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!
Station of despair: What to do if you get stuck at the end of Tokyo’s Chuo Rapid Line
Japanese train station vending machine has the best souvenirs for rail otaku
Kura Sushi has a new parade-delivered whole cake dessert, but what’s it like to eat?【Video】
Tokyo’s Super Mario Christmas decoration displays are super cool【Photos】
Studio Ghibli showcases traditional craftsmanship with new wallet range
Japanese government will check and judge new baby name pronunciations, presents guidelines
Japanese-style accommodation at the new Premium Dormy Inn hotel in Asakusa will blow your mind
Starbucks Japan reveals new holiday goods for the 2024 festive season
Haku is…Chihiro’s dead brother? Studio Ghibli fans blown away by Spirited Away theory
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
This downtown Tokyo cafe is like a time machine that takes you back 50 years into the past
Japanese company develops classy heavy metal band frames for glasses
Major Japanese city is abolishing extracurricular activities at all of its middle schools
Shakey’s is back! All-you-can-eat pizza chain returns to downtown Tokyo’s Shinjuku
Starbucks Japan releases a new Frappuccino that looks and tastes like a floral bouquet
One of Japan’s rarest sweets is a sell-out hit that looks and tastes like frost
Possessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan
Uniqlo announces first-ever collaboration with horror manga master Junji Ito【Photos】
J-pop mega star Ado reveals she’s been living in the U.S., may not understand language acquisition
Starbucks Japan is calling it quits with paper straws
Japan’s most popular castle raising ticket prices by up to 200 percent for non-local tourists
Furikake rice seasoning sales are soaring, which is bad news for Japan as a whole
Studio Ghibli heroine cardigans give you warmth and strength to face everyday challenges
Eight unforgettable hot springs, as recommended by Japan’s “Professor Bath”
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
Japanese government will check and judge new baby name pronunciations, presents guidelines
Japanese-style accommodation at the new Premium Dormy Inn hotel in Asakusa will blow your mind
Starbucks Japan reveals new holiday goods for the 2024 festive season
Haku is…Chihiro’s dead brother? Studio Ghibli fans blown away by Spirited Away theory
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
World’s first real ramen in a can now available at Japanese vending machines
Disney Kabuki merch collaboration appears in Japan, but Mickey doesn’t play female roles
New heater-less pet kotatsu is a safe way to keep your furry friends warm this winter
New Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron exhibits unveiled at Ghibli Park
Johnson Town: A little piece of America in Japan… where all the residents are Japanese 【Pics】
Starbucks Japan releases a new Frappuccino that looks and tastes like a floral bouquet
Photos of Complete Strangers: Japan’s new strange, and strangely compelling, capsule toys【Pics】
Prominent boob-centric manga artist shocks fans by revealing she’s a beautiful buxom woman