Swim & surf Miyagi this summer!
When Japan's hot, humid summer weather finally hits Tohoku, nothing beats a day spent cooling off at the beach! Below is a list of all the official swimming beaches currently open in Miyagi, including those along the Sanriku Coast, in Kesennuma, Motoyoshi, and Minamisanriku, as well as a bonus 3 locations just a short way south of the border with Fukushima. These beaches are all free and open to the public. The guide is ordered from north-to-south, starting with the sublime island-bound Kodanohama Beach in the northern reaches of the prefecture.
Beaches in Miyagi Prefecture
1. Kodanohama Beach
(小田の浜海水浴場)
Location: Kesennuma, Miyagi
Official Season: July 22–August 22
A gorgeous swimming beach located on Oshima Island, just off the coast of Kesennuma. In fact, it has been named the second-best swimming beach in all of Japan by the Ministry of the Environment! As one would expect of the second-best swimming beach in the nation, it boasts pristine white sand and calm waters. SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) is also available, through the Oshima Paddle Club (reservations required).
Details:
More info (English): visitmiyagi.com
More info (Japanese): miyagi-kankou.or.jp
Amenities: Toilets, showers, changing rooms, beach huts
2. Oya Beach
(大谷海水浴場)
Location: Kesennuma, Miyagi
Official Season: July 17–August 22
In the summer of 2021, Oya Beach reopened for the first time in over ten years! Closed since 2010 (one year before the Great East Japan Earthquake), Kesennuma’s spacious Oya Beach was once one of the most popular beaches in the country. Not only was it selected as one of the Top 100 Swimming Beaches by the Ministry of the Environment, it was also famous for being the closest swimming beach to a train station in all of Japan.
Within easy walking distance of the beach and BRT Line station is the newly opened Michi no Eki Oya Kaigan (道の駅 大谷海岸), a shopping complex featuring a farmers' market and food court, making it easy to come to Oya Beach on a whim, without having to worry about packing supplies for the day.
Details:
More info (Japanese): miyagi-kankou.or.jp
Amenities: Lifeguards, showers, changing rooms, beach vendors, toilets
Access: 4-minute walk from Oyakaigan Station
3. Koizumi Beach
(小泉海水浴場)
Location: Motoyoshi, Miyagi
Official Season: July 17–August 22
Koizumi Beach was named one of Japan's Top 100 Swimming Beaches by the Ministry of the Environment! Before the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake it was also good for surfing, but that may have changed since the concrete sea walls were erected.
Details:
More info (Japanese): miyagi-kankou.or.jp
Amenities: Lifeguard, showers , changing rooms, beach vendors, toilets
Access: 20-minute walk from Rikuzen-Koizumi Station
4. Sun Ole Sodehama Beach
(サンオーレそではま海水浴場)
Location: Minamisanriku, Miyagi
Official Season: July 17–August 22
(July only open Weekends, August open everyday)
A swimming beach reopened in 2018 for the first time since the 2011 tsunami. It boasts a 300-meter man-made sandy beach. The uninhabited island Areshima is connected to Sun Ole Sodehama by footpath. If you start feeling weary of all the sun and sand on the beach, refresh yourself with a stroll on this shady forest island.
Details:
More info (Japanese): m-kankou.jp
Hours: 10:00–15:00 weekdays, 9:30–16:00 weekends & holidays (August 11–14 count as holidays)
Amenities: Toilets, free showers, food stalls (peak days only), BBQ area (reservations required)
Access: About 1.5 kilometers on foot or by rental cycle from Shizugawa Station
5. Watanoha Beach
(石巻市営渡波海水浴場)
Location: Ishinomaki, Miyagi
Official Season: Mid July – Late August
After a long closure due to COVID-19, this beach is finally opening up once again to the public this year! It is conveniently located near central Ishinomaki, within walking distance of an artisanal bakery, fish market, and convenience store. This swimming beach closed after the tsunami in 2011, and reopened for the first time in 2018.
Details:
More info (Japanese): miyagi-kankou.or.jp
Hours: 10:00–15:00
Amenities: Showers, changing rooms, toilets
Access: 30-minute walk from Watanoha Station
6. Shirahama Beach
(白浜海水浴場)
Location: Ishinomaki, Miyagi
Official Season: Mid July – Late August
One of two "Shirahama" beaches in Ishinomaki City, this one lies on the mainland. Due to its out-of-the-way location in the far north of Ishinomaki, this beach draws much smaller crowds than others and is said to have a "hidden beach" vibe.
Details:
More info (Japanese): miyagi-kankou-or.jp
Amenities: Toilets, changing rooms, showers, foot-washing station
7. Ajishirahama Beach
(網地白浜海水浴場)
Location: Ishinomaki, Miyagi
Official Season: Mid July – Late August
A scenic swimming beach on Ajishima, a small island off the coast of Ishinomaki. The island boasts a number of homey minshuku inns and boat service to cat island Tashirojima, making it a great spot for weekend getaway.
