Ama Beach
阿真ビーチ26°14′ N 127°17′ EBeach
Ama Beach on the west side of Zamami-jima is a shallow, lifeguarded beach 1.5 km from Zamami Port where sea turtles feed close to shore, with Ama Campground behind the sand and hot showers there in winter.
Photo Hashi photo · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Ama sits on the west side of Zamami, looking out over the uninhabited islets between Zamami and Aka, and the Ministry of the Environment notes that sea turtles live in this Ramsar-listed reef. The water stays shallow a long way out, so the best time to swim is near high tide. A local observer told the Ryukyu Shimpo in 2018 that more than ten turtles turn up every year, nesting in May and June.
Watch the turtles from a distance and never touch or chase one; the village and the national park office both ask for that. Ama Campground fills the land behind the beach with showers, toilets, a cooking area and cottages, and its office stays open year round.
Before you swim
- The water is very shallow, so come at high tide
- Village lifeguards patrol a named danger spot here, Ama-shiru
- Never touch, chase or crowd the sea turtles
- Habu-kurage box jellyfish: the prefecture's alert ran from 1 June to 30 September in 2026
December to March
Ama Campground keeps its office open all year and switches on hot showers at the cottage block in winter. The Japan Meteorological Agency's 1991–2020 normal for the sea south of the Okinawa main island sits at about 22 °C through February.
Snorkelling · 4/5
Entry Walk in from the sand at high tide
Depth Very shallow
Sea turtles; a local observer counts more than ten each year
Our ratings
- Swimming
- Snorkelling
- Sunset
- Quiet
- Families
- Scenery
Worth knowing
- Check the tide before you walk over; at low water the shallows are too thin to swim.
- The campground's winter hot showers run 10:00–16:00 and cost ¥300 a person.
- Camping on the uninhabited islets is banned, so Ama is the place to pitch a tent in Zamami Village.
FAQ
Quick answers about Ama Beachよくある質問
Can you see sea turtles at Ama Beach?
Yes. Sea turtles feed off Ama Beach on Zamami-jima, and a local observer counts more than ten each year. Watch from a distance and never touch or chase them.
How far is Ama Beach from Zamami Port?
About 1.5 km, roughly 20 minutes on foot or 5 minutes on the village bus. The last winter bus back from Ama leaves at 17:00.
Can you camp at Ama Beach?
Yes. Ama Campground sits behind the beach, and camping there costs ¥700 an adult a night from April 2026. The office opens 9:00–17:00 all year.
Can you swim at Ama Beach?
Ama Beach: Zamami allows swimming only inside the marked areas at its three designated beaches, of which Ama is one. Lifeguards: Village lifeguards worked here from 19 April to 30 November in 2024; 2026 dates were not published in the sources we read.
Is Ama Beach worth visiting in winter?
Ama Campground keeps its office open all year and switches on hot showers at the cottage block in winter. The Japan Meteorological Agency's 1991–2020 normal for the sea south of the Okinawa main island sits at about 22 °C through February.
Is Ama Beach good for snorkelling?
We rate the snorkelling at Ama Beach 4 out of 5. Sea turtles; a local observer counts more than ten each year. Entry: walk in from the sand at high tide.
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