Cape Maeda

Cape Maeda (Maeda Misaki) is a rocky headland in Onna Village on the west coast of Okinawa's main island, best known as the entry point for the Blue Cave (Ao no Dokutsu). It is the most popular snorkeling and diving spot on the island. You can also enjoy the view without getting wet: an observation deck and lawn on top of the cape look out over the clear water of the East China Sea.

The Blue Cave is a sea cave at the foot of the cliffs. Sunlight enters the water outside the cave and reflects off the white sand floor, so the inside glows blue. The cave mouth is shallow enough for snorkelers, and divers can go deeper into it.

Visiting the Blue Cave from Cape Maeda

From the parking area, about 100 steps lead down the cliff to the water. Snorkelers then swim along the rocks to the cave entrance, which is roughly 100 to 150 meters away. Many visitors join a guided snorkel or dive tour, and some operators reach the cave by boat from a nearby port.

The cape is not a swimming beach, and the facility management warns that tidal currents here are fast and dangerous, especially around low and high tide. The rules are strict:

• Flotation: a life jacket or buoyancy belt is required for snorkeling

• Flags: a flag at the cape shows each day whether you may enter the sea; when swimming is banned, nobody goes in

• Banned: jumping off the cliffs or near the cave, spearfishing and swimming during storm or tsunami warnings

• Boats: rubber boats and kayaks may not be carried down the steps

• Responsibility: you enter the sea at your own risk

Before you drive out, check the live sea status for Cape Maeda, which shows the day's flag and a live camera of the water.

Facilities and fees

The cape has a management office, toilets and changing rooms with hot showers. Wi-Fi works in the office and courtyard. Prices on the official site:

• Parking: 100 yen for each hour, 180 spaces for cars

• Hot shower: 200 yen for 2 minutes

• Coin locker: 100 yen

• Hair dryer: 100 yen

The cape is at its busiest on weekends. From the gazebo on the cape, humpback whales can sometimes be seen offshore from February to the end of March.

How to get to Cape Maeda

• By car: about 1 hour from Naha Airport, or about 25 minutes from Manzamo.

• By bus: take bus 120 from Naha Airport to the Kuraha stop, then walk about 20 minutes.

Cape Maeda is one of several sights on the Onna coast, and the Onna Village area guide covers its beaches and resorts.

If the cave is closed for waves, a trial dive off Motobu in the north is another way to get in the water.

Best time to visit Cape Maeda

The sea is usually calmest from June to early September, but July and August are also the most crowded months. Come early in the morning for clearer water and fewer people in the cave. For more things to plan around the island, see these Okinawa sights and activities.