A fierce battleground for stylish cafes? 10 recommended cafes and tourist spots on Yagaji Island

Yagaji Island is an outlying island located in Nago City in northern Okinawa, accessible from the main island by a bridge.

This island is located at the foot of the Kouri Bridge, which connects to the famous tourist spot, Kouri Island. It's an island you inevitably pass through when going to Kouri Island, but its level of recognition is...

However, Yagaji Island is a fiercely competitive area for unique cafes and restaurants known only to those in the know, and it would be a shame to just pass it by.

This article will introduce five recommended cafes on Yagaji Island, beaches with stunning views, the Warumi Bridge (perfect for a break during a drive), and local specialties!

<Table of Contents>
1. Recommended cafes and restaurants on Yagaji Island
1-1. CALiN (Cafe + General Goods)
1-2. BENJAMIN BURGER
1-3. Kurumaebi Kitchen TAMAYA
1-4. Marine Inn
1-5. avocafe
1-6. Tutan
2. Tourist attractions on Yagaji Island
2-1. Yagaji Beach
2-2. Sumuide Beach
2-3. Warumi Bridge
2-4. Salt from Yagaji Island
3. Conclusion

Show all table of contents

1. Recommended cafes and restaurants on Yagaji Island

1-1. CALiN (Cafe + General Goods)

CALiN is a shop with a cafe and general goods concept. It is a sister store to the popular "Shima Donuts" located in Nago City.

The stylish interior, a renovated old house, has an atmosphere that makes you want to linger, and stepping inside feels like entering a movie.

The food is not only delicious, but its vibrant colors are so beautiful you might hesitate to eat it, making it a feast for the eyes as well.

However, it's not just the food that's worth checking out. The carefully selected goods are sure to capture your heart. No matter what you look at—the shop's atmosphere, the food, the goods—you'll feel like "I'm so glad I came here."

CALiN

Address: 522 Untenbara, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture

TEL: 0980-52-8200

HP: https://www.instagram.com/calin_cafe_zakka/

Business hours: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Please call to confirm as we are currently operating on reduced hours due to COVID-19) Closed on Mondays

1-2. BENJAMIN BURGER

Benjamin Burger is a hamburger restaurant where you can enjoy authentic American flavors.

The hamburgers, made with homemade buns, patties, and sauces, are absolutely delicious and you'll devour them in no time.

Also, behind Benjamin Burger is a beach called "Sumuide no Hama," and the ocean view from the windows is a must-see. You can't miss the spectacular ocean view that you can enjoy while biting into a delicious hamburger!!

BENJAMIN BURGER

Address: 259-1 Sumiide, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture

TEL: 0980-52-8222

HP: https://www.instagram.com/benjaminburger8222/

Business hours: 11:00 AM - 18:00 PM (or until sold out) Closed on Thursdays

1-3. Kurumaebi Kitchen TAMAYA

Kurumaebi Kitchen TAMAYA is, quite literally, a specialty restaurant for kuruma shrimp.

As it's a sister restaurant to "Kurumaebi Restaurant Kyuya," which is directly operated by a shrimp farm in Ginoza Village, you can be sure of the freshness!!

A distinctive feature is that you can enjoy kuruma prawns in a variety of ways, such as in tempura rice bowls, tempura, salt-grilled prawns, sashimi, and fried prawns.

This is a highly recommended spot that has garnered significant media attention, including being featured on national television programs.

Kurumaebi Kitchen TAMAYA

Address: 285 Untenbara, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture

TEL: 0980-52-8080

HP: https://kitchentamaya.amebaownd.com/

Business hours: 11:30 AM - 19:00 PM (Last Order 18:30 PM) Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays

1-4. Marine Inn

Marine-tei is a restaurant that has been renovated from an old Okinawan house, giving it a sense of history.

According to the shop owner's mother, the visit by the group Kanjani Eight sparked a craze among fans, and now there's a constant stream of people visiting as a kind of pilgrimage to the place.

The restaurant serves Okinawan soba noodles, which are characterized by their chewy, flat texture.

Incidentally, Marine-tei also serves as the dining area for the neighboring guesthouse Uminchu, and operates for guests only in the evenings.
However, if you make a reservation, you can enjoy a meal featuring seafood caught in the waters around Yagaji Island for just 1,000 yen.

This restaurant serves Okinawan soba noodles and, as the name "Marine-tei" suggests, also offers a variety of seafood dishes.

