[Iwate Prefecture] 5 recommended beaches in Iwate Prefecture! The hustle and bustle of the Sanriku coast is gradually coming back to life!

The Sanriku Coast in Iwate Prefecture used to have many beaches along its varied coastline, but since the 2011 earthquake, the beaches have not been open for a while, and the area has had a lonely summer.

However, over the past five years, the reconstruction of beaches in various areas has been progressing, and the excitement is returning to the shallow beaches with gentle waves and high transparency.

Here, we will introduce recommended beaches that have been restored from north to south along the long coastline of Iwate Prefecture, along with information on nearby sightseeing and gourmet food!

Funato Beach (Funato: Kuji City)

This is a small beach located north of Kosodekaigan in Kuji, which was the setting for the 2013 hit NHK TV drama series "Ama-chan."

The sandy beach surrounded by rocks about 100m long is a swimming beach, and you can also enjoy playing on the shore.

In addition to free parking, temporary showers, restrooms, and drinking fountains, the Fudodo Rest House has restaurants and hot shower rooms where you can take a relaxing break, so it's crowded with families during the season.

Funato Beach <Information>

• Beach name: Funato Beach
• Location: Naganai Town, Kuji, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 0194-52-2123 (Kuji City Tourism Exchange Division)
• Swimming time: 9:00-17:00
• Swimming period: July 15, 2023 (Saturday) to August 31, 2023 (Thursday)
• Parking lot: 50 spaces (free)
• URL: Iwate Prefecture tourism portal site

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Another recommended secret spot in Kuji, Samuraihama Seawater Pool

Samuraihama's ``pool'' is filled with seawater by hollowing it out of a rocky area along the coast, and since it is shallow and has no waves, even small children can safely play there, making it an easy way to enjoy swimming .

You can use the parking lot at the nearby Kita Samurai Beach Campsite, which is comfortable and equipped with coin showers, changing rooms, and flush toilets.

``Ama-chan'' is said to be the place where Aki, who aspires to become an ama diver, practiced free diving , and there are still fans who visit it today.

Samuraihama Seawater Pool＜Information＞

• Beach name: Samurai Beach Seawater Pool
• Location: 7th lot, Mukai-cho, Samuraihama-cho, Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number (July to the end of September): 0194-58-3855 (Kita Samurai Beach Campground)
• Phone number (other than the above period): 0194-52-2123 (Kuji City Commerce and Tourism Division)
• Swimming time: 9:00-17:00
• Swimming period: July 16th (Wednesday) to August 31st (Thursday), 2023
• Parking: Available (free)
• URL: Kuji City official website

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Now is the season! In Kita-Sanriku, the raw sea urchin bowl from Hirono Town is recommended.

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The area called Kita-Sanriku, which includes Kuji City, has no bay, and its coastline faces the Pacific Ocean, where sea urchins, sea squirts, seaweed, and abalone are abundantly caught.

In particular, Hirono Town boasts the largest amount of sea urchins in Iwate Prefecture due to the ``Nanbu Moguri'' tradition passed down in the Taneichi area, and ``Nanbu Diver'', who was featured in ``Ama-chan'', is a student at the Taneichi High School Ocean Development Department. It is cultivated.

Every year during the sea urchin season from June to August, restaurants in Hirono Town serve fresh raw sea urchin rice bowls, but this year, on July 16th, the ``Taneichi Sea Urchin'' event will be held on July 16th. The festival will be held for the first time in four years.

Hirono Town Tourism Association <Information>

• Facility name: Hirono Town Tourism Association
• Location: 23-27 Taneichi, Hirono-machi, Kunohe-gun, Iwate Prefecture, Tane City Hall Fisheries and Commerce Division
• Phone number: 0194-65-5916
• Business hours: 11:00-15:00
• No regular holiday
• URL: Hirono Town Tourism Association Official Website

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Jodogahama (Miyako City)

Jodogahama Beach is located in the center of Sanriku Fukko National Park and Sanriku Geopark, and is a scenic spot representing the Sanriku Coast.

