Melody Beach (Nakkouri Beach) sits in Yomitan Village, in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
It is known for its clear water, white sand and beautiful Ryukyu limestone.
Nearby are well-known attractions such as Murasakimura, Gala Aoi Umi and Nirai Beach.
It is not a place that draws big crowds, but the beach is beautiful and the sheer scale of the Ryukyu limestone is genuinely overwhelming.
It is a quiet find for anyone who wants to feel Okinawa’s natural side, or to spend time on a beach with hardly anyone around.
Melody Beach (Nakkouri Beach) ratings
*Ratings are the subjective assessment of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in Okinawa Prefecture.
Melody Beach (Nakkouri 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 |
| Activities | None |
| Shop | None |
| Restroom | None |
| Official website | None |
Melody Beach has no safety net and no lifeguards, so if you want to swim or try water activities we recommend heading to Nirai Beach, which is properly equipped.
Nirai Beach is about 15 minutes on foot, or roughly 3 minutes by car.
What Makes It Worth Visiting
Soft, fine sand
The sand is fine and soft, and walking barefoot feels wonderful.
Wonderfully clear water
The water was remarkably clear, without a hint of cloudiness.
The combination of soft sand and clear water really is superb.
You can snorkel here
Snorkeling is on offer at Melody Beach.
Yomitan Village has snorkeling, diving and plenty of other activities, so take a look on Viator or GetYourGuide.
Attractive Rocky Areas
The rocks are beautiful, and at low tide they spread further out across the shallows.
Striking Ryukyu limestone
The large rocks are a real highlight.
Photos make the scale hard to judge, but even the rock on the right stands around 7 metres tall, which gives you some idea.
Surrounded by greenery
Greenery wraps around the whole area, and Melody Beach sits quietly in the middle of it.
Palm trees add to the distinctly Okinawan atmosphere.
It is easy to miss
You can just make out the sea in the middle of the photo above; head down from there and you will find Melody Beach.
Walk a little way down the slope and the view opens up like this, with the beach below.
Please note
A sign at Melody Beach lists a few rules, so please follow them during your visit.
Melody Beach short video
Here is a short video of Melody Beach. Do take a look!
Access and parking
| Access | About 1 hour by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 1020-1 Takashiho, Yomitan Village, Nakagami District, Okinawa |
| Parking | None Free parking is available at Murasakimura |
| Restroom | None |
Melody Beach has no parking of its own, so we recommend using the free car park at nearby Murasakimura and walking from there.
From the car park it is only about a five-minute walk to the beach.
Around Melody Beach (Nakkouri Beach) and where to stay
Activities in Yomitan Village
You can also book diving, snorkeling, SUP and other activities in Yomitan Village.
If you are curious, take a look on Viator or GetYourGuide.
Gala Aoi Umi
Gala Aoi Umi is built around the idea of seeing, tasting and experiencing Okinawa, bringing together pottery workshops, Ryukyu glass workshops, restaurants and more.
There is a pottery shop too, so it is a good stop for souvenirs or lunch.
Murasakimura
Murasakimura is a visitor attraction that recreates buildings from the Ryukyu era, with tile roofs and shisa figures dotted around.
Inside the buildings you can try all sorts of hands-on experiences, from making a glass out of Ryukyu glass to practising the sanshin.
Hotel Murasakimura sits alongside it, so do take a look on Booking.com or Expedia.
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
Melody Beach is not somewhere tourists tend to go, which gives it the feel of a private beach.
It is a great choice if you want to soak up the atmosphere of an Okinawan beach at your own pace, or simply find somewhere with few people around.
When you are in Yomitan Village, do make time for Melody Beach.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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