About 1 hour and 45 minutes by car from Naha Airport. This beach is located in Okuma in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island. A famous beach resort is located nearby, and I thought it was a hotel-managed beach, but to my surprise, it is a U.S. military beach. Every year during GW there is an open day, so why don’t you experience a different culture?
Point 1: What is “Okuma Beach” like?
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Okuma Beach” is located in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island. There is a resort called “Okuma Private Beach and Resort” nearby, so I wondered if it was managed there, but I was told that it is an area under the jurisdiction of the U.S. military right next to it, so civilians are not usually allowed to enter.
However, this is not only a beach, but also a large area with campgrounds and cottages, and it is a recreation area for U.S. military families.
For Japanese people who spend their holidays waiting in line for hours at crowded amusement parks, it is truly enviable to be able to enjoy a vacation in a relaxing and green space.
There are times each year when the public is allowed to enter these wonderful beaches on “Open House Day,” so why not take advantage of it?
There are U.S. military bases all over Japan, and each of them seems to have their own open days, but Okinawa is probably the only place where you can enjoy the tropical atmosphere on the beach.
Point 2: When can I enter “Okuma Beach”?
Okuma Beach” has a festival-like event called “Beach Open Day” during the GW season in April and May every year.
The festival is held on Saturdays and Sundays around this time, and the general public can enter for free if they bring a photo ID.
After entering the gate and passing through a vast area lined with campgrounds and many cottages, you will finally come to the beach! The scenery, with its rows of stylish parasols, is just like that of a foreign country like the Bahamas.
The ocean in this area of Okuma is famous for its clearness and for the variety of tropical fish and other marine life that can be seen here, so snorkeling is recommended if possible.
After the sun goes down in the evening, concerts by artists invited from their home countries start (free of charge, of course). The concert is held outdoors, so you can experience the real groove of the place with a sense of openness.
Point 3: You can also enjoy American gourmet food at “Okuma Beach!
At “Okuma Beach,” as you enter the gate, you will find a variety of booths that will be set up during the festival period.
Everything is American style, such as dynamic BBQ on long skewers, Mexican food such as tacos, roast beef even though it is a booth, etc. The atmosphere is very different from that of a Japanese fair.
There are also restaurants on the premises where you can enjoy authentic steaks, hamburgers, pizza, etc., and cafes where you can enjoy light meals and drinks at reasonable prices, making it a great experience.
Everything from the menu to ordering is in English, the same as in the mainland U.S., so you will definitely have plenty of cross-cultural experience even though you are in Okinawa, Japan.
