Araha Beach, a great beach to visit with children
👋 Haisai! It’s CULT here.
Today, I’d like to share a bit about a beach along Route 58 during a rental car trip in Okinawa. Firstly, there’s a large playground shaped like a sailing ship, which kids love, and it’s very convenient for meals or accommodation with nearby restaurants and the American Village. Also, the American Village Sunset Beach… well, in June and July, it’s not actually a sunset beach. To watch the sun set over the horizon, you should consider Araha Beach instead of the American Village for sunset viewing.
📌 Beach Next to Route 58
If you’re renting a car and travelling north or south without taking the highway, this is an easy spot to encounter on Route 58. It’s right next to the American Village, so if you’re in the mood to watch the sunset, I recommend heading this way. The beach lifeguard ⏰ operates from 9 AM to 5:30 PM. [Google Map]
The rental services for water play equipment and parasols are available during the lifeguard’s operating hours.
Araha Beach may seem modest compared to the scale of American Village, but it does offer a small free parking area. However, on weekend afternoons, it’s unlikely you’ll find a spot, so using a paid parking lot or simply heading straight to American Village might be a good option.
After parking, as you move towards the beach, you’ll find these recreational sports facilities. Since there is a nearby US military residential area, there are quite a few basketball facilities available.
🏖️ Araha Beach
This is the beach. The blue buoys are jellyfish prevention nets, and if you swim outside that area, a lifeguard will come and guide you to play within the buoys. The reason for this operation is that Okinawa has the highest water-related fatality rate in Japan, so they are very sensitive about water safety.
How about visiting Naminoue Shrine before swimming and praying for a safe time in the water?
The blue booth in front is where the lifeguards are stationed. They are the ones who rescue you if there are any unusual occurrences while you’re swimming. The reason you always need to be mindful of water safety in Okinawa is that, although they are diligently training lifeguards, there are simply too many beaches compared to the number of lifeguards available.
Of course, there are also commercial facilities available. You can rent items like life jackets and water tubes, and there are restaurants where you can enjoy a light beer or a meal. Dining with the beach as your backdrop is quite pleasant. The terrace of this restaurant is a good spot because you can watch the sunset over the horizon even in summer.
🚿 Shower Facilities and Playground
If you’ve only dipped your feet in the beach, it’s recommended to wash them at the foot bath as there might still be some salt on them. It’s free, so feel free to use it without any worries.
There is also a coin-operated shower where you can shower for 3 minutes with 100 yen. It’s a bit disappointing that they don’t seem to sell disposable towels, which would have been convenient.
Once you step outside the beach, you’ll find a variety of commercial facilities. If the dining options here don’t quite suit your taste, taking a short trip out might be a good idea.
This is the landmark representing this beach. It’s a playground shaped like a pirate ship, and children always get excited about new playgrounds.
Okinawa has many beaches that are great for playing with children.
I’ll introduce all those wonderful beaches to you. See you again, Matayasai 👋
