- Luxurious Time Spent at a Deserted Hidden Beach on Irabu Island
- Hazama Beach Is a Hidden Gem Tucked Away in the South of Irabu Island
- The Stillness of No One Around Is the Greatest Luxury
- The White Sand and Silky Feel Are Lovely
- A Highly Transparent Emerald-Green Sea
- Enjoy Tropical Fish and Coral Reef by Snorkelling
- Calm Waves and an Easy-to-Swim Environment
- Precisely Because There Are No Facilities, Preparation Matters
- Shade and Sun Protection Are Essential
- Few Parking Spaces, but No Need to Worry
- A Packing List for Hazama Beach
- Combine It with Nearby Sights
- A Summary of Hazama Beach's Pros and Cons
- Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
- Special Time Spent at a Deserted Beach
Luxurious Time Spent at a Deserted Hidden Beach on Irabu Island
Leaving Toguchi-no-Hama and driving further south, a small sign caught my eye. It said "Hazama Beach." A name I'd never heard, but if it says beach, I thought I'd give it a go, and turned the wheel.
Driving down a narrow road with sugarcane fields spreading on both sides, I gradually grew anxious. Nothing showed on the car navigation, and doubt welled up about whether there was really a beach ahead — but having come this far, I kept going.
Then suddenly a blue sea came into view at the end of the road, and I was relieved: ah, it was here after all. Parking in a small space and getting out, there was no one around, and all I could hear was the sound of the waves.
The moment I stepped onto the sand, a "wow" came out. Pure white sand and an emerald-green sea spread out, and I was amazed at the clarity. And since there was no one, it was like my own private beach, and thinking "I didn't know a place like this existed on Irabu Island," I sat down on the sand.
I'll introduce Hazama Beach's appeal in detail, based on my experience of visiting many times. About the luxurious time of having a highly transparent sea and white sand to yourself at a quiet beach where hardly any tourists come, I'll write weaving in my actual experiences, so if you're planning to go to Irabu Island, do use it as a guide.
Hazama Beach Is a Hidden Gem Tucked Away in the South of Irabu Island
Hazama Beach is a small beach in the south-west of Irabu Island, further south from Toguchi-no-Hama, and it's a known-to-those-who-know hidden gem barely listed even in tourist guidebooks. Despite being just about 5 minutes by car from the famous Toguchi-no-Hama, the number of tourists who visit is overwhelmingly small, and the greatest appeal is being able to spend quiet time with no crowds.
Access and Location
Address: Irabu, Miyakojima City, Okinawa (Hazama Beach)
Access: about 30 minutes by car from Miyako Airport, about 5 minutes by car from Toguchi-no-Hama
You cross the Irabu Bridge from Miyako Airport onto Irabu Island, then drive about 30 minutes to arrive — but the problem is that entering "Hazama Beach" into the car navigation often doesn't bring it up. I remember getting lost at first too, anxious about where it was.
The surest method is to search "Hazama Beach" on Google Maps, which drops a pin properly, so relying on that you'll be fine. The feel is to drive straight along the road heading south from Toguchi-no-Hama, and turn onto a narrow road when you see the sign.
A Hideaway Beyond the Sugarcane Fields
The section after turning onto the narrow road is a bit anxiety-inducing — sugarcane fields spread on both sides and you drive an unpaved bumpy road, with doubt welling up about whether there's really a beach ahead. But that's to be expected, and it's precisely this hard-to-find access that means few tourists, which conversely makes it a special place only those who get past this anxious road can taste.
The thrill when the view suddenly opens up and the sea comes into view as you drive on never fades no matter how often you go. It's the moment of relief that "ah, it was here after all," together with rising anticipation that "I can have this beautiful sea to myself."
The Stillness of No One Around Is the Greatest Luxury
If I had to express Hazama Beach's greatest appeal in a word, it would be "stillness." At a famous tourist beach, summer especially overflows with people, and even trying to take a photo someone always gets in the frame, and just finding a spot to put up a parasol is hard work — but Hazama Beach is completely different.
In the three times I've visited so far, there has never once been another tourist. Completely reserved to myself, all I could hear was the sound of the waves and the wind, and occasionally a bird call. In a space completely cut off from the bustle of the city, even my phone notifications stopped bothering me, and time spent just listening to the sounds of nature is more luxurious than I'd imagined.
