About 43 minutes by car from Naha Airport. This beach is located in Yaese Town between Itoman City and Nanjo City. As befits a southern beach, it is calm and quite shallow. At low tide, green algae appear and a fantastic scenery can be enjoyed.
Point 1: What is the location of “Harbor River Beach”?
Minatogawa Beach” is a beach in Yaese Town, located between Itoman City and Nanjo City in the southern part of Okinawa Island.
Itoman City has Himeyuri Pagoda and Peace Memorial Park, and Nanjo City has Okinawa World and Saiba Utaki, which are places that tourists go out of their way to visit.
There are no tourist spots such as “Minatogawa Beach,” “Bomagusuku Beach,” a beach full of fish with ruins, and “Gushi-chan Beach,” a beach with many strange rocks and tide pools full of fish.
Please visit these beaches not only on the way to some other places, but also for the beaches themselves.
Point 2: What kind of beach is “Minatogawa Beach”?
This “beach of Minatogawa” is almost empty of water at low tide and other times, and green algae appear on the rocks that used to be submerged in water, creating a fantastic scene. There is also a sandy beach, but very little. There are many craggy rocks in the sea, so wearing marine shoes is recommended if possible.
During normal ebb tide, it is fun to see small blue fish swimming in the tide pools.
Minatogawa Beach” has many strange rocks and is a place where rock climbers can enjoy themselves along with divers and snorkelers.
The view of the blue ocean peeking through the gaps between the oddly shaped rocks, typical of Okinawa, is sure to be Instagram-worthy! The scenery of the oddly shaped rocks reflected in the tide pools is also a good motif for photography!
The large rocks provide moderate shade during the daytime, which attracts campers and BBQers.
However, there are no supermarkets or convenience stores around, so it is best to bring your own water, food, and BBQ equipment beforehand.
Point 3: The area around “Minatogawa no Hama” and the town of Yaese are actually gourmet spots!
Yaese Town around “Minatogawa no Hama” is actually a hidden gourmet spot.
The “Yagiya” in the photo is an exquisite Okinawa soba restaurant in an old Okinawan house that is a registered tangible cultural property.
In particular, the “Hon Soki Soba Set,” which includes jjimami tofu, jushi, mozuku vinegar, and other items, is reasonably priced at 1,150 yen, but is still excellent! The soba noodles are light but full of umami (flavor) from dried bonito broth.
There are also stylish cafes such as “te” and “CUCURU” that serve delicious bread and have become secretly popular. It might be a good idea to visit and taste them before they become explosively popular.