The cove is made of large and small white volcanic rocks with calm waves and high transparency, and the contrast between the green evergreens on the rocks, the deep blue sky, and the ultramarine sea creates a spectacular view that is said to be ``just like paradise in the Pure Land.'' Masu.

In the summer, this beach has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Beaches by the Sea, and there is a Jodogahama Rest House with changing rooms, coin lockers, hot showers, toilets, and where you can eat and rest. It will be a "beach house".

Jodogahama <Information>

• Beach name: Jodogahama
• Location: Hitachihama-cho, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 0193-62-2111 (Miyako City Industrial Promotion Department Tourism Division)
• Swimming time: 8:30-17:00
• Swimming period: July 22, 2023 (Saturday) to August 15, 2023 (Tuesday)
• Parking: Available (free)
• URL: Miyako City official website

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Miyako's new local gourmet "bin-don"!

During the season when sea urchins are caught along the coast of Iwate Prefecture, freshly caught sea urchins are packed in milk bottles with sterilized seawater to preserve their delicious taste and sold at fish shops and supermarkets.

Inspired by this style, in addition to sea urchin, squid, octopus, salmon roe, kelp, mekabu, etc. are marinated in soy sauce and bottled.

Ten restaurants in Miyako City serve this jar-don and white rice, and if you pour the contents of the jar onto the white rice and stir it in, the taste of the Pure Land will fill your mouth.

Bottle Don ＜Information＞

• Facility name: Miyako Tourism and Cultural Exchange Association
• Location: 1-1-80 Miyamachi, Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 0193-62-3534 
• Business hours: 9:00-18:00
• No regular holiday
• URL: Miyako Tourism and Cultural Exchange Association Official Website

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Oranda Island Beach (Yamada Town)

There are two beaches in Yamada Town, Uranohama and Kojin, but the recommended little-known spot is the beach on Oranda Island, an uninhabited island in Yamada Bay.

The island's name comes from the fact that during the Edo period, Dutch ships stopped here to avoid storms.

It has the feel of a private beach, and when you swim in the crystal clear water, small fish will come close to you, which is a fun experience you won't find at other beaches.

However, although there are toilets and changing rooms on the island, there are no restaurants or vending machines, so be sure to bring your own food and drinks.

Please note that you can reach the island by a reservation-only cruise ship that makes five round trips a day, but if you wish to land on any other ship, you must apply to the town in advance.

Oranda Island Beach <Information>

• Beach name: Holland Island Beach
• Location: Yamada-cho, Shimohei-gun, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 0193-82-3111 (Yamada Town Fisheries and Commerce Division)
• Swimming time: 9:00-15:30
• Swimming period: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from Saturday, July 22, 2023 to Sunday, August 20, 2023
• Cruise fare (2023): 500 yen for adults, 250 yen for elementary school students (free for children over 2 years old)
• Cruise boat inquiries: 0193-65-7901 (Yamada Town Tourism Association)
• URL: Yamada Town official website

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Yamada Bay Observation Square is a sacred place for “sparrow door lock”

At Yamada Bay Observation Square in Orikasa, Yamada Town, there is a ``white door'' that is depicted as the ``back door'' that appears in the movie ``The Sparrow's Door Shuttle.''

Since the scenery of Yamada Town is depicted at the end of the movie, ``sacred place pilgrimage'' has increased, and it was installed in this plaza overlooking Yamada Bay.

The door is covered with ivy and has burnt marks, reminding me of scenes from the movie.

Yamada Bay Observation Plaza <Information>

• Facility name: Yamada Bay Observation Square
• Location: 111-9, Orikasa No. 11, Yamada-machi, Shimohei-gun, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 0193-65-7901 (Yamada Town Tourism Association Secretariat)
• URL: Yamada Town Tourism Association Official Website

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Kirikiri Coast Beach (Otsuchi Town)

There are various theories about the origin of the place name ``Kirikiri'', but the most popular theory is that it comes from the Ainu word meaning ``singing sand'' because the white sand makes a ``Kirikiri'' sound when you walk on it.

