Okinawa's "Blue Cave" is famous as a mysterious place where sunlight passes through the surface of the sea and reflects off the seafloor, giving off a beautiful blue glow.
There are several places in the world called the Blue Cave, but Okinawa's Blue Cave is extremely popular because you can enjoy snorkeling and diving there.
In reality, though, you also hear people say, "I went to the Blue Cave and was disappointed." And you may be curious about why they were disappointed.
To answer the questions "Will I really be disappointed? And why?", we will explain the points that cause disappointment and the reasons behind them.
We will also introduce four points that will help you avoid disappointment and mistakes at Okinawa's Blue Cave.
If you read this first, you can enjoy Okinawa's Blue Cave to the fullest without any disappointment!
What are the actual reviews like?
When you hear "Okinawa's Blue Cave," what kind of scene comes to mind?
Many people probably picture a mysterious, painting-like scene wrapped in beautiful blue light.
Among the reviews from people who have actually visited, many show high satisfaction, such as "It was so beautiful and moving" and "It was so much fun that I want to go again."
However, you also see some disappointed reviews, such as "It was different from what I imagined" and "It wasn't that beautiful."
Where does this difference come from?
First, let's look at the "disappointed" reviews among the many out there.
It wasn't as beautiful as in the photos
Among the disappointed reviews, the most common is "It wasn't as beautiful as the photos."
The photos of the Blue Cave posted on Instagram and Okinawa travel information sites are mostly of mysterious, beautiful blue light, and many people probably visit expecting that dreamlike scenery.
But some people who actually visited were disappointed, saying "It wasn't as blue as in the photos" or "The water was cloudy and not as beautiful as I'd thought."
Getting to the sea was hard
Some people were disappointed because getting to the Blue Cave was so tough.
Many people find the stairs down to the sea inconvenient, with comments like "The stairs down to the sea were steep," "Those stairs were exhausting with heavy diving gear on my back" and "I was tired by the time I reached the water."
The stairs leading to the sea number nearly 100 steps, so some people will wear themselves out carrying heavy diving equipment.
The sun is especially strong in midsummer, and some people were disappointed to be so tired by the time they reached the Blue Cave that they went home without fully enjoying it.
We couldn't get into the Blue Cave
It is disappointing to go all the way there and not be able to get into the Blue Cave.
In fact, some people say things like "Swimming was prohibited, so we couldn't get in the water" and "The tour was canceled that day, so we couldn't go."
When the sea around Okinawa is rough or the weather is bad, tours may be canceled in the interest of safety, which is probably what leads to disappointed reviews like these.
You don't want to come all the way there and be disappointed that you can't go, so you need to prepare well.
In fact, there are times of year when you are more likely to be able to get into Okinawa's Blue Cave.
We will explain the best season, when your chances are high, later on.
Can't you enjoy yourself if you can't get into the Blue Cave?
When sea conditions around the Blue Cave are bad, the company that manages the Blue Cave decides on a "swimming ban," but some shops still hold the tour by changing the snorkeling point.
The tour wasn't good
Some people have voiced disappointment with tour companies, saying things like "I signed up for a budget tour and the optional fees added up to quite a lot," "They took photos for us but we didn't get the data" and "The service wasn't good."
Budget tours can come with additional optional fees on site, so quite a few people end up spending more than their original budget and feel disappointed.
Why is the Blue Cave called "disappointing"?
The reason Okinawa's Blue Cave sometimes gets called "disappointing" is a big gap between expectations and reality.
The higher your expectations, the greater the disappointment tends to be.
Of course it is fine to build up your expectations by looking at the beautiful photos in guidebooks and on websites, but if you don't have at least some understanding of Okinawa's Blue Cave, you may end up disappointed, thinking "This isn't what I expected..."
Here, let's dig into the reasons why people feel disappointed, thinking "This isn't what I expected..."
The main reasons for disappointment
There are four main reasons for disappointment. Let's go through them one by one!
Disappointed by too many people
・Stress from crowds
Okinawa's Blue Cave is a popular spot, so it tends to get crowded, especially during the tourist season and on weekends and holidays.
When it is packed with people, it becomes hard to relax inside the Blue Cave or to enjoy snorkeling or diving at your own pace.
Even if you want to take so-called Instagram-worthy photos, other people may get into the frame and you may not be able to get the shot you want.
On top of that, when it is crowded, you may have to wait your turn near the stairs down to the sea or at the entrance to the cave.
Many people feel stressed and disappointed because the situation is so far from the "quiet blue world" they had imagined.
The fix is to join the first tour of the morning or the last tour of the day; even in summer, you may be able to enjoy the Blue Cave all to yourselves!
・The sea is cloudy because of fish feeding
Too many people can also make the seawater cloudy.
