See Kabira Bay from a glass-bottom boat and from the Kabira Park lookout, then swim somewhere else: the bay is closed to swimming because of black pearl cultivation. Drive there in about 30 minutes from the ferry terminal, or take Azuma bus route 9, which runs six times a day.
Ride the glass-bottom boat
Take the boat, because it is the easiest way to see the coral in the bay. Kabira Marine Service, which sails from the beach, publishes these terms (as published on 7 Nov 2026, Kabira Marine Service):
- Times: first boat 09:00, then every 15 minutes, last boat 17:00. Times can change with conditions.
- On board: about 30 minutes, looking at coral, tropical fish and sea turtles.
- Price: ¥2,300 for ages 12 and over, ¥1,200 for ages 4 to 11. One child aged 3 or under rides free on an adult's lap.
- Days: every day of the year, but boats stop for typhoons and rough sea.
- Booking: online with prepayment, by phone, or at the counter in the Kabira community building, a minute's walk from the Kabira Kōen-mae bus stop.
You do not need to book ahead. JNTO says boats leave every 15 or 30 minutes and you can board without a reservation↗.
Want the bay, the Blue Cave and a swim in one morning? Book the Kabira Bay, Blue Cave and waterfall tour. The listing shows hotel pickup, so you need no car.
Why you cannot swim in Kabira Bay
{{note}}Do not plan a swim or a beach snorkel here. Swimming is not allowed in Kabira Bay because of the black pearl cultivation in the bay↗, and swimming and snorkelling from the beach are not permitted↗.{{/note}}
The rule holds all year. Bring a swimsuit only for the beaches further down this page.
Walk up to the Kabira Park lookout
Do the boat first, then climb to the observation spot at Kabira Park for the view of the bay and its islets↗. It is next to the bus stop and the boat counter.
When to go for the colour: no official source names a time of day, so go when the sun is out. With boats from 09:00 to 17:00, you can wait for a gap in the clouds. Kabira also works after dark: Visit Okinawa lists it for stargazing↗, and you can book a private stargazing photo session at the bay.
By bus: route 9 times and fare
Take Azuma route 9, the Kabira Resort Line, from the Bus Terminal or the ferry terminal stop next to it. It takes 43 minutes to Kabira Kōen-mae↗↗.
| Leaves Bus Terminal | Arrives Kabira Kōen-mae | Leaves Kabira Kōen-mae | Arrives Bus Terminal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06:15 | 06:58 | 07:19 | 08:05 |
| 08:50 | 09:33 | 09:54 | 10:40 |
| 09:45 | 10:28 | 10:49 | 11:35 |
| 12:55 | 13:38 | 13:59 | 14:45 |
| 16:15 | 16:58 | 17:19 | 18:05 |
| 18:15 | 18:58 | 19:19 | 20:05 |
- Easy day: out on the 09:45, back on the 13:59. That gives you three and a half hours for the boat, the lookout and lunch.
- Last bus back: 19:19. It does not stop at the ferry terminal, so ride to the Bus Terminal↗.
- Fare: ¥770 from the Bus Terminal to Kabira, ¥360 to Fusaki Beach Resort↗.
- Pass: a 24-hour pass costs ¥1,000 for adults and ¥500 for children, sold on every bus↗. It pays off on the Kabira return alone.
- From the airport: route 11 leaves for Kabira at 12:15 and 15:00 only↗. A taxi from the airport takes about 40 minutes and costs about ¥5,600↗.
Azuma's island sightseeing bus also stops at Kabira Park, and its passengers pay ¥2,000 for the boat instead of ¥2,300↗.
By car: time and parking
Allow about 30 minutes from the ferry terminal and 40 minutes from the airport↗.
- Parking: Kabira Marine has about 10 free spaces for its own customers. When they are full, use the city car park: ¥200 for the first hour, then ¥100 an hour↗.
- Pair it with the north: Kabira sits on the way to Yonehara and the capes, so make it the first stop of your north loop. Licence rules and airport pickups are on car rental, or compare cars on Klook.
Where to swim near Kabira Bay
Sukuji Beach (底地ビーチ): swim here. It is a shallow, calm beach of about 1 km behind a casuarina grove. The tourism association lists lifeguards from 1 April to 30 September, a jellyfish net from July to September and free parking, but the listing dates from July 2022↗.
Yonehara Beach: snorkel here only on a calm day, and know the rules. It is a natural reef beach where rip currents form easily; stay out in storms, and if caught, swim parallel to the shore↗. Do not take marine life, step on coral or feed fish, and use reef-friendly sunscreen (same source). Route 11 runs past it↗.
Fusaki Beach: the easy family swim, on the route 9 bus line. Entry and parking are free, with lifeguards, a jellyfish net, toilets and showers; swimming hours are 09:00 to 17:00 depending on season↗.
In summer, cover up and swim inside nets. Okinawa's 2026 habu jellyfish advisory ran from 1 June to 30 September↗. More spots are on the snorkelling page.
Kabira and Blue Cave trips
Questions
Can you swim at Kabira Bay? No. The bay is closed to swimming because of black pearl cultivation↗. Swim at Sukuji or Fusaki instead.
Do I need to book the glass-bottom boat? Usually not. Boats leave every 15 minutes from 09:00 to 17:00↗, and JNTO says you can board without a reservation↗.
How long should I spend at Kabira Bay? Two hours covers the 30-minute boat, the lookout and a coffee. By bus, the 09:45 out and the 13:59 back fit that with lunch.
Is the boat worth it on a cloudy day? You still see coral and fish through the glass, but the bay's colour from the lookout needs sun. If you have a car, come back on a clearer afternoon.
Can I combine Kabira Bay with an island day trip? Not easily. Use a separate day: the island-hopping planner shows how the ferry days fit.