10 Charming Beach Towns in Japan
What are the Most Beautiful Beach Towns in Japan?
You’ll find the most charming beach towns in Japan across the entire country, from the nation’s main island of Honshu to its lesser-known atolls like Kyushu and Okinawa. Famed for their silken beaches, jade-hued waters, sacred shrines and chocolate-box houses, these enclaves offer an idyllic escape from bustling cities like Tokyo, Kyoto and Yokohama.
Catch a wave at a popular surf beach, sample succulent sushi in a waterfront restaurant or hike a panoramic coastal trail to an enigmatic castle. Japan’s best beach towns also boast a wealth of hidden treasures that are just waiting to be discovered, like giant bronze Buddhas, thermal hot springs and tumbling cascades that look like something out of a folk tale.
1. Kamakura
Pretty seaside town known for its sacred sites and surf culture
适合： 历史, 照片
A picturesque seaside town just south of Tokyo, Kamakura was once the political heart of medieval Japan. Today it’s renowned for its stunning collection of Shinto and Buddhist shrines, as well as its gold sand beaches and serene wooded hiking trails. In the spring, several city beauty spots burst to life with cherry blossoms, including Genjiyama Park, which is fantastic for picnics.
One can easily spend a week in Kamakura, touring its many sacred religious sites and marvelling at its towering Amitābha Buddha statue from the 13th century. Visit the Kenchoji Zen shrine for its sprawling wooden Dharma Hall with a painted dragon on the ceiling, or Tsurugaoka Hachimangu temple, dedicated to the patron god of the samurai.
Kamakura
2. Naoshima
A buzzing hive of creativity
适合： 餐饮, 照片, 与众不同
Situated in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea, the island town of Naoshima draws visitors with its colourful avant-garde statues, unblemished gold sand beaches and impressive collection of art museums. Spend your mornings discovering European masterworks at Chichū Art Museum, home of Claude Monet’s Water Lilies, or visit Lee Ufan for sleek and audacious contemporary pieces.
In the afternoon, stroll along the waterfront, photographing the Yayoi Kusama Pumpkins installation before heading into town for an authentic gastro meal. Salon Nakaoku serves dishes like salted octopus and tempura barracuda in a nostalgic wooden interior, adorned with traditional painted umbrellas known colloquially as wagasa.
Naoshima
3. Shimoda
Breathtaking beaches and beautiful botanicals
适合： 照片, 冒险
A bustling port and hot spring town with a cinematic backdrop of rolling green mountains, Shimoda entices with its wineglass-shaped bays and silky quartz sand. Head to Shirahama Beach, one of the Izu Peninsula’s most popular day spots, for sunbathing, surfing and squid fishing charters.
Hikers will relish the heavily forested Shimoda Park for its vivid clusters of hydrangea flowers and panoramic harbour views, while those wanting to stay closer to town can spend an afternoon on Perry Road, a canal-lined street that teems with cafes. Alternatively, swing by Cape Tsumekizaki for its quaint white lighthouse and annual Narcissus Festival which showcases over 3 million white daffodils from December to January.
Shimoda
4. Hirado
Former Dutch trading post with a powerful samurai past
适合： 照片, 与众不同
Spread across several islands near Nagasaki, Hirado was once the seat of the Matsura clan, a medieval samurai family. Today, this enigmatic town still displays traces of its warrior past, particularly in the hilltop fortress of Hirado Castle. Spend the morning wandering its traditional wooden interior, taking in armour, swords and family heirlooms. Then venture through the foliage-laden grounds of Kameoka Park for a picture-postcard showing of pastel-pink sakura blossoms.
Epicureans will adore the atmospheric Kanuntei Tea House with its bowls of bright green matcha tea that are prepared in the traditional Chinshin style. Hirado is also a hotbed of cultural events that take place every year, including the Jangara Harvest Dance Party and the delightful Hina Doll Festival.
Hirado
5. Itoshima
Sun-soaked peninsula that’s rich with natural wonders
适合： 历史, 照片, 冒险
Situated on subtropical Kyushu Island, Itoshima is famed for its laid-back surf culture, charismatic cafes and photogenic coastal walks. One could easily spend a week here catching waves at its magnificent beaches like Keya, Nogita and Futamigaura.
