The areea around Chatan Park and Araha Beach is one of our favorite runs in Okinawa. It’s a scenic route of up to 8 km, all of it on dedicated waterfront path, with great views. Araha Beach is a pleasant & popular beach but the sand is oft and not great for running. Pro Tip: Great sunsets!
Chatan Park Route. Start in Chatan Sunset Park. The path goes for 2 km from the marina south, passing Sunset Beach, and the Athletic Stadium where there’s a good running track. Cross the pedestrian bridge and continue south for another 2 km along Araha Beach. This is a scenic section, with good water & beach views. The path ends at the Futenma River. Retrace your steps to the start.
Google Street View
Stairway to Heaven. Just 3 km inland from Chatan Park, this destination run is a fun and popular challenge in Okinawa. The Stairway to Heaven is 300 steps through lush forest. Great views from the summit! It’s also a thing to do at night, where runners bring their flashlights.
The areea around Chatan Park and Araha Beach is one of our favorite runs in Okinawa. It’s a scenic route of up to 8 km, all of it on dedicated waterfront path, with great views. Araha Beach is a pleasant & popular beach but the sand is oft and not great for running. Pro Tip: Great sunsets!
Chatan Park Route. Start in Chatan Sunset Park. The path goes for 2 km from the marina south, passing Sunset Beach, and the Athletic Stadium where there’s a good running track. Cross the pedestrian bridge and continue south for another 2 km along Araha Beach. This is a scenic section, with good water & beach views. The path ends at the Futenma River. Retrace your steps to the start.
Google Street View
Stairway to Heaven. Just 3 km inland from Chatan Park, this destination run is a fun and popular challenge in Okinawa. The Stairway to Heaven is 300 steps through lush forest. Great views from the summit! It’s also a thing to do at night, where runners bring their flashlights.
Best option for a longer run in Naha, combining these two parks which feature marked jogging paths, Lake Man, and a running track. Add with some scenic bridges and a decent sidewalk along the Naha River.
Some favorite parks for running in Naha: Seaside paths from Wakasa Seaside Park to Umisora Park & in Ginowan Marina Seaside Park; tree-lined paths in Shintoshin Park; and decent running in the area of Shuri Castle.
The best place to run in Okinawa City is Okinawa Comprehensive Athletic Park, which has a running track and marked jogging routes of 3k, 4k, & 5k with a variety of open & shaded terrain and a nice waterfront section. Also a nice running track at Koza Sports Park.
A lovely waterfront park in this city of 100,000, located 10 km north of Naha. This all off-road route features a marina, pier out to a lighthouse, and seaside paths along Tropical Beach.
The best run in Nago is on paths through the waterfront 21 Seikinomori Park. The beach is also runnable, and there's a running track in the center. There are also paths along the Maja River. Hill lovers can run the lush Nago Castle Park. Cherry blossoms in season!
Generally, the beaches on Okinawa aren't great for running: they tend to be short and feature fine-grained sand. Decent beaches for running are Sunset/Araha Beach, Emerald Beach, and Okuma Beach.
There are some good trail running options in Okinawa's interior, which is mountainous subtropical forest. Best options are Yambaru National Park, Mt. Nago area, and Mt. Yaedake area. Note: generally rugged & challenging.
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