A practical English guide to Ogimi in northern Okinawa: the village beaches, the Yanbaru forest, the local culture and access from Naha.
Operational details such as opening hours, admission fees, and train times can change. Prefer official pages and reconfirm before you travel (sources checked on 07 November 2026).
Why visit
- Ogimi is a village on the east coast of northern Okinawa, in the forested Yanbaru region. It is small, spread across hills and a short coastline, and it has become known outside Japan for the longevity of its residents and their diet, though the village itself remains quiet and ordinary.
- That quiet is the reason to come. The beaches here are not resort beaches: no rows of parasols, no hotel towers, just sand, shallow water and the green hills behind. The Yanbaru forest inland is part of a national park, with walking routes and a rich mix of plants and birds found nowhere else.
- Ogimi is a place to drive slowly, eat simple Okinawan food, and stay somewhere small. It suits travellers who have seen the south of the island and want the north’s slower rhythm.
Top places and highlights
Village beaches
Quiet stretches of coast with shallow water and hills behind.
Yanbaru forest
Subtropical woodland inland, part of the national park, with walking routes.
Village life
Small settlements, farms and local shops rather than tourist facilities.
Okinawan food
Simple local cooking, with vegetables, pork and island ingredients.
Food and drink
- O
- k
- i
- n
- a
- w
- a
- n
- c
- o
- o
- k
- i
- n
- g
- i
- s
- t
- h
- e
- d
- r
- a
- w
- :
- c
- h
- a
- n
- p
- u
- r
- u
- ,
- s
- i
- m
- m
- e
- r
- e
- d
- p
- o
- r
- k
- ,
- i
- s
- l
- a
- n
- d
- v
- e
- g
- e
- t
- a
- b
- l
- e
- s
- a
- n
- d
- n
- o
- o
- d
- l
- e
- s
- ,
- w
- i
- t
- h
- b
- r
- o
- w
- n
- s
- u
- g
- a
- r
- a
- n
- d
- s
- h
- i
- k
- u
- w
- a
- s
- a
- c
- i
- t
- r
- u
- s
- .
- O
- g
- i
- m
- i
- h
- a
- s
- s
- m
- a
- l
- l
- l
- o
- c
- a
- l
- r
- e
- s
- t
- a
- u
- r
- a
- n
- t
- s
- a
- n
- d
- s
- h
- o
- p
- s
- r
- a
- t
- h
- e
- r
- t
- h
- a
- n
- a
- d
- i
- n
- i
- n
- g
- s
- c
- e
- n
- e
- ,
- a
- n
- d
- o
- p
- e
- n
- i
- n
- g
- h
- o
- u
- r
- s
- a
- r
- e
- l
- i
- m
- i
- t
- e
- d
- .
Getting there and around
- O
- g
- i
- m
- i
- i
- s
- i
- n
- n
- o
- r
- t
- h
- e
- r
- n
- O
- k
- i
- n
- a
- w
- a
- ,
- r
- e
- a
- c
- h
- e
- d
- b
- y
- c
- a
- r
- f
- r
- o
- m
- N
- a
- g
- o
- i
- n
- a
- r
- o
- u
- n
- d
- f
- o
- r
- t
- y
- m
- i
- n
- u
- t
- e
- s
- a
- n
- d
- f
- r
- o
- m
- N
- a
- h
- a
- i
- n
- a
- r
- o
- u
- n
- d
- t
- w
- o
- h
- o
- u
- r
- s
- .
- P
- u
- b
- l
- i
- c
- b
- u
- s
- e
- s
- r
- u
- n
- a
- l
- o
- n
- g
- t
- h
- e
- c
- o
- a
- s
- t
- b
- u
- t
- a
- r
- e
- i
- n
- f
- r
- e
- q
- u
- e
- n
- t
- ,
- a
- n
- d
- a
- r
- e
- n
- t
- a
- l
- c
- a
- r
- i
- s
- t
- h
- e
- p
- r
- a
- c
- t
- i
- c
- a
- l
- w
- a
- y
- t
- o
- s
- e
- e
- t
- h
- e
- b
- e
- a
- c
- h
- e
- s
- a
- n
- d
- t
- h
- e
- f
- o
- r
- e
- s
- t
- .
