach along the southernmost farm road on the island’s southwest side.
Soft white sand stretches along the shore, and because almost nobody comes here, it feels like your own private beach.
There are coral colonies offshore, but the reef edge is a long way out, so getting a proper look at them means a fair bit of swimming.
| Access | About 10 minutes by car from Ie Port |
| Address | Nishie-mae 1858, Ie Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa |
| Parking | No dedicated parking *Roadside space for 2–3 cars only |
| Restroom | No |
Green Beach (Ishara-hama)
Green Beach (Ishara-hama) sits along a farm road on the south side of the island, and with no sign it is a genuinely hidden beach.
The sand has never had coastal engineering work done and is left as nature made it; with the right timing you may have the whole beach to yourself.
Offshore there are colonies of mound and branching coral, making it a snorkeling spot known only to those in the know.
| Access | About 10 minutes by car from Ie Port |
| Address | Ie Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (free, a few spaces) *Unpaved area |
| Restroom | No |
Ari-hama
Ari-hama is an untouched stretch of coast where small sandy coves meet Ryukyu limestone rock.
A broad, shallow reef lies in front of it, and at low tide the rock and seaweed break the surface. Further out you can see white water on the reef edge.
Across the water you can see the mountains of the Motobu Peninsula, and with nobody around it is a quiet place to sit and take in the view.
| Access | About 10 minutes by car from Ie Port |
| Address | Ie Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa |
| Parking | No dedicated parking |
| Restroom | No |
Other Sights on Ie Island
Gusukuyama (Ie Island Tacchu)
Gusukuyama is a rocky peak about 172 meters high, rising alone from the middle of an otherwise flat Ie Island.
Affectionately known as “Ie Island Tacchu,” it takes about 15 minutes to climb its 291 steps, and at the top a 360-degree panorama of the whole island and the sea around it opens up.
Entry is free, and with parking, a shop and restrooms at the trailhead it is an easy stop to make.
| Access | About 10 minutes by car from Ie Port |
| Address | Ie Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Wajī Observation Deck
The Wajī Observation Deck is a scenic spot on the north side of Ie Island.
From the deck you can take in the contrast between the blue sea and the green land, and the view at dusk is especially striking.
“Wajī” means spring water in the Okinawan dialect, and the spring itself lies at the foot of a cliff some 60 meters high.
| Access | About 10 minutes by car from Ie Port |
| Address | Agarie, Ie Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes |
| Restroom | Yes |
Nyatiya Cave
Nyatiya Cave is a large cave along the coast on the southwest side of Ie Island.
During the Battle of Okinawa it was used as an air-raid shelter, and because it sheltered so many people it is also known as the “Cave of a Thousand People” (Gama).
It is a power spot home to the “Chikara-ishi” (Bijiru stone) of fertility legend. This is a sacred place of worship, so please visit respectfully.
| Access | About 10 minutes by car from Ie Port |
| Address | Ie Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | No |
Around Ie Island
Getting to Ie Island & ferry fares
Ie Island is reached by ferry from Motobu Port on Okinawa’s main island to Ie Port. The crossing takes about 30 minutes, and there are normally four round trips a day.
The ferry timetable and fares, parking at Motobu Port, and getting around the island by rental car, bicycle or local bus are all covered in detail in the article below.
Marine activities on Ie Island
Ie Island offers plenty of marine activities such as diving and snorkeling.
Guided experiences mean even first-timers can take part with confidence.
They are a good fit for families and groups of friends too.
Hotel YYYCLUB Ie Resort
If you are thinking of staying overnight on Ie Island, Hotel YYYCLUB Ie Resort is a good choice.
It is a comfortable place to unwind while looking out over the beautiful sea, with a pool, a restaurant and a bar on site.
You can cover the island in a day, but staying over means you get the sunsets and night skies as well.
Summary
This article covered five beaches on Ie Island, along with three of the island’s sights.
Ie Beach is the well-equipped one for swimming, while GI Beach, Watarūji, Green Beach and Ari-hama are hidden spots with almost nobody around — the contrast is stark.
None of the hidden beaches has swimming facilities, restrooms or showers. Pick up drinks and anything else you need near Ie Port before you set off.
About 30 minutes by ferry from Motobu Port. When you are sightseeing in northern Okinawa, do make the trip out to Ie Island.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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