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Okinawa’s main island has around 130 recognized beaches. Each beach has its own personality; beaches with exceptional water quality, beaches that are safe for children to play in, and untouched beaches. In this article, we will feature 12 distinct beaches from each category. Find your favorite beach and enjoy it in your style!
＜Table of Contents＞
[１]When is Swimming Season?
[２]3 of Okinawa’s Most Popular Beaches
【1】Busena Beach（North）
【2】Manza Beach（Central）
【3】Nirai Beach（Central）
[３]3 of the Most Stunning Beaches
【1】Emerald Beach（North）
【2】Sun Marina Beach（Central）
【3】Okuma Beach（North）
[４] 2 Beaches Safe and Fun for Small Children
【1】Azama San San Beach（South）
【2】Zampa Beach（Central）
[５]Local Recommended! 4 Popular & Well-Kept-Secret Local Beaches
【1】Toyosaki Chura SUN Beach（South）
【2】Nishihara Kira Kira Beach（Central）
【3】Shiokawa Beach（North）
【4】Mibaru Beach（South）
[６]Recommended Items
[１]When is Swimming Season?
Swimming season varies from beach to beach but the general season for beaches to be bustling with people is from April to October. There are well-kept-secret spots and untouched beaches that are enjoyable year round.
Now let’s get to the beach introductions!
[２]3 of Okinawa’s Most Popular Beaches
【1】Busena Beach（Northern）
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This beach is located right in front of Okinawa’s iconic hotel, The Busena Terrace. There are no complaints about the clarity of the ocean and colorful fish can be seen even on the sand bar. Near the beach there is an underwater observatory offering a 360 degree view and a glass-bottom boat dock as well as many other ways to enjoy this beach.
＜Busena Beach＞
Address：1808 Kise, Nago-shi
Access：about 1 hour 15 minutes from Naha Airport by car
Parking Lot：¥1,000／car
Facility：changing room／restroom, lockers (fee), shower (free), etc.
Retail Store：Yes
Rental Service：beach umbrella, beach lounge chair, etc.
Marine Activities：aqua bicycles, jet skis, canoes
Nearby Hotel：The Busena Terrace
【2】Manza Beach（Central）
Okinawa’s most Picturesque Scenery, the desireable Manza Cove is Okinawa’s iconic beach. This calm inlet has a beauty that you can enjoy just by gazing at it from its shores.
The Floating Inflatable Playground (fee) is popular with children.
＜Busena Beach＞
Address：2260 Azaseragaki, Onna-son , Kunigami-gun
Access：about 1 hour 20 minutes from Naha Airport by car
Parking Lot：¥1,000／car
Facility：Facility：changing room／restroom, lockers (fee), shower (free), etc.
Retail Store：Yes
Rental Service：beach umbrellas, sun deck, etc.
Marine Activities：jet ski, parasailing, sea walk, etc.
Nearby Hotel：ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort
【3】Nirai Beach（Central）
This beach is located in front of Central Okinawa and Yomitan-son’s popular resort, Hotel Nikko Alivila. The beach remains unaltered and the natural state of this beach’s crystal clear waters is preserved. You can enjoy the long stretch of this beach’s shore. In addition to swimming, you can also enjoy snorkeling and see fish and other sea creatures when the reef appears during low tide.
＜Nirai Beach＞
Address：600 Aza-Gima, Yomitan-son,
Access：about 100 minutes from Naha Airport by car
Parking Lot：Free
Facility：changing room, shower (fee), locker (fee), etc.
Retail Store：Yes
Rental Service：beach umbrellas, beach chairs, etc.
Marine Activities：dragon boat, SUP (stand up paddle board), kayak, etc.
Nearby Hotel：Hotel Nikko Alivila
[３]3 of the Most Stunning Beaches
【1】Emerald Beach（North）
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This beach is the northernmost part of the Ocean Expo Park, which is also home to the Churaumi Aquarium. This beach’s cobalt blue ocean was given an AA ranking (the highest rank). This beach was chosen as one of the “Best Beach 100” of Japan by the Ministry of the Environment as a result of this beach’s exceptional beauty and safety.
