Chatan Town Event Schedule | Make your Okinawa trip even more exciting!

Here are some popular events that make Chatan Town, which is already a popular gathering place for many people, even more lively.
Given its location, you'll often hear languages other than Japanese, so let's enhance the travel experience even further in Chatan, a place full of the extraordinary!

■ Mihama Illumination (late November to mid-February)

While illuminations are held in various locations throughout Okinawa Prefecture from October onwards, the Mihama Illumination at Mihama American Village is particularly full of Christmas spirit.
Mihama American Village, which sparkles with stylish neon lights all year round, also transforms into a Christmas wonderland for one month each year, from the end of November to the end of December, with Christmas decorations such as trees and Santa Claus adorning the nights of Chatan.
The main venue is around Depot Island in the seaside area of Mihama American Village. The large Christmas objects scattered throughout the area, like the illuminations, make for excellent photo spots. The shops inside the maze-like buildings are also decorated for Christmas, making it exciting just to wander around. In particular, "Christmas Land," a Christmas-themed shop, is filled with Christmas goods from all over the world, such as snow globes, figurines, and ornaments, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the Christmas spirit. Since it is close to the sea, it is a good idea to bring a jacket or light coat.

Mihama Illumination

Address: Mihama, Chatan-cho, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture (American Village)

Remarks: Period: November 18, 2022 to mid-February (Christmas decorations until December 25)
Last year's results: November 26, 2021 (Fri) - February 15, 2022 (Tue)

Business hours: Lighting time: 18:00-24:00

■ Yachimun Pottery Market by Female Ceramic Artists (December)

Yachimun, which means "pottery" in the Okinawan dialect, is characterized by its plump thickness and warm texture, and has many fans outside of Okinawa Prefecture.
While the classic designs feature motifs of plants and animals, nowadays you can also find designs with refreshing colors, patterns, and shapes, and the world of these designs continues to expand.
"Yachimun Market by Female Ceramic Artists" is an event that, as the name suggests, brings together Yachimun pottery with a focus on female ceramic artists.
The venue is Depot Island Boardwalk, along the waterfront in American Village. Why not come and find your favorite Yachimun pottery while taking a stroll?

A pottery market featuring female ceramic artists.

Address: Mihama, Chatan-cho, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture (Venue: Depot Island Boardwalk)

Remarks: Dates: December 17th and 18th, 2022

Business hours: 10: 00 to 17: 30

------

▼▼Tour Okinawa by bus! Two round trips per day between Naha Airport and Chatan Town (American Village)!▼▼

■Chunichi Dragons Spring Training (February)

Throughout February, professional baseball teams hold training camps in various locations throughout Okinawa. Agre Stadium Chatan, located within Chatan Park, is used annually as the home base for the Chunichi Dragons' first team. You can not only watch practices and games, but you might also encounter professional baseball players in the streets of Chatan.
Please note that there are certain conditions and requests from the team regarding visits and tours, so if you are interested, please be sure to check the details on the team's website.

Chunichi Dragons Spring Training Camp

Address: Mihama, Chatan-cho, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture (Main venue: Agre Stadium Chatan)

HP: https://dragons.jp/

■Sunset Beach and Araha Beach open for the season (April)

Sunset Beach and Araha Beach are two of Chatan's most representative beaches.
The beach officially opens for swimming every year on the second Friday of April. Sunset Beach, which underwent renovations in 2021, now has a wider sandy beach and is more accessible.
Normally, swimming is permitted from the start of the beach season until the end of October. However, you can also enjoy walks and BBQs during other times of the year, making it a spot that can be enjoyed throughout the year.

Sunset Beach

Address: 2 Mihama, Chatan-cho, Nakagusuku-gun, Okinawa Prefecture

HP: https://www.uminikansya.com/

Remarks: Please use the Chatan Town Municipal Parking Lot (free of charge).

Business hours: Typically from mid-April to the end of October, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Management Office)

Araha Beach

Address: 2-21 Chatan, Chatan-cho, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture

HP: https://uminchunokai.com/

Remarks: Please use the Araha Park parking lot (free of charge).

Business hours: Typically from mid-April to the end of October, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. *Subject to change depending on the season and weather.

■ Chatan Nirai Hari (June)

The Hari, a traditional Okinawan boat race that signals the arrival of early summer, is held annually in Chatan on the second weekend of June. In addition to races in traditional Okinawan boats (sabani) divided into various categories such as general, women's, and corporate teams, the venue also features popular food trucks, children's Hari races, fish catching, dance performances, live music, and more. Fireworks are launched at the end of both days of the event.

Chatan Nirai Hari

Address: 4 Minato, Chatan-cho, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture (Hamagawa Fishing Port)

HP: https://chatan-f.com/

Business hours: Typically held on a weekend in mid-June (Last year's record: June 18th and 19th, 2022)

Remarks: Designated parking areas will be available for the event; please check the official website for details.

■ Eisa Festival in Chatan (July)

This event brings together Eisa dances performed by youth associations from various districts within Chatan Town, offering a chance to witness their performances. Eisa is similar to Bon Odori in mainland Japan and is a quintessential summer tradition in Okinawa. Pay attention to the unique dances performed by each youth association. Food trucks and other vendors will also be present in the surrounding area.

Eisa Festival in Chatan

Address: 595-2 Kuwae, Chatan-cho, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture (Kuwae General Sports Park and surrounding area)

Business hours: Typically late July (Last year's date: August 22, 2022)

■Seaport Chatan Carnival (July)

The "Seaport Chatan Carnival" is a representative summer event in Chatan. In addition to stalls and stage events, past events have included beach yoga and marine activity workshops, creating a unique Chatan atmosphere that blends the town and the sea. The event concludes with the famous fireworks display over the sea. The ripples on the water reflect the fireworks, making the summer night even more sparkling.

Seaport Chatan Carnival

Address: 2 Mihama, Chatan-cho, Nakagusuku-gun, Okinawa Prefecture (Sunset Beach and surrounding area)

Business hours: Typically held in late July (Last year's event format changed to fireworks displays every Saturday from July 22nd to September 30th).

■ Depot Island Chatan Fireworks (Year-round / Every Saturday)

Chatan is a place where you can see fireworks launched every Saturday night at 20:00 PM.
The Depot Island boardwalk was even more lively with people eating and drinking at open-air restaurants and waiting for the fireworks.
The fireworks will be launched one after another into the night sky over the sea off Chatan for about three minutes.
Since it's the weekend, the parking lots along the coast are constantly full, so please allow plenty of time to get there.

Depot Island Chatan Fireworks

Address: Mihama, Chatan Town, Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture

Business hours: Every Saturday from 20:00
*The event will not be held on Saturday, December 31, 2022.

■Flying Pikachu Project POKÉGENIC in Chatan (Year-round)

©2022 Pokémon. ©1995-2022 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc./Pokémon and Pocket Monsters are registered trademarks of Nintendo, Creatures, and GAME FREAK.
If you look closely at the wall art, benches, crosswalks, and signs, you'll find Pokémon!
At POKÉGENIC in Chatan, which has been held since March 2022, cute Pokémon photo spots have appeared all over Mihama American Village.
There are a total of 11 photo spots, so try to find them using the Pikachu signs and footprints as clues.