CONTRIBUTED BY DASHA GARIEPY
A big shout out to Karen Walzer for this stunning photo of Manzamo Point.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, you can bet I’m a wushin’ I had taken my camera along the day we discovered a cool beach that goes by the inauspicious name of Toilet Bowl, right off of Manzamo Point.
Like Cape Hedo and various other Capes and Points on the island, Manzamo is a scenic cliff that offers spectacular views of the East China Sea. I’d tell you all about it but I see no need to reinvent the wheel.
You have to go to Manzamo to access Toilet Bowl. It’s popular among divers (check out JAPAN UPDATE), but we love it for the deep and numerous tide pools.
The tide comes in pretty high, so I wouldn’t recommend going to explore until low tide. The tide pools come in all shapes and sizes. Small and shallow for little hands and feet; others so deep you can snorkel in them! It’s like swimming in your own private aquarium. You’ll see schools of neon colored fish and scores of bright blue sea stars all trapped in rug-sized pools with crystal clear water. I even saw an octopus!
At low tide, there is something at Toilet Bowl for the whole family. The Tom Sawyers in your group will love the entrance – first a short Indiana Jones-esque hike through the jungle which leads to a spooky-ish cave. The way to the beach is through the cave.
A warning here, you’ll have to do a bit of climbing over sharp, waist high lava rocks. Don’t let that discourage you, though. It’s well worth the effort.
Once you’re out of the woods, through the cave and over the rocks (no, you won’t be at Grandmother’s house) you can either hit the tide pools, or head around the rocks to your right to discover a deep beach. It’s not very long, but deep enough to set up a camp site, and sandy enough for little ones to build a sand castle.
Bring some snacks and drinks, you just might be here all day!
Directions: North on Highway 58, through Kadena circle. Just north of Onna Village, start looking for signs to Manzamo Point. Turn left at the stop light by the fire station and follow the signs. You’ll end up in a big parking lot with lots of shops. Park here if you want to explore Manzamo.
To get to Toilet Bowl, look to the left of the shops: you’ll see a little black top road that looks more like a driveway than a road. This road gets backed up with divers and fishermen – don’t worry that you’re missing your stop. Follow the road to it’s ultimate end. You’ll know you’re “there” when the road dead ends into a chain link fence. Look for the paths on the right!
Thanks, Mary, for swapping posts with me this week! It’s been fun visiting my former “to do” stomping grounds.
Does anyone know if Manzamo Point and Onna Point the same place? I am very confused about this, and can’t find clarification on the ‘net.
Onna Point is south of Toilet Bowl but I believe they are both located on the penisula referred to as Manzamo.
I have only dove at both of these…never even thought about going for tidepool exploring…what a great idea!!
This is an excellent place for tide pool exploring. I live in this neighborhood and am so lucky for the view and beaches near by. Please if you do come visit, take your trash with you!!!! There are so many times in the morning I have to pick up trash lying around that is left by both Americans and locals. This is a beautiful area and we would like to keep it this way.
Hey, was just wondering if you (or someone) could tell us what beaches are good for finding seashells. Thanks!
We went yesterday and loved it! We went between high and low tides, and so the tide pools were filled in with the ocean water but gave the kids a nice, waveless area to swim in.
Heidi,
Try Torii Beach for shells. I never really looked for shells there, but there’s a lot of coral and sea glass so there could be some shells mixed in.
Onna Point is north of Kadena AFB.
Watch out for the poisonious snakes and the dangerous shells on the beaches. The military cleared some beaches, which makes them safe to use.
Heidi-
The Pacific Ocean side is good for shells. We have collected nice shells from both Ouran Beach (Camp Schwab) and White Beach.
For smaller shells then Torii Beach was also nice –
Its perfectly safe everywhere. I lived on okinawa from 66 to 71 and then 78-89 visiting each year. its changed with the Marines moving into what were Army bases but its still a wonderful island.
Manzamo, Maikimisaki, Onna Point, the Toilet Bowl and the Horseshoe are all close with Onna Point out on the southern tip while Manzamo is the northern promentory and the landmark for reaching the dive sites Toilet Bowl and the Horseshoe. Course that’s drawing on memories from 50 years ago during the Reef Rovers hey day! Here’s a site that shows and list most of these. link to japanupdate.com
Can any one tell me how long it would take to get there from Foster? And what time of day is usually low tide?
link to tide-forecast.com
Here’s a great website for checking the Tides!
Toilet bowl is not at the end of the road, horseshoe beach is (the place described in the directions). Toilet bowl is across from the tombs where the fisherman’s shack looking place is.