3. Kamakura Beaches
Located just an hour down the coast from Tokyo and a favorite among city dwellers, the Kamakura beaches offer the perfect sandy escape.
Because of their location, the beach season here is very short — only July and August — and the shoreline gets crowded once kids are out of school. But if you don’t have time to travel to other beaches farther away, the Kamakura beaches are still a great choice — plus the area gets bonus points because you can see Mt. Fuji while lying on the sand.
There are three main beaches in Kamakura: Yuigahama and Zaimokuza are the two most popular ones and the busiest. They offer all kinds of marine activities including surfing, flyboarding, and wakeboarding. These two beaches are right next to each other, offering a one-kilometer stretch of golden sand perfect for swimming and sunbathing. Visitors can rent equipment, buy food and drinks, or sit at one of the many beachside cafés.
The most distant beach is Zaimokuza Beach, popular for sea-kayaking, paddleboarding, and water-biking. While there are fewer amenities here, the beach is also less crowded and a quieter escape.
4. Zushi Beach
Tokyo’s closest natural beach is surprisingly quiet most of the time. Once upon a time, this beach had a bad reputation: as it is located right next to a US military base, it had become the go-to place for late-night noise. Now clean and with very specific restrictions in place — no sound systems, no tattoos allowed — it has become a popular destination to watch the sunset.
For those looking for something fun to do, the cliffs around offer plenty of short trails, and you can visit one of the many cafés and restaurants near the beach for a quick bite to eat.
During July and August, lots of paddleboarders and windsurfers arrive to enjoy the soft waves, but June and September are quieter and perfect for swimming or just sunbathing, if the weather agrees.
