Okinawa is the smallest of the five main islands of Japan. Located in the Pacific Ocean 640 km south of Kyushu, Okinawa is 106 km long and 11 km wide. The greater Naha area contains 2/3 of Okinawa’s population. U.S. military installations cover 25% of the island. Our guide to running on Okinawa features routes in the island’s main cities and popular destinations, plus some of the gorgeous beaches and trail running in interior parks and preserves.
In Naha, a great run is to combine Onoyama Park & Manko Park. Wakasa Seaside Park to Umisora Park is another good option. In Okinawa City, we love Ginowan Marina Seaside Park & the jogging paths at Okinawa Comprehensive Athletic Park. In Chatan, there’s a good run from Sunset Beach to Araha Beach, plus 300 steps at the Stairway to Heaven for those who want a challenge. In Nago, good running on paths along the Maja River and from 21 Seikinomori Park to Agarie Beach. We’ve also got posts on the best beaches for running on Okinawa and some good trail running options.
Runner Notes: Weather is a major factor of running on Okinawa, with intense heat & humidity in the summer months, and lots of rain. We also note that there are a lot of running tracks on Okinawa, and many of them are lit at night.
