N / Public domain

Cape Maeda is Onna Village's famous snorkeling and diving headland, where a concrete stairway descends the cliff to the water and the glowing 'Blue Cave' (Ao no Dokutsu) — but stair entry to the sea is weather-dependent and is closed entirely in high waves. From the free clifftop observation deck you get a sweeping view over the East China Sea, and on calm days the crystal-clear water off the entry point teems with coral and tropical fish. Typhoon season runs roughly June to October, and a passing storm can cancel ferries, flights and all marine activity across the islands at a day's notice — check the forecast before you rely on this stop.

Best season

Year-round

Snorkeling and diving are possible year-round, but access is best in the calmer, warmer months (roughly April–October). In winter (November–March) strong north winds frequently raise high waves, triggering red-flag closures of the entry stairs, so winter visits carry a real risk the Blue Cave will be inaccessible on the day.

Crowd level

Moderate

Rating

4.6· 1,386 reviews

Opening hours

Daily 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Usual hours — confirm with the official site for holidays + seasonal closures.

Admission

Cape and observation deck are free. Paid parking ~¥100/hour (about 180 spaces, 7:00 AM–7:00 PM). Coin showers ¥200 per 2 minutes, coin lockers ¥100; free toilets and changing room.

Nearest station

No rail access — car ~50 min from Naha via Route 58 (or Okinawa Expressway to Ishikawa IC + ~15 min). By bus, take a Route 20/120 bus from Naha to the Kuten/Maeda-iriguchi (真栄田入口) stop, then walk ~15–20 min to the cape.

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