6 Beaches in Shizuoka worth your time

A scenic seven-kilometer pine grove on the Shizuoka coast offering iconic views of Mount Fuji and ancient celestial legends.

What it is

• A UNESCO World Heritage site and National Place of Scenic Beauty on the Miho Peninsula.
• A coastal pine grove spanning seven kilometers with approximately 30,000 trees.
• The legendary setting for the Hagoromo story about a celestial robe.
• A landscape famously depicted in Utagawa Hiroshige's ukiyo-e woodblock prints.

What to see

• The Hagoromo-no-Matsu pine tree which serves as a sacred object for the local shrine.
• Miho Shrine which preserves a fragment of the legendary celestial robe.
• The Kami-no-Michi boardwalk connecting the shrine to the pine grove.
• The Miho Shirube visitor center which opened in March 2019.
• Views of Mount Fuji from the sandy beach lined with pine trees.

Getting there

• Buses run from JR Shimizu Station directly to the site.

Official site

miho-no-matsubara.jp

Read more about Miho no Matsubara

A secluded rocky beach in a national park accessible only by boat, offering some of Japan's best snorkeling and diving.

What it is

• A rocky beach located at the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula.
• A protected area within the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
• A popular destination for snorkeling and scuba diving in clear waters.
• A natural coastline surrounded by steep sea cliffs and no land routes.

What to see

• Diverse coral species and various types of tropical fish underwater.
• A coastline spanning approximately 250 to 300 meters of large pebbles.
• Views of the surrounding cliffs between Nakagi village and Cape Irozaki.

When to go

• Visit during the summer season when the beach is open to the public.

Getting there

• Take a five-minute ferry ride departing from Nakagi Port.
• Access is only possible by boat as there are no walking paths.

Read more about Hirizo Beach

A scenic coastal area in Kakegawa featuring massive sand dunes, a record-breaking bridge, and popular spots for surfing and hot springs.

What it is

• A coastal beach facing the Enshu-nada Sea in Shizuoka Prefecture.
• Part of the Nan-en Great Sand Dunes located at the Kiku River mouth.
• A popular destination for surfing and jet skiing despite swimming prohibitions.
• Home to the Daito Marina, which was the first river marina in Japan.

What to see

• The Shiosai Bridge, the longest suspension slab bridge in Japan.
• Large wind turbines powered by strong northwestern winter winds.
• The Liberty Resort Daito Onsen located directly next to the beach.
• A temporary torii gate erected on the sand for the New Year.

When to go

• New Year's Day to see the temporary torii gate.
• Winter months to experience the strong northwestern winds that power the turbines.

Read more about Kuniyasu Beach

A scenic sand spit in Numazu featuring a historic shrine, maritime museums, and views of Mount Fuji across Suruga Bay.

What it is

• A sand spit in Numazu City separating Suruga Bay from Heda Port.
• Part of the Izu Peninsula Geopark featuring a sandy beach and pine forest.
• Home to Morokuchi Shrine which enshrines the deity Oto-tachibana-hime-no-mikoto.
• A designated park containing a University of Tokyo dormitory and maritime museums.

What to see

• A grove of podocarpus trees designated as a prefectural natural monument.
• The Heda Shipbuilding Museum and the Suruga Bay Deep Sea Creature Museum.
• The Kenko-no-mori observatory providing views of Mount Fuji.
• Distinctive trees known as the Root-up Pine and the Friendship Pine.
• A large parking lot located at the base of the cape.

Read more about Cape Mihama

A scenic 1.2-kilometer white sand beach in a national park, famous for its water quality and sea turtle nesting grounds.

What it is

• A 1.2-kilometer long sandy shoreline located at the mouth of the Aono River.
• Part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and designated a National Scenic Beauty site.
• One of Japan's Top 100 Beaches with the highest AA rank for water quality.
• A protected landing site where loggerhead sea turtles arrive to lay their eggs.

What to see

• A curved white sand beach stretching approximately 40 meters in width.
• Dense black pine forests that line the edge of the sandy shore.
• Views facing out toward the Sagami-nada Sea on the Izu Peninsula.

When to go

• The official swimming season typically runs from July to late August.

Read more about Yumigahama Beach

A historic coastal area and port famous for its poetic legacy and iconic views of Mount Fuji across Suruga Bay.

What it is

• A coastal area along western Suruga Bay historically known as a poetic utamakura.
• The site is famously associated with the Manyoshu poet Yamabe no Akahito.
• A modern port in Fuji City formerly known as Yoshiwara Port.
• Wakanomiya Shrine in Shimizu Ward enshrines the poet Yamabe no Akahito.

What to see

• Scenic views of Mount Fuji from the coastal area and port.
• Wakanomiya Shrine dedicated to the famous Manyoshu poet.
• The industrial port area formerly known for its historical sludge pollution.
• Higashi-Tagonoura Station which carries the historic name of the region.

Read more about Tagonoura