[Akita Prefecture] 5 recommended beaches in Akita! The highlight is the view of the sunset over the Sea of ​​Japan!

Akita Prefecture, which faces the Sea of ​​Japan and stretches from north to south, has many beaches, with some beaches opening as early as July 6, and all 15 beaches in the prefecture opening in 2023. We are planning to open.

Here we will introduce five of these 15 beaches, along with information on sightseeing and gourmet food in the surrounding area.

Kamayahama Beach (Kamayahama: Mitane Town)

Located in Mitane Town near Hachirogata in northern Akita Prefecture, it is a beautiful beach that was selected as one of Japan's top 100 swimming beaches in 2006.

Behind the pristine sandy beach, which does not have a breakwater made of tetrapods, which are common at beaches facing the open ocean, there are windmills that generate wind power.

It is also called ``Sunset Beach Kamaya Beach'' because of the spectacular sunset over the Sea of ​​Japan.

In addition to toilets, there is a kitchen on the beach where you can camp, and there are hot springs and a supermarket nearby.

There is a large free parking lot, you can drive onto the sandy beach, and sandcraft events are held here, making this beach especially popular among young people.

Kamayahama Beach <Information>

• Beach name: Kamayahama Beach
• Location: 71 Oguchi Kamaya, Mitane-cho, Yamamoto-gun, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0185-85-4830 (Mitane Town Commerce, Industry and Tourism Exchange Division)
• Swimming time: 8:30-17:15
• Swimming period: July 8, 2023 (Saturday) to August 27, 2023 (Sunday)
• Parking lot: 1,100 spaces (free)
• URL: Mitane Town official website

GOOGLE MAP　

"Sand Craft in Mitane" where you can enjoy the art of sandy beaches

It is held on the last Saturday and Sunday of July every year, and this year's "Sand Craft in Mitane 2023" is held on July 29th (Saturday) and 30th (Sunday) at Kamaya Beach. A statue) will be exhibited.

A production theme is decided every year, and a large number of stunning sand sculptures of various sizes are lined up.This year, for the first time in four years, the 10th Sand Sculpture Koshien, where high school students from within and outside the prefecture compete to see how well they create their sand sculptures, will be held. It would be held.

Sandcraft in Mitane <Information>

• Sponsored by: Mitane Town Sandcraft Executive Committee
• Location: 8 Iwataniko, Ugawa, Mitane-machi, Yamamoto-gun, Akita Prefecture (inside Mitane-machi Town Hall)
• Phone number: 0185-85-4830 (Mitane Town Sandcraft Executive Committee Secretariat)
• Event period: July 29, 2023 (Sat) to July 30, 2023 (Sun)
• URL: Mitane Town Sandcraft Executive Committee Official Website

Miyazawa Beach (Oga City)

It boasts top-class water quality in Akita Prefecture, consistently rated AA, and has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Bathing Beaches.

The sandy beach is 1km long, but a 300m area that is closely monitored can be used as a swimming beach.The beach is shallow and popular with a wide range of people, from young people to families.

Free parking and flush toilets are available, and showers (for a fee) are available at the 7-8 beach huts.

From the coast, you can see the World Heritage Shirakami Mountains in addition to Oga Sanzan, and it is also known for its spectacular sunsets.

Miyazawa Beach <Information>

• Beach name: Miyazawa Beach
• Location: Noishi Obazawa, Oga City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0185-24-4700 (Oga City Tourism Association)
• Swimming time: 8:00-17:00
• Swimming period: Mid-July to mid-August 2023
• Parking lot: 300 spaces (free)
• URL: Oganavi official website

GOOGLE MAP

“Babahera Ice” in summer in Akita

When you drive through Akita Prefecture in the summer, you'll see old ladies selling ice cream with large parasols sitting on the roadside here and there, and this is the famous "Babahera Ice" .

My grandma used a spatula to skillfully arrange the colorful sorbet into a cone with ice cream shaped like a rose flower, and it has now become a summer tradition in Akita.

This ice cream is manufactured Shindo Reika , which has its headquarters in Oga City.

Babahera Ice <Information>

• Manufacturing company name: Shindo Reika Co., Ltd.
• Location: 12-1 Shimoya Nagane, Kadomazaki, Oga City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0185-46-2066
• URL: Shindo Reika official website

Katsurahama Beach (Katsurahama: Akita City)

Of the 15 beaches, this is the only one located in Akita City, and the approximately 1km long coastline with blooming Japanese seaweed is characterized by its shallow waters and calm waves.

The sea is highly transparent, and six beach huts open during the season, making it a popular swimming spot for families to enjoy with peace of mind.

Although the waves are calm, marine sports such as surfing and bodyboarding are popular.

Katsurahama Beach <Information>

• Beach name: Katsurahama Beach
• Location: Hamada Sakaigawa, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 018-888-5602 (Akita City Tourism, Culture and Sports Department, Tourism Promotion Division)
• Swimming time: 8:00-17:00
• Swimming period: July 15th (Saturday) to August 15th (Tuesday), 2023
• Parking lot: 500 spaces (paid)
• URL: Akita City sightseeing/event information comprehensive site Akitachi+ (Plus)

GOOGLE MAP

The best souvenir from Akita is Kinman, a famous Akita confectionery.

