It’s the perfect weekend getaway for Nagasaki locals…and the perfect place to add to a visitor’s itinerary!
beaches
Chichibugahama Beach looks like a Makoto Shinkai anime come to life, and is well worth a detour off the beaten travel path.
Read More
Rare “living fossil” shark that looks like it’s trying to escape from its own face is a great reminder for us to stay out of the water.
The new orange flag warning system aims to help those at sea become aware of an earthquake or tsunami before it’s too late.
Japan may have an image as an all-work and no-play sort of place, but you’ve got to give the country credit for coming up with Umi no Hi. Observed on the third Monday of July, Umi no Hi literally means “Ocean Day,” but “Marine Day” and “Beach Day” would also be acceptable translations. It’s a national holiday expressly created to give everyone a day off to go have fun at the beach, and it just might be the greatest socially accepted reason ever for blowing off work.
This year, Japan got so into the spirit of the holiday that even people in prefectures with no coastline swore they could smell the sea. But was this just a summery olfactory hallucination, or a legitimate Umi no Hi miracle?
From whacking watermelons with sticks to burying your friends in the sand or holding sweltering Japanese style BBQs, Japan has a very specific beach culture. We’ve introduced some of these activities before on our site, but this time, we’ve supersized the experience by adding more activities–and extra cheese!
We’ll introduce 13 beach scenes that you’re bound to experience on any trip to a Japanese beach, and present most of them in a six-second Vine video. We picked one of our favorite places to Vine from: Shiraishi Island in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea where one of our writers happens to live. This tiny island of 560 people in Okayama Prefecture, is one of Japan’s best kept secrets: the beach is never crowded, the sea is tranquil, the sunsets superb, and the beer never stops flowing.
Get ready to take the plunge into the sea of Japanese beach culture with a local to show you la plage–Japanese style!
With just a few weeks left before September, beach lovers in Japan are trying to sneak in a few last trips to the coast. A late summer trip to the shore means you’ll have to be on the lookout for jellyfish, but the good news is they don’t seem to be out in full force yet.
The bad news, though, is that Kanagawa Prefecture has something that looks sort of like a jellyfish but is even worse, with some people having spotted the Portuguese man-of-war.
Having grown up a quick drive from southern California’s miles and miles of prime coastline, I’ll admit Japanese beaches can sometimes be a little underwhelming. Among other problems, they’re crowded with day trippers during midsummer, and infested with jellyfish as the season winds down.
One great thing about beaches in Japan, though, are the umi no ie, temporary restaurants/lounges built right on the sand and only operated during July and August. Due to their temporary nature (the buildings are completely disassembled come September), umi no ie used to be pretty bare-bones. In recent years, though, the ones at Japan’s more popular beaches have been attracting some well-known corporate sponsors and collaborative partners, such as Israeli bath and beauty product manufacturer Sabon, which is set to open its first umi no ie next week.
MOST POPULAR
Now
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Mr. Sato accosts award-winning actor Hideaki Ito【Interview】
Drunk cycling can result in an instantly suspended driver’s license in Japan
Which Japanese conveyor belt sushi chain has the best aburi salmon sushi?【Taste test】
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Is “The Most Annoying but Most Delicious” ramen from 7-Eleven truly the most delicious?
Wakayama high school students make life-sized DeLorean time machine replica from scratch
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
Is it rude to sing along at concerts in Japan? We ask a pro musician for his take
Weekly
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026- Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Starbucks on a Shinkansen bullet train platform: 6 tips for using the automated store in Japan
Is this the most relaxing Starbucks in Japan?
Large amount of supposed human organs left in Osaka marketplace
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Monthly
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes- 7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
- Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
- Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area- Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Yearly
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer- Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Is “The Most Annoying but Most Delicious” ramen from 7-Eleven truly the most delicious?
Wakayama high school students make life-sized DeLorean time machine replica from scratch
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
Is it rude to sing along at concerts in Japan? We ask a pro musician for his take
Watch how to make one of Japan’s elite restaurant’s desserts
We visit the oldest remaining Komeda Coffee cafe in Japan for a retro blast from the past
Cardcaptor Sakura’s schoolgirl costume now a stylishly cute anime backpack to take back to school
Can a dirty butthole make you filthy rich in Japan? We’re starting a New Year’s lottery experiment
Proposed sakura name for new middle school in Japan draws complaints for kamikaze overlap
Reminder: Japan has awesome all-you-can-eat cookies cafes
Japanese loungewear brand designs new range of medical worker uniforms
How to get a date in Japan, according to hosts in Kabukicho
-
