5 Beaches in Kanagawa worth your time

A historic coastal beach in Fujisawa offering swimming, fishing, and a dedicated cycling path along the scenic Sagami Bay.

What it is

• A public beach facing Sagami Bay in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Former artillery training ground for the Edo Shogunate and Imperial Japanese Navy.
• Site used by the United States military until the land was returned in 1959.
• The coastal landscape that inspired the famous song Hamabe no Uta.

What to see

• A designated swimming area available for visitors during the summer months.
• The Showa-dori road nearby which is locally known as Surfer Street.
• A dedicated cycling road for bicycles and pedestrians running along the shore.
• An oden center featuring thirteen different shops located near the beach.
• National Route 134 running straight along the length of the coastline.
• Anglers fishing for whiting, flounder, and mullet along the coast.

When to go

• Summer season for the opening of the designated swimming area.

Official site

www.fujisawa-kanko.jp

Read more about Tsujidō Beach

A scenic 2.9-kilometer beach in Kamakura famous for surfing, historic monuments, and views of Sagami Bay.

What it is

• A 2.9-kilometer stretch of coastline facing Sagami Bay in Kamakura.
• One of Japan's Top 100 Beaches located between Inamuragasaki and Koyurugi Cape.
• A popular surfing destination depicted in Edo period ukiyo-e prints.
• A historic area where philosopher Kitaro Nishida once lived.

What to see

• The Enoshima Electric Railway and National Route 134 running parallel to the coast.
• A memorial dedicated to a boating accident that occurred in 1910.
• The Inamuragasaki National Historic Site designated in 1934.
• A monument dedicated to the philosopher Kitaro Nishida.
• The Kamakura Prince Hotel which has operated in the area since 1995.

When to go

• Visit during daylight hours to watch surfers and view the coastal scenery.
• Swimming is currently prohibited due to coastal erosion and complex waves.

Read more about Shichirigahama

A historic sandy beach in Kamakura known for its tragic medieval history, modern swimming, and annual summer fireworks displays.

What it is

• A sandy beach facing Sagami Bay located on the western side of the Namerigawa mouth.
• An official administrative district in Kamakura City with ancient pit dwellings and medieval cemeteries.
• The site of the Wada Battle and Nitta Yoshisada's invasion during the Kamakura Shogunate fall.
• A municipal swimming beach that officially opened to the public on July 15, 1915.

What to see

• Wide stretches of sand used for swimming and coastal recreation.
• The location where a blue whale calf famously washed ashore in 2018.

When to go

• The Kamakura Fireworks Display has been held at the beach since 1949.
• Summer months are popular for visiting the municipal swimming area.

Getting there

• The area is served by the Enoshima Electric Railway via Yuigahama Station.

Official site

yuigahama.sos.gr.jp

Read more about Yuigahama

A calm, shallow beach on Sagami Bay famous for windsurfing, literary history, and strict regulations ensuring a quiet atmosphere.

What it is

• A shallow beach on Sagami Bay known for its calm waves and windsurfing conditions.
• The setting for the novel Hototogisu and a filming location for modern music videos.
• A regulated public space where music, alcohol, and barbecues are prohibited since 2014.
• The site of a 1950 motorboat race that influenced the development of modern boat racing.

What to see

• A monument installed in 2005 dedicated to the novel Season of the Sun.
• Views of Sagami Bay from the shoreline of Zushi City.
• Windsurfers practicing in the calm waters of the bay.

When to go

• November to watch the annual Yabusame horse archery performance.
• During the annual fireworks display held at the beach.
• Summer months for swimming in the shallow waters.

Read more about Zushi Beach

A historic Kamakura beach known for its literary connections, medieval pottery fragments, and views of Enoshima Island.

What it is

• A coastal beach in Kamakura City separated from Yuigahama by the Namegawa River.
• The name originates from an industrial guild active during the Kamakura period.
• This location served as a setting for Natsume Soseki's famous novel Kokoro.
• The site contains historical remains of military horses and medieval port structures.

What to see

• Views of Enoshima Island are visible from the eastern end of the coast.
• Pottery fragments from the Kamakura period frequently wash up on the shore.
• The nearby Wakaejima site contains the remains of a medieval port.
• Komyoji and Kuhonji temples are located in the immediate vicinity of the beach.

Official site

zaimokuza.net

Read more about Zaimokuza Beach