Located just a 40-minute drive from Naha Airport, the coastal resort town of Chatan makes for a popular base for people visiting the main island of Okinawa—but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of things to do locally. Beyond a bevy of seaside cafés and restaurants, Chatan (sometimes called Chatan-Cho) is also home to white-sand Araha Beach and plenty of surfing and diving spots along the picturesque Miyagi Coast, the US-themed shopping-and-dining district American Village, and the coastal promenade at Chatan Park Sunset Beach.
Spring and autumn are the two most popular weather windows for visiting Okinawa—seasons when the subtropical climate is favorable to long days at the beach. Rainy season stretches from May to June, while typhoons are known to hit in the summer and early fall. Winter can get surprisingly chilly, but it’s also the ideal time for whale watching.
You can visit Chatan by either private car or bus. If coming from Naha Airport or the city center, you’ll find direct bus links departing regularly that take about an hour. If you prefer to have your own transportation, you can rent a car directly on arrival at the airport. Once inside Chatan, you’ll find city buses and many walkable districts, depending on the proximity of your hotel.
Hot springs might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the subtropical island of Okinawa. But onsen are not limited to chilly mountain towns on the mainland. You’ll find thermal waters here in Chatan. A few locally-based spas and resorts—like LeQu Okinawa and Terme VILLA Chula-U—offer their own onsen experiences, some with overnight accommodation and spa packages.
