photo by Nobuhiro Nikushi
The best way to escape the summer’s heat is taking a swim in cool water. Of course, jumping into a pool does the job – but summer, after all, is all about going to the beach! Listen to the waves while relaxing on the beach after a swim in the ocean, or have fun with beach volleyball – there are many ways to enjoy a day by the sea. Some beaches can be reached by a simple train ride, avoiding traffic and saving the time that else would have been spent going in circles at the parking lot looking for a free spot. We’ll introduce a few beaches that are perfect for a day trip from Tokyo by train.
Zushi Beach (Zushi City, KanagawaPrefecture)
Zushi Beach, only one train ride away from central Tokyo, faces the arch-shaped inner side of Kanagawa Bay, so the water is generally shallow and the waves calm. Even after swimming a considerable distance from the shore, the water is still shallow enough for the feet to touch ground, and even inexperienced swimmers can feel at ease and secure. About 40 beach huts line along the shore providing changing rooms or places to take a shower. A few new rules were introduced in 2014, such as the prohibition of listening to music over speakers or drinking alcohol outside the beach huts. As a result, the crowds went elsewhere and left a calm beach to peacefully listen to the waves and enjoy the ocean. If you are up for a bit more active beach experience, try some water sports beside the beach.
Zushi Beach (Japanese)
Access:
Approx. 59 min. with the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line from Shinjuku Station, about 15 min. walk from Shin-zushi
2016 Swimming Season:
July 24 (Fri) – August 28 (Sun)
Yuigahama Beach (Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture)
Yuigahama – a beach that once was a showplace of a samurai warrior battle. Looking back on a long history of being the first official swimming beach in Japan, nowadays it is famous for its numerous unique and individual beach huts. Many events take place at Yuigahama Beach all throughout swimming season as well. And during summer, one of the beach huts turns into a live music venue, “Otodama Sea Studio”. Musicians, idol groups and artists perform and turn Yuigahama into a constant beach party. Following Zushi, the rules here became a bit stricter since 2015. But the beach huts are open until late at night, and Yuigahama is definitely a spot not to miss if you are looking for some more grown up beach culture fun. On the other hand, if you are more into enjoying the ocean peacefully and maybe even have kids with you, there is also a “Kids and Family Beach” area provided.
Yuigahama Beach (Japanese)
Access:
Approx. 57 min. from Shinjuku Station to Kamakura Station (JR
Shonan-Shinjuku Line), change to Enoden and get off at the second stop, Yuigahama, walk 5 min. to the beach
2016 Swimming Season:
July 1 (Fri) – August 31 (Wed)
Moriya Beach (Katsuura City, ChibaPrefecture)
This beach is a bit further away than its Kanagawa peers, but Katsuura and its beach, being one of Japan’s 100 greatest, is definitely worth a visit for its crystal clear ocean. As it lies in a cove surrounded by capes on both sides, the waves here are calm. A 550 meters long, white sanded beach lies before an emerald green sea – a view that will make you forget about the long train ride in a flash. Here, you can enjoy a crystal clear, beautiful ocean beach that surpasses every other beach in the Kanto area. Lifeguards from the local university’s “Lifeguard Club” create a secure atmosphere overlooking and protecting the beach. At low tide, the tide pools are perfect for crab or shellfish hunting.
Moriya Beach (Japanese)
Access:
Take the JR Limited Express from Shinjuku to Kazusa-ichinomiya Station (approx. 1 hour), change to the Sotobo Line and take it to Kazusa-okitsu Station (approx. 40 min.), walk 10 minutes to the beach
2016 Swimming Season:
July 16 (Sat) – August 21 (Sun)
Oarai Sun Beach (Oarai City,Ibaraki Prefecture)
Among one of the best places in Japan to have a comfortable swim in the ocean, Oarai Sun Beach and its shallow water and white sandy beach attract more visitors than any other place in Ibaraki Prefecture. Beside the beach, many other attractions await such as an outlet mall, Aqua World Aquarium, or Marine Tower. Being Japan`s first barrier-free beach, Oarai Sun Beach offers several services helping handicapped visitors to enjoy the beach and sea at ease, such as an amphibious swimming wheelchair rental. By the way, nearby Oarai Beach, although having a confusingly similar name, has more rocky parts than sandy stretches, making it perfect for crab and seashell fishing, but not exactly for swimming. Be careful not to confuse the two!
Oarai Sun Beach (Japanese)
Access:
Take the JR Limited Express from Ueno to Mito Station (approx. 70 minutes), change to the Oarai-kashima Line and take it to Oarai Station (approx. 15 min.), and take the shuttle bus to the beach
2016 Swimming Season:
July 16 (Sat) – August 21 (Sun)
Summary
Living in the big city, most people tend to think the only waterfront within reach is Odaiba in Tokyo Bay. But many swimming beaches are surprisingly close by and can easily be reached by train, offering an alternative to the neighborhood pool – the experience of diving into actual, natural ocean water. Why not put on your favorite bathing suit and head for a swim in the blue sea this summer? By the way, generally the Japanese ocean becomes more and more populated by jellyfish from around mid-August, so if you are planning to actually swim in the ocean, it is recommended to make room in your schedule the earlier, the better!
Related Article:
Beach holiday this summer! Top 5 beaches accessible from Osaka by train
