Good Places to
Run in Okinawa
Here are some of my favorite places to run on the Okinawa mainland,
arranged from south to north. I've provided a short description,
map, and picture for each location. I frequently run in many of
these locations, especially the first three, so please say hello if
you pass me on the street. Drop me an e-mail if you know any other
great places for running.
LIST OF LOCATIONS
Manko Park (Naha City)
Ameku Park (Naha City)
Urasoe Athletic Park (Urasoe City)
Ginowan Kaihei Park (Ginowan City)
Chatan Park / Araha Beach (Chatan City)
Okinawa Comprehensive Park (Okinawa City)
Route 58 / Route 330
Manko Park (Naha City) -- "Manko" is
Japanese slang for "pussy" (the kanji, of course, is different), so
don't be surprised if your Japanese friends laugh when you say you
enjoy running in "Pussy Park." In spite of the infelicitous naming,
Manko Park is one of the most popular places for
running in Naha, so you'll never have to run alone. In fact,
running groups often meet here. Apart from the two bridges, the
course is perfectly flat, and within the park, there's both a dirt
and an asphalt path. Since the path runs along the river, the
scenery is quite nice. The Manko Park jogging path is about 1.5K,
but there is also a nice path that circles around the river. I've
marked the (precisely) 4.12K loop that I usually run. The park
itself is relatively well lit, but a small section of the path on
the opposite side can feel a bit creepy late at night. I've never
felt at risk, however, and this is one of the nicest places to run
in the city. I only wish it were closer to my home.
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Ameku [or Shintoshin] Park (Naha City) --
Diagonal from Naha Main Place, the large shopping center with the
Cinema Q movie theatre, Ameku Park has tennis
courts, picnic areas, playgrounds, a skateboard area, a basketball
court, and most importantly, a padded 850-meter path on its
perimeter. The last 200 meters of the path are a bit steep, but the
soft material (which looks like brick) is very easy on the legs.
The parking lot is locked at 9:00 p.m., and the lights go out at
10:00, but there is still enough light from the street, and you can
run here as late as you like. I usually prefer to run after 9:00
because the path is a bit crowded with walkers and people walking
their dogs from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Even at those busy times,
however, I've never had to alter my pace. I also like that the
distance is marked every 100 meters. I live right across the
street, so I do most of my running here.
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Urasoe Athletic Park (Urasoe City) --
Situated about 5K from Naha, Urasoe Athletic Park
has the nicest track in the entire prefecture and is often used for
track and other events. On most nights, there are a hundred or so
walkers and runners. Pets and smoking are forbidden. The bright
blue track is soft, and the entire facility is well lit until 10:00
p.m. This is a great place for doing intervals or other speed
training, and a nice soft place to give your legs a break from the
asphalt. The Park also has two separate facilities for weight
training, both of which are quite cheap. The pool, though, is small
and not worth the entrance fee.
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Ginowan Kaihei [Marine] Park (Ginowan City)
-- Although most of the paths are asphalt or brick, Ginowan
Marine Park is a beautiful place to run, especially during
the cooler months. The short 200 meter loop that goes out into the
ocean is especially beautiful. This location is much too hot during
the summer, but the ocean breeze is quite refreshing in the
evening. I don't do a lot of running here, but I usually stop off
here for a couple of kilometers when I run to Chatan. The Okinawa
Convention Center and popular "Tropical Beach" are also located
here, so if you like to "people watch" during your runs, this might
be the spot for you. Another advantage to running here is that
there is a canteen and many vending machines.
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Chatan Park (Chatan City) -- Located to the
south of Jusco, Chatan Park provides numerous
running paths, including a beautiful coastline running path along
Araha Beach that stretches down to the south. The coastline path is
padded, making it ideal for running. Although the coastline path is
probably too hot for the summer months, the beautiful sunsets and
cool ocean breezes make this an excellent place to run in the early
evenings. The asphalt running paths further to the north (near
Jusco), which circle around the stadium and tennis courts, provide
more shade. In addition, the beautiful track, located directly next
to Jusco, offers an excellent place to do intervals or other speed
training.
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Okinawa Comprehensive Park (Okinawa City)
-- Although I almost never run here because I live too far away,
Okinawa Comprehensive Park is a must-see for
anyone living in Okinawa. With two tracks and numerous jogging
paths (including clearly-marked routes of 3K, 4K, and 5K), many of
which are shaded by large trees, the park is undoubtedly one of the
best places for running in the entire prefecture. As the largest
sports facility in Okinawa, the park has something for everyone:
beautiful landscaping, nature walks and trails, ponds, camp
grounds, picnic areas, playgrounds, two swimming pools, tennis
courts, a gymnasium, indoor and outdoor soccer fields, cycling
paths, a fitness center, and much, much more. Various classes,
events and programs are also offered.
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Route 58 and Route 330 (all of Okinawa)--
Of course, the easiest
place to run in Okinawa is along Route 58 or Route 330, both of
which extend for the entire length of the island. Although bumpy in
spots, the asphalt sidewalks are generally smooth and good for
running. I often run to work along Route 330, which is the better
of the two routes. I've mapped out the distance for both routes,
heading north from Ohnoyama Park in Naha.
Route 58 Course
Route 330
Course
