Kaneku Beach is a beach on Hamahiga 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.
It sits between Muruku Beach and Shirumichu Beach.
This is a natural beach known for beautifully clear water and white sand, where you can take in Okinawa at its wildest, almost entirely untouched.
A few people were swimming when we visited, but there are no swimming facilities, so please take real care of your own safety in the water.
Ratings for Kaneku Beach
*Ratings are the subjective view of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in the prefecture
Kaneku Beach at a glance
| Swimming season | None in particular |
| Hours | None in particular |
| Swimming fee | Free |
| Jellyfish net | None |
| Lifeguard | None |
| Showers | None |
| Lockers | None |
| Rentals | None |
| Activities | None |
| Shop | None |
| Restroom | None |
| Official website | None |
This beach has no swimming facilities at all.
There is no jellyfish net and no lifeguard either, so please take care of your own safety in the water.
Highlights
About 300 metres of sand
The sand is lovely and runs for roughly 300 metres.
Clear water
The water is beautifully clear, and a family was swimming here when we visited.
Striking large rocks
The rocks dotted across the beach are lovely too.
In person they are about five times bigger than you would imagine.
You really feel the scale of the place.
Okinawa at its wildest
This beach is almost entirely untouched, and remains just as nature left it.
Seeing the size of the limestone and the clarity of the water in person, all you can really say is “wow”.
Access & Parking
| Access | About 75 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Katsuren Higa, Uruma City |
| Parking | None |
| Restroom | None |
Nobody manages this beach, so there is no car park either.
It is not a car park as such, but a few people had parked along the road.
What’s nearby Kaneku Beach
Activities in Uruma City
Uruma City offers all kinds of marine activities.
You can book diving, snorkeling, SUP and more.
If you would like to enjoy diving or snorkeling, why not see what is available on Viator or GetYourGuide?
Shirumichu Beach
Shirumichu Beach is a lovely spot with beautifully clear water and white sand.
Large slabs of Ryukyu limestone lie all around, giving a real sense of the natural world.
There is no jellyfish net or lifeguard, so it suits anyone who wants to sit on the sand and take Okinawa’s natural side in slowly.
Hotel Hamahigashima Resort
Hotel Hamahigashima Resort is a lovely place to stay with ocean views.
There is an outdoor pool looking out to sea, so you can unwind while gazing at Okinawa’s beautiful water.
If you are staying a night on Hamahiga Island, Hotel Hamahigashima Resort is well worth considering.
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.
Shuri Castle in Naha, the beautiful beaches up north, American Village in Chatan and the rest are scattered all over the island, so having a car lets you explore at your own pace. Buses are infrequent and rarely run to time, so whether or not you have a car makes a real difference to the trip.
Popular seasons book up quickly, so reserve early once your dates are set.
In summary
This article introduced Kaneku Beach.
It is a genuinely lovely beach where you can take in Okinawa at its wildest, almost entirely untouched.
There is no lifeguard and no jellyfish net, so do take real care if you go in for a swim.
Hamahiga Island has other hidden gems as well, so if that appeals, have a read of “the hidden beaches of Hamahiga Island“.
We hope this article has been of some use.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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