Akabaka Beach (Sadahama Beach) is a beach in Nakijin Village.
Clear water and beautiful sand are what define it.
The clarity and color of the water stand out even against other beaches in Okinawa.
Akabaka Beach is also known as a filming location for the Korean group TWICE — the video for “Dance The Night Away” was shot here.
The NHK morning drama “Chimudondon” also appears to have filmed on location at Akabaka Beach.
It is not a place that draws crowds, which makes it a good choice if you want unhurried time on the sand.
*In Japanese this is pronounced “Akabaka”
Ratings for Akabaka Beach (Sadahama Beach)
*Ratings are the subjective assessment of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in Okinawa Prefecture.
Akabaka Beach (Sadahama Beach) at a Glance
| Swimming season | None in particular |
| Opening hours | None in particular |
| Swimming fee | Free |
| Safety net | No |
| Lifeguard | No |
| Showers | No |
| Lockers | No |
| Equipment rental | No |
| Equipment rental | No |
| Activities | No |
| Shop | No |
| Restrooms | No |
| Official website | No |
Akabaka Beach has no swimming facilities — the impression is of a beautiful natural beach left largely as it is.
There are no restrooms or changing rooms either, so it is not especially suited to swimming.
The Highlights
Water of Remarkable Clarity
The water at Akabaka Beach is exceptionally clear.
Even against other beaches in Okinawa, you can plainly tell the clarity here is something else.
Even in photographs you can see how clear it is.
In person it is beautiful almost beyond belief.
Beautiful Sand
The sand is soft and fine.
Walking barefoot was hardly uncomfortable at all.
The sand is lovely enough to make you wonder whether it really is a natural beach.
Attractive Rocky Areas
The naturally formed rocks are beautiful as well.
They cast their own shade, and there were people resting under them.
Snorkeling and SUP Are Possible
When we visited Akabaka Beach there were people out on SUP boards and snorkeling.
You can book on Viator or GetYourGuide as well, so do take a look.
A TWICE Filming Location
As mentioned at the top, it is also known as a filming location for TWICE.
The video for “Dance The Night Away” was shot here, so take a look at the video on YouTube as well.
A Filming Location for the Drama “Chimudondon”
The tweet above appears to have been taken during location filming for “Chimudondon” in Okinawa.
The location is not named, but it looks to be near the Akabaka Beach parking area.
A Short Video of Akabaka Beach
Do take a look at the short video of Akabaka Beach as well.
Access and Parking
| Access | About 100 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Shoshi, Nakijin Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (both paid and free) |
| Restrooms | No |
Akabaka Beach has parking, split between paid and free areas.
The surface is not properly paved, so take care when you park.
The road down to Akabaka Beach is also narrow and easy to miss, so we recommend checking Google Maps.
Around Akabaka Beach (Sadahama Beach)
Recommended Activities in Nakijin Village
Nakijin Village has a range of marine activities on offer.
Diving, snorkeling, SUP, and more can all be booked.
If you would like to enjoy diving or snorkeling, why not see what is available on Viator or GetYourGuide?
Nagahama Beach Resort KANON
Nagahama Beach Resort KANON is a luxury resort where every room has an ocean view.
Each room is built around natural wood, giving it a genuinely relaxing feel.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Churaumi Aquarium needs little introduction — it draws large numbers of visitors and locals alike every year.
Its enormous main tank, among the largest in the world, holds whale sharks and schools of manta rays, and there is a great deal more of Okinawa’s marine life to see besides.
Churaumi Aquarium is about 15 minutes by car from Akabaka Beach.
In Closing
This guide has covered Akabaka Beach.
Akabaka Beach is not a place that draws crowds, which makes it a good choice if you want unhurried time on the sand.
The water is among the clearest on Okinawa’s main island — why not make time for a visit?
I hope this guide has been of some use.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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