Cape Maeda is a headland in Onna Village, on the northern half of Okinawa’s main island.
The Blue Cave, the diving and snorkeling site, is right beside it, and the cape draws a great many visitors every year.
The view from the observation deck is remarkable: jagged rock against blue water, with something mysterious about it, and the view alone is worth the trip.
It is a fixture on any Okinawa itinerary, and there are beautiful beaches close by, Zane Beach among them.
Ratings for Cape Maeda
*Ratings are the subjective assessment of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in Okinawa Prefecture.
Key facts about Cape Maeda
| Hours | Management office: 8:30-17:30 Parking: 7:00-19:00 Showers and lockers: 7:00-18:30 |
| Admission | Free |
| Parking | Yes (paid) 100 yen per hour |
| Restroom | Yes |
| Shop | Yes |
| Official website | https://maedamisaki.jp/ |
The area around the rest plaza at Cape Maeda is laid out as a walkway, with the paths properly surfaced, so it is safe to walk.
The rocks along the shore are hard going in places, so wear shoes.
Some parts of Cape Maeda have no railing, so take real care when walking on the rock.
The Highlights
The Blue Cave
Cape Maeda means the Blue Cave.
It is famous as a diving and snorkeling site, so it is well worth trying.
The view from the observation deck
The view from the observation deck is remarkable.
You take in the whole Onna Village coastline, and on a clear day you can see as far as Ie Island.
A photograph struggles to convey the scale, but these rocks are enormous and full of presence.
That is not a measured figure, but standing there it feels like about 50 meters.
The waves have real force
The sea is calm in places, but around the rocks at Cape Maeda it gets rough.
I walked out toward the rocks at Cape Maeda, and there are a lot of sharp edges, so watch your footing while you take in the view.
A beautiful walkway
The walkway is lovely, and strolling it with all that nature around you is about as good as it gets.
There is no railing out toward the tip of Cape Maeda, so watch your step if you go.
The rest plaza
The rest plaza has shelters and other places to sit, along with spots for taking in the view, and Cape Maeda looks fine from there.
Diving and snorkeling
Diving, snorkeling, SUP, and more can all be booked.
If any of that appeals, it is worth seeing what is on offer in Onna Village.
A restaurant and vending machines
There is a restaurant called cwan-cwan, with Okinawa soba, taco rice, and curry on the menu.
There are plenty of vending machines too, so you will not go thirsty.
Restrooms, showers, and more
There is a shower room, with lockers inside.
There are restrooms, of course.
The view changes with the weather
Late in the day it is harder to see how clear the water is.
On a clear day it looks like the image above.
The water is clear and very beautiful.
A short video of Cape Maeda
Here is a short video of Cape Maeda. Take a look.
Access and parking
| Access | About 70 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 469-1 Maeda, Onna Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Parking | Yes (paid) 100 yen per hour Hours: 7:00-19:00 |
| Restroom | Yes |
Parking is 100 yen per hour.
There is nowhere else to park, so leave the car here and walk to Cape Maeda.
Note that the parking area has its own hours.
*Parking hours: 7:00-19:00
Around Cape Maeda
Zane Beach (Beach51)
Zane Beach also goes by the name Beach51, and fine white sand and blue water make it a genuinely lovely beach.
It is a 5 to 7 minute walk from Cape Maeda to Zane Beach.
Things to do in Onna Village
Onna Village has a great deal to do on the water.
You can book diving, snorkeling, SUP, and more.
If diving or snorkeling appeals, it is worth seeing what is on offer in Onna Village.
MIHANA Onna Village
MIHANA Onna Village is close to Zane Beach, about five minutes on foot.
The dining bar serves proper Thai food, and there is a pool on site.
The staff can also tell you about water sports and places worth seeing around Onna Village, which makes it well worth a visit.
Rental cars in Okinawa
A rental car is by far the best way to get around the main island of Okinawa.
The places worth seeing are scattered across the island, from Shuri Castle in Naha to the beautiful beaches of the north and American Village in Chatan, and with a car you can take them at your own pace. Buses are infrequent and do not always run on time, so having a car or not 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.
In summary
This article looked at Cape Maeda.
The Blue Cave, the diving and snorkeling site, is right beside Cape Maeda, and it draws a great many visitors every year.
The view from the observation deck is remarkable: jagged rock against blue water, with something mysterious about it, and the view alone is worth the trip.
If you are heading to Onna Village, make time for Cape Maeda.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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