Mizugama Coast sits in Mizugama, Kadena Town, in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is not a sandy swimming beach but a seawall lined with flights of steps, and it is known instead as a snorkelling and shore-diving spot.
Compared with Cape Maeda or Sunabe (Miyagi Coast) nearby, far fewer people come here, which makes it a quiet spot to get in the water.
This guide covers what to see at Mizugama Coast and what the water is like, how to get there and where to park, and what you should know before you go.
Ratings for Mizugama Coast
*Ratings are the subjective assessment of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in Okinawa Prefecture.
Mizugama Coast at a glance
| Swimming season | All year (no designated swimming area) |
| Opening hours | No set hours |
| Swimming fee | Free |
| Jellyfish net | None |
| Lifeguard | None |
| Showers | None |
| Lockers | None |
| Swim gear rental | None |
| Activities | Yes (snorkelling and diving tours) |
| Shop | None |
| Restrooms | None |
| Official website | None |
Mizugama Coast is not a managed swimming beach; it is a stretch of seawall.
There are no showers, restrooms or shops, so bring whatever you need with you.
What we liked
Shore entry straight down the seawall steps
What sets Mizugama Coast apart is the number of steps built into the seawall.
You can get in directly from shore without a boat, which makes shore diving and snorkelling easy.
With several sets of steps to choose from, you can pick whichever suits the wind and swell on the day.
Sand and soft coral below the surface
The seabed is a gentle stretch of sand dotted with soft coral.
You will see clownfish, tomato clownfish, yellowfin goatfish and butterflyfish, and with luck a school of Indian mackerel or a spotted eagle ray.
The water is mostly shallow and the current is gentle, which suits beginner divers and snorkellers.
If you would like to try diving or snorkelling, take a look at what is available on GetYourGuide or Viator.
Three points: Corner, Cable and Block
From north to south the site is known as Mizugama Corner, Mizugama Cable and Mizugama Block.
The terrain and the marine life change a little depending on which steps you use, so there is always something new.
Quieter than Cape Maeda or Sunabe
Cape Maeda and Sunabe, both in the same part of the island, fill up with divers at weekends.
Mizugama Coast sees far fewer visitors, so it suits anyone who wants to dive at their own pace in a quiet setting.
A west-facing coast with a fine sunset
Because the coast faces west, you can watch the sun drop straight into the sea.
Even if you do not get in the water, sitting on the seawall for the sunset is worth the trip.
Notes
- There is no lifeguard and no safety net. Swimming and diving are at your own risk, so do not push it
- You enter from the seawall steps rather than a beach, so water shoes are worth having
- The water beyond the red beacon off the northern end is a shipping lane. Never go past it
- Habu jellyfish and other dangerous creatures are possible, so keep skin covered
- There are no restrooms and no showers, so take care of that before you go
- The surrounding area is residential. Avoid parking on the street and keep the noise down
- Please take your rubbish home with you
Getting there and parking
| Access | About 60 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Mizugama, Kadena, Nakagami District, Okinawa |
| Parking | None |
| Restrooms | None |
From Naha Airport, head north on Route 58 and turn towards the sea at the Mizugama intersection.
Mizugama Coast has no car park of its own.
Plenty of people park along the coastal road, but parking is prohibited between 22:00 and 06:00. The area is residential, so please be considerate of the people who live there.
For the location of Mizugama Coast, see the Google Map below.
What else is near Mizugama Coast
Activities in Kadena Town
There are snorkelling, diving, SUP and other marine activities around Kadena Town.
Shore diving and snorkelling tours run at Mizugama Coast too, and a guided plan is the safer choice if it is your first time.
You can book through GetYourGuide or Viator, so take a look.
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.
Summary
Here we covered Mizugama Coast.
Easy shore entry from the seawall steps, and sand and soft coral below: it is a quiet snorkelling and diving spot in central Okinawa.
There are no facilities at all, but that is exactly why it stays quiet, and why you can have the sea to yourself.
The coast faces west, so finishing a dive and staying for the sunset is a good way to end the day.
If you are heading to Kadena or Chatan, do stop by.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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