Sports Park in Okinawa: Activities, Nature, Facilities, and Camping All in One Place

Activities, Nature, Facilities, and Camping: What This Large Sports Park Has to Offer

Located in Kitanakagusuku, Sogoundo-koen, its official name, is much more than just a sports park.
It’s an ideal destination for families, sports enthusiasts, nature lovers, and campers looking for a place to unwind or be active.

With its modern facilities, vast green spaces, and a strong sense of environmental and cultural respect, this park captures the spirit of the best sports activities in Okinawa.

Expansive Green Areas in an Open-Air Sports Park

One of the park’s standout features is its vast grassy fields and open lawns.
These spacious areas allow children to run around freely without disturbing others.

Whether playing ball, flying a kite, or just enjoying the feeling of running barefoot in the grass, there is plenty of room to play.
It’s a natural playground where families can picnic, relax, or enjoy a spontaneous game of frisbee.

The full pedestrian loop of the park takes about 2.5 hours to walk without breaks, plenty of time to enjoy the scenery while getting a bit of exercise.

A Wide Variety of Sports for All Ages

Sogoundo-koen is designed to accommodate a broad range of sports, both indoors and outdoors.
It caters to all age groups, children, teens, adults, and seniors alike.

Indoor Sports:

• Multi-purpose gymnasiums: spaces for volleyball, rhythmic and artistic gymnastics, martial arts, and more.
• Heated indoor swimming pool, open year-round.
• Indoor tennis courts, futsal, and other indoor sports.

Outdoor Sports:

• 16 outdoor tennis courts + 1 half court
• Multi-use fields for football and rugby
• A large stadium for tournaments and events
• Baseball field (located nearby in Shiosai Park)
• Running tracks (3 km, 4 km, and 5 km)
• Velodrome cycling track
• Indoor and outdoor basketball courts
• Children’s playgrounds
• Ponds with koi, ducks, and local birds

Outdoor Recreation and Additional Physical Activities

Beyond the traditional sports facilities, the sports park offers a wide array of physical, cultural, and educational activities:

• Bike rentals to explore the paths
• Paddle boats available on a designated pond
• An outdoor water park open in summer, featuring a lazy river and slides
• A fitness room accessible to all visitors
• Yoga classes in the morning, afternoon, and evening
• Karate and sports dance classes
• Lessons in swimming, pilates, and gymnastics
• Courses on traditional Chinese medicine
• Tennis workshops, soccer and rugby clubs
• Guided tours of the park and its facilities
• Children’s camps during school vacations
• Craft workshops like basket weaving and floral arrangement
• Japanese cooking classes (miso, mochi, ramen, etc.)
• English language classes for both children and adults
• Car-free days and civic cleanup events (like beach and pond cleanups)
• Regularly organized sports tournaments
• Numerous shaded areas for picnics or rest
• Seasonal events for the whole family

Official website (in Japanese): https://okinawa-kenso.com/

Free Access to Sports Activities, No Membership Needed

One of the most appealing aspects of Sogoundo-koen Sports Park is that you don’t need a membership to enjoy its facilities.
Many activities are open to the public, and access is simple, just purchase a ticket for the specific activity you’d like to try.

Want to swim? A single-use ticket gives you access to the heated pool.
Keep in mind that the ticket is time-limited and does not grant full-day entry.

Interested in lifting weights while your friends explore the park? The fitness room is available to all, just grab a ticket.
Even the tennis courts can be rented by the hour, whether you’re new to the game or an experienced player.

It’s a flexible, accessible system, perfect for spontaneous sports activities in Okinawa.

Major Sports and Cultural Events

The main stadium regularly hosts official competitions and matches, drawing large audiences.
Its spacious stands provide room for many spectators and create a festive, welcoming atmosphere.

From time to time, the park is also used for outdoor concerts and seasonal festivals.
These events transform the space into a cultural venue that appeals to both children and adults.

Starting Point of the Okinawa Marathon

Each year, the Sogoundo-koen Sports Park becomes a key location for Okinawa’s running community, it is the official starting point of the Okinawa Marathon.

Held in February, the event attracts thousands of participants from across Okinawa, other parts of Japan, and abroad.
The 42.195 km course winds through scenic routes in central Okinawa, offering runners breathtaking views of urban landscapes, countryside, and the sea.

The park’s facilities are perfectly suited to support this event, providing comfort for both runners and spectators.
The atmosphere is lively and joyful, with music, food stalls, and cheering crowds, making it one of the most popular sporting events on the island.

