Chatan, Okinawa

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The location of Chatan in Okinawa.

Chatan (北谷町; -chou) is a town located in Nakagami District, Okinawa, Japan.

As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 26,377 and the density of 1,936.64 persons per km². The total area is 13.62 km². The town is divided up into three districts: Kitamae, Mihama, and Sunabe. It also primarily runs along Route 58 and a man-made coastline which covers the area of what used be the U.S. Marines base of Camp Hamby (now Camp Foster). The northern half of Kitamae is nicknamed(?) Hamby to honor 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 both reside in Chatan.

[edit] 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's a large flea market that's scattered in an area of several blocks. Though much of land its 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's home to a large ferris wheel (which has become sort of a landmark), a small convention center, multiple 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 surfers.