In this article, we introduce recommended beaches in the central area of Okinawa’s main island.
The beaches of central Okinawa fall broadly into two groups, with beautiful beaches on both the east and west coasts.
- West coast: Yomitan Village, Chatan Town and Ginowan City have beautiful beaches popular with tourists
- East coast: Ikei, Miyagi and Hamahiga islands in Uruma City have beautiful hidden beaches
*They are outlying islands, but bridges link them to the main island, so you can drive there
Central Okinawa has every kind of beach, from resort beaches full of visitors to hidden gems.
Here are the 9 beaches we introduce this time.
- Zanpa Beach
- Tropical Beach
- Ikei Beach
- Nirai Beach
- Araha Beach
- Chatan Park Sunset Beach
- Tonnaha Beach
- Toguchi Beach
- Muruku Beach
Those are the 9 beaches.
Zanpa Beach
Zanpa Beach is a beach in Yomitan Village.
With white sand and blue sea, it is a classic Okinawan resort beach and a popular spot that draws many visitors every year.
It has good swimming facilities, and besides swimming there are plenty of activities.
You can try banana boats, snorkeling, wakeboarding and more, and there are good showers and changing rooms.
| Access | About 60 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 1933 Uza, Yomitan Village, Nakagami District, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Tropical Beach
Tropical Beach is a man-made beach in Ginowan City in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is a man-made beach, but the clean white sand, blue water and well-kept facilities make it a genuinely appealing place.
Large numbers of locals and visitors come here every year, and people in Okinawa call it “Tropi” for short.
Its facilities are excellent, with BBQ, marine activities, showers and lockers, so it is a place where both adults and kids can have fun.
| Access | About 30 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 4-2-1 Mashiki, Ginowan City, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Ikei Beach
Ikei Beach is a beach on Ikei Island, a small island in Uruma City in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is an island, but a bridge connects it to the mainland, so you can simply drive there.
Ikei Beach is a beautiful beach known for its clear water and white sand.
There is a good range of marine activities on offer too, from jet skis to island tours around Ikei and snorkeling.
Note that there is an admission charge, so do check before you go.
Adults: 400 yen Children: 300 yen
| Access | About 80 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 405 Yonashiro Ikei, Uruma City, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (paid, included in admission) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Nirai Beach
Nirai Beach sits in Yomitan Village, in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
This beach has a real resort feel, with naturally soft sand and blue water as its main draw.
The shallows teem with sea life and there is plenty of coral and Ryukyu limestone, so you can take in the kind of nature Okinawa is known for.
It has good swimming facilities, plus snorkeling and other activities and a pool, making it a popular spot where both adults and kids can have fun.
| Access | About 60 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 600 Gima, Yomitan Village, Nakagami District, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Available (free) A paid lot is available when the free one is full |
| Restroom | Yes |
Araha Beach
Araha Beach is a beach in Chatan Town in the central part of Okinawa’s main island, known for its sand that stretches about 600 m, and it draws many visitors every year.
It is also loved by locals, who walk the promenade along the beach, and many children play in Araha Park.
Araha Beach has good swimming facilities, so you can enjoy activities as well as swimming.
It is a great choice if you want to make the most of Okinawa’s sea.
| Access | About 45 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 2-21 Chatan, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Chatan Park Sunset Beach
Chatan Park Sunset Beach is a man-made beach in Chatan Town in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is a man-made beach, but the clean white sand, blue water and well-kept facilities make it a genuinely appealing place.
The famous American Village is nearby, so the beach sees plenty of visitors.
The beautiful sand and clear water are very photogenic, and we noticed many people taking photos.
As the name suggests, it is also popular for its beautiful sunsets.
| Access | About 45 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 2 Mihama, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Tonnaha Beach
Tonnaha Beach is a beach on Miyagi Island, an outlying island of Uruma City in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is an island, but a bridge connects it to the mainland, so you can simply drive there.
Tonnaha Beach has beautifully clear water and lovely white sand.
There is a good range of marine activities such as snorkeling and banana boat rides, plus a shop, BBQ equipment hire and swim gear rental, so the beach is well equipped.
Plenty of greenery surrounds it too, which gives the place a distinctly Okinawan feel.
| Access | About 60 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 8203 Yonashiro Uehara, Uruma City, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (paid) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Toguchi Beach
Toguchi Beach is a beach in Yomitan Village in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is a beautiful beach with soft white sand, blue water and Ryukyu limestone all along the shore.
Rather than a magnet for tourists, this is a beach the locals love. You can barbecue here and snorkel here, and the swimming facilities are well provided for.
Yomitan Village also has beautiful beaches such as Zanpa Beach and Nirai Beach, but this one holds its own against them.
| Access | About 60 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Toguchi, Yomitan Village, Nakagami District, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Muruku Beach
Muruku Beach is a beach on Hamahiga Island, an outlying island of Uruma City in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is an island, but a bridge connects it to the mainland, so you can simply drive there.
It is a natural beach known for its clear water and white sand.
There are also plenty of marine activities, with an activity reception desk on the beach.
There are only a few visitors here and there, so you can enjoy marine activities surrounded by Okinawa’s nature.
| Access | About 75 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 202 Katsuren Higa, Uruma City |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (paid: 500 yen) |
| Restroom | Yes |
A rental car is the way to go in Okinawa
A rental car is by far the best way to get around the main island of Okinawa.
Sights such as Shuri Castle in Naha, the beautiful beaches of the north and American Village in Chatan are spread across the island, so with a car you can explore freely at your own pace. Buses are infrequent and often late, so having a rental car makes a big difference to how much you get out of your trip.
Bookings fill up quickly in peak season, so we recommend reserving early once your travel dates are set.
In summary
In this article, we introduced 9 recommended beaches in the central area of Okinawa’s main island!
Our personal impression is that
the west coast beaches tend to be lively with both tourists and locals,
while the east coast has many hidden beaches where Okinawans themselves go swimming.
Both coasts have plenty of beautiful beaches, so be sure to visit them on your trip.
West coast: Yomitan Village, Chatan Town and Ginowan City have beautiful beaches popular with tourists
East coast: Ikei, Miyagi and Hamahiga islands in Uruma City have beautiful hidden beaches
*They are outlying islands, but bridges link them to the main island, so you can drive there
We hope this article helps you choose a beach.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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