What is Nishinohama Beach like? How to get there and its attractions
Table of Contents
What is Mizuna Island like?
Mizuna Island is a remote island located relatively close to the northern part of Okinawa's main island.
Despite being a remote island, the number of tourists visiting throughout the year is estimated to be as high as 60,000, due in part to the excellent tours and beach facilities.
And the most distinctive feature of Mizuna Island is that the island is shaped like a croissant.
For this reason, it is sometimes called "Croissant Island" because of this shape.
↓ First time visitors to Mizuna Island are also welcome☆.
Click here for recommended tours of Mizuna Island
Directions from Naha Airport and Watakuchi Port
To get to Mizuna Island, take a high-speed boat from Watakuchi Port on the main island.
The two main routes from Naha Airport to Watakuchi Port are by rental car and by bus.
If renting a car, first head from Naha Airport to the Xuden IC via Okinawa Expressway, then travel via Route 58 to Watakuchi Port (about 1.5 hours).
By bus, take the "Yanbaru Express Bus" from the bus stop at Naha Airport and get off at "Motobu Museum Mae" (about 2 hours).
It takes about 9 minutes (700m) on foot from where you get off to Watakuchi Port.
From Watakuchi Port, take the "New Wing Minna" high-speed boat, which takes about 15 minutes.
↓For more information about the ferry to Mizuna Island, click here.
Click here for tours with ferry to Mizuna Island
Why choose Mizuna Island?
Mizuna Island has a population of about 50 people, but is located close to the main island of Okinawa and can be reached on a day trip.
The island's pristine nature as well as well-maintained beaches make it ideal for beginners to the remote islands.
And best of all, the beautiful ocean and colorful coral reefs surrounding the island are the best part of the scenery!
Spending time on Mizuna Island is an extraordinary experience, as if you are not in Japan.
Click here to see the ranking of popular tours to Mizuna Island.
Attractions of Mizuna Island
Mizuna Island has so many attractions that it attracts numerous tourists.
Here are some of the attractive points of Mizuna Island!
Beaches with blue sea and white sand
The beaches of Mizuna Island impress many tourists with their beautiful emerald green sea and white sandy beaches, which are extremely beautiful and photogenic in contrast!
The most popular beach on the island, "Mizuna Beach," is located right next to the landing area, and is equipped with changing rooms, lockers, showers, toilets, and a monitoring station, so you can enjoy yourself to the fullest even if you do not have anything to hand.
The shallow, calm waters of Mizuna Beach are also perfect for swimming.
↓ Learn more about swimming ↓
↓ Click here for recommended tours for swimming ↓ Click here for recommended tours for swimming
Enjoy marine activities!
At Mizuna Beach, visitors can experience various marine activities such as snorkeling, diving, jet skiing, and SUP.
Marine activities in the beautiful ocean are exceptional.
There is a marine goods rental store on the beach, but it gets crowded during the high season, so it is better to join a tour to enjoy marine activities more efficiently.
Click here for tours with equipment rental ↓ Click here for tours with equipment rental ↓ Click here for tours with equipment rental
Beautiful cobblestone streets
There are beautiful white stone-paved paths in the village of Mizuna Island.
The path is paved with cobblestones that look like a turtle's shell and giraffe patterns, with stone walls on both sides, creating a very atmospheric scene.
There are also beautiful white flowers called "hamayu," which are famous in Okinawa, and lush greenery, which, like the ocean, are sure to be a good photo-op.
What is Nishinohama Beach like?
There are several other beaches on Mizuna Island besides Mizuna Beach.
Let us introduce you to Nishi no Hama Beach, located on the west side of the island.
Directions from Mizuna Port
From Mizuna Harbor, follow the road to the right, a distance of 1 km, or about 10 minutes on foot.
By car, it takes about 4 minutes to get there.
The entrance to the beach is overgrown with greenery, and some areas are rugged with rocks, so be careful where you step, especially if you are visiting at night.
Attractions of Nishi-no-hama Beach
Here are some of the attractions of Nishi-no-hama Beach that you should definitely visit at least once!
Emerald green sea
Nishi no Hama Beach is located not far from Suina Beach.
The ocean here is also a beautiful emerald green, and the surface of the water sparkles in the sunlight during the day.
Colorful coral formations can also be seen nearby, but there are no buoys or nets specifically placed offshore.
Therefore, be careful not to go too far offshore.
The most beautiful sunset
The main attraction of Nishi-no-hama Beach is that it offers the most beautiful sunset view.
The view from the beach is unobstructed and there are no street lights around.
You can watch the sunset simply and beautifully, without stress.
Relax on your own private beach!
Nishi-no-hama Beach does not have toilets, showers, lockers, or other facilities, so visitors tend to be fewer than those at Mizuna Beach.
