A long beach with about 400 m of sand
Odomari is the largest beach on Ikei Island. The 400 m or so of sand is broad and gives a great sense of space.
BeachCentral Okinawa (Ikei Island, Uruma)
Odomari Beach
The widest beach on Ikei and Miyagi islands
The longest beach on Ikei Island, with around 400 metres of sand. There is coral even inside the swimming area and plenty of fish — bring a snorkel and spend time with them.
Clarity
4/5
Colour
3/5
Views
3/5
Shade
3/5
Facilities
5/5
Unspoilt
5/5
Highlights
High clarity
The clarity is among the highest of any beach on the main island of Okinawa. Odomari faces Kin Bay, so it is little affected by waves from the open sea and the water does not cloud easily.
There are plenty of fish
There is coral inside the swimming area as well as outside it, so plenty of fish swim here. And no jellyfish net hangs from the floats that mark the area. Watching the fish come and go freely, just as they are, is one of the pleasures of this beach.
Good to Know
Water clarity and gradation
As written among the things to recommend, the clarity is among the best of any beach on the main island of Okinawa. The gradation runs from clear blue at the water's edge gradually into emerald green, and then slowly into deep blue further out. The reef edge at Odomari is not much developed, so the colour does not change sharply at a boundary but deepens by degrees. In that sense the view is not especially tropical, but where coral lies in the shallows the water darkens, which gives the gradation some accent.
Shade (under the trees)
Low trees grow beside the beach, giving patches of shade large enough to spread a mat in. There are not many wide patches, though, so for a large group hiring one of the tents in the photograph below is the better plan.
Shade (tents)
Tent hire is ¥3,000 for a large tent and ¥2,000 for a small one. This photograph shows a large one. It has room for two tables, but only one comes with the set, so spread a mat over the rest of the space. Mats (beach goza, ¥500) can be hired as well — see the photograph of the hire items below. Note that bringing your own sun shade or tent carries a fee: ¥500 for a sun shade and ¥1,500 for a tent. For the details of those fees, see the sign at the top right of the photograph under Showers, changing rooms and coin lockers (inside the reception building).
Swimming and snorkelling
The swimming area is among the largest of any beach on the main island of Okinawa — 50 m deep and more than 100 m wide. A life jacket is not compulsory for snorkelling, and towards the far end of the area the water is deep enough to dive in. Best of all, the swimming area lies within the coral reef, so there are a great many fish.
Toilets
The toilets are about a minute's walk from the beach. The building is old.
Showers, changing rooms and coin lockers (inside the reception building)
The showers and changing rooms are inside the reception building at the entrance to the beach, and valuables can be left there too. The rough-and-ready feel — the English on the signs and so on — is part of the charm.
Outdoor showers
Diagonally opposite the reception building there are outdoor showers. There are no locks and no doors, so you rinse off in your swimming costume.
Equipment hire
The hire items, and the parlour menu. Prices are low across the board.
Water sports (unlimited rides for a day)
For water sports and marine activities there is an unheard-of plan — unlimited rides for ¥3,500 a day. At other beaches the going rate is around ¥2,000 for fifteen minutes, so the value is overwhelming. The photograph is from my visit in 2018; whether it is still running this year I do not know, so do ask.
Water sports (sea kayaks)
There was also a sign for sea kayaks at ¥3,000 for twenty minutes. I forgot to ask whether that is per person or for two people together. I will ask next time.
The parlour
Opposite the reception building there is a small parlour with seating for about six. Mostly you order there and take it to the beach. The menu is as you see it, and at ¥500 for every food item it is very reasonable. (* The photograph can be enlarged.)
Barbecues and camping
For a barbecue you have to book the barbecue set (stove, hotplate and charcoal) in advance. The cost is the entry fee for each person, plus the barbecue set (¥3,000), plus the tent (¥2,000–3,000). All the food you bring yourself.
For camping, the cost is the entry fee for each person for two days, plus ¥10,000 for the camping set (barbecue set, tent and lighting). This too has to be booked in advance.
For the details of camping and barbecues, see the official website.
Shop
The shop in the reception building sells snacks, island sandals and the like. Everything you need for swimming or for the beach can be hired, so the range in the shop is not large.
Sunshine Odomari Beach
Beyond the rope on the left as you face the sea is the neighbouring Sunshine Odomari Beach. While writing this I compared the two briefly. They are one beach divided in two by a rope, so the sea is equally beautiful on both sides, and both have about the same amount of coral. The swimming area at Sunshine is slightly smaller, but by the standards of other beaches in Okinawa both are amply wide. The stretch of sand is longer at Odomari. Tent prices are the same. The biggest difference is the entry fee — at Sunshine Odomari Beach there is none, only ¥500 per car for the car park. Which makes me wonder whether Sunshine is not the better value after all. I shall go and investigate.
Beach yoga
We do not run beach yoga at Odomari Beach. The nearest beach where we do is Araha Beach, about 70 minutes away by car.
Note
If the sea were a little more emerald green, the tropical feeling would be stronger. And because what lies beyond the water is the main island of Okinawa rather than the horizon, the sense of openness is slightly reduced.
Information
View on Google Maps →
Last checked: September 2018
In Japanese (for maps, taxis and car navigation): 大泊ビーチ 沖縄県うるま市与那城伊計１０１２
Morning and evening yoga
at Odomari Beach
We run beach yoga here too. Check availability and book in a few steps.