Keino Matsubara Beach, which is about 2 hours JR Osaka Station via train and highway bus, is located on the west side of Minamiawaji City in southwestern Awaji Island.

It’s known for its scenic charm and 50,000 black pines spread along a 2.5 kilometers stretch. In 1928, the area was designated as a national scenic spot, and in 1955, it was designated as Setonaikai National Park.

Keino Matsubara is the largest beach on Awaji Island and typically opens in summer. Japan’s Ministry of the Environment has selected 100 ocean areas and lakes nationwide at which visitors can swim comfortably, and among those, Keino Matsubara is one of the most highly rated.

The best time to visit, other than for daytime swimming, is in the evening. The sunset across the Harima Sea, selected as one of the “100 Best Sunsets in Japan,” is a magnificent sight, and the contrast with the pine forest is exquisite.

Visitors also get a beautiful view of Shodo Island just offshore and Goshokuhama beach to the north. Keino Matsubara is also home to “Proposal Road,” lined with Ibushi tiles unique to Awaji Island that have been inscribed with pledges of undying love.

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Shirarahama is 2 hours and 40 minutes from Osaka’s JR Tennoji Station via limited express train and bus. Originally named Shirahama, this 620-meter white sand beach is one of Kansai’s most iconic beaches.

Located in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, it’s the town’s main beach for sightseers and is visited by about 450,000 people every year. Selected as one of the “100 Best Beaches in Japan,” the Shirarahama celebrated its 20th anniversary as a sister beach to Waikiki Beach in Hawaii in 2020.

Shirarahama is a shallow beach and the smooth quartz sand is comprised of 90% silicic acid. The contrast between the emerald green sea, blue sky, and pure white sand is breathtaking.

In summer, umbrellas color the beach like flowers and palm trees provide a tropical mood. Watching the sunset from the beach is very popular, but sunrise is also recommended, when the early morning light reflects off the sand.

Shirarahama Beach will be open from May 3rd to August 31st, 2024. The nearby “Shirasuna” mixed bathing outdoor bath invitingly offers hot spring bathing on the beach (bathing suits allowed).

Services for international guests
English pamphlets at the tourist information center, and foreign language signs on the beach.

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Sen’nan Marble Beach, about an hour from Namba Station on Osaka’s Nankai Electric Railway, is a rare white marble beach. It overlooks Kansai International Airport, making it possible to watch planes taking off from Kansai Island.

The beach is Osaka Prefecture’s first certified “Lovers’ Sanctuary,” and the beach’s heart-shaped marker has become a popular photo spot for couples and families.

Along with the adjacent Tarui Southern Beach, the sunset view has been selected as one of the “100 Best Sunsets in Japan” and is a must-see. The sun sets in the same direction as Kansai International Airport, creating a fantastic scene.

Tarui Southern Beach, connected with Sennan Marble Beach to form an L-shape, is a sandy beach with a panoramic view of Kansai International Airport, and you can swim while watching the planes taking off and landing.

In 2020, an area of about 2 kilometers along the beach was transformed into Sennan Long Park, Kansai’s largest recreation facility, featuring a variety of ways to enjoy the outdoors.

In front of Marble Beach, there is a glamping area with a jacuzzi, independent villas with ocean views, a “marche area” where you can enjoy local food, and a community area with restaurants and cafes.

Services for international guests |
Sennan City has an English tourist pamphlet that includes a description of Sennan Marble Beach, the Long Park website has an English version, and there are English signs at the beach.

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Around 3 hours by limited express train from JR Osaka Station, Amanohashidate is a scenic spot facing the Sea of Japan in northern Kyoto Prefecture. It’s known as one of the three most scenic spots in Japan, along with Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture and Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture.

The views from the Kasamatsu Park observatory, where you can see Amanohashidate from the north side, and from Amanohashidate Viewland on Mt. Monju on the south side are both captivating must-sees.

The Kasamatsu Park overlook is popular because, from that vantage point, Amanohashidate looks like a rising dragon. It’s also famous as the birthplace of the oddly named “Crotch Peep,” in which viewers bend at the waist and look back through their legs, resulting in an interesting inverted view of Amanohashidate, the sky, and the sea.

Amanohashidate has two beaches. Both offer good-quality waters, calm waves, and places to rest in the shade of the nearby pine trees.

One is Amanohashidate Beach, just a 5-minute walk from Amanohashidate Station on the Monju side, which has beautiful blue pines and white sand beaches. There are tourist attractions such as Chionji Temple and Amanohashidate Viewland in the vicinity, and after swimming, you can relax at the Chie-no-Yu hot spring.

The other, Amanohashidate Fuchu Beach, is near the Amanohashidate Activity Center, where you can enjoy watersports like sea kayaking and stand-up paddling by reservation. In 2024, the beach is open from July 13th to August 18th.

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Makino Sunny Beach, about a 2-hour train ride from JR Osaka Station, is considered the most beautiful beach on the shores of Lake Biwa. White sands and pine forests stretch for about a kilometer from Takagihama in the north to Chinaihama in the south, and were selected as one of the “100 Best White Sands and Green Pines in Japan” in 1987.

Makino Sunny Beach overlooks two more scenic spots in Chikubu Island and Kaizu Osaki, which are among Lake Biwa’s eight most scenic areas. In addition, it has a good reputation for clean water and has been selected as a “special selection” in the lake category of the Ministry of the Environment’s “100 Select Beaches.”

You can enjoy Lake Biwa’s beautiful scenery all day long, like the view of the lake from the pier, which is especially eye-catching when colored by the sunrise and sunset.

The lake terrace’s 13-meter tall observatory is a symbol of Takagihama and an ideal viewing point for both the lake and surrounding area throughout the year. It’s a recommended spot for taking pictures of the sunrise and sunset.

Services for international guests (Takagihama)
Staff use tablets for translation when conversing with guests

Isonoura, a beach located in Nirigahama, Wakayama City, is popular among surfers in the Kansai region and is Osaka’s closest surfing area. From Osaka Namba Station, take the Nankai Main Line toward Wakayama, changing to the Kada Line at Wakayamashi Station, before getting off at Isonoura. From there, it’s just a short walk away.

It’s a popular destination for surfers, from beginners to advanced wave riders. The scene of the sunset across the ocean, palm trees, and surfers gives the beach a resort-like feel.

Isonoura has beautiful smooth, white sand and a panoramic view. The vast, shallow beach is about 1,200 meters long and 1.5 meters deep, even 100 meters from the water. During the sunbathing season (July 1st to August 31st), surfing and swimming areas are clearly marked so that beachgoers can swim safely.

There’s also a surfing school (Japanese language only). The “Beginner Course” is about 2.5 hours long and includes onshore training before entering the water. Boards and suits are available for rent, so anyone can join.

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These Kansai beaches are relatively easy to reach from central Osaka, and the clean waterfronts and spectacular views are worth a visit.

* Information in this article is accurate as of the time of updating in June 2024. Please check official websites for the latest information.

English translation by Gabriel Wilkinson