The beach, which used to be a wide, beautiful sandy beach, has changed a lot since that day, but showers, toilets, changing rooms, etc. have been reinstalled, and it is gradually returning to its former appearance.

Kirikiri Coast Beach <Information>

• Beach name: Kirikiri Kaigan Beach
• Location: 3-7 Kirikiri, Otsuchi-cho, Kamimei-gun, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 0193-42-5121 (Otsuchi Town Tourism Exchange Association)
• Swimming time: 9:00-17:00
• Swimming period: July 25th (Tuesday) to August 16th (Wednesday), 2023
• Parking: Available (free)
• URL: Iwate Prefecture tourism portal site

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Horai Island, floating in Otsuchi Bay, looks like “Hyokkori Gourd Island”

Horaijima is a small island with a circumference of about 140m, and is one of the islands that has been used as a model because its shape resembles the popular puppet show ``Hyokkori Hyotanjima.''

Please note that there is a breakwater that connects the Otsuchi Coastal Center of the University of Tokyo's Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute in Akahama to Hourai Island, so you can walk freely, but there are no handrails, so please refrain from crossing in times of strong winds or high waves. Please give it to me.

Hourai Island ＜Information＞

• Facility name: Hourai Island
• Location: 2-chome Akahama, Otsuchi-cho, Kamimei-gun, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 0193-42-5121 (Otsuchi Town Tourism Exchange Association)
• Parking: Multiple parking spaces available at Akahama Fishing Port
• URL: Otsuchi Tourism Exchange Association Official Website

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Takada Matsubara Beach (Takada Matsubara: Rikuzentakata City)

On that day, all but one pine tree was lost on the beach, which once had a magnificent 70,000 pine trees spread out over a 2km long sandy beach, but 11 years later, in 2021, approximately 40,000 pine trees will grow. A sapling was planted and it has revived.

Unlike before, you won't be able to see the ocean unless you cross the seawall, but you can still enjoy swimming on the smooth sand while looking out at the rapidly growing pine fields.

The parking lot (for a fee) can accommodate 300 cars, there are hot shower rooms and toilets, and there is a lifeguard on duty, so you can feel safe even with children.

Takada Matsubara Beach <Information>

• Beach name: Takada Matsubara Beach
• Location: 766 Sunamori, Kesen-cho, Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 0192-54-5011 (Rikuzentakata City Tourism and Products Association)
• Swimming time: 9:00-16:00
• Swimming period: Mid-July to mid-August
• Parking lot: 300 spaces (paid)
• URL: Rikuzentakata City Tourism and Products Association Official Website

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Let's do our best Rikuzentakata! “A miraculous pine tree” that watches over the city

At that time, while 70,000 of its friends were washed away, this pine tree, the only one left, gave the devastated people indescribable courage and strength to live.

However, due to salt damage to the ground where the roots spread out, the tree finally ran out of strength and was cut down, but it was then treated with embalming and restored to its original location in 2013, and has been preserved as a power spot symbolizing recovery.

A miraculous single pine <Information>

• Facility name: Miraculous Ipponmatsu (Takada Matsubara Tsunami Reconstruction Memorial Park)
• Location: Takada Matsubara Tsunami Reconstruction Memorial Park, 176-6 Sunamori, Kesen-cho, Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 0192-22-8911
• Visiting hours: 24 hours
• No regular holiday
• URL: Rikuzentakata City Hall official website

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summary

In addition to these, there are many beaches on the Pacific coast of Iwate Prefecture where you can enjoy swimming, and all of them are undergoing reconstruction.

For the people who live along the coast of Iwate, the sea is their hometown, and they hope that many tourists will come and enjoy it.

Be sure to visit the Sanriku Coast and enjoy the stunning scenery, crystal clear waters, and unparalleled flavor of seafood.