It is hardly a surprise that there are so many wonderful beaches in Japan. They provide a fantastic getaway when it comes to leaving the hustle and bustle of the city.
Japan’s beaches are known for being clean. In fact, if you have ever traveled to Japan before, you will rarely see garbage on the floor. It is most definitely respectful to take your trash home with you.
There are lots of activities to do while at the beach too. Or, you can just spend your time soaking up on the sun and feeling the sand between your toes.
If you are hoping to visit one of Japan’s famous beaches, then look no further. We take a look at the best beaches in Japan below.
1. The Many Beaches Of Kamakura
While Kamakura is known for its old time feel and traditional Japanese architecture, it also has many beaches. Only an hour away from Tokyo, it is popular with tourists.
However, it can get very crowded. This is due to its short beach season from July to August. Even so, it is still a fantastic place to go. Beaches here also have a wonderful view of Mount Fuji when the sky is clear.
Two beaches that often get busy are Zaimokuzu and Yuigahama. There are lots of water activities, and the sand is soft and golden. However, the former is further away yet offers less amenities.
Beaches here offer food and drink, and you can rent items for surfing and so on. You can also enjoy one of the many seaside cafes, too.
2. Odaiba Seaside Park Beach
If you are visiting Tokyo but don’t have much time to head to the beach, then you will want to visit Odaiba (whilst in Odaiba, check out the stunning Oedo Onsen Monogatari). This man-made beach is in Tokyo, and is part of Tokyo Bay.
To get there, you will need to take a ride on a train which goes over Rainbow Bridge. It is a fun ride, and feels like you really are in a MarioKart race track – just without the danger of shells and bananas!
While the water isn’t there to be used, the beach itself is very relaxing. There are also places to eat and drink by the beach, and the sand feels soft. There are sailing and volleyball competitions in the summer which are fun to watch.
Close by is a huge shopping mall, and you may even spot the Statue of Liberty too.
3. Kujukuri Beach
At 60 kilometers, Kujukuri beach is very big. Housed in the Chiba prefecture, it isn’t too far away from Tokyo. It is also one of the flattest beaches in Japan and very straight.
There are no coral reefs either, meaning the water is perfect for surfing. The waves crash straight onto the coastline, sometimes up to six meters high.
You will find that the water is quite warm in October, meaning you can still enjoy this beach long after summer has been and gone. However, this area is quite underdeveloped.
For this reason, you will only find some local restaurants and shops nearby, as well as a couple of hotels.
4. Shirahama Onsen And Beach
This resort is perfect if you are looking to experience an onsen and spend some hours at the beach. In fact, the Shirahama onsen is one of Japan’s most famous, so it is well worth visiting.
Based in the prefecture of Wakayama, there are lots of beautiful beaches. The Shirahama Beach itself spans 700 meters and includes stunning white sand. The beach also includes places to eat and rented items to use.
If you make your way to the end of Shirahama Beach, you will see the Shirahama Jinja red gate which is perfect for photo opportunities.
There are also open air onsen too nearby, which means you can enjoy the wonderful views of the turquoise sea, and the benefits of the spring water.
5. Tsunoshima Islands
To get to Tsunoshima Islands, you will need to leave the mainland of Japan via the Tsunoshima Bridge which spans 1,780 meters in length. Despite the size of the bridge, the island itself is tiny.
Even so, the beaches are beautiful, with white sand and blue water. To get to a beach you will need to walk down a narrow-ish road that descends from a parking lot. The beach makes up for it though.
You will also get great views of the bridge which are picture worthy. However, there aren’t many amenities here and the beach is much smaller.
The beach on the north of the island is more popular due to having toilets and showers. You can also enjoy a barbeque on this side of the island.
6. Tokashiki Islands
There are ten mountain islands, however only two are inhabited. These are Maejima and Tokashiki. For those who love marine life, then the latter has a beach that is perfect for snorkeling.
Not only that, there are lots of sea turtles on this island. When the tide becomes high, you may see the sea turtles coming to shore to get food.
There is also Aharen Beach which is very developed compared to Tokashiki Beach. Here you will find lots of shops and restaurants. You can also rent items to use at the beach.
7. Izu Peninsula
Despite only being a short distance away from Tokyo, the Izu Peninsula will make it feel like you are hours and hours away from the famous capital city.
There are a number of beaches here, including the busy Atami Sun Beach. It sits next to the train station so it often becomes crowded during the summer months.
There are also the Ito Orange Beach and Nagahama Beach. While popular, they aren’t as crowded. There are beach huts too.
If you are looking to camp, then check out Hirizo Beach which is also a great place to snorkel.
8. Amami Oshima Island
Amami Island is located between Okinawa and Kyushu. There are plenty of beaches on this smaller island which are surrounded by a number of coral reefs. There are also mountains within the landscape, and beautiful green forests.
Beach season is longer here, lasting from May all the way to October. However, you won’t find many amenities at these beaches. The only things available are restrooms and parking lots.
This makes the beaches great for those who want to be in a calmer atmosphere. The water itself is clean and clear, perfect for spending time snorkeling and enjoying a swim.
If you are wanting to dive, then check out Kurasaki Beach. Yadoribama Beach on the other hand is the perfect spot for campers. This is because it cannot be accessed by using public transport.
9. Zushi Beach
This natural beach is the closest to Tokyo. Surprisingly, it is also quiet for many months of the year. Long ago it did not have the best reputation. This is because it was located by the US military base. It became noisy late into the night.
These days it is a really clean beach with a very good reputation. However, there are some tight restrictions on this beach. For example, no tattoos or loud music is allowed.
Here you can visit local cafes and restaurants, and relax on the beautiful sand. During the summer season, you may even see windsurfers and paddle boarders too. While there isn’t much to do, it is a perfect spot to relax and watch the sunset.
10. The Beaches Of Okinawa Beach
Okinawa prefecture is home to many different beaches (in fact, over 100), including the longest one in the whole of the country. The climate around this part of Japan is very tropical and humid, making it a great vacation destination for many.
While there are bustling beaches full of activity, there are also remote beaches to visit too. These are close to Miyako and Kerama islands and are better suited for those who would like some peace and quiet.
The famous area is Manza which is a resort that is suitable for the whole family. There are lots of activities to do. You can also visit Cape Manzamo. From there you will be able to see the sunrise glistening the China Sea.
Kouri Beach is another popular spot. There is a rock formation which looks like two hearts that people like to photograph.
Final Thoughts
When people think of visiting Japan, they more often than not imagine the scramble crossing of Shibuya, or the geishas in Kyoto. Maybe even the landscape view of the sun behind Mount Fuji.
What people do not tend to think about is the fantastic beaches that Japan has to offer. There are plenty of them too.
The great thing about the beaches in Japan is that they are really easy to get to. Even if you are in Tokyo, you are only a stone’s throw away from visiting a beach – even if it is manmade.
Hopefully you have seen a beach or two you would like to visit on your next vacation. Just don’t forget the sunscreen and hat!
I hope that, by exploring this website, you all will develop a much deeper appreciation for Japan, and that it may even influence you to pay it a visit yourself eventually! It is definitely a trip of a lifetime, and whether you experience it firsthand, or through my own website, I’m sure you will become just as passionate as I always have been!
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