The beach is located at the end of Katsura Peninsula in Uruma City, central Okinawa Island, about an hour’s drive from Naha Airport. Normally, you cannot enter the beach because it is a U.S. military site, but once a year, in April, there is a festival, and the Japanese can enter if they show an ID card. What is it like?
Point 1: What is the location of “White Beach”?
White Beach” is located at the end of Katsura Peninsula in Uruma City, central Okinawa Island.
Uruma City is also famous for its remote islands connected by an underwater road, but instead of going to the underwater road, it is located directly to the south.
Since Okinawa has a well-developed expressway, it takes only a little over an hour to reach the island, and it takes only two hours to reach the island by bus, instead of four hours to the remote islands.
White Beach” is usually closed to the U.S. military, but once a year, around April, a festival is held and visitors are allowed to enter.
There used to be a time when swimming was allowed without permission, but now it is strictly monitored and only allowed during the festival.
However, even during non-festival hours, visitors can enter the path from the public road and walk along the wire fence, where they can sometimes see an American warship parked.
It is not only a matter of admiration, but also a little intriguing to see the U.S. one step beyond the wire fence.
Point 2: What kind of beach is “White Beach”?
White Beach” is located at the end of Katsura Peninsula facing the Pacific Ocean, so the clarity of the ocean is unparalleled and there is a long beach with long, beautiful sandy beaches.
Because it is on the Pacific Ocean side, the sunrise can be seen very beautifully.
It used to be a relaxing beach where local people usually came to bathe or to catch asa. It used to be a beach where not many people came.
Now, however, a part of the beach is used as a military port for the Maritime Self-Defense Force, and a pier has been built and gray-colored warships come and go, creating a very formal atmosphere. Even citizens of Uruma do not know the location of the inside of the military site because it is not indicated on the map.
Of course, during the festival in April, such an atmosphere is blown away and it is all about the crispy atmosphere, but many beaches in Okinawa are not shown on the map but are the territory of the U.S. military, which makes me feel a little complicated.
Point 3: What are the recommended spots around “White Beach”?
That said, the area around “White Beach” is a very nice place.
The most attractive thing about this beach is that you can feel a sense of openness that is different from that of Naha or Chatan, which are also in Okinawa.
On the way to this beach, there are “Katsuren Castle Ruins” which reminds us of the Ryukyu Dynasty era.
Katsuren Castle Ruins are probably the most popular castle ruins from the Ryukyu Dynasty period, along with Nakijin Castle Ruins and Nakagusuku Castle Ruins.
The castle is characterized by a castle structure that makes the most of the elevation difference, and was ruled for 10 generations.
Please enjoy the gently curving beauty that is characteristic of the ruins of Ryukyu Dynasty castles against the blue sky.
