Hey! I’m planning a trip around Asia for next year. Was thinking of going to Japan before visiting a few countries in SE Asia. I’d like to visit Okinawa (potentially Ishigaki island) but I’ve heard that the sand in beaches is full of coral and there are lots of dangerous fish on very shallow water. I’m not an experienced swimmer so I’m now second guessing going.
Has anyone been to Okinawa and can tell me if it’s worth going to? How does the beach there compare to places like Thailand or even Queensland Australia?
Thanks!
by travel_llama
2 comments
There are some beaches that have a lot of small shell and coral pieces covering the beach, but there are also some that do not. I think visiting an Okinawan beach would be a great experience to have! Of course there are dangerous fish in the water around the island, but in the few years that I have lived here I have never seen one in shallow water. That being said, it’s always best to be safe so once you have decided on a beach you should do a simple Google search on which dangerous animals are in the area during that time of year and what to do if you encounter one.
Okinawa is a great place but I wouldn’t compare the beaches with those in other Asian countries like Cambodia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and, of course, the best of them all, the Pacific Islands (Saipan, Palau, etc.). Plus these other places are much cheaper to get around. If you want to visit Ishigaki, which is beautiful, don’t let the water scare you. You will be find. Just don’t pick up creatures you find in the shallows.