7 recommended swimming beaches in Okayama Prefecture. Enjoy summer at the beaches of the Seto Inland Sea!
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Introducing the swimming beaches of Okayama Prefecture! Including 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 Chuo of Western Japan, and is known as the "Land of Sunshine" due to its warm climate and little rain throughout the year. It is conveniently located halfway between famous tourist spots such as Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, and is also the gateway to Shikoku via the Great Seto Bridge. Okayama is also known as the "Fruit Kingdom," and the fruits that grow in the warm climate of the Seto Inland Sea and sunshine 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-famous tourist spots such as Okayama Castle, Okayama Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which are renowned for their history, culture, and art!
Summer! It's beach season! Okayama Prefecture, which faces the Seto Inland Sea, has many beaches where you can enjoy swimming in the calm waters. We will introduce the beaches in Okayama Prefecture, including the spacious Shibukawa Beach, which is about 1 km long, Sami Beach, which is 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 Hinase Islands.
1. Shibukawa Beach (Tamano City)
This beach, with its white sand and green pines, is about 1 km long and has been selected as one of the "100 Best Beaches in Japan" and "100 Best Swimming Beaches in Japan." It is the largest swimming beach in Okayama Prefecture, attracting many people from inside and outside the prefecture every year.
Beach opening period: July 13th (Sat) - August 25th (Sun) 2024
Address: 2-5 Shibukawa , Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture
access:
Car: 20 minutes from Kojima IC on the Setouchi Chuo Expressway. 70 minutes from Okayama city.
Public: Take the bus (bound for Seto Inland Sea Marine Hotel) from JR Okayama Station to Seto Inland Sea 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 in the southwestern corner of Kurashiki City, this beach has been selected as one of the "100 Best Beaches in Japan." The first artificial beach nourishment project in Japan was carried out here over a period of six years starting in 1983 (Showa 58). Nishihama, which became an artificial beach in 1989 (Heisei 1), is also a must-see spot.
*The beach may open earlier than normal.
Location: Tamashima Kurosaki, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture
access:
Car: Approximately 20 minutes from Tamashima IC on the Sanyo Expressway
Public transport: Take the bus bound for Sami or Yorishima from JR Shin-Kurashiki Station for 30 minutes, get off at "Sami" and walk for 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 Maejima 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 there is a torii gate next to the beach.
Beach opening period: Mid-July to late August 2024
Location: Ushimado , Ushimado Setouchi City, Ushimado Town, Okayama Prefecture
access:
Car: 15 minutes from Oku IC on the Okayama Blue Line
Public transport: 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 is a beach located in the southeastern part of Kashiwajima Island, one of the Hinase Islands. It is connected to the mainland by a bridge, so it is easily accessible. Parking is available in the surrounding parking lots or at the municipal parking lot about a 15-minute walk away.
Location: Azumajima , Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture
access:
By car: From Bizen IC on the Okayama Blue Line, take the Kakuijima route, about 15 minutes
Public transport: 10 minutes walk from JR Hinase Station to Hinase Port. 20 minutes by Daisei Kisen Ferry, disembark at Toshima Port and walk for 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 Otafushima, where the Okayama Domain's office was located during the Edo period, and is easily accessible after disembarking from the ferry.
Location: Otafushima, Bizen City-cho, Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture
access:
Car/Ship: 5 minutes from Bizen IC on the Okayama Blue Line to Hinase Port. 30 minutes by Daisei Kisen Ferry, disembark at Otafu Port and walk for 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. There are guesthouses and inns lined up along the beach, which can also 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: 7 minute walk from JR Kasaoka Station to Kasaoka (Sumiyoshi) Port, 20 minute high-speed boat ride (35 minute regular boat ride) from Kasaoka Port, 7 minute walk from Shiraishi Island. Or 20 minute walk from JR Kasaoka Station to Fushikoshi Port, 45 minute ferry ride, 7 minute walk from Shiraishi Island.
Car/Ship: 10 minutes from Kasaoka IC on the Sanyo Expressway to Kasaoka (Sumiyoshi) Port, 20 minutes by high-speed boat from Kasaoka Port (approx. 35 minutes by regular boat), 7 minutes on foot from Shiraishi Island
Shiroishijima Beach (Nishinoura)
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.
Shiraishijima Island
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 is a swimming beach on Kitagi Island, the largest of the Kasaoka Islands. It takes about 10 minutes on foot from the island's port, Oura Port, but it is comfortable and uncrowded. You can spend your time relaxing at your leisure.
Address: 4975 Kitagishima, Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture
access:
Train and boat: From JR Kasaoka Station, walk for 10 minutes to Kasaoka (Sumiyoshi) Port, then take a 36-minute high-speed boat (55 minutes by regular boat), then disembark at Oura Port and walk for 10 minutes.
Car/Ship: From Kasaoka IC on the Sanyo Expressway, take the car to Kasaoka (Sumiyoshi) Port in approx. 10 minutes, then take the high-speed boat in approx. 36 minutes (regular boat in approx. 55 minutes), then disembark at Oura Port and walk for approx. 10 minutes.
Kitagijima 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 Chuo of Western Japan, and is known as the "Land of Sunshine" due to its warm climate and little rain throughout the year. It is conveniently located halfway between famous tourist spots such as Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, and is also the gateway to Shikoku via the Great Seto Bridge. Okayama is also known as the "Fruit Kingdom," and the fruits that grow in the warm climate of the Seto Inland Sea and sunshine 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-famous tourist spots such as Okayama Castle, Okayama Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which are renowned for their history, culture, and art!
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