When people think of the city of Tokyo they don’t often think of beaches as being part of the experience. It can come as a surprise however to find out that there are indeed a number of beach options near to Tokyo, some of which can be visited within a few hours and some of which require a full day trip.
If you do want to visit some of the beaches that are further afield then a good tip is to take the Shinkansen rather than one of the slow trains to cut down on the travel time. This means that if you leave in the morning you can still make it home by the evening having spent the day relaxing on the sand.
Here are some beaches you could visit while in Tokyo…

1) Odaiba Beach

Odaiba Beach is by far the closest beach to the center of Tokyo although note that this is also a manmade beach. The sand here comes from the Izu islands and although you can’t swim here you can still enjoy beach sports like volleyball as well as marveling at the Tokyo skyline. There are some other attractions here to keep visitors entertained such as a replica of the Statue of Liberty and is a good choice if you don’t really have time to go further afield.



2) Kasai Kaihin Park Beach

Sitting next to the Tokyo Disney Resort is the Kasai Kaihin Park Beach. As the name suggests, the beach is located in the Kasai Rinkai Park and on the same piece of land you will also find an aquarium, a large Ferris wheel, and a well known bird park. The beach here also allows swimming in the warmer months which makes it a popular place for locals.

3) Enoshima Beaches

The Enoshima Beaches in Kanagawa are some of the most popular when it comes to day trips outside of Tokyo. You can swim here as well as relaxing on the sand and you will also find a range of restaurants and beach huts dotted along the coastline. You can also rent sun shades and deck chairs and there is something of a party atmosphere here thanks to the loud music that plays from the restaurants and bar areas.



4) Oarai Beach

Oarai Beach is located in Ibaraki and takes around one hour and 40 minutes on the fast train from Tokyo. Oarai Beach offers something a little different as the beach has pebbles instead of soft sand. If you would prefer a little sand to lie on however, then you can walk along to Sun Beach which is also in the same area.

5) Zushi Beach

Zushi Beach is part of the delightful Miura Peninsula and you will find over a kilometer of white sand here. The beach is also popular if you like sports like windsurfing and there are some beach huts scattered around that you can rent. You will also find food and drink outlets and this is delightful place to swim or just relax on the sand with a book.



6) Morito Beach

Morito Beach is close to Zushi Beach and you will find beach huts all along the shoreline. There is a strip of sand that stretches for around 350 meters and lifeguards work here in the summer months. You can rent beach equipment from a scattering of shops and the famous Morito Shrine is located just next to the beach and is a serene spot to visit at the same time.

7) Kugenuma Beach

Located on the sunny Shonan Coast near Tokyo is Kugenuma Beach. This is a particularly good spot to visit if you like beach games as there are volleyball and tennis courts here that you can use free of charge. If you prefer something more relaxing then you will find the usual sun and surf here and you can swim here or simply sunbathe.

8) Chigasaki Beach

Chigasaki Beach sits along the coast line from Kugenuma Beach and stretches for over six kilometers. You can actually walk along from Kugenuma Beach until it becomes Chigasaki Beach and visit both of these gems on the same day. The beach is well known for its swimming and sunbathing rather than its water sports and you will find showers here, some food options, and lifeguards patrolling during the summer months.

9) Tatadohama Beach

Tatadohama Beach sits in Izu and takes around two and a half hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen. The beach is known for its ample waves that make this a great surf spot and you will also find some nice cafes dotted around the area.

10)Onjuku Beach

Onjuku Beach is around an hour and a half outside of Tokyo and is known for its famous sculpture. You will know it when you see it and it may surprise you, as it is the image of two Arabian kings atop camels. The beach itself has a nice stretch of sand that is good for relaxing on and taking in the scenery.