Lying on the sand and looking up at the sky, you see the blue sky and white clouds flowing slowly, and you come to think, "was the passage of time always this slow?" Being able to spend your own time undisturbed by anyone may be a more luxurious experience than going to the private beach of a high-end resort hotel.
The White Sand and Silky Feel Are Lovely
Hazama Beach's sand is pure white and fine, and walking barefoot, the soft, silky feel is pleasant on your soles. Toguchi-no-Hama, Irabu Island's most famous beach, prides itself on white, fine sand too, but Hazama Beach is no less beautiful — rather, with fewer people the beach isn't churned up, giving the impression that it's kept clean.
The beach's size is just right too, with plenty of space to lay out a leisure mat and spend time at ease. Since there's no one, you can choose any spot — set up near the sea, or spend quiet time a little further off — and being able to use it completely freely is the best.
Scoop up the sand by hand and you see it fall silkily through your fingers, and thinking "this is fragments of coral that nature created," I feel I've understood a little of the secret of the beauty of Okinawa's sea. If you bring children, it's fine enough that they could enjoy just playing in the sand.
A Highly Transparent Emerald-Green Sea
Hazama Beach's sea clarity is truly wonderful, with the emerald-green sea called Miyako blue continuing on from the shore. In the shallows the seabed sand is clearly visible, and the clarity is such that you can observe small fish swimming even from the shore — when I first saw it, I was moved: "a sea this clear exists."
Visit on a fine day and the sunlight reflects off the sea, sparkling, and the gradation of blue and green is truly beautiful. It makes a picture when you shoot it, but the real colour is more beautiful, with a beauty photos can't fully convey, so I really want you to see it with your own eyes.
Shallow, So You Can Play with Peace of Mind
Hazama Beach is a shallow beach, and even walking out towards the offshore your feet still touch the bottom. This is a reassuring point for families with small children too, and even those who aren't good swimmers can casually get in the sea and enjoy it.
I'm not a great swimmer either, so being able to soak in the water with peace of mind at a shallow beach is welcome. Just floating slowly and looking up at the sky, or gazing at the patterns of the seabed sand, you feel your heart calming.
Enjoy Tropical Fish and Coral Reef by Snorkelling
Hazama Beach is a hidden snorkelling spot too, and in the highly transparent sea you can see colourful tropical fish swimming. There may not be as many species or numbers of fish as Nakanoshima Beach, but it's enjoyable enough — rather, with fewer people the fish seem to come up close without wariness.
Coral reef is visible here and there too, and peering into the underwater world you meet a different beauty again. You need to bring your own snorkel set (since there's no facility to rent one), but I think every time, "I was right to bring it."
Asking the locals, apparently if you're lucky you can meet a sea turtle. I haven't encountered one yet, but I'm hoping I can next time. Maybe the encounter rate is higher early in the morning or at times with no people.
Calm Waves and an Easy-to-Swim Environment
Hazama Beach has relatively calm waves and an easy-to-swim environment. On days with light wind especially, the sea's surface is quiet like a mirror, and getting in the water has a comfort of being enveloped in that calm.
However, as a note, waves pick up easily on days with a southerly wind, so I recommend checking the wind direction in the forecast before going. It's safer to refrain from swimming on windy days, and on south-wind days jellyfish can apparently drift in on the wind, so care is especially needed during the habu-jellyfish season from June to September.
Before swimming, I observe the state of the sea well and check there are no jellyfish before getting in. Safety first — it's better not to push it.
Precisely Because There Are No Facilities, Preparation Matters
Hazama Beach's one and greatest drawback is that there are no facilities at all. No toilets, showers, shop or vending machines — a truly nothing, left-to-nature beach, so you need to prepare well before visiting.
Use the Toilet Beforehand
The biggest trouble is the toilet — the beach naturally has none, so always use one before coming. I took it lightly at first, thinking "it'll be fine," and have the experience of actually going and panicking: "there isn't one!"
