Chigunu Beach is a beach on Kouri Island, a small island off Nakijin Village on the northern part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is an outlying island, but a bridge connects it to the main island, so you can drive there.
Chigunu Beach is a small, unspoiled natural beach.
It is home to the Cave of Beginnings, a sacred site from Ryukyuan mythology, and some people come specifically for that.
The beach itself is very small, so go with photographs at the Cave of Beginnings in mind rather than swimming.
Ratings for Chigunu Beach
*Ratings are the subjective assessment of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in Okinawa Prefecture.
Chigunu 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 |
| Activities | No |
| Shop | No |
| Restrooms | No |
| Official website | No |
Chigunu Beach is small enough that it is not really a place for swimming.
If you want to swim or try activities, Kouri Beach — just nearby — is the better choice.
The Highlights
The Cave of Beginnings
In Ryukyuan mythology, Kouri Island is held to be the birthplace of humankind, and the place where Okinawa’s equivalent of Adam and Eve lived
is said to have been this Cave of Beginnings.
Exceptionally Clear Water
The water is remarkably clear and genuinely beautiful.
The site itself is small and not somewhere to swim, but the clarity of the water is captivating.
Lovely Sand as Well
It is narrow, but there is a small stretch of sand.
Pumice had washed ashore, though it did not seem to affect Chigunu Beach much.
An Attractive Line of Tetrapods
The tetrapods run on for roughly 300 meters, and the setting is a fine one.
Walk out to the end of them and you get the view above.
Kouri Island and Kouri Ohashi Bridge laid out in front of you — hard to beat.
A YouTube Short of Chigunu Beach
Here is a short video of Chigunu Beach. Do take a look!
Access and Parking
| Access | About 100 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Nakijin Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa |
| Parking | No (there is free parking near Kouri Beach) |
| Restrooms | No |
Chigunu Beach has no parking lot of its own.
There is a roadside-station-style spot called Kouri Island Fureai Plaza, and from there it is about a ten-minute walk (700 meters) to Chigunu Beach.
Around Chigunu Beach
Tinu Beach
Tinu Beach is also on Kouri Island, and it is well known for Heart Rock — a heart-shaped rock formation that draws visitors of its own.
Perhaps because of that rock, it is especially popular with couples.
Tinu Beach is about five minutes by car from Chigunu Beach.
Kouri Beach
Kouri Beach is a genuinely lovely beach with blue water, white sand, and a view of Kouri Ohashi Bridge.
It is one of the popular beaches that draw crowds in summer — somewhere you can spend an unhurried afternoon on the sand, or swim and try marine activities.
Kouri Beach is about a seven-minute walk from Chigunu Beach.
Activities on Kouri Island
Kouri Island has plenty in the way of marine activities.
Snorkeling tours, trips around Kouri Island, SUP, jet skiing, and more.
If you would like to try something on Kouri Island, take a look at what is available on Viator or GetYourGuide.
One Suite THE TERRACE
One Suite THE TERRACE is a luxury resort hotel where every room has an ocean view.
The rooms are spacious and stylish, with a real sense of cleanliness.
Kouri Beach is about a ten-minute walk away, so if you are looking to stay on Kouri Island, One Suite THE TERRACE is worth considering.
JUNGLIA OKINAWA
JUNGLIA OKINAWA is a theme park in Nakijin Village that opened on July 25, 2025.
The site covers roughly 60 hectares, with attractions built around the wild nature of Yanbaru and a spa looking out over a remarkable view.
It is about an hour and a half by car from Naha Airport, which makes it easy to work into a day of beach-hopping on Kouri Island.
If you want more than just the sea on your trip, it is well worth a visit.
A Rental Car Is the Way to Go in Okinawa
A rental car is by far the best way to get around Okinawa’s main island.
Shuri Castle in Naha, the beautiful beaches of the north, American Village in Chatan — the places worth seeing are spread across the island, so having a car lets you explore at your own pace. Buses are infrequent and do not always run to time, so a car makes a real difference to how much you can fit in.
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.
In Closing
This guide has covered Chigunu Beach.
Chigunu Beach is a small, unspoiled natural beach.
It is home to the Cave of Beginnings, a sacred site from Ryukyuan mythology, and some people come specifically for that.
The beach is too small for swimming, but the Cave of Beginnings and its surroundings photograph beautifully, so it is a rewarding stop for pictures.
When you visit Kouri Island, why not make time for Chigunu Beach as well?
I hope this guide has been of some use.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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