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.

[5] Kitamae, Mihama, and Sunabe enjoy great popularity among locals and tourists alike - for their many recreational and shopping destinations.

Fossil human bones found in 1966 in Tōbaru Cave had first been dated of 16,000 yBP but recent surveys have attributed them to the Gusuku Period.

[6]: 4 The oldest mention of the name of Chatan (Kitatan) has been found on the dedicatory inscription on a funerary urn dated of 1492 where it is written in hiragana.

[7] The name written with the current ideograms can be traced in historical documents back to the 16th century (Genealogical Records of the Ōso Family of the Yu Clan Japanese: 兪性大宗家家譜).

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.

[8] Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools: Chatan is crossed from north to south by Japan National Route 58, which runs parallel to the coastal area of the town.

[1] Delta Air Lines has a city ticket office in the Towa Building #1 (東和第一ビル Tōwa Daiichi Biru) in Chatan.

[13] Chatan Town hosts eight designated or registered tangible cultural properties and monuments, at the national or municipal level.