＜Emerald Beach＞
Address：424 Ishikawa, Motobucho, Kunigami-gun
Access：about 1 hour 40 minutes from Naha Airport by car
Parking Lot：use Ocean Expo parking lot
Facility：changing room/restroom/shower, locker (fee), etc.
Retail Store：Yes
Rental Service：beach umbrellas, beach lounge chairs, etc.
Marine Activities：N/A
Nearby Hotel：Hotel Orion Motobu Resort & Spa
【2】Sun Marina Beach（Central）
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This beach is located in front of the Sun Marina Hotel and boasts itself as the beach with the best water clarity in the prefecture. There are only 12 beaches in the country with an AA rank in exceptional water clarity. This beach is surrounded by a breakwater which makes the waves calm.
＜Sun Marina Beach＞
Address：66-1 Fuchaku, Onna-son
Access：about 1 hour from Naha Airport by car
Parking Lot：around 50 spaces ¥1,000／car
Facility：changing room/restroom, shower, lockers (fee), etc.
Retail Store：Yes
Rental Service：beach towels, beach umbrellas, deck chairs, etc.
Marine Activities：snorkel, pedal boats, yacht, etc.
Nearby Hotel：Sun Marina Hotel
【3】Okuma Beach（North）
This beach is located right out side of the exotic resort hotel JAL Private Resort Okuma. This beach’s waters also have an AA rank. This kilometer long white sand beach is all natural. This beach is surrounded by the rich nature of the vast Yanbaru forest.
＜Okuma Beach＞
Address：913 Okuma, Kunigami-gun
Access：about 2 hour from Naha Airport by car
Parking Lot：free
Facility：restroom, shower (fee), etc.
Retail Store：Yes
Rental Service：beach umbrellas, beach lounge chairs, etc.
Marine Activities：diving, glass-bottom boat, kayaks, etc.
Nearby Hotel：JAL Private Resort
[４]2 Beaches Safe and Fun for Small Children
【1】Azama San San Beach（South)
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This beach has many reasons why it’s popular. The swimming areas and marine sports areas are divided and they have anti-jellyfish nets. The beach is protected with watchmen and lifeguards on duty and it is safe for children as well. This beach also has barrier free facilities like handicapped accessible restrooms. The waves are calm and the water clarity is superb.
＜Azama San San Beach＞
Address：Azama, Chinen, Nanjo-shi
Access：about 50 minutes from Naha Airport by car
Parking Lot：around 350 spaces (All day ¥500/car. ¥100/motorcycle)
Facility：changing room/restroom, shower (fee), etc.
Retail Store：Yes
Rental Service：beach umbrellas, beach lounge chairs, barbecues, etc.
Marine Activities：banana boat, jet ski, half-pipe, etc.
Nearby Hotel：The Yuinchi Hotel Nanjo
【2】Zampa Beach (Central)
This is a beach famous for its sunset located by Zampamisaki. This beach is one surrounded by the largest coral reef in the prefecture and because of this, the waves are calm, making it the perfect environment for small children to enjoy.
There are marine activities for children 3 to 4 years old and free sand toy rentals available here with many other points to make a family with children happy. 
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＜Zampa Beach＞
Address：1575 Uza, Yomitan-son
Access：about 70 minutes from Naha Airport by car
Parking Lot：around 100 spaces, free
Facility：changing room/ restroom, lockers (fee), etc.
Retail Store：Yes
Rental Service：beach umbrellas, deck chairs, inner-tubes, etc.
Marine Activities：dragon boat, jet ski, diving, etc.
Nearby Hotel：Okinawa Zampamisaki Royal Hotel
[５]Local Recommended! 4 Popular & Well-Kept-Secret Local Beaches
【1】Toyosaki Chura SUN Beach（South）
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A 15 minute car ride from Naha Airport and adjacent to Toyosaki Seaside Park, this 700m long beach is the largest beach in Okinawa. This spacious beach is great for marine leisure activities like swimming and water biking, sports like beach soccer, and even barbecuing! Not to mention, this beach is one of the most popular places in Okinawa to enjoy the view of the sun setting over the horizon.
＜Toyosaki Chura SUN Beach＞
Address：5-1 Toyosaki, Tomigusuku
Access：about 15 minutes from Naha Airport by car
Parking lot：around 600 spaces, FREE
Facility：changing room/lockers, shower (fee), beach volleyball court (reservations required), etc.
