Yonaha Maehama

Yonaha Maehama
Coordinates: 24°44′05″N 125°15′46″E / 24.73472°N 125.26278°E / 24.73472; 125.26278
CountryJapan
PrefectureOkinawa Prefecture
Time zoneJapan Standard Time

Yonaha Maehama (与那覇前浜ビーチ) is a popular bathing beach on Miyakojima Island in Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. This seven kilometer white sandy beach is at the southwestern tip of Miyako Island. Locals refer to it simply as "Maehama" (Maipama, Maibama), but in recent years it is often called Maehama Beach, with the English loan word added. In Miyako, "mai" means not only "front" but also "south", so the named Maehama may have been chosen because it is located in front and south of the island's Yonaha district. Kurima Island is located opposite this beach, and the Kurima Ohashi Bridge connects the southeastern end of the beach to Kurima Island. On the slightly northwestern side of that bridge is Maehama Port, where boats used to arrive and depart from before the bridge was built.

In recent years, erosion of this beach has been progressing, and there are concerns about its impact on tourism. In particular, some typhoons in 2018 caused extensive erosion and a series of cliffs.