Review

Ose Beach is a gorgeous place to visit no matter the time of year. With excellent views of Mt. Fuji, I recommend coming in the winter season as it can be difficult to get a clear view of Mt. Fuji on a summer day. However, if you’re interested in swimming/scuba diving, summer is definitely the time to visit!

ADDRESS:

Ose Beach,
Nishiuraenashi,
Numazu,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
410-0244

+81 55 934 4747 (most likely Japanese only)
https://numazukanko.jp/spot/10005 (Japanese only)

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

Ose Beach is only available by car.

Odoi Beach

BEACH

Odoi Beach is a smaller beach on the west coast of the Izu Peninsula, perfect for swimming and fishing. If you want to escape the horrendous summer humidity then why not dip in to the water?

Parking is free until the summer season as many tourists come here. The beach gets very crowded so you may want to get here early to snag a parking spot and a space on the sand.

Review

If you’re wanting to visit a smaller, less crowded beach then Odoi Beach might be for you. Tourists come in the summer, although the nearby Toi Beach is much more popular.

The beach gets very packed during the summer season. Japanese people tend to bring tents to escape from the sun so feel free to bring your own, or just leave your towel at a spot on the beach. It’s safe enough to leave your stuff while you swim as theft is very uncommon here. The swimming area is cordoned off so make sure not to swim over the ropes as these waters can get deep and aren’t guaranteed to be safe/free from any sealife.

Make sure you only go swimming during swimming season, usually July – late August. September is jellyfish season so it’s very likely that you’ll injure yourself if you go swimming when it’s not approved.

ADDRESS

Odoi Beach,
279 Odoi,
Izu City,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
410-3301

Phone number unavailable
Website unavailable

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

Odoi beach is easiest to get to by car as public transport on the West side of Izu can be quite sporadic. If you’re travelling by public transport then take the train from Mishima to Shuzenji on the Izu Hakone Tetsudo Line. Switch to the bus bound for Matsuzaki (松崎) and get off at Doigyokyo. Unfortunately there isn’t a bus to take you to Odoi so you would have to walk 12 minutes to get to the beach.

Kawazuhama Beach

BEACH

The Izu Peninsula is famous for its clear beaches and ideal surfing conditions. Kawazuhama Beach is a small beach in central Kawazu with a picturesque landscape.

There isn’t parking available, however you can use the numerous paid car parks dotted around Kawazu.

Review

I haven’t been to the beach during the summer season so I’m unsure of how busy it gets during tourist season. During the other seasons it’s pretty quiet so you have time and space to relax and enjoy the scenery. Apart from the walk along the short beach there isn’t much else to do here so definitely bundle this with the other things nearby if you’re coming to the area.

ADDRESS

Kawazuhama Beach,
Hama,
Kawazu,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
413-0513

+81558320290 (Japanese only)
Website unavailable

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

Kawazuhama Beach doesn’t have its own parking, however you are able to use the numerous car parks dotted around Kawazu for a fee. If you’re travelling by public transport then take the train from Atami Station and alight at Kawazu Station. You can walk from here.

Kisami Ohama Beach

BEACH

The Izu Peninsula is full of gorgeous beaches, which is why it’s such a popular resort during the summer season. Kisami Ohama Beach is a 770m long beach with a great coastal view and is popular among families and surfers.

There is a car park available. It is free most of the year but paid during summer.

Review

Kisami Ohama Beach is a fairly small beach along the southern coast of the Izu Peninsula. I’ve only visited the beach during off-peak season so I’m unsure how popular it gets during summer when all the tourists flock to Izu. It’s a little bit more difficult for tourists to get to so there is a chance this is more of a beach for locals.

The Ryugu Sea Cave and Sand Surfing Resort is very nearby so make sure to stop by if you’re in the area. This area doesn’t have too much else to do so it would be good to include in your itinerary if you’re staying near Shimoda.

ADDRESS

Kisami Ohama Beach,
1900-13 Kisami,
Shimoda,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
415-0028

+81558223913 (Japanese only)
https://www.city.shimoda.shizuoka.jp/category/100300itiban_resort/110786.html (Google Translated English available)

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

Ryugu Sea Cave is easiest to get to by car, however if you’re travelling by public transport then take the train from Atami to Shimoda on the Izukyu Line. Switch to the bus bound for Touji (田牛) and get off at Ohama Coast (大浜海岸).