Details:
More info (Japanese): city.ishinomaki.lg.jp
Amenities: Showers, changing rooms
Access: About 1 hour by boat from the Ajishima Line Chuo Terminal (網地島ライン中央発着所). The Chuo Terminal is a 15-minute walk from Ishinomaki Station. Board boat bound for Ajishima (網地島), alight at Aji Port (網地港). Details and timetable here.
8. Tsukihama Beach
(月浜海水浴場)
Location: Higashimatsushima, Miyagi
Official Season: Mid July – Late August
This scenic beach on the southern tip of Miyato Island in Higashimatsushima is well-loved as a swimming beach for its calm waves. It lies in a protected cove, so it's well suited to young children and novice swimmers.
Details:
More info (English): visitmiyagi.com
More info (Japanese): miyagi-kankou.or.jp
Hours: 9:00–15:30
Amenities: Showers (fee), toilets. The nearby Oku-Matsushima Taiken Network offers English-friendly sea kayak rental and other seafaring experiences (reservations required).
Access: About 8 kilometers from Nobiru Station. Taxis and rental bicycles are available.
9. Katsurashima Beach
(浦戸桂島海水浴場)
Location: Shiogama, Miyagi
Official Season: Mid July – Late August
Live the dream! Swim at a beach located on one of Matsushima Bay's iconic islands. In addition to swimming, the islands little-used roads and wooded trails make it a nice spot for a chill, island-vibe nature walk.
Details:
More info (English): sendaimotions.com/blog/katsurashima
More info (Japanese): miyagi-kankou.or.jp
Hours: 10:00–16:00
Amenities: Lifeguard, food stalls, showers, toilets
*The English timetable is current, but the fare table is out of date. For up-to-date fares, please see the Japanese page.
10. Shobutahama Beach
(菖蒲田浜海水浴場)
Location: Shichigahama, Miyagi
Official Season: Mid July – Late August
First opened in 1888, it is the third-oldest swimming beach in Japan and is said to have been Tohoku's most popular swimming beach, in the years before the 2011 tsunami. It's popular with surfers as well as swimmers. It reopened in 2017 and has been hosting a number of festivals ever since, such as surf competitions and the Seven Beach Festival.
Details:
More info (English): visitmiyagi.com
More info (Japanese): shichigahama.com
Amenities during official season: Lifeguard, showers, changing rooms, toilets
Access: About 30 minutes by bus from Tagajo or Hon-Shiogama Station. From Tagajo Station (多賀城駅) or Hon-Shiogama Station (本塩釜駅), board Gururinko (ぐるりんこ) bus bound for Shichigahama Kokusai Mura (七ヶ浜国際村). Alight at Shobutahama Kaisuiyokujo-mae (菖蒲田浜海水浴場前) bus stop. Tagajo Station bus timetable here. Hon-Shiogama Station bus timetable here.
11. Fukanuma Beach
(深沼海水浴場)
Location: Wakabayashi, Miyagi
Official Season: Mid July – Late August
In 2019, Fukanuma Beach reopened for the first time since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, but on a VERY limited basis. The beach was open for just four days, and those wishing to visit had to apply in advance. We're still awaiting details regarding whether or not this beach will be open to the public in 2022.
Details
Details (Japanese): miyagitabi.com
Beaches in Fukushima Prefecture
1. Tsurushihama Beach
(釣師浜海水浴場)
Location: Shinchi, Fukushima
Official Season: July 21–August 16
Tsurushihama is a little-known swimming beach boasting some of the best water quality in Japan. It's located in Shinchi Town, just south of the Miyagi–Fukushima border. Closed since the 2011 tsunami, it reopened in 2019. In addition to swimming, it's also a (locally) popular beach for playing beach sports like beach volleyball.
Details:
More info (Japanese): fukutubu.jp
Hours: Until 3:30PM
Amenities during official season: lifeguard, toilets, showers
Access: 15-minute walk from Shinchi Station
2. Haragamaobama Beach
(原釜尾浜海水浴場)
Location: Soma, Fukushima
Official Season: July 17–August 22
Closed for some years after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, but reopened in 2018 to the great joy of Soma residents. Before the disaster, it had been named one of the Top 88 Swimming Beaches in Japan by the Ministry of the Environment.
Details:
Official Website (Japanese): city.soma.fukushima.jp
More info (Japanese): soma-kanko.jp
Hours: 9:00–16:00
Amenities: Toilets, showers, beach toy and parasol rental
Access: 13 minutes by bus from Soma Eigyo-sho (相馬営業所) bus stop (right near Soma Station). Board Matsukawa Ura・Haragama (松川浦・原釜) loop bus bound for Soma Port (相馬港), alight at Obama (尾浜). See Navitime for timetables.
3. Kitaizumi Beach
(北泉海水浴場)
Location: Minamisoma, Fukushima
Official Season: July 22–August 22
A popular beach for surfing as well as swimming. Before the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the beach used to regularly host international surf competitions. It resumed that tradition to some degree in 2019, with the Minamisoma Beach Fes. The beach is located next to Kitaizumi Seaside Sogo Park, which features a playground, campground, and more!
Details:
More info (Japanese): fukutubu.jp
Hours: 9:00–16:00
Access: 15 minutes by bus from Haranomachi Station
Written by Wesley Keppel-Henry