5. Shirahama Onsen
The Shirahama resort area has been known for centuries as one of Japan’s most famous hot springs (onsen) destinations. However, this beautiful region in the Wakayama prefecture also has plenty of stunning beaches to offer. The 700-meter-long Shirahama Beach offers soft white sands and gentle turquoise waters plus a number of open-air baths, so you can have the best of both worlds.
The beach is usually packed during July and August — people come here to surf, snorkel, or simply to enjoy the sun. This is also the area’s most developed beach: you’ll find everything from food stands to rental shops just steps from the sand. Walk to the end of the beach to find a beautiful Shirahama Jinja red gate on top of a rock.
Nearby Shirahama Chuo and Sotoura beaches are smaller and slightly less busy. However, these beaches offer plenty of restaurants and pensions in the vicinity, so they’re a great destination if you want to spend a night by the beach.
6. Odaiba Beach
Odaiba might not be the most stunning beach in Japan, but as Tokyo’s only official beach, it’s still one of the most visited. Artificially created to sit right on Tokyo Bay, the 800-meter-long Odaiba Beach is surrounded by shopping malls, a pier, and plenty of amenities to keep visitors happy.
While the water here is not great for swimming, the golden sands of Odaiba are perfect for evening walks, watching the sunset, and just relaxing in the sun.
During summer, the city organizes beach volleyball and sailing competitions, and in July, people stop by to see paper lanterns lit up during the matsuri festival.
Odaiba Beach is the perfect half-day escape for residents and visitors in Tokyo, especially if you want to combine it with some dining and shopping.
