Ikei Beach
👋 Haisai! This is CULT.
Today, let’s talk about Ikei Beach, located in the eastern part of Okinawa, where the waves and currents are gentle, making it a great spot for the whole family to enjoy together. Although this beach is quite far from the typical beaches on the west side of Okinawa, it has less parking stress and isn’t too crowded, making it a recommended spot for those who want to enjoy a quieter beach experience. If you have a trip to Okinawa planned, consider adding it to your itinerary.
📌 Location and Information of Ikkei Beach
The location of Ikei Beach is on Miyagi Island, east of Okinawa, and it is easily accessible by rental car as it is connected by a marine road. However, as the road is winding, it is recommended to drive slowly and carefully when visiting. [Google Map]
It is closed every Wednesday and Thursday, and ⏰ opening hours are from 10 AM to 4 PM. Okinawa’s beaches generally operate from early April to the end of October, so you can check the website for more detailed information. [Ikei Beach]
When you arrive using Google Maps, you’ll find a spacious car park. If you park under the trees inside, it can be a bit cooler, so if there are no vehicles, I recommend parking over there. Even during the peak summer season, this place isn’t crowded, so you probably won’t experience any parking-related stress.
This is the entrance to Ikkei Beach. You can enter through that entrance, but please note that this is a paid facility. Therefore, you need to pay an entrance fee.
The price is 400 yen for middle school students to adults, 300 yen for children aged 5 to elementary school students, and free for those under 4 years old. For camping, it is 600 yen for adults and 400 yen for children.
🏝️ Beautiful Beach
This is the welcome sign you encounter when you first enter Ike Beach. Okinawa’s summer usually boasts such blue skies and pretty clouds, so you can expect a similar view when you visit.
The first thing you’ll notice is the lifeguard station. In Okinawa, swimming and snorkelling are strictly prohibited in areas without lifeguards. If you were to engage in water activities outside the range of a lifeguard’s supervision or at an unauthorised facility and an accident were to occur, insurance would not cover it. So please be sure to prioritise your safety 🛟
The swimming area is marked by buoys within the beach, and areas outside the lifeguard’s watch are indicated with no-entry signs like this. If you unknowingly wander into the wrong area, a lifeguard will come and guide you to a safe spot.
The areas where swimming is allowed are determined based on the number of tourists, and since this place is not usually crowded with visitors, you can enjoy swimming within the buoy line drawn in the sea, centred around the diving pier on the left. That area is designated as a safe swimming zone by Okinawa, and lifeguards monitor to ensure you swim within this zone.
The beach has quite a wide stretch of sand. This seems possible because the waves and currents are mild here, resulting in less sand erosion. You can rent parasols, sunbeds, goggles, and more.
Parasols are 1,000 yen / Sunbeds 1,000 yen / Mats 1,000 yen / Goggles 300 yen / The tent shown in the photo is 3,000 yen. All prices are per day.
Ikkei Beach is a place where the water is so clean and protected by the surrounding terrain, allowing you to enjoy swimming safely. Okinawa unfortunately holds the dishonour of having the highest drowning rate in Japan, which is why the region is very strict about water safety. I hope you enjoy your time in the water safely and return with wonderful memories.
When you walk along the beach, you can witness scenes like this. Especially on weekdays, there are even fewer people, so if you visit on a Monday or Tuesday, it feels almost like you have the place to yourself.
After renting a tent, you can also book a barbecue for 1,600 yen per person. Meat, vegetables, seasonings, gas, and an iron plate are provided. Bringing in outside food is also allowed.
This is meant to be installed for interior decoration, right?
I was sitting on Ike Beach enjoying some leisure time, and I noticed a group of young men having fun swimming. The water is clear and refreshing.
🚿 Other Facilities
Of course, there are toilets available. Although the building is a bit old, possibly due to the age of the beach, it is perfectly functional, so rest assured.
You can also use the coin lockers. However, there are only a few of them, and if you’ve brought your own padlock, you can use that instead. I’m not sure if anyone actually brings their own padlock here, though. You can leave your clothes here for a moment and take a shower.
This is a coin-operated shower. You can shower for 3 minutes for 200 yen, which does feel a bit pricey. Ikkei Beach is a quiet spot, but it’s a fully paid facility.
If you’re just dipping your feet in the beach, you can use the foot bath area for free. Even if you’re not swimming, many people enjoy just soaking their ankles and experiencing the sea, right? This facility is perfect for those people.
Additionally, there are dining facilities where you can enjoy light meals like Okinawa soba and zenzai, and a small shop selling items for enjoying the beach such as swimsuits, tubes, and goggles.
What do you think? Does it sound like a beach worth visiting during your summer trip to Okinawa? If you’re looking for tranquillity, I recommend Ikei Beach.
