Shirahama Beach

Shirahama Beach

BEACH

The Izu Peninsula is home to some of the best beaches in Japan. Shirahama Beach is an 800 metre long beach, famous within Japan for its good surfing conditions. On the other side of the main road there are many stores selling food or providing beach gear to rent. There are also paid showers available.

The official swimming season starts mid-July and ends at the end of August. If the weather is good then it can start as early as late May and last until the end of September.

There are paid car parks available during tourist season.

Review

For anyone looking for a good beach holiday then look no further. Shirahama Beach is famous within Japan for its good surfing conditions and great sandy beach. During tourist season nothing is free so make sure to include parking/beach gear rental into your budget if you plan on doing more than just swimming. The beach can get very crowded during official swimming season so make sure to get there early to secure a place on the beach/a parking space.

Japanese beaches are fairly safe so many people just leave their stuff on the beach while they go swimming, with no one looking after it. Obviously there is still a risk of someone stealing your items, however the risk is much smaller than many other countries.

Make sure to wear enough sunscreen with a high enough factor as the Japanese sun is very strong. If you’re coming from a cooler country with not much sunlight definitely go for the factor 50 sunscreen! As a Scot with highly burnable skin I need to reapply this every 30 minutes or else I get badly burnt.

ADDRESS

Shirahama Beach,
Shirahama,
Shimoda,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
415-0012

+81558223913 (Japanese only)
https://www.city.shimoda.shizuoka.jp/category/100300itiban_resort/110789.html (Google Translated English available)

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

It’s easier to get to the beach by car however there is no free parking nearby. To use public transport then take the train from Atami Station and alight at Shimoda Station. Switch to the bus headed for Itadoichiki (板戸一色行) and alight at Respo Shirahama (レスポ白浜).