This makes it a quiet and relaxing place to spend time.
This beach is recommended for those who prefer sunbathing on the beach rather than enjoying themselves with marine activities.
Activities you can enjoy in the sea of Mizuna Island
Here are some of the best marine activities you can enjoy on Mizuna Island!
These activities can be experienced mainly at Mizuna Beach.
snorkeling
Snorkeling is an easy activity to enjoy in the sea wearing goggles and fins.
There are two types of access to the ocean: one directly from the beach and the other after a boat ride out to sea.
Recommendations
You can see colorful tropical fish and coral reefs unique to the Okinawan sea up close.
There are also stores on Mizuna Island where you can rent snorkeling gear, and if you join a tour, an instructor will give you a detailed lecture.
Therefore, even beginners will feel comfortable with the experience.
↓ Learn more about snorkeling ↓
↓ Click here for recommended snorkeling tours ↓ Click here for recommended snorkeling tours
diving
Diving is a great way to dive deeper than snorkeling and enjoy the beauty of the ocean.
There are diving experiences available even without a license, so if you are interested, why not try one of our tours?
Recommendations
As with snorkeling, you can of course enjoy the beautiful emerald green ocean, but diving deeper allows you to see coral reefs that have rarely been touched by humans.
Therefore, you will experience a more mystical space.
Depending on the tour, they will even take photos underwater, making it a great memory-making experience.
↓ Learn more about diving ↓
↓ Click here for recommended diving tours ↓ Click here for recommended diving tours
SUP
SUP stands for "stand up paddleboarding," an activity in which you stand on a surfboard and use a paddle to walk on the water.
It has gradually gained popularity over the past few years, and at night you can even enjoy "night SUP" by attaching LEDs to your surfboard.
Recommendations
Surfboards are surprisingly stable and do not capsize easily.
This makes it easy for even beginners to experience it, and also allows them to strengthen their core by doing yoga on a surfboard.
Also, visitors can sit on a surfboard and observe the underwater environment, among other things.
Learn more about SUP ↓↓
Click here for recommended SUP tours ↓ Click here for recommended SUP tours ↓ Click here for recommended SUP tours
Canoe/Kayak
Canoeing and kayaking are activities that allow visitors to enjoy walking on the water in a small boat.
The difference between a canoe and a kayak is the number of blades on the end of the paddle.
The difference is that a canoe has a blade on only one side of the paddle, while a kayak has blades on both.
Recommendations
Canoeing and kayaking can be enjoyed by both small children and adults, and even those who are not comfortable swimming in the water can enjoy the experience.
The clarity of the Okinawan sea is outstanding, so you can see well enough to peek underwater from a canoe or kayak.
↓ Learn more about canoeing and kayaking ↓
marine sports
As mentioned above, Mizuna Beach offers a variety of marine sports.
A wide range of marine sports can be experienced, from thrilling experiences like banana boating to graceful aerial walks like parasailing.
Please try to find your favorite marine sport.
Recommendations
When experiencing marine sports, you will be properly accompanied by an instructor and wear a life jacket, so you can enjoy them with peace of mind.
All equipment can be rented on site, so as long as you are wearing a bathing suit, you will have no problem going empty-handed.
↓ Learn more about marine sports ↓
↓ Click here for recommended marine sports tours ↓ Click here for recommended marine sports tours
Recommended Tours in Mizuna Island
Here are some recommended tours you can enjoy on Mizuna Island!
In high season, ferries can be crowded, so it may be smoother to take a tour to Mizuna Island.
We invite you to join us for a tour and enjoy a pleasant moment!
Snorkeling at Mizuna Island! (No.604)
A very popular boat entry snorkeling plan where you can see colorful corals and fish!
Boat entry takes you directly to the point by boat, so you can enjoy a bit of a cruising sensation while snorkeling at your leisure.
Experience diving in Mizuna Island! (No.605)
With the support of your instructor, dive into a world of excitement!
Clear waters, beautiful corals, and vivid fish welcome you.
Boat entry allows you to dive directly to the dive site by boat, so you do not have to walk around with heavy equipment on your back.
Summer Only] Mizuna Island Swimming Free Plan (with parasol) (No.613)
Let's make your own original plan by combining your choice of different types of swimming at Mizuna Island!
Of course, you can apply for swimming only! We can make a plan according to your travel schedule.
summary
We hope you enjoyed our introduction to the charms of Nishi-no-hama Beach on Mizuna Island and the activities you can enjoy on Mizuna Island.
The time spent in the beautiful ocean, one of the best beaches in Japan, is sure to be a wonderful memory.
We invite you to experience the waters of Mizuna Island, where you can enjoy a variety of activities to the fullest for men and women of all ages!
Thank you for taking the time to read this to the end.
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