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Japan is a country of islands, and that means there are plenty of beaches with golden sands and crystal-blue seas for you to explore. While sand, surf and sun are a timeless trio, beach days here often come with extras -- so take your pick from hot springs, dunes and even views of Mount Fuji while you sunbathe. 1. Steamy sand baths: Ibusuki, Kagoshima Forget the sea, people come to Ibusuki, Kagoshima for the sand -- and it isn’t the golden stretches you’re imagining either. Here, the sand is heated from below by natural hot springs, so being buried up to the neck is a unique way to enjoy its relaxing and detoxifying properties. A sand bath costs around and you will be covered by staff and checked on in case you want more weight or heat, or to finish after around 10–15 minutes. How to get there Take the JR Ibusuki Makurazaki Line from Kagoshima-Chuo Station to Ibusuki Station. The limited-express train takes around 55 minutes and costs around . The local train takes up to 80 minutes, but comes in at less than half the price at . The sand baths are within walking distance of Ibusuki Station. 2. Serene coastal escape: Jōdogahama Beach, Iwate Particularly beautiful thanks to its unusual rock formations, Jōdogahama Beach on the Sanriku Coast, Iwate, is by far one of the best to see in Japan. Jōdogahama means "Pure Land Beach" and was named by the Buddhist monk Reiko, who compared it to a paradise. The water is incredibly clear and perfect for swimming thanks to gentle waves. It is a pebble beach rather than a sand one, but that’s a small price to pay. You can take small boat cruises to see the rock formations and caves up close, too. How to get there Catch a bus from Miyako Station and get off at Jōdogahama Visitor Center, a 15-minute walk from the beach. Note that some buses continue all the way to beach. There are two local buses every hour and additional shuttle buses in the peak season. It takes 15 minutes and costs around . 3. A natural playground: Touji Sand Ski Resort, Izu Peninsula Despite the name, this is not a "resort", but rather a beach that happens to have a sand slope worth sledding down, as well as lovely views. The surrounding beach area is ripe for exploring, with rock formations and shallow waters just waiting to be paddled in. You can rent sledges for a few hundred yen and explore the nearby open cave, Ryugukutsu. The Izu coast has plenty of stunning beaches with incredibly clear water, so be sure to explore some other options. Try Shirahama Ohama, Nabetahama, Iritahama, Kisami Ohama and Sotoura beaches for the traditional beach scene. Pro tip: Izu can be done as a day trip from Tokyo. Check out our guide to the Jōgasaki Coast for other ideas. How to get there Catch a bus from Izukyu Shimoda Station (on the JR Izukyu or Odoriko lines) for just under 20 minutes for . For those driving, leave the Noto Satoyama Kaidō expressway at either the Chirihama or Imahama exits. 4. Views of Mount Fuji: Miho no Matsubara, Shizuoka If views of the sea aren’t enough for you, how about admiring Fuji-san next time you sunbathe? At Miho Beach in Shizuoka, not only can you catch the rays, you can catch sight of the country’s most famous landmark too. Miho no Matsubara is a bit pebbly, and is more of a stroll than your run-of-the-mill place, but still, it’s a beach. You can explore the pine forests spread out across 7 km of seashore. How to get there Catch a bus from Shimizu Station and get off close to Miho Shrine (the Sekaiisan Miho-no-Matsubara Kaminomichi Iriguchi stop). From there, you can walk to the coastline. Alternatively, catch a ferry from Hinode Pier to the swimming beaches further up the coastline. 5. Hot springs by the sea: Shirahama Beach, Wakayama With a name like “white beach”, you know what you can expect sand-wise with Shirahama, and get a feeling for how popular it might be, too. Surrounded by hot-spring resort hotels, the beach is picture-perfect otherwise, with an eyecatching curve to its sandy shore. Nightly fireworks are held during summer, and the beach is perfect for swimming and sunbathing. The beach happens to be in one of the three oldest hot-spring areas in Japan. You can even soak in an onsen on the beach at Shirasuna Onsen (swimsuits mandatory). Note: Be careful not to confuse this beach with the Shirahama Beach in Shizuoka. How to get there You can get to this beach in just over 20 minutes from Shirahama Station (on the JR Kisei Main Line). Take the 101 Shirahama Town Loop Bus straight to the stop aptly named Shirahama Beach. This journey costs . 