Sunabe Seawall, Chatan Okinawa

Sunabe is a living area of Chatan Okinawa and because of the large number of typhoons that hit the Okinawa Islands ever year a seawall was built to protect the residents and businesses of the area.

In general currents around this sea wall in central Okinawa are mild making it a very popular spot for Scuba Divers, with many of the dive sights in the area being ok to dive at when conditions at other popular sights are not so favorable. Surfers can also be seen here especially when a typhoon is on its way to the island and the water conditions are yielding more extreme conditions.

The Sunabe Seawall’s real fame comes from its Graffiti and murals depicting everything from advertisements, renditions of famous works of art, seaside scenes, and love notes. The seawall is a real chance for budding artists to show of their talents. It’s also a nice place to take a walk along the beach and relax.

A large number of Americans live in the Sunabe region of Chatan because of its close proximity to Kadena Air Base, Camp Lester and Camp Foster. The American presence here has spawned the opening of many restaurants, cafes, and izakayas (Japanese pubs) in the area making it a great place for a night out and a bite to eat.