Depending on the tour, you can have a fish-feeding experience.
This is a fun and rare experience, but during busy periods, naturally more people are feeding the fish.
Bread crumbs torn up as food scatter across the surface, and as a result the seawater becomes cloudy, which makes for a disappointing outcome.
The Blue Cave is famous for its consistently high clarity, but the sea is at its clearest first thing in the morning.
You can deal with this by choosing the first tour of the morning.
Disappointed by the weather or sea conditions
・Bad weather and low clarity
The beauty of Okinawa's Blue Cave depends greatly on the weather and sea conditions.
In particular, for the inside of the Blue Cave to glow blue, the amount of light and the clarity of the seawater are important.
On cloudy or rainy days there is less light, so it becomes difficult to fully enjoy the mysterious blue.
Also, on rainy days or when the waves are high, the seawater tends to become cloudy.
That said, we think the potential of Okinawa's sea is enough to move you even when it is raining.
・Bad weather keeps you out of the water
Cape Maeda, where the Blue Cave is located, may be closed to swimming depending on Okinawa's weather and sea conditions.
In that case the tour is canceled too, so even if you go all the way to Cape Maeda, you will not be able to get in the water.
Even when it is not raining, strong winds raise the waves, so there is a high chance that swimming will be prohibited.
Whether you can get in the sea depends heavily on Okinawa's weather, so check carefully in advance and choose a day with good weather, and keep an eye on the forecast often during your Okinawa trip.
The weather conditions that lead to a swimming ban are as follows.
| Heavy rain |
| Strong winds |
| When a typhoon is approaching |
| When the waves are high |
| When the swell is strong |
Disappointed by not understanding the tour details
There are also cases where people are disappointed because they did not check the tour details carefully beforehand.
For example, the tour fee may not include a snorkeling set and you get charged extra, or you may not be able to use a shower after the experience.
If you don't understand the tour details and agree to them before you sign up, you will end up disappointed on the day.
Be careful: if you compare only the prices of the many tours and settle on a budget tour, unexpected expenses and trouble can arise, and you will end up disappointed.
We will also explain in detail later the points you shouldn't overlook when choosing a tour, so don't miss it!
Four points to avoid mistakes at Okinawa's Blue Cave
So far, we have introduced specific reviews from people who were disappointed and briefly explained their reasons.
We have learned that to avoid disappointment at the Blue Cave, it is important not just to go, but to plan well in advance and have some background knowledge.
From here, we will dig into four important points in detail to prevent mistakes and avoid disappointment at Okinawa's Blue Cave.
Please use them as a reference so that you can truly enjoy the Blue Cave and go home satisfied.
Choose a time when the Blue Cave isn't crowded
Okinawa's Blue Cave is a popular spot that draws many tourists all year round, and it overflows with people especially in the tourist season.
The first point for avoiding disappointment is "choosing a time when it isn't crowded."
How crowded it is changes depending on when you visit: early morning, morning, afternoon or evening.
By avoiding the busy hours, you can enjoy the quiet Blue Cave, wrapped in beautiful blue light, more comfortably.
Recommended times
Now, let's introduce the recommended times when it isn't crowded!
・The best time is around 10 a.m.!
Around 10 a.m. is generally said to be the best time to visit the Blue Cave.
That is because the blue light spreads more vividly inside the cave.
From the highly transparent early morning, the sun gradually climbs higher, and sunlight enters the Blue Cave softly.
This turns the cave an even more vivid blue and creates a mysterious atmosphere.
In this way, the depth of the blue changes with how the light enters, so another charm is that you can enjoy different scenery depending on when you visit.
・Compare by time of day!
We have summarized how things differ by time of day, so please use this as a reference when making your plans.
| Time of day | Conditions at the Blue Cave |
| 7 a.m. to around 10 a.m. | Clarity is high, and the blue becomes more vivid as time passes. Especially in the early morning, the clarity of the sea improves with the sunrise, and the mysterious beauty of the Blue Cave stands out even more. It is also the least crowded time, so we recommend it. |
| 10 a.m. to around 12 p.m. | Clarity is average, and drops sharply compared with early morning. The water is likely to be cloudy from fish feeding. It is the most convenient time of day, but it is also the most crowded, so you should avoid it if you can. |
| 1 p.m. to around 3 p.m. | Clarity drops, but the blue of the sea deepens. It is not as crowded as in the morning, but it is still busy. If you want to take your time and enjoy it, it is safest to avoid this time as well. |
| After 4 p.m. | Clarity drops, but surprisingly the blue of the sea deepens. However, as the sun sets the colors fade from view, so if you want to fully enjoy the blue world, we recommend other times. By this hour it is relatively empty. |
As you can see, conditions at Okinawa's Blue Cave differ depending on when you go.
