Small, but the clarity and gradation are as good as it gets
The beach is small, but the clarity and gradation are superb. Snorkelling is permitted, and the number of fish you can see is the main draw.
The water to the far left as you face the sea is shallow and coral grows there, so on a clear day the emerald green is lovely. Light blue at the water's edge blending into indigo offshore gives the gradation the particular beauty of the north, where nature has been left alone.
The water is only about waist deep, but the coral means there are plenty of fish. With luck you may meet one of 40 cm. Bring a snorkel or a mask and look.
No jellyfish net goes up at Anchi at any time of year, and there are no lifeguards. You can swim without worrying about a marked area, at your own risk. Under the bridge is off-limits, though — it works like a channel there, with fast currents and a sudden drop.
Fragments of coral lie all over the seabed and the sand grains are large — enough to hurt bare feet, but it means sand does not mix into the water, so the clarity is high. As noted above, the gradation is lovely on a clear day.
The only shade beside the beach comes from the big tree at the left end as you face the sea, and from under the bridge at the right end. In summer the hired parasols and the beach house provide shade as well.
Under the bridge linking Sesoko Island and the main island, at the right end of the beach, is also shaded. Swimming there is not permitted because it is dangerous, so setting up here puts you a few dozen metres from the swimming area.
The nearest toilets are in the public car park immediately after you cross the Sesoko Bridge from the main island — about three minutes' walk, so a little way off. In summer a free portable toilet is set up beside the beach, which helps. Showers run in summer only, at ¥250 for adults and ¥150 for children. There is no foot rinse, so if you are not using the showers it is worth keeping a 2-litre bottle of water per person in the car.
The closest place to eat is Shirahama Shokudo, next to the beach. When I visited in September 2016 the only thing on the menu was zenzai and meals were suspended. A beach house opens in summer as well. There are several stylish cafés on Sesoko Island, so if you have a car it may be worth driving to one you like.
The beach house opens in summer only. The menu is simple — taco rice, curry, soba and the like.
A covered barbecue facility opens in summer only, by reservation. Book through Okinawa Marine Studio. In winter the facility is taken down. You could barbecue by bringing your own tarp and equipment, but the space is tight and there is nowhere to wash up, so I would not really recommend it.
In summer only, you can hire various things from Shirahama Shokudo or the beach house. The photograph shows the hire corner at Shirahama Shokudo.
The beach house hire menu. A parasol and chairs are ¥2,500.
Banana boat is ¥1,800, jet ski ¥3,000 — a little below the going rate. In summer you sign up at the beach house; in winter, book through Okinawa Marine Studio.
You are free to snorkel at Anchi. Many beaches forbid it, and even where it is allowed a sandy bottom means few fish — here you can actually snorkel properly. (The photograph is for illustration.)
You can practise yoga on the beach at Anchi from April to November. It faces west, but in summer the sun rises from beyond the bridge, so a morning session here means watching the sunrise. Book beach yoga here.
The beach is small — under 100 metres, at a guess. The photographs under "Beautiful gradation" and "Shade (under the bridge)" show almost all of it.
The main island is directly opposite, so there is no horizon ahead. The view to the left is good, with Ie Island in sight.
In Japanese (for maps, taxis and car navigation): アンチ浜（瀬底島） 沖縄県国頭郡本部町アンチ浜
We run beach yoga here too. Check availability and book in a few steps.