where's the best beach on mainland Japan?

Answer 1

I love the beach at Minabe in Wakayama, it's closer to Osaka and usually pretty deserted. It's about 3 kilometres long with soft sand, in fact sea turtles lay eggs there so no fires or fireworks are allowed, no camping either. It has a toilet and shower but no food stalls but we find it much more attractive than the more popular Shirahama a bit further down the coast. It's difficult to find though which helps explain why so few people use it. Not sure I should make this entry but I guess not too many Japanese are reading this. There's a nice hotel nearby with a hot spring and the beach was mentioned in so old Japanese folk tale about a king sleeping there before a battle. No lifeguards.

Answer 2

I live in the Tokyo area and I usually take the family to the Chiba area. It is a longer drive and we often are subject to traffic jams on the highway, but it is worth it. I suaully get the family up and out of the house early to beat the traffic. The Shonan area is very crowded with people from Tokyo. People in Japan are very responsible about cleaning up their garbage and keeping things clean, but with thousands visiting the beach, the beaches are sometimes littered and dotted with bits of garbage.
Up a little from Chiba is the Ibaragi area. The beaches are much less crowded there. The surf all along the Pacific side is decent, 3 foot waves in the summer time. Onshore winds, but lost of waves to go around. The Shonan area line up can be crowded, that is why I like Chiba. There are more breakpoints and lost to go around.
In general the beaches in Honshuu are good, but nothing like Okinawa. Okinawa is really good to visit if you are into marine sports like diving.

There is one very Japanese concept to beachgoing and its called umi no ie (海の家)or beach houses. There are temporary shacks that sell food and drinks only. Some places can be more invovled, selling beer, ramen, soba and all kinds of Japanese food. They also have showers and toilets for you to use for a fee of course.

Answer 3

Orai in Ibaraki is nice for swimming and sunning. Omaezaki, Shizuoaka is the surfing Mecca, but there are also some huge breaks along the coast of Miyagi. Onnahama in Fukushima is a great spot-golf, beach, hot spring, marina and national dingy training centre all in one location.

Answer 4

What do you want to do? if you want to look at girls, drink beer, and have as much fun as possible, its definitely Suma near Osaka.

There are some good beaches near Tokyo around Enoshima, and quite easy to get to on the train.

There are some great beaches around the Izu peninsula too, and few foreigners.