Decide clearly how you want to spend your time, then think about which time of day suits you.
For example, you may have many different wishes, such as "I want to enjoy a quiet, relaxed Blue Cave," "I want to take Instagram-worthy photos" or "I want to sightsee around Okinawa in the morning and quickly go in the afternoon."
Use the table above as a reference to make an Okinawa travel schedule that suits you perfectly.
Go at a time of year when you are likely to get in
Okinawa's Blue Cave is greatly affected by the weather and sea conditions, so you can't always get in on the day you visit. On days with high waves or strong winds, safety comes first, so swimming is often prohibited. This is because the cave is located on a rocky shore facing the open sea and is easily affected by waves. The chance of being able to get into Okinawa's Blue Cave is said to be about 50% over the course of a year.
To avoid the disappointing outcome of "I went all that way and swimming was prohibited...", choose a time of year when your chances of getting into the Blue Cave are high.
Recommended time of year
So when exactly is the best time to go?
The most recommended time is summer (July to October)!
In summer, unless a typhoon comes, the chance of getting into Okinawa's Blue Cave is over 90%.
Especially in the sunny stretch after the rainy season ends, there are many days when the sea is calm, so waves don't build up and entering from the beach is easier.
Choosing to go in summer, when your chances of getting into the Blue Cave are highest, is also recommended.
Also, you need to be careful during Okinawa's typhoon season.
When a typhoon approaches Okinawa, the sea tends to become rough, and there are often cases where the tour itself is canceled.
Check Okinawa's weather forecast and sea conditions carefully in advance, and aim to visit Okinawa at the best timing.
Don't choose a tour on price alone
There are more than 100 companies that run Okinawa Blue Cave tours.
Each tour company offers a variety of plans, and prices vary widely.
Whatever you do, don't sign up for a budget tour just to cut your Okinawa travel costs even a little.
There is always a reason a tour is cheap, so look carefully at the tour details, not just the price, and make sure all of your wishes will be met.
By comparing not only the tour fee but also the plan and the services included, you can have a highly satisfying experience.
From here, we will explain in an easy-to-understand way how to choose a tour company without making mistakes.
Three points for choosing the right tour
Meeting at the shop or meeting on site
Your satisfaction can change a great deal depending on whether you meet at the shop or on site.
Choosing to meet at the shop will give you peace of mind.
First, as the name suggests, with shop meeting you gather at the tour company's shop, and after the experience you return to the shop and the tour ends there.
With on-site meeting, there is a designated meeting place that you travel to yourself, and after the experience the tour ends right there.
In many cases, the meeting place appears to be the Cape Maeda parking lot.
What exactly are the differences between shop meeting and on-site meeting?
| Advantages | Disadvantages | |
| Shop meeting | ・You get a thorough explanation beforehand ・They can look after your luggage ・After the experience, you can use the shower and changing room at the shop ・Free parking is available ・It gives you peace of mind | ・The tour fee is relatively high ・You have to find the shop yourself ・The time before and after the experience is long |
| On-site meeting | ・The tour fee is relatively low ・There is no travel between the shop and the Blue Cave area, which saves time ・You have more time to spare | ・You can't use facilities such as showers, changing rooms and coin lockers ・Depending on the tour, you may have to check and prepare your equipment yourself ・There is little explanation beforehand, which can feel unsettling |
Looking at it this way, shop meeting seems overwhelmingly more comfortable.
Even with shop meeting, some tour companies don't have facilities such as showers or changing rooms, so check carefully which facilities you can use. For showers in particular, it is a good idea to check the details, such as whether it is a hot shower.
What is included in the tour fee
Once you have confirmed whether it is shop meeting or on-site meeting, next compare the services each tour company provides.
What is included in the tour fee differs from one tour company to another.
You may end up disappointed, thinking "I joined a shop-meeting tour because I wanted to use a hot shower, but the shower cost extra!", so check carefully what is included in the fee and compare tour companies.
Please see the summary of points to compare below.
We are a tenant of "Blue Cave Core," so parking, coin showers and lockers cost extra.
