Okinawa, which is warm even in winter, is ideal for cycling. While Miyako Island, Ishigaki Island, and other remote islands are great, the main island of Okinawa is easily accessible from the city center via Naha Airport, which has many flights, and renting a bicycle is an easy way to enjoy cycling.

Starting from Chatan, which can be reached in less than one hour by car from Naha Airport, I will introduce an easy cycling tour of about 38km (4hours) using a rented bicycle.

Chatan Town: Starting with Mihama Town Resort American Village

Mihama Town Resort American Village is a resort district located in Mihama, Chatan Town, Okinawa Prefecture.
It is a shopping and entertainment area that expresses the atmosphere of the United States, with resort hotels, restaurants, cafés, general merchandise stores, souvenir stores, shopping centers, a cinema complex, a bowling alley, and live music venues.

In one corner, on the first floor of the premier building of Hotel LeQu, you can rent a cross bike at SHUHARI BIKE WORKS .
Visitors can rent road bikes based on original chrome-molybdenum steel frames, as well as cross bikes, mini velos, and unique bicycles.

The cross bike I rented was a Giant SEEK R3 2011 model with a colorful frame.

Yomitan: Zanpa Beach, Cape Zanpa

Cycling starts from the seaside of American Village. Ride along Chatan Fishery  (marina) toward the north.

After about 8km, you will see the scenery along Hija River in Kadena Town.

Entering Yomitan Village, the road heads west. Ride north through the relaxing sugarcane fields.

About 10km from Hija River is Zanpa Beach.
Zanpa Beach, adjacent to Cape Zanpa Park, has a large coral reef between it and the open sea, so the sea is calm and blue.

About 400m from Zanpa Beach is CAPE ZANPA DRIVE-IN.

What goes well with this American atmosphere is the hamburger. Have lunch with a fried chicken burger with chicken sandwiched between a large, fluffy bun and a hot coffee.

North of CAPE ZANPA DRIVE-IN is Cape Zanpa.
Cape Zanpa, with its 2-km-long cliffs around 30m high, is home to Cape Zanpa Lighthouse, which stands approximately 31m high.

About 1km along the road you came from Cape Zanpa, you will find “Ganso Beni Imo Kashi Honpo Okashi-Goten” (Original Red Sweet Potato Sweets Castle).
Okashi-goten is a castle of confectionaries with a motif of Okinawa’s historical heritage, and is made with Okinawan ingredients.

Not only can visitors buy a wide variety of red sweet potato sweets as souvenirs, but they can also experience making red sweet potato tarts by hand, take a tour of the factory, and enjoy Okinawan food at the restaurant.

Kadena Town: Calm Hija River and Kayaking

From Ookashi-Goten, ride all the way to Kadena Town to Hija River Bridge.

After descending the bridge, enjoy the scenery along Haja River. Kadena Town’s Hija River Nature Experience Center is located here, where you can enjoy kayaking through the mangrove forests.

Chatan Town: Photo Session at American Village

Once you return to Chatan American Village, you can enjoy a photo session with the lovely scenery and the streets full of American taste.

After cycling around American Village, the 38-km, 4-hour ride is over.
After returning the bicycles, take a coffee break at ZHYVAGO COFFEE ROASTERY in the same facility.

Bicycles are displayed throughout the facility, so visitors can continue to enjoy bicycles even after cycling.

Course Introduction

Distance: 37.7 km Elevation gain: 135 m

Access from Naha Airport

• Airport limousine buses connect Naha Airport to major hotels in each resort area.
• By local bus : Route No. 120 (Nago West Airport Line) ,  get off at Kuwae.
• By cab : 45minutes from Naha Airport (the fare : 3,500-4,000 yen)

▼SHUHARI BIKE WORKS
https://www.shuhari.bike/home

▼Mihama Town Resort American Village
https://www.okinawa-americanvillage.com/en/

▼Chatan Town Tourism Association
https://chatantourism.com/en/

▼Yomitan Village Tourism Association
https://www.yomitan-kankou.jp/nature/

Summary

Winter in Okinawa is characterized by warm days with temperatures around 20degrees Celsius, but there are also many days with strong northerly winds. Therefore, it is not suitable for marine activities like in summer, but cycling can feel comfortable in the northerly wind.
Chatan, less than an hour from Naha Airport, is not only attractive for its resort-like scenery and townscapes, but is also a convenient base for visiting various areas of the main island of Okinawa.
If you go north from Chatan, you can access Onna Village and beautiful Kori Island, which are known as resort areas, and if you go east, you can access Uruma City, where you can tour the beautiful islands connected by land from the underwater road.
If the weather is bad, you can enjoy dining and shopping at American Village.
Compared to the summer on-season, it is easier to make reservations for flights and hotels. Why don’t you enjoy the warm cycling in the main island of Okinawa in winter.