7 Recommended Beaches in Okayama Prefecture. Enjoy the summer at the Seto Naikai beaches!
Introducing Okayama Prefecture's swimming beaches! We'll introduce you to the spacious Shibukawa Beach, which is about 1km long, Sami Beach, said to be the oldest swimming beach in Japan, the lively Ushimado Beach, and the remote islands of Kasaoka and the Hinase Islands!
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Okayama Prefecture is located in the Center of Western Japan and is known as the "Land of Sunshine" due to its warm climate and little rain throughout the year. It's conveniently located halfway between famous tourist destinations like Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima! It's also the gateway to Shikoku via the Seto. Okayama is also known as the "Fruit Okayama," and the fruits that are sun-drenched in the warm climate of the Setouchi are of the highest quality in terms of sweetness, aroma, and flavor. You can enjoy seasonal fruits such as white peaches, Muscat grapes, and Pione grapes! Okayama is also home to world-class tourist spots, including Okayama Castle, Okayama Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which boasts history, culture, and art!
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It's summer! It's swimming season! Okayama Prefecture , which faces the Seto Naikai , has many beaches where you can enjoy swimming in the calm waters. We'll introduce you to the beaches in Okayama Prefecture, including the spacious Shibukawa Beach, which stretches for about 1 km, Sami Beach, said to be the oldest swimming beach in Japan, Ushimado Beach, which is crowded with many people every year, and the remote islands of the Kasaoka Islands and Okayama Islands.
1. Shibukawa Beach (Tamano City)
This approximately 1km long beach of white sand and green pines has been selected as one of the "Top 100 Beaches in Japan" and "Top 100 Swimming Beaches." It is the largest swimming beach in Okayama Prefecture, attracting many visitors from both inside and outside the prefecture every year.
Beach opening period: July 13th (Sat) to August 25th (Sun) 2024
Address: 2-5 Shibukawa , Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture
access:
By car: Approximately 20 minutes from Kojima IC on the Seto Chuo Expressway. Approximately 70 minutes from Okayama city
Public transport: Take the bus (bound for Setouchi Marine Hotel) from JR Okayama Station to Setouchi Marine Hotel, approximately 70 minutes
Shibukawa Beach (Shibukawa Coast)
2-chome Shibukawa, Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture 706-0028
The coastline is approximately 1km long with white sand and green pines, and has been selected as one of Japan's ``100 Best Beaches'' and ``100 Best Swimming Beaches.'' It is also famous as a place where you can enjoy marine sports such as sailing and windsurfing throughout the year.
2. Sami Beach (Kurashiki City)
Beach opening period: July 1st (Mon) to August 23rd (Fri), 2024
Located at the southwestern tip of Kurashiki City, this beach has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Beaches. Japan's first artificial beach nourishment project took place over a period of six years starting in Showa , and Nishihama, which became an artificial beach in 1989, is another highlight.
*The beach may open earlier than usual.
Location: Tamashima , Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture
access:
By car: Approximately 20 minutes from Tamashima IC on the Sanyo Expressway
Public transport: Take the bus bound for Sami/Yorishima from JR Shin- Kurashiki Station for approximately 30 minutes, get off at "Sami" and walk for approximately 5 minutes
Sami Beach
Tamashima Kurosaki, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture 713-8126
Said to be Japan's oldest beach, this beautiful sandy beach has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Beaches, and is visited by many swimmers every year. Nishihama, where Japan's first artificial beach nourishment work was carried out over a six-year period starting in 1983 (Showa 58), and which became an "artificial beach" in 1989 (Heisei 1), is also one of the highlights.
3. Ushimado Beach (Setouchi City)
The spacious sandy beach overlooking Maeshima Island is popular with families. There are guesthouses in the area, and beach huts are open during the swimming season. It is also the entrance to the main approach to Ushimado Shrine, and a torii gate stands next to the beach.
Beach opening period: Mid-July to late August 2024
Location: Okayama Prefecture , Ushimado- Ushimado Town Setouchi City, Ushimado Prefecture
access:
By car: Approximately 15 minutes from Oku IC on the Okayama Blue Line
Public transport: Approximately 20 minutes by taxi from JR Oku Station
Ushimado Beach
Ushimado, Ushimado-cho, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture 701-4302
The spacious and relaxing beach overlooking Maejima and the calm Seto Inland Sea is a popular spot for families.
The beach house is open during the swimming season.
4. Somma Beach (Bizen City)
Beach opening period: Mid-July to mid-August 2024
This beach is located in the southeastern part of Kashiwajima Island, one of the Hinase Islands. It is connected to the mainland by a bridge, making it easily accessible. Parking is available in the surrounding area or at the municipal parking lot about a 15-minute walk away.
Location: Okayama Prefecture, Bizen City Prefecture
access:
By car: Approximately 15 minutes from Bizen IC on the Okayama Blue Line via Kakui Island
Public transport: 10 minutes walk from JR Hinase Station to Hinase Port. 20 minutes by Daisei Kisen ferry, disembark at Azumajima Port and walk 10 minutes.
Kashirajima island
701-3204 Hinase, Hinase-cho, Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture
A gently hilly island located 4km south of Hinase Port, Bizen City. It is the most populated of the Hinase Islands and is a small island with a circumference of 4 km. You can enjoy leisure activities that take advantage of the rich nature, such as swimming in the sea, collecting clams, fishing, and picking oranges.