A Convenient and Well-Equipped Camping Area

For those looking to extend their stay, the sports park features a well-integrated campground within its natural surroundings.

You can bring your own tent or rent one on-site.
Barbecuing is allowed directly in front of your tent, as long as you follow the designated rules.

If you’re driving, you can even park your vehicle next to your tent for extra convenience.

Campground facilities include:

• Clean restrooms spread throughout the park
• Dishwashing sinks
• Washbasins and showers
• Hot water available through a token system
• Nearby vending machines for cold drinks and ice cream

A Natural Beach Alongside the Sports Park

Just next to the sports park is a wild beach with calm, crystal-clear waters.
The sand is soft but dotted with sharp rocks, so swimming is not recommended, especially for children without supervision.

Still, this beach is a fantastic place for discovery.
During low tide, children can find crabs, hermit crabs, seashells, and pieces of coral along the shore.

With a bucket and a shovel or toy trucks and excavators, they can build roads between the rocks, collect treasures, or construct sandcastles.

It’s a wonderful spot to paddle, observe marine life up close, and experience Okinawa’s untouched coastal charm.

A Scenic Lookout with Panoramic Views

The park includes an observation platform that offers 360° views of the surrounding towns, Okinawa’s hills, and the ocean horizon.
On a clear day, the scenery is absolutely breathtaking.

It’s the perfect place to pause, watch the sunset, or simply enjoy the peaceful landscape.

It’s also worth noting that the lookout serves as a designated tsunami evacuation zone.
In case of an alert, visitors can head there for safety.

A Quiet Feature: Traditional Family Tombs

While walking through the upper wooded areas of the sports park, especially around the lookout point, you may come across small stone structures nestled in the hills.

These are traditional Okinawan family tombs, a unique part of the region’s cultural heritage.

Unlike Western-style cemeteries, these tombs are isolated, covered in vegetation, and fully integrated into the natural setting.
They are not found on the main trails or open spaces but are discreetly located on hillsides away from the crowds.

To local residents, these tombs symbolize ancestral respect.
They don’t disrupt the park’s recreational use in any way.

This isn’t a cemetery in the usual sense, but rather a natural environment quietly shaped by Okinawan traditions.
Visitors can enjoy the park fully while also getting a glimpse into this lesser-known cultural feature.

Easy Access to the Sports Park in Okinawa

The sports park has three main entrances, each with its own parking area. This setup ensures smooth traffic flow and easy access, whether you’re visiting for an hour or planning to spend the whole day. It’s also ideal for families with children and visitors with limited mobility, as they can easily find an entrance near their activity area.

Bonus: Entrance to the park is completely free. You only pay a small parking fee, just a few yen.

A Safe and Environmentally Friendly Sports Park

The park is monitored by security staff who help maintain a peaceful and safe atmosphere.
It’s a secure environment for families, including those with young children.

As for local wildlife, the park is generally safe.
However, Okinawa is home to the infamous Habu, a venomous snake.
These snakes typically hide in areas with tall grass, dense bushes, and forested sections.

Clear warning signs are placed throughout the park to remind visitors not to wander off the marked paths.
Following these precautions is essential to enjoy the park safely.

Final Thoughts: A Must-Visit Sports Park in Okinawa

Sogoundo-koen Sports Park is a unique destination for anyone looking to spend an active, peaceful, or enriching day in nature.

Whether you’re a seasoned athlete, a parent with young children, or someone who loves camping, this park offers a complete experience rooted in Okinawa’s natural beauty and cultural traditions.

It’s the perfect place to move, breathe, learn, and recharge, while enjoying the very best of sports activities in Okinawa.

Visit the park at your own pace on video

To complement this article, I invite you to watch a walking tour video of the Sogoundo-koen Sports Park, filmed in ASMR style with only the natural sounds of the environment.

It’s not a fast-paced or narrated video, but rather a slow, immersive walk, just as if you were there.
Subtitles are available throughout the video to guide you and provide useful information without breaking the peaceful atmosphere.

Chapters are included so you can jump to the areas that interest you most and explore the park at your own rhythm.

Don’t forget to turn on subtitles in the YouTube settings if they’re not activated automatically.

Click on the link in the picture to watch the video on YouTube.

Texts, images and videos © Okinawa Daily Life
Copying, downloading and reuse prohibited without permission