Kayo Beach (Kayo Coast) is located in Nago, in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is a lovely natural beach, with roughly 2 km of clean sand and remarkably clear water.
The natural landscape here is largely untouched, and the combination of great boulders, the Yanbaru forest and the sea makes for a wonderful setting.
There are almost no swimming facilities, though public restrooms are provided.
Kayo Beach Ratings
*Ratings are the subjective assessment of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in Okinawa Prefecture.
Kayo Beach Essentials
| Swimming season | None in particular |
| Hours | None in particular |
| Swimming fee | Free |
| Jellyfish net | None |
| Lifeguard | None |
| Showers | None |
| Lockers | None |
| Swimming gear rental | None |
| Activities | None |
| Shop | Yes |
| Restroom | Yes |
| Official site | None |
Kayo Beach is an unmanaged natural beach, so there are no swimming facilities.
Tourists rarely come this way, which makes it a good choice for anyone wanting to relax on the sand.
Highlights
About 2 km of beautiful sand
The sand runs for roughly 2 km and is a lovely sight.
As a natural beach it has plenty of rough, sizeable stones, so we recommend sandals or shoes for getting about.
Exceptionally clear water
The water is wonderfully clear as well.
Personally, the pairing of the Yanbaru forest with this clear water is one we find hard to beat.
Benches and a walking path
There are a few small benches set out.
A path much like a promenade runs along the shore.
Kayo Kyodo-ten (community store)
Kayo Kyodo-ten sits right by the beach, selling bento, snacks, drinks and ice cream.
Public restrooms on site
Public restrooms are provided.
Access & Parking
| Access | About 100 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 41 Kayo, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Parking | None |
| Restroom | None |
Kayo Beach has no dedicated car park.
When we visited, we shopped at Kayo Kyodo-ten and borrowed their car park for about 20 minutes.
Churashima Nature School looked as though it might have parking, but we could not confirm whether visitors may use it.
For details, please check the map below.
Around Kayo Beach
Kanucha Resort
Kanucha Resort is a resort hotel with everything from marine activities to golf and a spa.
Within the grounds is Kanucha Beach, where the natural landscape remains largely untouched — our pick for anyone after a true Okinawan resort experience.
Activities and rentals are plentiful, and the adjoining beachside pool is available to use as well.
Activities in Nago
Nago offers a wide range of marine activities.
You can book diving, snorkeling, SUP and more.
If you would like to enjoy diving or snorkeling, why not check out the available activities online?
A rental car is the way to see Okinawa
For getting around Okinawa’s main island, a rental car is by far the best option.
Shuri Castle in Naha, the beautiful beaches of the north, American Village in Chatan — the sights are scattered across the island, and with a car you can take them in at your own pace. Local buses are infrequent and rarely run to time, so having a car 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.
Summary
This article introduced Kayo Beach.
It is a lovely natural beach, with roughly 2 km of clean sand and remarkably clear water.
The natural landscape here is largely untouched, and the combination of great boulders, the Yanbaru forest and the sea makes for a wonderful setting.
If you are heading to Nago, do make time for Kayo Beach.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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