A Hidden Beach in Okinawa You Can Enjoy for Free
Okinawa’s main island is home to countless beautiful beaches, but many are crowded with tourists or managed as paid private beaches by hotels. Among them, Kaganji Beach offers both serenity and crystal-clear waters. This little-known spot features a wide stretch of white sand under the blue sky. In this article, we’ll introduce its charm and explain how to get there.
Kaganji Beach
Kaganji Beach is a public beach located in Kunigami Village in northern Okinawa’s main island. It is one of the rare places that anyone can access for free. Without the need to travel to remote islands, you can experience stunning scenery here. Since it’s not widely known among tourists, it retains a hidden, untouched atmosphere. It’s also a perfect stopover for a northern Okinawa road trip.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | 142 - 10 Kaganji, Kunigami Village, Okinawa 905 - 1416 |
| Usage Fee | Free |
| Facilities | No toilets or showers |
| Access | Approx. 2 hours by car from Naha, 1–1.5 hours from central Okinawa |
One of the Few Free Public Beaches in Northern Okinawa
Northern Okinawa is home to many resort hotels, and most of their beautiful beaches are either restricted to guests or require an entry fee. Kaganji Beach, however, is a rare and valuable public beach that anyone can enjoy for free.
That said, there are no facilities such as toilets or showers. If you plan on swimming, be mindful of this limitation.
Even so, the beauty of the sand and sea rivals that of resort hotels. Whether it’s a quiet walk along the beach or simply gazing out over the sea, it’s an ideal spot for those seeking peaceful time.
Resort-Level Beauty Without the Price Tag
The charm of Kaganji Beach is not only its quiet, uncrowded atmosphere.
What makes it truly special is that despite being free, it offers the same level of beauty as Okinawa’s high-end resort beaches. Not every beach in Okinawa boasts such clear water, but here you’ll find pristine white sand and transparent waves.
Right next door is the “Okuma Private Beach & Resort,” known as Okuma Beach. While Okuma Beach charges non-guests ¥1,500, Kaganji Beach allows anyone to enjoy similar scenery completely free.
Okuma Beach is well-maintained and highly recommended as one of Okinawa’s top resorts. However, if you’re not staying overnight and are instead exploring northern Okinawa by car, Kaganji Beach is a more casual yet equally beautiful alternative that you can enjoy freely.
About 2 Hours from Naha: Enjoy a Scenic Coastal Drive
From central Okinawa (Kin Town), it takes about 1–1.5 hours by car, and from Naha it’s about 2 hours via the expressway. Think of it as slightly farther than the trip to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.
(It’s about 60 minutes from Churaumi Aquarium and about 40 minutes from Junglila Okinawa.)
Particularly along Route 58 in the north, you’ll find many stretches of road running alongside the coast. The drive itself, with panoramic ocean views from your window, is stunning. For those who enjoy driving, it’s well worth the trip even from Naha.
A Must-Visit Hidden Spot on Your Northern Okinawa Drive
Unlike commercialized beaches, Kaganji Beach is one of the few public beaches that can be enjoyed free of charge.
While facilities are minimal, the white sand and clear waters offer a peaceful environment rarely found elsewhere.
Since the route along Okinawa’s Route 58 also provides breathtaking coastal views, Kaganji Beach makes for an excellent stop on a northern Okinawa scenic drive.
If you’re looking for a place on Okinawa’s main island to quietly enjoy a beautiful beach without paying, Kaganji Beach is a perfect choice.
