Uramaeda Beach, also known as Hayu-hama, sits in Onna Village on the northern half of Okinawa’s main island.
Fine white sand and blue water make it a genuinely lovely beach.
Cape Maeda and Zane Beach are both close by, and the whole stretch is popular for snorkeling, diving, and SUP.
Uramaeda Beach is not especially well known, but it is a beautiful beach, so make time for it when you go to Cape Maeda.
Ratings for Uramaeda Beach (Hayu-hama)
*Ratings are the subjective assessment of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in Okinawa Prefecture.
Key facts about Uramaeda Beach (Hayu-hama)
| Swimming season | None in particular |
| Hours | None in particular |
| Swimming fee | Free |
| Jellyfish net | None |
| Lifeguard | None |
| Showers | None |
| Lockers | None |
| Swim gear rental | None |
| Rentals | None |
| Activities | None |
| Shop | None |
| Restroom | None |
| Official website | None |
Uramaeda Beach has no swimming facilities, but Cape Maeda nearby has snorkel gear rental, lockers, changing rooms, and restrooms.
Cape Maeda is a 5 to 10 minute walk from Uramaeda Beach, so leaving your bags there before you come over is the sensible approach.
The Highlights
White, Beautiful Sand
The sand is spotlessly clean and wonderfully soft.
There are shells mixed into the sand in places, but walking barefoot is no trouble.
Plenty of people snorkeling and on SUP boards
It is a beautiful beach, so there are usually people snorkeling or out on SUP boards, and it is well known as a dive site.
Diving, snorkeling, SUP, and more can all be booked on Viator or GetYourGuide.
If any of that appeals, it is worth seeing what is on offer in Onna Village.
Clear water
It is hard to tell from a photograph, but the water here is beautifully clear.
The rocks are the draw
Large natural rock formations are everywhere here, and standing among them you feel the force of Okinawan nature.
A different shoreline at high and low tide
What makes Uramaeda Beach interesting is how completely the view changes between high and low tide.
At low tide you can walk out through the shallows a long way toward the open sea.
Please note
There is a sign at Uramaeda Beach with a few rules on it, so please follow them.
The name Hayu-hama comes from the hayu, or halfbeak, that used to be caught here in numbers.
Access and parking
| Access | About 60 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Maeda, Onna Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Parking | None (there is paid parking at Cape Maeda nearby) 100 yen per hour |
| Restroom | None |
It is about 200 meters from the Cape Maeda parking area to Uramaeda Beach, a walk of roughly three minutes.
There is paid parking near Uramaeda Beach, as shown on the map below.
That is the place to leave the car.
How to reach Uramaeda Beach
Google Maps should get you there, and as the image above shows, you walk through sugarcane fields and along an unpaved track to reach Uramaeda Beach.
Roadside parking is not allowed, so leave the car at the Cape Maeda parking area and walk from there.
Around Uramaeda Beach, and where to stay
Things to do in Onna Village
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.
Cape Maeda
As mentioned several times already, Cape Maeda , famous for the Blue Cave, is close by.
The Blue Cave is a place for snorkeling and diving, so book before you go.
Zane Beach (Beach51)
Zane Beach also goes by the name Beach51, and fine white sand and blue water make it a genuinely lovely beach.
At low tide you can walk through the shallows from Uramaeda Beach to Zane Beach.
MIHANA Onna Village
MIHANA Onna Village is close to Uramaeda 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 Uramaeda Beach (Hayu-hama).
Cape Maeda and Zane Beach are both close to Uramaeda Beach, and the whole stretch is popular for snorkeling, diving, and SUP.
If you are heading to Onna Village, make time for Uramaeda Beach.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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