SUP in Okinawa
With its usually calm waters and rich marine ecosystem, Okinawa is practically made for SUP (stand up paddleboard) tours. This popular activity combines kayaking and surfing, whereby you stand on a surfboard and paddle across the water.
First timers? No worries, the beach resort areas of Mizugama (Kadena) and Maeda (Onna) are popular places for a beginner SUP experience – many operators offer short 1-hour courses, teaching you how to paddle, row, and control the board.
Guided tours are popular on Ishigaki Island’s Kabira Bay, which has been awarded three stars by the Michelin Green Guide for its crystal-clear water that offers you the clarity to see corals from the paddleboard. You can also admire rich marine life in the waters around Sesoko Island on transparent SUP boards – you will feel like you’re walking on water!
You can also go for a SUP tour of Miyako Island’s clear blue waters, or head to Zamami Island which is famous for the colour of its water, Kerama Blue, where you have a chance of spotting sea turtles on your paddle. For a totally different perspective, a SUP tour of Iriomote Island takes you through a mangrove forest along shallow rivers where you paddle through a tunnel of dense jungle.
You can explore the wide range of water-based activities in Okinawa via Official Okinawa Travel Guide.
