Speaking of beautiful beaches in Japan, most of us may think of Okinawa, but there are numbers of stunning beaches at several locations in the country with crystal clear water and the pure white sand. Some of them are great option for snorkelling and diving to see colourful reefs and colorful sea creatures.

In this article, I would like to share 5 amazing beach destinations in Japan apart from Okinawa. Besides stunning beaches, these 5 spots offer alternative tourist attractions where visitors can have special experiences. So let’s check them out!

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1. Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture

Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture is one of most popular getaway destinations from Tokyo, and a famous Onsen spot along the coastline. Shimoda (下田) is a beach town on the southern tip of the peninsula and home to several stunning beaches that have white sand and clear water.

Shirahama Beach (白浜) is the largest beach in the area where numbers of hotels, restaurants, beach shacks, etc, are located, and usually very busy during summer. If you’d prefer quieter beaches, head to southwest of Shimoda where numbers of small hidden beaches can be spotted. Shimoda can be reached from Tokyo within 2–3 hours by train, and local buses are very useful to get around the area.

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2. Chirihama Beach

Chirihama Beach (千里浜) is located at Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture along the Sea of Japan. The beach might not have the best looking at first sight, but is famous for the unique feature that it’s the only place in Japan where visitors can actually drive by their private vehicles on the beach.

The 8 km driveway stretches by the coastline and the road has 50 m width. Perhaps, it’s one of best driving roads in the country! The shallow beach is also popular spot for kids to swim and visitors also enjoy clam digging there. It’s located about 40 km north of the famous historic city, Kanazawa.

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3. Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture

Shirahama (白浜) is located in the south coast of in Wakayama Prefecture and one of the largest, most popular beach resorts in Western Japan. Shirahama means “white beach”, which literally describes the 500 meter long, stunning sandy beach which attracts a huge number of visitors.

Shirahama is also famous for the hot spring resource and there are numbers of Onsen spots, therefore, it’s popular tourist destination though the year, not only summer. Since it’s a popular resort destination, Shirahama has no shortage of tourist attractions such as museums, amusement parks as well as seaside hotels and restaurants.

<< Best rate available for hotels in Shirahama! >>

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4. Tsunoshima Island, Yamaguchi Prefecture

Tsunoshima (角島) is an island in the Sea of Japan and it’s a part of Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The island is connected with a mainland by the Tsunoshima Bridge. The astonishingly scenic bridge has become one of the hottest tourist destinations in the past years since it was featured many times on social media or tourist publications.

The size of Tsunoshima island is approx 4.1 square kilometers and home to several beautiful beaches that have clear water and white sand. It’s lesser known but there are many beautiful beaches in the west part of Yamaguchi Prefecture, and it’s one of the best hidden gems in Japan.

<< Hotels in Tsunoshima available at best rates! >>

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5. Amami Oshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture

Amami Oshima Island (奄美大島) is an island of Kagoshima prefecture situated on the sea between Kyushu Region and Okinawa. Just like Okinawa, Amami Oshima Island enjoys the southern subtropical climate with unspoilt beautiful nature including stunning beaches and mangrove forest. The island is also home to coral reefs and numerous sea creatures and a popular among divers from all over the world.

There are some similarity between Amami Oshima and Okinawa since they are relatively close, and they are both absolutely beautiful. However, Amami Oshima is much less touristic and has low-key, relaxing atmosphere, therefore, it’s highly recommended for those who wish to avoid big crowds and immerse into tranquil island life. The island can be accessed by the ferry from the mainland of Kagoshima or Naha, Okinawa (takes 11–13 hours). Now, there are numbers of domestic flights connecting Amami Oshima Island with many big cities in Japan including Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Kagoshima and Naha.

<<Book a hotel in Amami Oshima Island with the best deal! >>

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How did you enjoy the list? Which stunning beaches would you wish to visit most? For more travel info about Japan in summer, here are some useful links for you!

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