Marine Inn

Address: 276 Sumiide, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture

TEL: 090-6867-9536

Business hours: 11:00 AM - 14:00 PM, Closed on Tuesdays

1-5. avocafe

avocafe is a cafe that opened on Yagaji Island in 2018, specializing in avocados.
From set meals featuring perfectly ripe avocados combined with Okinawan ingredients in a balanced way, to avocado dishes that make a big impact, this restaurant offers a truly impressive selection of avocado dishes.

This is a set meal featuring a bowl of rice topped with sautéed canned Spam (a staple in Okinawa), avocado, a soft-boiled egg, and original teriyaki sauce, along with side dishes made with Okinawan ingredients.

The menu features a variety of avocado-based dishes that you don't often see, such as avocado smoothies, baked cheesecake, and zenzai (sweet red bean soup). Be sure to check it out.

This is a must-visit shop for avocado lovers!!

avocafe Okinawa store

Address: 71-1 Yohena, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture

TEL: 0980-52-8182

HP: https://avocafe.net/okinawa/

Business hours: 11:30 AM - 17:00 PM, Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays

1-6. Tutan

Tutan is a unique and charming restaurant housed in a renovated old house.

The shop has a simple yet somehow comforting atmosphere that evokes the feeling of an old Japanese house.

Apparently, the distinctive name of the shop, Tutan, comes from the fact that corrugated iron is used for the roof.
Using seasonal ingredients from Yanbaru, the dishes prepared by a chef who honed his skills in Tokyo are exquisite.

We are open for both lunch and dinner, and the changing atmosphere between day and night is one of our highlights.

holding

Address: 527 Untenbara, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture

TEL: 0980-52-8039

HP: https://www.instagram.com/tutan.okinawa/

Business hours: Tuesday & Wednesday: Lunchtime 11:30-16:00; Friday, Saturday & Sunday: Evening 17:00-23:00; Closed Monday & Thursday.

2. Tourist attractions on Yagaji Island

2-1. Yagaji Beach

Yagaji Beach is immediately visible to your right after crossing the Yagaji Bridge, which connects Okinawa Main Island and Yagaji Island.

This beach is the only one in Okinawa Prefecture where you can witness the rare phenomenon known as the "tombolo," where a path emerges from the sea for a limited time around low tide, connecting the beach to a small island.

This road has been named "Pure Road," a path where new life connections are forged, and the natural beach retains the old-world charm of Okinawa.

In addition to its beach, it's also a popular spot for auto camping, attracting not only local residents but also tourists and even international visitors.

There's nothing better than car camping on a lawn overlooking the ocean.

Yagachi Beach
Address: 143 Yaga, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture
TEL：0980-52-8123

2-2. Sumuide Beach

Sumiide Beach is a beach located behind the village on Yagaji Island, characterized by the contrast between its white sand and the sea.

Since there aren't any signs or anything, you might have a little trouble finding it.

However, because it's a secluded spot, despite being a beautiful beach, there aren't many people there, making it a true hidden gem.

This is a hidden gem where you can enjoy a relaxed pace of time while gazing at the sea.

There is a beach called Sumiide Beach near Sumiide Beach, but it appears to be closed as of 2020. Please be aware of this.

2-3. Warumi Bridge

The Warumi Bridge is a 315-meter-long bridge connecting Yagaji Island and Nakijin Village on Okinawa Island.

From both sides of the bridge, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Warumi Strait stretching out below, the nature and sea of Yanbaru, and on clear days, the Kouri Bridge connecting Yagaji Island and Kouri Island.

There is a parking area about halfway across the bridge that can accommodate several cars, so you can get out of your car and enjoy the view.

Also, when approaching the bridge from the Nakijin Village side, you'll find "Hashi no Eki" (Bridge Station) on your left, which has restaurants and a direct sales store for agricultural products. It's a great place to stop for a break during your drive.

2-4. Salt from Yagaji Island

Yagaji Island salt is a local specialty made from seawater from the waters surrounding Yagaji Island.

When you think of salt, you probably imagine it being white, but the salt from Yagaji Island is distinctive for its reddish hue.

Furthermore, the salt from Yagaji Island, produced using traditional methods, is noteworthy for its rich mineral content.

Incidentally, Okinawa Berg, which sells salt from Yagaji Island, also carries ice cream and chinsuko (Okinawan shortbread) made with salt, making it a great place to stop by.

3. Conclusion

This article focused on Yagaji Island.

From unique restaurants to beaches where you can enjoy the tombolo phenomenon and local specialties that reflect the region's character, this is a spot that can be enjoyed from many different angles.

Why not pay a visit?