Sea filling the whole horizon
The view opens so far that you can see the curve of the horizon. It gives one of the greatest senses of space of any beach on the main island of Okinawa.
BeachCentral Okinawa (Yomitan)
Nirai Beach
Swimmable year-round, with a horizon that looks curved
A beach inside Hotel Nikko Alivila that carries JAL's spirit of hospitality; non-guests may use it free of charge. As at neighbouring Zanpa, the horizon looks curved and the place feels open, and the sun sets beautifully into the sea. The toilets, showers and other swimming facilities are open all year, so you can swim in any season.
Clarity
3/5
Colour
3/5
Views
5/5
Shade
2/5
Facilities
5/5
Unspoilt
4/5
Highlights
You can watch the sun set into the horizon
Cape Zanpa, near this beach, is well known for its sunsets. Like the cape, Nirai Beach has nothing to block the view and a long horizon, so wherever the sun happens to sit at that time of year, on a clear day you can always watch the moment it drops into the sea.
You can swim all year round
As you would expect of a beach inside a hotel, the facilities for swimmers are good. The toilets and showers are open all year, so you can swim here in any season.
There are plenty of staff
There are more staff than at other beaches, so it is easy to go and ask if anything comes up. The staff are international too, so you should be comfortable here even without Japanese. And — perhaps this is my preconception about the Hotel Nikko brand — every member of staff who answered my questions was thoroughly pleasant. (This photograph is for illustration.)
Good to Know
Water clarity and gradation
The clarity is about average compared with other beaches, and the gradation is a little better than average.
Shade (free parasols)
The beach is ringed with trees, but there are none on the beach itself, so no tree shade forms. In front of the changing rooms there are tables with parasols, free to use, but as the photograph shows there are only three, so for a leisurely stay it is best to hire a parasol.
Shade (parasols for hire)
One parasol and two chairs cost ¥3,300 a day, a fraction less than at neighbouring Zanpa Beach. Hotel guests can use them free of charge.
Shade (the special, luxurious option)
If what you want is to spend time doing nothing at all beside a southern sea, I recommend this relaxation set. The lawn area, raised about 50 cm above the beach, is open only to those who have taken the set, so it is quiet. The set includes a parasol, two chairs, a hammock and a water hammock, plus two bottles of mineral water, two chair towels and — remarkably — a cool box. The price is ¥4,110 for hotel guests and ¥6,170 for everyone else. There is also a deluxe set for four (¥6,170 and ¥8,280 respectively). It can be booked through the official website.
Swimming and snorkelling
In summer a jellyfish net is put out and lifeguards keep watch. There is coral around the beach, so there are small fish even inside the swimming area. Unusually for a beach in the prefecture, you may snorkel in the swimming area, though a life jacket is required — and life jackets are lent free of charge.
Showers, changing rooms, toilets and foot rinse
The near end of the wooden-decked building is the entrance to the showers (¥300 for four minutes), the coin lockers (¥200) and the changing rooms; the far end is the entrance to the toilets. All of them are kept clean. Apart from the showers there are two foot rinses near the entrance to the beach.
Restaurant
There is a parlour-like restaurant beside the beach. It is shaded and cool.
The restaurant menu
It is a shame that the menu runs at tourist prices — taco rice ¥1,200, takoyaki ¥600.
Shop and vending machines
There is no shop. The drinks and ice cream vending machines are in front of the changing room building.
Equipment hire
As well as parasols (¥3,300 a day), you can hire everything you need for a day in the sea — rings, water boots, snorkelling sets and glass-bottomed viewing boxes.
Marine activities
The range of water sports is very wide; see the official website. My own favourite is the stand-up paddleboard — you float on the sea and go wherever you like.
Camping and barbecues
As this is a beach inside a hotel, camping is not possible. You can barbecue at the beachside restaurant.
Beach yoga
We do not run beach yoga at Nirai Beach. The nearest beach where we do is Zanpa Beach, six minutes away by car.
Parking
The car park to the south-east of the hotel is the free car park for Nirai Beach users (in the photograph). When it is full, use the paid car park in front of the hotel. That costs ¥200 for 60 minutes, but spend ¥2,000 or more at the beach or in the hotel and six hours are free.
Note
The only fault is that the restaurant is expensive. Everything else about it is excellent.
Information
View on Google Maps →
Last checked: August 2018
In Japanese (for maps, taxis and car navigation): ニライビーチ 沖縄県中頭郡読谷村字儀間６００
Morning and evening yoga
at Nirai Beach
We run beach yoga here too. Check availability and book in a few steps.