Nakanoshima Beach

Okinawa & the Southwest Islands


The best snorkelling beach on Shimoji and Irabu, Nakanoshima Beach is protected by a high-walled bay on the west coast of Shimoji-jima. You'll greatly enhance your experience by making your visit early in the morning, around lunchtime or in lower seasons, when buses and boats aren't descending on the beach all at once. Look for the sign reading 'Nakano Island The Beach'.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Okinawa & the Southwest Islands attractions

1. Tōri-ike

0.98 MILES

An intriguing site for a stroll or dive is this pair of seawater pools on the west coast of Shimoji-jima, known by locals as 'dragon's eyes' – these are…

2. Toguchi-no-hama

2.16 MILES

On Irabu-jima's west coast, this is the island's best swimming beach, with showers, toilets and the delightful Blue Turtle bar-restaurant.

3. Nagamahama

8.44 MILES

If you've seen the crowds at Yonaha-Maehama and decided you want something quieter, head across the Kurima Bridge and drive to the northwest coast of…

4. Miyako-jinja

8.49 MILES

Hidden away in downtown Hirara, a district of Miyakojima city, Miyako-jinja is a recently reconstructed shrine that, over time, merged two disparate…

5. Yonaha-Maehama Beach

9.07 MILES

On the southwest coast, beautiful Yonaha-Maehama is a 6km stretch of white sand that attracts a lot of families and young folk due to its shallow waters…

6. Sunayama Beach

9.16 MILES

Just 4km north of the Hirara district of Miyakojima city, you'll find this little, archetypally tropical Japan beach, which lies at the bottom of a large…

7. Ikema-jima

10.36 MILES

Head north to drive across Ikema-Ōhashi (池間大橋) to the little island of Ikema-jima. The shallow aquamarine water on either side of this 1.4km bridge is…

8. Aragusuku-kaigan Beach

17.86 MILES

On the north side of the island's southeast end, this popular beach is great for shallow-water snorkelling and has showers and toilets.

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      "region": "Okinawa-&-the-Southwest-Islands",
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