6. Driver's paradise: Chirihama Nagisa Driveway, Ishikawa Another giveaway name, this beach is an 8-km sandy stretch in Ishikawa. While we aren't sure about the environmental impact, it's popular for being a car-friendly beach for those select few who like looking at the sea from a moving vehicle. Although you can sit up on the higher levels of the beach, you can’t really frolick with abandon, in case you’re hit by a slow-moving sightseer. There are food stalls grilling fresh fish and seafood. It’s also a good shell-hunting spot. How to get there This beach is located near Chirihama IC or Imahama IC on the Noto Satoyama Kaido Freeway. Since the driveway isn't always open, be sure to check the signs on the main lane of the Noto Satoyama Kaido Freeway for its current status. Our favorite island destinations For more than just a day trip, consider some of Japan’s island destinations. Flights and ferries do boost the price a little, but stick to budget airlines and avoid peak seasons, and you can make it happen. Amami Oshima On the way to Okinawa, but claimed by Kagoshima, the island of Amami Ōshima is the lesser-visited beach haven that should be top of your list. As the largest of the Satsunan Islands, it has mangroves, a history of kimono-making, local delicacies, and, of course, amazing beaches. The golden sand beaches are simple affairs with few amenities, if any, and not all are accessible by local public transport. The most popular is Tomori Beach, which is close to the airport. It's great for snorkeling and sunbathing, with views across a shallow expanse of water and coral reefs. Ohama Beach is just outside Amami City, so is easily accessed. Spots like Heart Rock and Kurasaki Beach are beautiful, but require a car. Make a day trip to the nearby islands of Kakeromajima, Yoroshima, Ukejima and Kikai for even more secluded spots. How to get there Flight to Amami Ōshima run from Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Naha and Kagoshima. The budget airline Vanilla Air can be used between Osaka and Tokyo and is cheaper than JAL, which runs the other routes. You can also access the island by ferry. From Kagoshima, ferries take around 11 hours. A one-way fare starts at around and goes up from there. Two companies operate on the route, Marix and A Line—with services available every few days. Okinawa The go-to beach destination in Japan, Okinawa is synonymous with turquoise seas, white sandy beaches and snorkeling. The main island (Okinawa) has some good beach options, but it's busier and generally not as relaxing. Your best bet is heading to one of the smaller Kerama Islands. Tokashiki and Zamami are closest, with some stunning options and cheap hostels to boot. Okinawa Island Some of the hotels on the island are part of hotel complexes, which isn’t exactly the beach vibe most people are looking for, but Zampa, Manza, Sun Marina and Mibaru beaches are available to all. For diving, head to Cape Maeda, which has some good sea life and a cave you can swim to. Tokashiku The largest island has two stunning main beaches. The first is Aharen which is larger, with restaurants and facilities nearby. The second, Tokashiku, is a little smaller, but still well-equipped. Both beaches have separated swimming and snorkeling sections along the white sand -- and you may be able to spot turtles at both. Pro tip: This convenient one-day tour departs from Naha. Zamami Furuzamami Beach is probably the most famous in the Kerama Islands, and has been deemed a two-star destination in the Michelin Green Guide. It’s got sand, coral reefs for snorkeling and some amenities so you can easily spend a day relaxing. Elsewhere on the island, Ama Beach is a great spot to see turtles and has the island’s only campsite nearby, while Touma is more secluded. Both are sandy rather than coral-based, so they're better for relaxing than snorkeling. The two small island areas of Gahi and Agenashiku are great options too. Ishigaki Ishigaki is the main hub of the Yaeyama Islands: a sub-tropical haven part of Okinawa, but closer to Taiwan by far. Some of the country’s most beautiful beaches can be found here. Ishigaki Island Ishigaki's Kabira Bay is the most recognized spot and is truly stunning. However, you can’t actually swim there, so it’s more of a viewing area than a day-out spot. There are countless beaches along the main island, with some of the best including: