Melody Beach in Yomitan Village, Okinawa, is a quiet and peaceful beach that is also used as a spot for wedding photos.
With its long, stretching expanse of fine sand, crystal-clear waters, and a clear blue sky, this hidden gem of a beach surprised even me, a resident of Okinawa, who thought, "I didn't know a place like this existed!"
Located on the west coast, it's also a great spot to watch the sunset. Listening to the sound of the waves while watching the sunset will surely fill your heart with joy.

1. Scenes from Melody Beach

Melody Beach is about a 15-minute drive from Kadena Rotary, on the way to Cape Zanpa. The narrow road surrounded by trees and plants gives way to a spectacular view of the ocean.

The day I visited was the weekend, but there were only three groups on the beach: a group snorkeling near the rocks at the back, a woman traveling alone, and ourselves.

The beach is so clean after the waves have receded that there are no seashells to be found, making it truly wonderful to walk barefoot.

I can't believe there are still beaches this quiet.

I visited during a time close to low tide. A tidal pool had formed at the waterline.
The area is rocky and there are sea cucumbers, so please wear sports sandals or marine boots.
Incidentally, Melody Beach has no swimming facilities whatsoever, such as showers or shops. Therefore, there are no protective nets on the beach, and swimming is entirely at your own risk.

2. Access to Melody Beach and Important Points

The road leading to Melody Beach is immediately to the left of the entrance to the tourist facility "Gala Aoi Umi". Look for the sign. To the left of the sign, there is a small path that you might hesitate to drive down, but if you go down this path, you will reach Melody Beach.

There is no parking available at Melody Beach.
There's enough space for about two cars if you park right before the beach, but it appears to be private property.

The road leading to the beach is quite narrow, and once you go there, you have to back up to get back.
To avoid inconveniencing traffic, you can park on the street, or there is free parking at the neighboring Gala Aoi Umi, so why not quickly visit while you're sightseeing at Gala Aoi Umi?

There's also a park-like space adjacent to Melody Beach, but this is private property.

There are guide signs, but permission is required for commercial photography in front of the landmark rock (Firefly Rock), and monopolizing the area as a photography spot is prohibited. Please be sure to follow the rules when using the area.

3. Sightseeing around Melody Beach

Now that you've been soothed by the breathtaking scenery, why not extend your trip to explore the tourist spots around Melody Beach? Around Melody Beach, there are various unique Okinawan tourist attractions such as "Gala Aoi Umi," "Okinawa Riding Club," and "Murasaki Mura."

3-1. Experience Kingdom Murasaki Mura

"Experience Kingdom Murasaki Mura" is a facility created as an open studio to recreate the streetscape of the Ryukyu Kingdom era for the NHK historical drama "Ryukyu no Kaze" (Wind of Ryukyu). Currently, visitors can not only enjoy the world depicted in the drama but also participate in various hands-on activities such as Okinawan glassmaking and indigo dyeing.
The Ryukyu Lantern Festival is held every year from December to March, and it's a popular event that makes the old Ryukyu townscape even more magical.

3-2. Gala Blue Sea

Gala Aoi Umi is a complex facility featuring a wide variety of shops, including restaurants, general stores, pottery studios, marine leisure activities, and coral farm tours (for a fee). It also offers an all-you-can-eat option from Oceans Pizza, a famous Okinawan restaurant.
Many events unique to Yomitan are held, such as the Yachimun Market and Sunset Garden, and on the day I visited, the Yachimun Market was taking place with a row of food trucks!

3-3. Okinawa Riding Club

I spotted these horses on my way to Melody Beach!
At Okinawa Riding Club, you can enjoy a variety of courses, not only within the riding arena, but also within the Murasaki Mura Park, on the beach, and, during the summer, even in the sea, offering a truly unique experience.

Final thoughts

Yomitan Village, home to Melody Beach, used to be known for its sugarcane fields and beautiful sunsets over the sea, but recently, the number of luxury hotels has been increasing. Furthermore, there are many tourist attractions and gourmet spots, so it might be worthwhile to focus on Yomitan Village and spend some time relaxing there. You're sure to experience the same peaceful atmosphere as you would at Melody Beach.

Melody Beach (Nakkori Beach)

Address

1020-1 Takashibo, Yomitan Village, Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture

Aya

Born in 1974 in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture. A weekend writer who secretly works hard to deliver Okinawa information for adults, hoping to cheer up people of her generation who tend to settle into the "usual."

Shirokuma Tours offers affordable Okinawa package tours. A wide variety of options are available, including tours to Ishigaki and Miyako Islands.

For local experiences and optional tours such as snorkeling and sightseeing bus tours, choose Tabi Plus One.

For diving in Okinawa, from license acquisition and fun dives to introductory experiences, choose Oceans Dive Tour.