7. Tsunoshima Island
The island of Tsunoshima is connected to the mainland by the massive 1,780-meters-long Tsunoshima Bridge. Though the island is small at just four square kilometers, the turquoise waters and white beaches here more than make up for its size.
Reaching the main beach requires a tricky walk on a narrow road away from the parking lot — make your way here, and you’ll be rewarded with clean sands, a great view of the bridge, and, more than likely, lots of solitude. That’s because this small beach doesn’t have any facilities, so most visitors head to the bigger beach on the other side of the bridge.
The north-side beach offers showers and toilets, as well as areas for barbecuing. It’s a favorite destination to watch the sunset over the bridge and to swim, as the water is calm and shallow.
If you have time, you can continue on to explore other beaches on the island. Some are small and almost completely hidden, while others are wider and full of activities during the summer months.
8. Amami Oshima Island
Located right between Kyushu and Okinawa, two of Japan’s largest islands, the Amami Island is home to several beaches. Surrounded by coral reef and with a background of volcanic mountains covered in deep green forest, the beaches on Amami are particularly stunning.
Beach season on the island lasts from May to October, but even in the heat of summer, the islands remain mostly empty. There are few amenities here, with public restrooms and parking lots often being the only thing available around.
Secluded, quiet, and clean, these are the right beaches for people looking for calm and perhaps clear waters for swimming or snorkeling. Tomori Beach, the most famous of all the beaches on the island, offers great snorkeling, while Kurasaki Beach is the go-to destination for divers.
Because it’s not accessible via public transportation, Yadoribama Beach gets fewer visitors, and it’s the preferred destination for campers.
