Kanai Beach sits in Yomitan Village, in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
The Cristea Chapel stands along the shore, making this a wonderful spot for weddings and for watching the sunset.
With white sand and beautifully clear water, it is a popular choice for wedding and sunset photography.
Rather than a place for swimming, it suits visitors who want to relax on the sand and take their time.
Kanai Beach ratings
*Ratings are the subjective assessment of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in Okinawa Prefecture.
Kanai Beach essentials
| Swimming season | None in particular |
| Hours | None in particular |
| Swimming fee | Free |
| Safety net | None |
| Lifeguard | None |
| Shower room | None |
| Lockers | None |
| Swim gear rental | None |
| Rentals | None |
| Activities | None |
| Shop | None |
| Restroom | None |
| Official website | None |
Kanai Beach has no swimming facilities, but neighbouring Nirai Beach is fully equipped with a safety net, lifeguards and everything else you need for a swim, so head there if swimming is what you are after.
Kanai Beach and Nirai Beach are close enough that at low tide you can walk between them through the shallows.
If you are carrying a lot, you can leave your things at Nirai Beach and walk over to Kanai Beach.
What Makes It Worth Visiting
Beautiful sand and wonderfully clear water
The white sand and the clarity of the water are the real draw here.
The beach runs for about 150 metres.
The lovely Cristea Chapel
The view from the Cristea Chapel is beautiful too.
Weddings are held here regularly.
The rocks
Small fish swim in and out of the rocks, making it a lovely spot to look around.
Beautiful Sunsets
The sunset seen from Kanai Beach is stunning.
Access, parking and how to get there
| Access | About 60 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 614 Gima, Yomitan Village, Nakagami District, Okinawa |
| Parking | No dedicated parking (available at nearby Nirai Beach) |
| Restroom | None (available at nearby Nirai Beach) |
Kanai Beach has no parking of its own, but you can park at Nirai Beach.
Nirai Beach has both a free lot and a paid lot.
The difference between the two can be a little hard to spot, so do take care.
The free lot is shown on the map below.
The paid lot is shown on this map.
Around Kanai Beach and where to stay
Activities in Yomitan Village
Yomitan Village offers a variety of marine activities.
You can book diving, snorkeling, SUP and more.
If you would like to try diving or snorkeling, why not take a look at the activities available in Yomitan Village?
Hotel Nikko Alivila
Hotel Nikko Alivila is a resort hotel that looks straight out over Nirai Beach, and the rooms come with ocean views.
It also has activities and swim gear rental for time spent at Nirai Beach, making it a resort that works well for families.
Nirai Beach is a one-minute walk away and Kanai Beach about five minutes, so do wander over if you are staying at Hotel Nikko Alivila.
Nirai Beach
Nirai Beach comes with a safety net, lifeguards, activities and more.
Beach parasols, swim gear rental and other facilities are all in place.
A rental car is the way to go in Okinawa
For sightseeing on Okinawa’s main island, a rental car is by far the best option.
The places worth visiting are scattered across the island, from Shuri Castle in Naha to the beautiful beaches up north and American Village in Chatan, and with a car you can work through them at your own pace. Local buses are infrequent and rarely run to schedule, so having a rental car makes an enormous difference to how much you get out of 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.
Summary
Kanai Beach never gets especially crowded, which makes it a good choice if you want to unwind on the sand.
There are no lifeguards and no safety net, so if you plan to swim we recommend heading to Nirai Beach next door.
It is also well known as a spot for wedding and sunset photos, so do stop by when you are in Yomitan Village.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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