Maezato (a resort-type beach) Sukuji (well known for the shallow waters) Uganzaki (secluded but no swimming) Sunset (idyllic but popular) Kuura South (a beautiful bay beach) Yonehara (great snorkeling) Smaller islands Tokashiku, Kohama and Kuroshima all have stunning beaches, and while Iriomote is more of a mangrove/kayaking scene, there are some great diving options too. Hateruma is the island farthest from Japan, and has some of the most untouched spots, like Nishihama Beach, which is pretty much heaven on earth. Slightly farther out but towards Japan's mainland, Miyako-jima is home to Yonaha Maehama beach. It's considered the best diving spot in the country. Head to Hatenohama on a day tour if possible; the sand bar is one of the most beautiful stretches by far. Ogasawara Islands A World Heritage Site, the Ogasawara Archipelago is deep in the Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 miles from Tokyo. With a sub-tropical climate, the islands offer a unique ecosystem as they were never connected to any other land mass and are therefore carefully protected. The two main islands, Hahajima ("Mother Island") and Chichijima ("Father Island") have hotels and sightseeing opportunities like whale-watching, shipwreck-diving and dolphin-swimming, as well as plenty of amazing beaches. Chichijima Sakaiura Beach has great snorkeling opportunities with a sunken warship to explore and golden sands to relax on after. Kominato is the islands longest stretch of beach perfect for shallow swimming and sunbathing. The more isolated Hatsuneura Beach is great for snorkeling and swimming, but is only accessible by car and a hike. Hahajima The best beaches on this island are found in the southern half, but there are excellent hiking trails and rental bikes available (note: there is no other means of transport). Minamikazi Beach and Miyukinohama are both incredibly clear, with snorkeling and swimming opportunities that might be the best you’ve ever experienced. Beach rules in Japan -- and a bit of folklore Beaches in Japan have more rules than most places, because regulated fun is the best kind of fun. While some may seem a little strange, they need to be followed. 1. Taking trash home "Take your trash home" is the theme in Japan, and this applies heavily at the beach. Arrive with extra bags, because there will probably not be any bins. 2. Seasonal closing dates: September 1 Beaches here can be open or closed, and while it cannot physically be done, somehow if you go out of season, even by a few days, the place will be dead. You’re still welcome to go and make the most of it, just be aware that it means that lifeguards will not be around -- and there might be jellyfish (see below). Japan is law-abiding to the bone, so if they’re told it’s closed, it’s closed. 3. Jellyfish Japan has a lot of jellyfish, and if you’re in areas like Okinawa or Ishigaki, you may want to check which beaches install jellyfish nets and when, as the more secluded ones often don’t. Jellyfish increase towards September. 4. No swim rules Many beaches in Japan have strict no-swimming rules, like at Kabira Bay. Sometimes it’s due to boat paths, jet skis, dangerous currents and sometimes all three. So if it says don’t swim, then don’t. 5. Obon time Legend has it that during Obon, spirits return to land from the sea, and therefore, many from the older generation will not visit the beach after this national holiday. Younger people are less superstitious though and you can find them at the beach, apparently unafraid that the ghosts of their ancestors will pull them to their watery deaths. Dive in a little deeper -- visit some of these amazing diving spots in Japan. Frequently asked questions about beaches in Japan Is it worth going to beaches in Japan? In a word: yes. Japan boasts some truly awe-inspiring beaches, and a whole host of island destinations. From the powdery white sands of Okinawa’s remote isles to the rugged volcanic shores of the Izu Peninsula, there’s a surprising variety of coastline to explore. You’ll find steamy sand baths in Kagoshima, subtropical coral reefs in the Yaeyama Islands, and dramatic rocky coves along the Sanriku coast. Whether you’re after lazy sunbathing, seaside onsen, or hidden caves and cliffs to scramble over, Japan’s beaches go far beyond the expected. While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Post first published in July 2018. Last updated: May 2025 by Aarohi Narain.

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