Activities in Okinawa & The Southwest Islands
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USS Emmons
Okinawa's most famous dive spot is the wreck of the USS Emmons, a US Navy Gleaves-class destroyer that sunk in 1944 around 1km off Kouri-jima, a small island lying northeast of the Motobu Peninsula. Divers can make out the hulk from the depth of 25m, though strong currents, low visibility and the presence of unexploded ordinance make this a challenging dive.
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Maeda Point
One of Okinawa's most popular dive spots is Maeda Point, located off Cape Maeda, which has a drop-off wall that attracts numerous species of tropical fish including batfish, parrotfish, barracudas and clownfish.
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IANTD Okinawa, dive operators
Located in Naha's suburban sprawl, this is one of two English-speaking dive shops. It's a bit difficult to find, but if you phone ahead, it can arrange a pick-up from your accommodation.
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Reef Encounters, dive operators
Located in Naha's suburban sprawl, this is one of two English-speaking dive shops. It's a bit difficult to find, but if you phone ahead, it can arrange a pick-up from your accommodation.
reviewed
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Yonehara Beach
North of Ishigaki City along Rte 79 is Yonehara Beach, a nice sand beach with a good bit of reef offshore. You can rent snorkel gear (¥1000) at any of the shops along the main road.
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Ubudomai-hama
The best beach here is Ubudomai-hama, which is located at the east end of the island, shortly before Agarizaki (look out for the steep access road).
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Tsuki-ga-hama
The best swimming beach on the island is Tsuki-ga-hama, a crescent-shaped yellow-sand beach at the mouth of the Urauchi-gawa on the north coast.
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Marlin Fishing
In addition to diving, the seas off Yonaguni are also renowned for marlin, and the All-Japan Billfish Tournament is held here each year in June or July. If you're interested in trolling, boats in Kubura can be chartered from ¥55,000 a day – call the Yonaguni Fishing Co-operative for information.
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Kokusen Awamori
If you want to sample Hanazake, the island's infamous local brew, head to Kokusen Awamori, which is located in Sonai and offers free tastings and sales on-site.
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Kaitei Iseki
Popular are the Kaitei Iseki, discovered by chance in 1985 by marine explorer Kihachirou Aratake. Some claim that these ruins, which look like giant blocks or steps of a sunken pyramid, are the remains of a Pacific Atlantis, although there are equally compelling arguments that they are just the random result of geological processes. If you don't dive, Jack's Dolphin glass-bottomed boatand Mosura no Tamagodo trips to the ruins, but don't expect to see too much if it's choppy.
There are numerous dive operators on the island. One shop with English-speaking guides is SaWest
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Iriomote Onsen
Part of the Painu Maya Resort hotel, on the east coast of the island, Iriomote Onsen has indoor and outdoor baths. The grounds are attractively landscaped, and there are soothing views of the nearby forest. The onsen-hotel is easy to miss; it's off the main road about 20km north of Ōhara.
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Hoshisuna-no-hama
If you're looking to do a bit of snorkelling, head to this beach on the northwestern tip of the island. The beach is named after its star sand, which actually consists of the dried skeletons of tiny sea creatures. If you are a competent swimmer and the sea is calm, make your way with mask and snorkel to the outside of the reef – the coral and tropical fish here are spectacular.
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