5. Miyanoshita Beach (Bizen City)
Beach opening period: Mid-July to mid-August 2024
It takes about 35 minutes by regular ferry from Hinase Port. The beach is located near the port of Otafu Island, where the Okayama Domain's headquarters was located during the Edo period, and is easily accessible after disembarking.
Location: Okayama Prefecture, Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture
access:
By car or boat: Approximately 5 minutes from Bizen IC on the Okayama Blue Line to Hinase Port. Approximately 30 minutes by Daisei Kisen Ferry, then disembark at Otafu Port and walk for approximately 5 minutes.
Otabujima Island
701-3203 Otafu, Hinase-cho, Bizen-shi, Okayama Prefecture
An island located 6 km south of Hinase Port, Bizen City. Located at the southernmost tip of the Hinase Islands, it was the residence of the Okayama clan during the Edo period. There is a nature trail that goes around the island, and if you take a stroll, you can see historic sites such as the Toro-do Hall and Roxagonal Well that remind you of the bygone era.
6. Shiraishi Island Beach (Kasaoka City )
This is one of the prefecture's best remote island swimming beaches, with a white sandy beach stretching for about 500 meters. Guesthouses and inns line the beach, and can be used as rest areas. You can also enjoy marine sports such as sea kayaking and windsurfing.
Beach opening period: Late June to early September 2024
Location: Shiraishi Island , Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture
access:
Train/Ship: Approximately a 7-minute walk from JR Kasaoka Station to Kasaoka(Sumiyoshi) Port, approximately 20 minutes by high-speed boat (approximately 35 minutes by regular boat) from Kasaoka Port, approximately 7 minutes walk from Shiraishi Island. Or, approximately a 20-minute walk from JR Kasaoka Station to Fushigoe Port, approximately 45 minutes by ferry, approximately 7 minutes walk from Shiraishi Island.
By car or boat: Approximately 10 minutes from Kasaoka to Kasaoka(Sumiyoshi) Port, then approximately 20 minutes by high-speed boat from Kasaoka Port (approximately 35 minutes by regular boat), then approximately 7 minutes on foot from Shiraishi Island
Shiroishijima Beach (Nishinoura) Shiraishijima Island
Nishinoura, Shiroishijima, Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture 714-0036
It is one of the most beautiful remote island beaches in the prefecture, with approximately 500 meters of white sand and clear water. You can enjoy marine sports such as sailing, windsurfing, and sea kayaking. The sea opens in early July every year.
714-0036 Shiroishijima, Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture
An island located approximately 16 km from Kasaoka Port. It is located in the center of the Kasaoka Islands, which are more than 30 islands scattered off the coast of Kasaoka, and is the center of the landscape. It is said that it came to be called Shiroishi Island because the granite surface looks like it is covered with white snow from a distance. Also, Shiroishi Island, known as a scenic spot in the Seto Inland Sea National Park, is visited by many people for summer marine leisure, hiking trails, a temple connected to Kobo Daishi, and the fantastic Shiroishi Dance.
7. Shimoura Beach (Kasaoka City )
Beach opening period: July 7th, 2024 (Sun) - early September
This beach is located on Kitagi Island Island, the largest of the Kasaoka Islands. It takes about 10 minutes on foot from the island's port, Oura Port, but it's not crowded, so it's comfortable and you can spend your time relaxing.
Address: 4975 Okayama Prefecture, Kasaoka City, Kitagi Island
access:
Train/Ship: From JR Kasaoka Station, it's about a 10-minute walk to Kasaoka(Sumiyoshi) Port, then a 36-minute high-speed ferry ride (55 minutes by regular ferry), then a 10-minute walk from Oura Port.
By car or boat: Approximately 10 minutes from Kasaoka to Kasaoka(Sumiyoshi) Port, then approximately 36 minutes by high-speed boat (approximately 55 minutes by regular boat), then approximately 10 minutes on foot from Oura Port.
Kitagishima Island
714-0301 Kitagijima, Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture
It is the largest island in the Kasaoka Islands, located in the center of the Kasaoka Islands, approximately 26 km from Kasaoka Port. It has long been famous as a ``Stone Island'' known for ``Kitagi Granite,'' and during the construction of Osaka Castle in the early Edo period, large quantities of stone wall stone were sent there. After the Meiji era, stone mining became serious, and Kitagi stone was used in many buildings, including the Bank of Japan head office in Tokyo, the Mitsukoshi head office, Nihonbashi, and the Otorii gate of Yasukuni Shrine. Today, quarrying is still going on, and you can tour the quarry from the 60m-high "Ishikiri Valley Observation Deck" (for a fee). In 2019, it was designated as a Japanese Heritage Site as ``Did you know!? A stone island where eternity has passed - Setouchi Bisan Islands, which crossed the sea and built the foundation of Japan.''
Okayama Prefecture is located in the Center of Western Japan and is known as the "Land of Sunshine" due to its warm climate and little rain throughout the year. It's conveniently located halfway between famous tourist destinations like Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima! It's also the gateway to Shikoku via the Seto. Okayama is also known as the "Fruit Okayama," and the fruits that are sun-drenched in the warm climate of the Setouchi are of the highest quality in terms of sweetness, aroma, and flavor. You can enjoy seasonal fruits such as white peaches, Muscat grapes, and Pione grapes! Okayama is also home to world-class tourist spots, including Okayama Castle, Okayama Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which boasts history, culture, and art!
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