Toguchi-no-Hama has a toilet, so it's wise to always use one there. It's about 5 minutes by car from Hazama Beach, so you can go back if anything happens, but if you don't want to interrupt the precious quiet time, advance preparation is key.
No Shower Either, So Change in the Car
There's no shower either, so after swimming you go back to the car still covered in seawater and change. So I recommend going in easy-to-change clothes, and a bath towel and a change of clothes are essential items.
There's the option of going back to Toguchi-no-Hama to use the shower, but I don't want to spoil the precious quiet atmosphere of Hazama Beach, so I always change in the car and head home. Keeping valuables in a waterproof bag is reassuring.
Bring All Your Drinks and Food
There's no shop or vending machine, so you need to bring all your drinks and food. In summer especially it's hot and hydration is essential, so forgetting really leads to trouble. I once forgot and, parched, retreated in 30 minutes, and since then I make a point of bringing plenty of drinks in a cooler box.
Snacks and sweets are handy too, and eating while relaxing on the sand is fun. But taking all your rubbish home is the etiquette, so don't forget a rubbish bag.
Shade and Sun Protection Are Essential
Hazama Beach has almost no shade, and going down to the beach you take direct sunlight head-on. So without bringing tools that make shade — a parasol, tent or tarp — spending a long time is difficult.
I have the bitter experience of not bringing a parasol on my first visit and, unable to bear the heat in under 30 minutes, retreating. Since then I always bring a parasol, and just having shade makes the comfort completely different.
Sun protection is important too — Okinawa's sun is stronger than you'd imagine, so reapply sunscreen frequently. A hat and sunglasses are essential too, and let your guard down and you really burn bright red. I once had my arms turn bright red and painful, and since then I take thorough measures.
Few Parking Spaces, but No Need to Worry
Hazama Beach's parking space is small, with only about three to five spots. It's an unpaved gravel-and-sand car park, so at a glance you might worry "is it OK to park here?"
But since hardly any tourists come, it almost never fills up. In the three times I've visited, there's never once been another car parked, and an ordinary sedan parked without issue, so you don't need to worry much about ground clearance either.
A Packing List for Hazama Beach
Hazama Beach has no facilities, so preparation is the key to success. From my experience, here's a list of items you'd better bring.
Absolute Essentials
Drinks: no vending machine, so bring plenty
Food: snacks and sweets are handy
Parasol or tent: essential for making shade
Sunscreen: Okinawa's sun is strong
Hat and sunglasses: heatstroke and sunburn protection
Towel: needed after getting out of the sea
Change of clothes: no shower, so change in the car
Rubbish bag: take all your rubbish home
Snorkel set: if you want to see tropical fish
Handy to Have
Leisure mat: to lay on the sand
Cooler box: to keep drinks cold
Float ring or life jacket: safety measure for swimming
Waterproof bag: to protect valuables
Marine shoes: there are rocky areas too
Prepare this much and you can comfortably enjoy Hazama Beach. Forgetting something really causes trouble, so I recommend checking carefully before you set off.
Combine It with Nearby Sights
Hazama Beach is enjoyable enough visited on its own, but touring it combined with nearby sights makes a fuller day.
Toguchi-no-Hama (5 Minutes by Car)
Irabu Island's most popular beach, with facilities like toilets, showers and a car park in place. Stopping by before or after Hazama Beach to use the toilet and shower is a smart plan. The white sand is beautiful, and this is worth a look too.
Sawada-no-Hama (15 Minutes by Car)
A beach chosen as one of Japan's 100 Best Beaches, where you can see a distinctive landscape of scattered tsunami stones. Known as a beautiful sunset spot too, so visiting in the evening is recommended.
17END (20 Minutes by Car)
A phantom beach at the end of Shimojishima Airport's runway, where the emerald-green sea is truly beautiful. You can watch planes take off and land up close too, so it's perfect for photography.
Toriike Pond (15 Minutes by Car)
A mystical pond designated a national natural monument, a curious spot where two ponds connect to the sea underground. It's popular as a power spot too.
A Summary of Hazama Beach's Pros and Cons
Here's an honest summary of Hazama Beach's good points and points needing care, as I felt from actually visiting many times.
Pros
Hardly any tourists and quiet
Being able to taste the luxury of spending time in a reserved state is Hazama Beach's unique appeal.
