Senagajima Umikaji Terrace
瀬長島 ウミカジテラス
Cafés and shops step down a slope towards the sea on an islet just south of Naha Airport. Watch low planes and sunsets: easy at the start or end of a trip.
A small island next to the airport
Senagajima is a small island about 1.5km round, just south of Naha Airport. A road running over the sea links it to Tomigusuku City on Okinawa's main island, so you can drive across. With the airport so close, you can watch planes taking off and landing at close range.
The island has a long history. Old Ryukyuan legends are told about it, and it once had a gusuku (the site of an Okinawan castle or sacred place). In 1944, however, with the Battle of Okinawa, the residents were ordered to leave, and after the war the whole island became a US military base for storing ammunition. Building the base carved away much of the island, and many historic sites were lost. The island was only returned in 1977.
Umikaji Terrace, looking down on the sea
Umikaji Terrace is a shopping and dining complex built on Senagajima's seaward slope. The sight of its buildings lined up on the slope facing the water is modelled on Amalfi, the seaside town in Italy.
It has more than 40 shops, including cafés, restaurants, gift and homeware shops and places offering hands-on activities. You can eat and shop while gazing out at the sea and sky.
Sunsets and planes after dark
In the late afternoon it fills with people who come to watch the sunset. Once it gets dark, the airport's guidance lights for the planes and other lights become a night view.
Besides Umikaji Terrace, the island also has a hot spring hotel, a beach and a baseball ground.
Getting there
It is about 10 minutes by car from Naha Airport, or about 15 minutes from the Tomigusuku interchange on the Okinawa Expressway. Without a car, you can use the Senagajima Airport Limousine, which runs to and from Naha Airport, or the Umikaji Liner, a local bus linking Kokusai-dori (Naha's main street) and Itoman City.
Tips
- It's close to the airport, so it's a good way to fill the time on the day you arrive or before your flight home.
- Opening can change when a typhoon approaches. If the weather looks rough, check the announcements on the official website.
- According to the Tomigusuku City website, a lot of habu (Okinawa's venomous snake) live on the island. Stay on the paved paths and keep out of the long grass.
Sources
Updated 29 September 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so check the official site before you go.