Retail Store：Yes
Rental Service：beach umbrellas, beach chairs, beach mats, barbecue tents, etc.
Marine Activities：water bicycles, snorkels, deserted island adventure tour, etc.
Nearby Hotel：Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel
【2】Nishihara Kira Kira Beach（Central）
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This relaxing and scenic beach can be found within the large hybrid beachfront park, Nishihara Marine Park. It is divided into a swimming zone and marine sports zone.
There’s a rest area where you can barbecue, multipurpose field where you can play soccer or baseball, and a range of other leisure activities like water biking and riding banana boats are all available here.
＜Nishihara Kira Kira Beach＞
Address：17 Agarizaki Nishihara-son, Nakagami-gun
Access：about 35 minutes from Naha Airport by car
Parking Lot：around 1,000 spaces, Free
Facility：changing room, shower (fee), lockers (fee), etc.
Retail Store：Yes
Rental Service：beach umbrellas, beach beds, beach volleyball court, barbecues, etc.
Marine Activities：banana boat, water bicycles, super marble, etc.
Nearby Hotel：Tokyo Dai-ichi Hotel Okinawa Gran Mer Resort
【3】Shiokawa Beach（North）
画像提供：本部町役場
This natural beach is located along the popular driving coastline. Surrounded by dense ironwood trees and not a store or beach umbrella in sight, stretches the blue ocean and white sandy beach. Apart from the large man-made beaches, this is a beach that remains unchanged over the years and is popular with the locals. The shade of the iron wood trees here make a great place to set up camp.
＜Shiokawa Beach＞
Address：Shiokawa Motobu-cho
Access：about 1 hour 30 minutes from Naha Airport by car
Parking Lot：free and paid spaces
Facility：no restrooms or showers
Retail Store：No
Rental Service：N/A
Marine Activities：snorkeling
Nearby Hotel：Hotel Resonex Nago
【4】Mibaru Beach/Hyakuna Beach（South)
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This is a popular beach that many locals go to in the southern region. Both beaches combine to create a 2 km long white sandy beach with crystal clear waters where you can see tropical fish.
Hyakuna beach is significant to locals because it is a part of the legend of Amamikiyo, who created Ryukyu.
＜Mibaru Beach/Hyakuna Beach＞
Address：1407 Mibaru, Nanjo-shi
Access：about 50 minutes from Naha Airport by car
Parking Lot：fee on Mibaru beach side, few free spaces on Hyakuna beach side
Facility：changing room/shower/lockers (fee) at Mibaru Beach
Retail Store：Yes
Rental Service：Please Inquire
Marine Activities：snorkel, glass-bottom boat, etc.
Nearby Hotel：The Yuinchi Hotel Nanjo
[６]Recommended Items
１）Generally speaking, the sun at Okinawa’s beaches is very strong especially in July and August.
Because of the strong sun rays, rash guards are a necessity. Protect your skin by bringing a long sleeve shirts, hats, or a light jacket with you. Additionally, it is important to rent a beach umbrella and take a break from the sun in the shade.
２）The beach has a lot of coral and shells, so you may get injured waking barefoot. Wear beach sandals or marine shoes.
３）For those wanting to go snorkeling, snorkels come in to direct contact with your mouth. Those who do not want to use a rental that someone else has used should bring their own snorkeling set with them.
They are sold in many places such as the stores at the beach or Don Quijote at Kokusai-dori.
Depending on the beach, the ocean current may easily change. You may feel safer taking lessons from an instructor before swimming.
４）Okinawa has venomous creatures in its ocean such as the box jellyfish. Between the months of July and October, there are outbreaks across Okinawa and being stung by a box jellyfish can result in intense pain or itchiness. Having vinegar handy can provide temporary relief. If stung, flood the area with vinegar to wash the sting. To further alleviate pain, apply cold water or ice to the effected area and seek medical assistance.
There are beaches that set jellyfish nets so please check the season they’re set before going out.
５）A lot of typhoons hit Okinawa and their typhoon season is August and September. The subtropical climate can sometimes cause squalls. Preparing rain gear is beneficial. (If violent rain storms occur, please find shelter!)