In a nutshell, Kinman is a castella manju filled with egg-filled white bean paste filled with honey and egg-filled castella dough.

This sweet has a history of about 70 years and is loved in the local Akita region for its unchanging taste, but the raw type has a shelf life of only 3 days, so it can only be purchased at a limited number of stores such as directly managed stores in Akita City. It's a precious souvenir that you can't afford.

However, recently, vacuum-packed types with a 10-day expiry date and individually-wrapped types with a 14-day shelf life have appeared, making it possible to give them out at work as souvenirs for long-distance trips or business trips.

Kinman <Information>

• Facility name: Akita confectionery Kinman
• Location: 2-3-8 Nakadori, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 018-832-6789
• Business hours: 9:30-18:30
• No regular holiday
• URL: Kinman official website

GOOGLE MAP

Honjo Marina Beach (Yurihonjo City)

From the sandy beach adjacent to Honjo Marina, you can see the majestic view of Mt. Chokai up close, and the 700m long beach has the longest swimming area in Akita Prefecture, attracting many beachgoers from inside and outside the prefecture. I will visit.

Selected as one of Japan's 88 Best Bathing Beaches in 2001, marine sports are popular, and there are always many yachts floating in the waves around the beach.

There is a large free parking lot on the beach, with showers and toilets available, and there is also an auto campsite and a hot spring treatment facility right next to it, making it very comfortable.

Honjo Marina Beach <Information>

• Beach name: Honjo Marina Beach
• Location: Ishiwaki Tajiri, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 080-9073-7776
• Swimming time: 9:00-17:00
• Swimming period: July 22, 2023 (Sat) - August 13, 2023 (Sun)
• Parking lot: 300 spaces (free)
• URL: Yurihonjo City Tourism Association Official Website

GOOGLE MAP

“Honjo ham fries” is the soul food of Yurihonjo citizens.

``Honjo ham fries'', which are known to those in the know as Yurihonjo's B-class gourmet food, are fried pressed ham (chopped ham) made from 100% pork.

The definition was made by the ``Honjo Ham Fried Ham People's Association,'' and it states that the ham must be produced within Yurihonjo City or made from pork produced within the city, and that lard is preferable for the frying oil. Masu.

Freshly fried, crispy and topped with local ``Honjozukuri soy sauce'' , it is a must-have, and is loved as a side dish with rice or as a snack for children.

Honjo ham fries ＜Information＞

• Organization name: Honjo Hamfry Ham People's Association
• Location: 50 Daimon, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture (inside Konno Musical Instruments)
• URL: Honjo Ham Fry Hammin Association official website

GOOGLE MAP

Kisakata Beach (Nikaho City)

The beautiful semicircular beach has a beautiful sunset over the Sea of ​​Japan, and is well known as a sunset beach, having been selected as one of Japan's top 100 sunsets.

The view begins 20 to 30 minutes before sunset, and the sight of the sun turning bright red as it sinks into the horizon is truly breathtaking.

The coast here is shallow and there are small rocks here and there where you can play on the shore, and the sea water is so transparent that it has been selected as one of Japan's top 100 swimming beaches.

It's adjacent to an auto campground, so you can enjoy camping and swimming at the same time, and you can also wash off your sweat in the sea at the nearby hot spring resort called Pine Spa Shinzan.

Nigata Beach <Information>

• Beach name: Nigata Beach
• Location: Kanishishita, Zogata-cho, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0184-43-6608 (Nikaho City Tourism Association)
• Swimming time: 9:00-17:00
• Swimming period: July 22, 2023 (Saturday) to August 15, 2023 (Tuesday)
• Parking lot: 200 spaces (free)
• URL: Nikaho City Tourism Association Official Website

GOOGLE MAP　

Summer is in season! Natural rock oysters from Kurogata

In the area around Higata, fishing for natural rock oysters, which are in season during the summer, is open from June (July 1st in Higata), and you can enjoy this "milk of the sea" until mid-August, when the beaches are open. .

This season, the fish is said to be larger and sweeter than usual, and you can enjoy it at restaurants and direct sales shops at Nemu no Oka, the roadside station on the north side of the beach.

Nemu no Oka ＜Information＞

• Facility name: Roadside station Kogata “Nemu no Oka”
• Location: 73-1 Oshiogoshi, Kogata-cho, Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0184-32-5588
• Business hours: 9:00-21:00
• No regular holiday
• URL: Roadside Station Nogata “Nemu no Oka” official website

GOOGLE MAP　

summary

The highlight of all the beaches in Akita Prefecture facing the Sea of ​​Japan is the view of the sun setting into the sea, and you can enjoy a beautiful sunset at any beach.

In terms of gourmet food, it is well known for its seafood from the Sea of ​​Japan, food from the inland mountains, rice and local sake made from rice, but be sure to try the B-class gourmet food introduced here.