Heading into the mountains, hikers can visit the awe-inspiring Raizansennyoji Taihioin Temple, which boasts a spectacular display of autumn leaves as well as 500 Buddha statues that ascend the hillside. Don’t miss Shiraito Falls for its fairytale cascade, 300-year-old maple tree and nearby souvenir shops selling wasabi ice cream.
Itoshima
6. Takahama
Serenity in a wellness-focused town
适合： 历史, 照片, 与众不同
Easy-on-the-eye Takahama is an idyllic seaside town renowned for its jade-coloured waters and powdery white sand. As the birthplace of Soyen Shaku, a revered Buddhist Master, it offers Zen meditation at the Abbot of Daijoji Temple.
Wellness seekers should head to SUP Yoga on Wakasa Wada Beach to embrace the ocean’s healing energies by floating on a paddleboard or attend a Herbal Village tea workshop at the foot of Mt. Aoba. To immerse yourself in local culture, wander the Tango-Kaido Road for its historic townhouses and old-world atmosphere before heading to Wakasa Shirahama BBQ Park for a scenic al fresco lunch.
Takahama
7. Naha
Magical city with a rich maritime past
适合： 历史, 照片, 餐饮
Coastal Naha seduces with its fully restored UNESCO-listed royal palace, Shuri Castle, which is a relic of the Ryukyu Kingdom, circa 1429 to 1879. You can reach this visually arresting feat of architecture by riding the Okinawa monorail directly from the airport, or by catching a bus from the centre of the town.
Wander Kinjo Stone Road, a historic cobblestone walkway that features striking, red-tiled buildings, or visit the 16th-century Tamaudun Mausoleum, the resting place of 17 kings of the Second Shō Dynasty. If you’re looking for an authentic gastronomic experience, grab a table at Ryukyu no Ushi Naha Kokusai Dori, a restaurant that specialises in succulent seafood and prime cuts of beef that are heavy with marbling.
Naha
8. Iwase (Toyama Prefecture)
A hidden epicurean gem
适合： 情侣/夫妇, 家庭, 餐饮
Situated in rural Toyama, the Iwase district is experiencing a renaissance of sorts thanks to its booming culinary scene. Come here for Cave Yunoki, a Michelin-starred restaurant that’s set in a 100-year-old storehouse, for dishes like charcoal-grilled boar with Jerusalem artichoke and winter Japanese amberjack with celeriac puree.
If you want to savour traditional fare, book a table at Michelin-listed Oryori Fujii for Masuizumi sake, cherry salmon sushi and tasty shinjo-wan snow crab. Alternatively, visit Piatto Suzuki Cinque for a Japanese take on Italian pasta. We love the beef cheek ragu with homemade tagliatelle.
Iwase (Toyama Prefecture)
9. Atami
Coastal retreat with plenty of attractions
适合： 历史, 照片
Set upon volcanic hills in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, the seaside resort city of Atami offers a convenient escape from bustling Tokyo. It’s known for its popular Sun Beach, natural hot springs and historic landmarks. Visit Atami Castle for its Samurai Culture Museum, which displays a remarkable array of armour and weaponry, and its 360° vistas of both city and ocean.
Green thumbs can’t miss the Atari Plum Garden, a botanical haven founded in 1886, that blossoms to life from November through to March. For an authentic onsen experience, stay at a traditional ryokan like Atami Sekitei which features a 10,000 m2 garden and a collection of thermal baths.
Atami
10. Amanohashidate
One of Japan’s most popular beauty spots
适合： 历史, 照片, 冒险
Amanohashidate, which translates to ‘Bridge of Heaven’, is a pine-covered sandbar that traverses the mouth of Miyazu Bay and features several white sand beaches that are popular with swimmers. Boasting a cinematic backdrop of the Kasamatsu Park mountains, this forested sanctuary is home to the Amanohashidate Shrine, which pays homage to the region’s many dragon deities.
When you’re not riding a bike or hiking across the sandbar, you can day trip to Ine, a historic fishing village, located 15 km north. There, you can photograph the picturesque floating boat houses before enjoying sashimi, chawanmushi and simmered fish at the Wadatsumi Sushi Restaurant.
Amanohashidate
本文包含 Go Guides 编辑团队的意见。Hotels.com 好订网对作者出现在本网站上的文章给予补偿；此类补偿可能包括差旅费和其他费用。