Ikei Beach
👋 Haisai! It’s CULT here.
Today, let’s talk about Ikei Beach, located in the eastern part of Okinawa. With gentle waves and currents, it’s 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 offers 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 an Okinawa trip planned, consider adding it to your itinerary.
📌 Location and Information of Ike Beach
The location of Ikei Beach is on Miyagi Island in eastern Okinawa, and it is easily accessible by rental car as it is connected by the Kaichu Road. However, as the road is winding, it is recommended to drive slowly and carefully when visiting. [Google Maps]
It is closed every Wednesday and Thursday, and ⏰ opening hours are from 10 AM to 4 PM. Okinawa’s beaches usually 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 like this. 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 stress from parking.
This is the entrance to Ikkei Beach. You can enter through that entrance, but do note that this is definitely a paid facility. So, you will need to pay an entrance fee.
The price is 400 yen for middle school students to adults, 300 yen for children aged 5 and above up to elementary school students, and free for those under 4 years old. For camping, it’s 600 yen for adults and 400 yen for children.
🏝️ Beautiful Beach
This is the welcome sign you encounter when you first enter Ikay Beach. Okinawa’s summer usually features such blue skies and pretty clouds, so you can probably expect a similar view when you visit.
The first thing you’ll notice is the lifeguard station. In Okinawa, swimming and snorkelling in areas without a lifeguard are strictly prohibited. If you were to engage in water activities outside the lifeguard’s watchful eye or in unauthorised areas and an accident occurs, insurance will not cover it. So, please be mindful of your safety 🛟
The swimming area is marked by buoys within the beach, and no-entry signs are displayed outside the lifeguard’s surveillance range. If you unknowingly wander into the wrong area, a lifeguard will come and guide you to a safe spot.
The swimming area is 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. This area is designated as a safe swimming zone by Okinawa, and lifeguards monitor to ensure you swim within this area.
The beach has quite a wide stretch of sand. It seems this is possible because the area experiences mild waves and currents, resulting in minimal sand erosion. You can rent parasols, sunbeds, goggles, and more here.
A parasol is 1,000 yen / a sunbed is 1,000 yen / a mat is 1,000 yen / goggles are 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 clear and the surrounding terrain provides protection, allowing you to enjoy swimming safely. Okinawa unfortunately holds the dubious honour 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 opt for a barbecue, which costs 1,600 yen per person. Meat, vegetables, seasonings, gas, and an iron plate are provided. You can also bring your own food supplies from outside.
This is meant to be installed for interior decoration, right?
As I was sitting on Ikkei Beach enjoying the leisure, I noticed a group of young men having a delightful time swimming. The water is clear and refreshing.
🚿 Other Facilities
Of course, there are toilets available. The building is a bit old, perhaps because it’s an older beach, but rest assured, it doesn’t affect its usability at all.
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 would actually bring 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. However, since Ike Beach is a completely paid facility, it’s understandable.
If you’re just dipping your feet in the beach, you can use the foot bath for free. Even if you’re not swimming, many people like to just dip their ankles and feel the sea, right? This facility is 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 such as swimsuits, tubes, and goggles, ensuring you have everything you need for a day at the beach.
What do you think? Does it sound like a good beach to visit during your summer trip to Okinawa? If you’re looking for tranquillity, I recommend Ikei Beach.
