Chatan, Okinawa

Chatan 北谷町
—  Town  —
Mihama Town Resort American Village
Location of Chatan in Okinawa
Chatan
Coordinates: 26°19′12″N 127°45′50″E / 26.32°N 127.76389°E / 26.32; 127.76389Coordinates: 26°19′12″N 127°45′50″E / 26.32°N 127.76389°E / 26.32; 127.76389
Country	Japan
Region	Kyūshū
Prefecture	Okinawa
District	Nakagami District
Area
- Total	13.62 km2 (5.3 sq mi)
Population (2003)
- Total	26,377
- Density	1,936.64/km2 (5,015.9/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Website	Town of Chatan

Chatan (北谷町, Chatan-chō^?, Okinawan: Chatan) is a town located in Nakagami District, Okinawa, Japan.

In 2003, the town has an estimated population of 26,377 and the density of 1,936.64 per km². The total area is 13.62 km². The town is divided up into six districts: Kitamae (北前), Mihama (美浜), and Sunabe (砂辺) (which enjoy great popularity among locals and tourists alike - for their many recreational and shopping destinations) as well as the primarily local business and residential wards of Kamiseido (上製頭), Ihei (伊平), and Kuwae (桑江).

Chatan cho primarily runs along Route 58 and a largely man-made coastline which includes the area of what used be the U.S. Marine Corp base of Camp Hamby (now Camp Foster). The northern half of Kitamae is nicknamed "Hamby Town" in recognition of this, and the Hamby Post Office is one of the first Japanese Postal offices to have an English name. Parts of Camp Foster and Camp Lester are in Chatan.

The American Kadena Air Base is located on and forms the northern boundary of Chatan which is further demarcated by Route 23 - also known locally as Kokutai Road. The U.S. air base also encompasses much land which was once part of Chatan's area including most of the ward once named Shimoseido.

Shopping and recreation

Much of the Hamby area is home to the "Hamby Free Zone". Though the name is misleading due to romanization errors, it is a large flea market that is scattered over an area of several blocks, though much of the land it is on is constantly relocated or bought for expansion of businesses. With the expansion of shopping/recreational businesses in the Mihama area, Chatan has become one of the most popular destinations for recreation. It is home to a large ferris wheel (which has become a sort of landmark), a small convention center, severa; shopping plazas, arcades, karaoke parlors, a 25-story hotel named "The Beach Tower" and several beaches. Sunabe is famous for a large sea wall which attracts many SCUBA divers and surfers.

Araha Beach

External links

Media related to Chatan, Okinawa at Wikimedia Commons

• Chatan official website (Japanese)