Ohama Beach Resort

BEACH

The Izu Peninsula’s west coast is full of breathtaking, overlooked viewpoints, waiting to be explored. Ohama Beach Resort is a fairly small beach with a few restaurants lining its shores. For somewhere a bit more secluded during summer, maybe try and visit here.

There is a free car park available.

Review

Ohama Beach Resort is a small beach along the west coast of the Izu Peninsula. I haven’t been here during tourist season so I am not sure how busy it gets during the hot months. It seems like a good place to relax during the other months, with restaurants along the beach. If you’re looking for a place to relax with good food nearby then look no further!

There is free parking available, however this may become paid parking during tourist season.

ADDRESS

Ohama Beach Resort,
Nishina,
Nishiizu,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
410-3514

+81558521966 (Japanese only)
Website unavailable

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

Ohama Beach Resort is easiest to get to by car as public transport on the West side of Izu can be quite sporadic. If you’re travelling by public transport then take the train from Mishima to Shuzenji on the Izu Hakone Tetsudo Line. Switch to the bus bound for Matsuzaki (松崎) and get off at the Nishinashako bus stop.

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).

Toji Sand Surfing Resort

BEACH

One of my favourite activities in the Izu Peninsula has definitely got to be the sand surfing resort in Shimoda. A natural resort where you can slide down with a sled (or your own items) for free. The incline can be a little intimidating however this is a lot of fun and is a must try if you’re in the area!

There is a car park nearby with enough space for 10 cars. Outside of summer usage of the car park is free. During summer it costs ￥1,500 a day.

Review

This was a really fun find during a weekend trip down to Shimoda. The sled rental is fairly cheap however you can bring your own items to slide down with. Be warned that if you do choose to rent then there is a deposit that will be refunded when you return the sled. You can rent boards to surf down the sand but I recommend the sled for beginners.

There are quite a few steps down to the resort and then you will have to climb up the sand to slide down. This can be quite exhausting, however there is what seems to be a path on the sand to the left-hand side, out of the way of the other people. The sand is very unstable so it’s quite the workout!

Standing at the top is very intimidating. The 30 degree angle looks much steeper when you’re faces with the prospect of having to slide down it. Plonk yourself on the sled and slowly inch yourself to the slope. It’s much easier to get over the fear at first if you’re racing your friends/family. The descent is fairly quick and you will more than likely fall off the sled/board. The sand is very unstable so it’s very easy to go tumbling down. IT doesn’t hurt so don’t worry about that. It just means you’ll end up with sand everywhere!

The Ryugu Sea Cave can be found nearby so make sure to check it out when you’re in the area!

ADDRESS

Toji Sand Surfing Resort,
Toji,
Shimoda,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
415-0029

+81558223048
http://shizuoka.mytabi.net/izu/archives/toji-sand-ski.php (Japanese only)

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

I recommend visiting here by car however if you wish to travel by public transport then take the train from Atami to Shimoda and then switch to the bus bound for Toji (田牛). Alight at Nagaiso bus stop.

Toi Beach

BEACH

Toi beach is the largest swimming area on the west coast of the Izu Peninsula and was voted as one of Japan’s 88 best beaches. The beach is fairly shallow, with many lifeguards during summer to make it perfect for a perfect beach getaway. If you want to escape the horrendous summer humidity then why not dip in to the water?

Parking at Matsubara Park is free until the summer season as many tourists come here. The beach gets very crowded so you may want to get here early to snag a parking spot and a space on the sand.

Review

Toi beach is a must see if you’re in the area, especially during summer. The walk around the beach is fairly short, but many shops line the coastline, especially during summer season. If you’re wanting a nice beach getaway then Toi is the perfect place to come.

The beach gets very packed during the summer season. Japanese people tend to bring tents to escape from the sun so feel free to bring your own, or just leave your towel at a spot on the beach. It’s safe enough to leave your stuff while you swim as theft is very uncommon here. The swimming area is cordoned off so make sure not to swim over the ropes as these waters can get deep and aren’t guaranteed to be safe/free from any sealife.

Make sure you only go swimming during swimming season, usually July – late August. September is jellyfish season so it’s very likely that you’ll injure yourself if you go swimming when it’s not approved.

ADDRESS

Toi Beach,
2849-5 Toi,
Izu City,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
410-3302

Phone number unavailable
Website unavailable

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

Toi beach is easiest to get to by car as public transport on the West side of Izu can be quite sporadic. If you’re travelling by public transport then take the train from Mishima to Shuzenji on the Izu Hakone Tetsudo Line. Switch to the bus bound for Matsuzaki (松崎) and get off at Toi Onsen (土肥温泉).