The most photogenic beach on Okinawa's main island
The clarity and range of colour in the water are exceptional, and there is a spot here where anyone can take a beautiful photograph.
The rock in the foreground of the first photograph on this page connects to the parking area, so you can stand on it safely. It juts out towards the sea, so in summer with good weather anyone can take a striking photograph.
The colour of the sea seen from that rock is superb. In summer, around noon, on a clear day, it looks like this every time.
For reference, this was taken on the same day at almost the same time. Once cloud comes over, the colour drops away all at once.
Akabaka Beach is ringed by the vast limestone formations only Okinawa has, which give it a landscape of its own. That limestone is said to have built up over a very long time from the skeletons and shells of coral and other lime-forming creatures.
The water is clearer here than at most beaches. At Akabaka and neighbouring Nagahama Beach, the reef edge shelters the shore from ocean swell and the sand grains are large, so sand does not stir up into the water. The gradation is finer than elsewhere too. On a clear summer day, clear blue at the water's edge, emerald green out to the reef edge and deep blue beyond it mix beautifully into colour worth taking your time over.
There is no tree shade at Akabaka. The only shade comes from the rocks around the beach, and it is only large enough for a few people. The photograph shows the rock to the right as you face the sea. There is no parasol hire either, so bring a sun tent if you plan to stay a while.
The reef edge is around 500 metres out, and the deepest point on the way is about adult chest height. It is a little deeper overall than neighbouring Nagahama Beach — more one for adults than children. No swimming area is marked even in summer and there are no lifeguards, so you are free to snorkel. The fish visible near the water's edge are mostly small, a few to a dozen or so centimetres; you have to swim out near the reef edge to find the coral where larger fish gather.
The main part of Akabaka is the beach to the right (east) of the rock that serves as the car park, but there is a beach on the left (west) as well. On the day of this visit — perhaps because of the angle of the sun — the colour of the water there was not at its best.
For a long time the lack of toilets was Akabaka's weak point, but a paid portable toilet (¥100) opened in autumn 2018. There are no showers or foot rinse, but you can buy a 2-litre bottle of water for rinsing at ¥100. There is no changing room either, though you could change behind the screen by the toilet. It is open from 10:00 until sunset. The operator told me they planned to open year-round, but it was closed when I went back on a day with poor weather, so it presumably shuts depending on the season and conditions.
The operator of the toilet above also hires out rings and sells drinks. They seem to close irregularly, though, so bring anything you really need.
Whether because the water is too shallow or because there are few visitors, I have never seen a jet ski at Akabaka. Ocean Bridge Okinawa appears to run sea kayaking and canoeing here. (The photograph is for illustration.)
Nobody was there on the day of this visit, but I have seen people barbecuing in the rock shade at the centre of this beach before. Bring all your own equipment and food. Camping would be possible, but with only toilets on site and the danger of pitching a tent near the water's edge, it is not something I would recommend to beginners.
There are no restaurants beside the beach. On a fine day it is a pleasure to buy an Okinawan-style bento at Hokuzan Shop, six minutes by car and eat it on the sand. For a sit-down meal, Tasora no Eki Haso Park, eight minutes away has an unfussy local feel; Lion Shokudo, six minutes away does smarter set meals; and for Okinawa soba it is worth going the fifteen minutes to Kajimaya.
We do not run beach yoga at Akabaka Beach. The nearest beach where we do is 21st Century Forest Beach, 40 minutes away by car.
Apart from the toilet being closed at times and the lack of swimming facilities, there are no drawbacks. Personally I would be sorry to see Akabaka developed into a tourist spot — as long as the toilet is usable, I think it is fine as it is.
In Japanese (for maps, taxis and car navigation): 赤墓ビーチ 沖縄県国頭郡今帰仁村諸志５８３
We run beach yoga here too. Check availability and book in a few steps.