A beautiful, highly transparent sea
The Miyako-blue emerald-green sea has a beauty that soothes just to look at.
Pure white, silky sand
Fine sand that feels lovely barefoot spreads across the whole beach.
Shallow, so you can play with peace of mind
The shallow sea, reassuring even with children, is perfect for a family trip too.
You can enjoy snorkelling too
You can see tropical fish and coral reef, and sometimes meet a sea turtle.
Completely free
No entry fee or parking charge, so you can casually stop by.
Cons
No facilities at all
No toilets, showers, shop or vending machines, so you need to prepare everything.
Little shade
Without bringing a parasol or tent, spending a long time is difficult.
Doesn't come up on car navigation
Google Maps is essential, and first-timers easily get lost.
Preparation is hard work
With no facilities, it takes effort to prepare everything yourself, from drinks to shade.
Waves pick up on south-wind days
Depending on the weather, it can become hard to swim.
Care needed for jellyfish
In summer especially, you need to check for jellyfish before swimming.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Here are answers to commonly asked questions about Hazama Beach.
Q1: Where is Hazama Beach?
In the south-west of Irabu Island, about 5 minutes further south from Toguchi-no-Hama.
Q2: Does it come up on car navigation?
Often not, so searching "Hazama Beach" on Google Maps is surest.
Q3: Is there parking?
There's an unpaved parking space for three to five cars. It almost never fills up.
Q4: Toilets and showers?
Neither. Using one at Toguchi-no-Hama beforehand is recommended.
Q5: Shop or vending machine?
None. You need to bring all your drinks and food.
Q6: Can you snorkel?
Yes. You can see tropical fish and coral reef, and if lucky meet a sea turtle.
Q7: Is it OK with children?
It's shallow with calm waves, so it's fine. But with no facilities, prepare well.
Q8: When is recommended to go?
Morning or evening. Midday the sun is too strong and hot.
Q9: Is it crowded?
It's almost never crowded. All three times I went, there was no one.
Q10: What do you do with rubbish?
There are no bins, so take it all home. Keeping the beach clean is the etiquette.
Q11: How does it compare with Toguchi-no-Hama?
Toguchi-no-Hama has facilities and many people. Hazama Beach has no facilities but is quiet with no people.
Q12: How long can you spend there?
If you prepare well, you can spend about half a day at leisure.
Special Time Spent at a Deserted Beach
Hazama Beach is a hidden gem you absolutely should visit if you go to Irabu Island. It doesn't have the glamour of a famous tourist site, but in exchange it's a special place where you can spend quiet, settled time.
I still clearly remember the thrill of my first visit — the white sand and emerald-green sea that suddenly appeared beyond the sugarcane fields, and the stillness of no one around — surprised that a place like this really exists. Living busily in the city, you tend to forget the value of this kind of quiet time, but coming to Hazama Beach reminds you again.
Sitting on the sand listening to the waves, just gazing blankly at the sea, your heart calms. Phone notifications stop bothering you, and you taste a feeling that the passage of time has slowed. This kind of luxurious time has a value money can't buy, I think.
True, with no facilities preparation is hard work, and since it doesn't come up on car navigation first-timers may get lost. But the quiet, beautiful beach beyond getting past that inconvenience is sure to give you a thrill beyond expectation.
Between touring famous spots like Toguchi-no-Hama, 17END and Toriike Pond, take a little detour and spend quiet time at Hazama Beach. Build that kind of plan and I think you'll notice a different charm of Irabu Island.
If you're planning to visit Irabu Island, do search Hazama Beach on Google Maps and drive the narrow road through the sugarcane fields. You may be anxious at first, but the beautiful sea and stillness spreading at the end of the road will blow that anxiety away.
Sit on the white sand, gaze at the emerald-green sea, and listen to the waves. Spend luxurious time with no one around, at your own pace. That's how to enjoy Hazama Beach.
No matter how often I visit, I'm soothed by that stillness and beauty and think I want to come again. Irabu Island's blue sea and white sand, and the quiet time of Hazama Beach. With all of these together, it's sure to be an unforgettable trip. I'd like you to experience that kind of trip too.
