Oura Bay lies on the east coast of Nago City in northern Okinawa Island.
Within the bay you will find completely different environments side by side: sand flats, mud bottoms, coral reefs, seagrass beds and even a deep valley that drops to 60 meters.
Thanks to this variety, Oura Bay is known as one of the richest treasure troves of marine life in Okinawa.
Its most famous feature is a blue coral community said to be one of the largest in the world.
You can explore the underwater world by diving or snorkeling, or simply peer into it from a glass-bottom boat.
Oura Bay Ratings
Oura Bay Essentials
| Swimming season | None in particular *Not a designated swimming beach |
| Hours | None in particular |
| Admission | Free |
| Jellyfish net | No |
| Lifeguard | No |
| Showers | No |
| Lockers | No |
| Swim gear rental | No |
| Activities | Yes (diving, snorkeling, glass-bottom boats, etc.) |
| Shop | No |
| Restrooms | No |
| Official website | None |
Oura Bay is not a designated swimming beach. There are no lifeguards or jellyfish nets, so it is not a place to visit for swimming.
The coral and blue coral communities lie well offshore, so most visitors see them with a dive shop or on a glass-bottom boat.
If you enter the water, always follow your guide and put safety first.
Highlights
One of the World’s Largest Blue Coral Communities
Oura Bay is home to a blue coral community about 50 meters long, 30 meters wide and 12 meters high.
It is considered one of the largest known in the world and was discovered in 2007.
Like the dugong, blue coral is an endangered species, and growing to this size is said to take thousands of years.
Moray eels, sea anemones, clownfish and many other creatures live around the community.
For diving, snorkeling and glass-bottom boat tours, take a look at what Viator and GetYourGuide have on offer.
A Giant Porites Coral Said to Be Over 500 Years Old
Oura Bay also has a giant Porites coral measuring roughly 5 meters on each side.
It is thought to be more than 500 years old, and its sheer size is overwhelming in person.
Table-shaped Acropora coral spreading across the seafloor is another highlight.
See Under the Sea by Glass-Bottom Boat, Even If You Can’t Swim
Glass-bottom boats depart for Oura Bay from Teima Fishing Port in Nago City.
The tour takes about 30–40 minutes and visits three spots: the blue coral community, the giant Porites coral and the Acropora coral.
Fares are 2,200 yen for junior high students and older, 1,100 yen for elementary school students, and free for preschoolers (as of September 2026).
Boats are shared by up to 12 people and depart at 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00.
Because you can see underwater without swimming, it is fun even with small children.
Different Environments Mean Remarkable Biodiversity
Oura Bay squeezes sand flats, mud bottoms, coral reefs, seagrass beds and a deep valley into a small area.
Each environment is home to different creatures, so you can see a range of marine scenery that is hard to believe comes from a single bay.
Divers come here year-round, since the water is relatively calm on many days even in winter.
Points to note
Oura Bay is not a designated swimming beach. There are no lifeguards or jellyfish nets, so it is not a place to visit for swimming.
Blue coral and other corals are extremely fragile. Never touch them or stand on them.
Water depth varies greatly from place to place in the bay. If you enter the water, always stay with a guide.
Please take all your trash with you, and be considerate of the fishing community that works at the port.
Access & Parking
| Access | About 90 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Teima, Nago City, Okinawa *Glass-bottom boats depart from Teima Fishing Port |
| Parking | Yes (free) *Use the parking space at Teima Fishing Port |
| Restrooms | No |
Glass-bottom boats depart from Teima Fishing Port in Nago City.
If you use a car navigation system, setting “Teima Fishing Port” (Teima Gyoko) as your destination is the easiest option.
The port is a working area for fishermen, so please park where you will not get in the way of their work.
See the Google Map below for details.
Around Oura Bay
Activities in Nago
Nago offers a wide range of marine activities.
You can book everything from glass-bottom boat rides and diving in Oura Bay to snorkeling and SUP.
If you’re interested, take a look at what’s on offer through Viator or GetYourGuide.
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
In this article, we introduced Oura Bay.
Oura Bay, on Nago’s east coast, is one of Okinawa’s richest treasure troves of marine life.
Highlights include one of the world’s largest blue coral communities and a giant Porites coral said to be over 500 years old.
It is not a swimming beach, but you can explore the underwater world by diving, snorkeling or glass-bottom boat.
Coral is extremely fragile, so be careful not to touch it while you enjoy the bay.
If you are heading to Nago, be sure to stop by Oura Bay!
Thank you for reading to the end.
Comments