For details, see below ↓
| Photos and videos inside the Blue Cave | Some tours have a service in which the guide takes photos and videos inside the Blue Cave. If you want to keep your precious memories in photos and videos, have them taken. Depending on the tour, this may be included in the base fee or may cost extra as an option. |
| Handover of the photo data | You also need to check whether you can receive the data taken inside the Blue Cave. Even if the photo service is included in the tour fee, in some cases the fee only covers choosing the photos you like on the spot and having them printed. Be sure to check whether you will be given all of the data or whether there is an additional charge. |
| Fish-feeding experience | Near the Blue Cave, you can try feeding fish. It is a rare experience, so add to your happy memories with the fish-feeding experience. |
| Facility usage fees | Many shops have showers, changing rooms and restrooms. Check whether these facilities are free to use or whether a usage fee applies. |
| Rental equipment fees | Check that rentals of equipment used for snorkeling and diving, such as snorkels, masks, diving gear and wetsuits, are not charged separately. |
| Boat boarding fee | We mentioned that boat entry is recommended for getting to the Blue Cave. However, some tours charge the boat boarding fee separately, so be careful. Check whether the boat boarding fee is included in the tour fee. |
| Insurance and coverage | Because this is a tour that takes place in the sea, you need to have insurance just in case. If you already have your own insurance, that is fine, but if you have none, it is a good idea to choose a tour that lets you get insured. Also, please check whether there is compensation in the event of an accident. |
If you compare only prices and sign up for a cheap tour, all of these services could come at extra cost.
Even if the tour fee itself is low, if you add the services you want as options, the total can jump to a very high amount and give you a shock on site.
To avoid that kind of mistake, compare carefully in advance what is included in the tour fee and choose a tour that includes the services you want.
One thing to note: avoid tours that are very cheap even though they include a variety of services.
A tour that is too cheap compared with the fees for similar tours may use old equipment or may not be hygienic.
Even if a tour includes various services, there is always a reason a tour is too cheap, so it is safest not to join it.
Tips for getting the most out of Okinawa's Blue Cave
Note: Image 6
If you have gone all the way to Okinawa's Blue Cave, you will want to savor its charm to the fullest.
The Blue Cave is a place you can enjoy in a few hours, but how you enjoy it and how satisfied you feel change depending on how long you stay.
Some people will say, "Since I'm going all this way, I want to stay a long time!", while others will say, "I have other plans, so I don't need to stay that long."
Here, we introduce ways to enjoy it for each length of stay: a full day, a half day and a few hours.
Please find the stay plan that suits you.
Enjoy the charm to the fullest! A full-day stay
If you want to enjoy Okinawa's Blue Cave to your heart's content, we recommend a stay plan that uses a full day.
Not only can you enjoy snorkeling and diving in the cave, but you can also enjoy the surrounding sea and Okinawa sightseeing spots.
Both snorkeling and diving! Enjoy both
With a full day, you can enjoy both snorkeling in the morning and diving in the afternoon.
In the morning, the sea is highly transparent with little cloudiness, so you can enjoy the beautiful Blue Cave.
In the afternoon, you can enjoy the inside of the Blue Cave when it is even bluer, and see how the scenery of the Blue Cave differs by time of day.
There are also tours that let you try both snorkeling and diving, so if you want to enjoy both, it is a good idea to join with plenty of time to spare.
Enjoy the surrounding sea
We also recommend going not just to the Blue Cave but to the sea around it.
You can relax in the beautiful surrounding sea, watch the sun sink at sunset, or simply spend a relaxing time.
There are also tours where you can try sea kayaking in the surrounding sea, so those with plenty of energy can enjoy a variety of experiences.
Visit nearby Okinawa sightseeing spots
Cape Maeda has many Okinawa sightseeing spots you can enjoy.
There are facilities where you can experience traditional Okinawan culture, adventure facilities with a variety of activities, and shops that sell Okinawan specialties.
Just right! A half-day stay
For those who want to stay a full day but can't spare that much time, we recommend a half-day stay.
If you join a morning tour, you are free to do other Okinawa sightseeing from early afternoon.
Even with an afternoon tour, if you join the one starting at 1 p.m., you can still fully enjoy the Blue Cave after sightseeing.
Some tours let you try both snorkeling and diving even on a half-day course.
If you only have half a day but want to try both, it is a good idea to join a tour like that.
Even in limited time you can fully enjoy the beauty of Okinawa's Blue Cave, so a half-day stay is perfect for those who want to strike a nice balance with other Okinawa sightseeing.
Quick and easy! A few hours' stay
Even if you can't spare much time, you can still visit the Blue Cave.
Enjoy it efficiently with a stay plan of a few hours.
If you only have a few hours, book your tour early.
With popular tour companies, tours at your preferred time can fill up quickly, so book early to make sure you can join at a convenient time.
With a stay of a few hours, most tours will be either a snorkeling or a diving experience.
Even with a short stay, you should be fully satisfied once you see the beautiful sights of Okinawa's Blue Cave.
Summary
To fully enjoy Okinawa's Blue Cave without disappointment, preparation in advance is important.
Check carefully when you will go to Okinawa and what the tour includes, and make a schedule that suits you perfectly.
By choosing a tour you can trust, you can avoid being "disappointed" at the Blue Cave.
It is a very popular spot, so plan early and make your reservation in good time.
We hope you read this article and go enjoy the best Blue Cave experience!
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