Where to stay
- A
- c
- c
- o
- m
- m
- o
- d
- a
- t
- i
- o
- n
- i
- s
- s
- m
- a
- l
- l
- :
- g
- u
- e
- s
- t
- h
- o
- u
- s
- e
- s
- ,
- m
- i
- n
- s
- h
- u
- k
- u
- a
- n
- d
- a
- f
- e
- w
- r
- e
- n
- t
- a
- l
- c
- o
- t
- t
- a
- g
- e
- s
- ,
- o
- f
- t
- e
- n
- i
- n
- t
- h
- e
- h
- i
- l
- l
- s
- o
- r
- n
- e
- a
- r
- t
- h
- e
- c
- o
- a
- s
- t
- .
- B
- o
- o
- k
- w
- e
- l
- l
- a
- h
- e
- a
- d
- i
- n
- s
- u
- m
- m
- e
- r
- a
- n
- d
- a
- r
- o
- u
- n
- d
- h
- o
- l
- i
- d
- a
- y
- s
- .
Best time to visit
- S
- u
- m
- m
- e
- r
- i
- s
- h
- o
- t
- a
- n
- d
- h
- u
- m
- i
- d
- ,
- w
- i
- t
- h
- t
- y
- p
- h
- o
- o
- n
- r
- i
- s
- k
- .
- S
- p
- r
- i
- n
- g
- a
- n
- d
- a
- u
- t
- u
- m
- n
- a
- r
- e
- t
- h
- e
- m
- o
- s
- t
- c
- o
- m
- f
- o
- r
- t
- a
- b
- l
- e
- .
- W
- i
- n
- t
- e
- r
- i
- s
- m
- i
- l
- d
- ,
- w
- i
- t
- h
- c
- o
- o
- l
- e
- r
- ,
- c
- l
- e
- a
- r
- e
- r
- d
- a
- y
- s
- a
- n
- d
- f
- e
- w
- e
- r
- v
- i
- s
- i
- t
- o
- r
- s
- .
- T
- h
- e
- s
- e
- a
- i
- s
- w
- a
- r
- m
- e
- s
- t
- f
- r
- o
- m
- s
- u
- m
- m
- e
- r
- i
- n
- t
- o
- a
- u
- t
- u
- m
- n
- .
Practical tips
- A car is close to essential; bus services are sparse.
- Beaches here have little shade and no lifeguards in many places; swim with care.
- Check forest trail conditions and any park closures before walking.
- Village roads are narrow; drive slowly.
Suggested day-trip outline
- Morning: drive north from Nago along the coast.
- Late morning: a village beach and a short walk.
- Lunch: simple Okinawan food in the village.
- Afternoon: the Yanbaru forest and a walking route.
- Late afternoon: another beach, or a viewpoint over the coast.
- Evening: dinner at the guesthouse, then an early night.
Before you go
Timetables, fares, admission fees, and seasonal access rules can change. Check the official tourism and transport sites linked below for the latest information before you travel.
Explore More of Japan
Published guides that pair with this one:
- Iheya Island Travel Guide: Quiet Beaches North of Okinawa
- Onna Village Travel Guide: The Resort Coast of Northern Okinawa
- Hiji Falls Travel Guide: The Yambaru Forest Walk in Northern Okinawa
- Tsuken Island Travel Guide: The Carrot Island of Okinawa
- Cape Chinen Travel Guide: Sunrise, Kudaka and Southern Okinawa
Browse every Okinawa guide on this site for the rest of the region.
Sources
- vill.ogimi.okinawa.jp (checked 2026-11-07)
- okinawastory.jp (checked 2026-11-07)
Leave a Reply