Skate, Swim and Eat in Southern Okinawa: Marinx Harbor

We visited the distinctive New Cinema Parlor Marinx Harbor in Yaese, a rural town in southern Okinawa.

 

Although this southern café has no connection to the military-base districts, its American styling and English-only signage look sharp.

A closer look reveals just how much it offers: accommodation, a hair salon, café, barbecue, surfing, skateboarding and a pool.

 

The logo is a cute yellow child wearing a hat.

 

Its biggest feature is the Grind Pool Skate Area, a large surface for skateboarding.

 

There is also a small, 1-meter-deep pool, so skating and swimming can be part of the same visit.

You can use the café in your skating or swimming clothes, adding to its relaxed resort-style appeal.

The pool was used for swimming from March through October; outside that period, the source says it was drained and used for skating.

 

A hammock beside the pool adds to the holiday feeling.

At the time of the visit, the account says these facilities were free for café customers; check the current terms before using them.

 

Rental skateboards were available inside,

 

along with surfboards and stand-up paddleboards for activities in the nearby sea.

For surfing or SUP bookings, the café would introduce customers to a related activity shop.

 

In the evening it operated as a bar, with whisky, Okinawan awamori and several sweet-potato shochu options.

 

There are plenty of unusual objects to look at as well.

 

A hair salon is an unexpected part of the concept: get a haircut, eat, skateboard and swim in one place.

The salon reportedly focused on treatments and damage care for hair affected by marine activities.

Rooms upstairs offered overnight stays, completing a remarkably broad range of services.

 

There are showers, an essential convenience after the pool or marine activities.

 

Marinx Harbor’s signature pasta uses Okinawa soba noodles.

The dish was created to introduce Okinawa’s appeal in a form that visitors from overseas could easily appreciate.

 

Another signature item was the Original Banana Juice, JPY 500.

This banana-milk drink could be made with dairy milk, soy milk or almond milk.

It is useful to have a choice of bases, though anyone with an allergy should check ingredients and cross-contact with the café rather than assume any version is safe.

 

The banana drink arrives first.

It is larger than expected—almost filling enough on its own.

 

Then comes the main dish: shrimp tomato pasta, JPY 1,500.

It initially sounded a little expensive, but four substantial shrimp made the price understandable.

The thick Okinawa soba noodles have plenty of surface area to carry the pasta sauce. The combination works better than I expected.

Perhaps I even prefer it.

 

We also order the café’s keema curry, JPY 950.

The ingredients are finely chopped, so there is little chunky texture, but the savory curry, turmeric rice and butter-cooked egg taste excellent together.

 

A baby watches us eating with such enthusiasm. Hello there.

 

A large park nearby has older residents enjoying gateball.

 

A calm-looking stretch of sea is about five minutes away on foot, suggesting a pleasant after-lunch walk.

 

Small as it is, Marinx Harbor has a remarkable variety of things to do.

Good pasta, lively skateboarding and a pool.

For a distinctive café with a resort feel during a visit to southern Okinawa, I would recommend stopping by Marinx Harbor.

Marinx Harbor
Address: 361-1 Minatogawa, Yaese, Shimajiri District, Okinawa
Phone: 098-988-3007