[Yamagata Prefecture] 5 recommended beaches in Yamagata Prefecture! Although the coastline is the shortest in Tohoku, there are many unique beaches!

All of the beaches in Yamagata Prefecture are located in Yusa Town, Sakata City, and Tsuruoka City in the Shonai region on the Sea of ​​Japan side.

This area is surrounded by the Dewa Mountains to the east, the Asahi Mountains to the south, and Mt. Chokai to the north, and rivers flowing from each make it a fertile plain, and it is also famous as one of Japan's leading rice producing regions.

Eleven beaches will be open in the summer of 2023, and we will introduce five recommended beaches from among them.

Kamaiso Beach (Kamaiso: Yuza Town)

Yuza town, located near the Akita prefectural border and at the foot of Mt. Chokai, has many artesian wells in the center of the town in front of the station, where underground water from Mt. Chokai gushes out.。

There is also a point on the Kamaiso coast where underground water gushes out, and the fresh water, which is much colder than seawater, gushes out constantly, making it a rare beach in Japan, where you can cool watermelons and other drinks.

It is a small, little-known beach where the entire beach is surrounded by rocks, but there are few waves, you can play on the shore, and it is a family-friendly beach with restrooms, showers, and lifeguards.

Kamaiso Beach <Information>

• Beach name: Kamaiso Beach
• Location: Fukiura Nishitate, Yusa Town, Akumi District, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0234-72-5666 (Yusachokai Tourism Association)
• Swimming time: 8:30-17:00
• Swimming period: July 14th (Friday) to August 15th (Tuesday), 2023
• Parking lot: 40 spaces (free)
• URL: Yusa Chokai Tourism Association Official Website

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Sixteen Arhat Rocks carved into the rock

In addition to the 16 Arhats, there are a total of 22 statues carved in the rocky area of ​​Yuza Town, including the Bodhisattvas Shakyamuni, Manjusri, Fugen, Kannon, Shaributsu, and Mulen. It is the largest cultural heritage site among the reefs.

There is an observation deck along the national highway where you can see the entire rock, and the ``16 Arhat Festival'' is held every year in late July to pray for maritime safety.

Sunset Juroku Rakan, a rest house located in the Kodaino parking lot across the national highway, is popular for its ramen with noodles made with spring water from Mt. Chokai and soup stock made with flying fish.

16 Rakan Rocks＜Information＞

• Historic site name: 16 Rakan Rocks
• Location: Fukiura Nishitate, Yusa Town, Akumi District, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0234-77-3330 (Sunset 16 Arhats)
• Business hours: 9:00-17:30
• Regular holidays: Irregular holidays
• Parking: Free
• URL: Yusa Chokai Tourism Association Official Website

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Tobishima Beach (Tobishima: Sakata City)

Tobishima, floating off the coast of the Sea of ​​Japan in Yamagata Prefecture, is a small island with a circumference of about 10 km, but it is inhabited with a population of 210 people, and the liner ``Tobishima'' connects the island's Katsuura Port and Sakata Port in 75 minutes. Masu.

Tobishima Beach is known for its high transparency and is a popular beach where you can swim with small fish up close, so it's a good idea to bring underwater glasses and a snorkel.

There are many rocky areas, so you can enjoy playing on the shore, but you will need marine shoes to prevent foot injuries.

There are marine shoes for rent on the island, but there is only one pair of each of five sizes, so we recommend purchasing stylish marine shoes and bringing them with you. The beach also has toilets, showers, and changing rooms, so you can play comfortably all day long.

Tobishima Beach <Information>

• Beach name: Tobishima Beach
• Location: Tobishima Otsu, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0234-26-5759 (Sakata City Exchange and Tourism Division)
• Swimming time: 9:00-17:00
• Swimming period: July 13th (Thursday) to August 16th (Wednesday), 2023
• Parking: None (Use the parking lot in front of Sakata Seafood Market)
• URL: Journey to Yamagata – Tobishima Beach

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Sakata City Tobishima Sea Fishing Park where you can peek under the sea

There is a pier that juts out into the sea on the south shore of Katsuura Port, and you can enjoy fishing for free from the top.

At the tip of the pier is Japan's first floating underwater observatory, Tobishima Underwater Experience Maru.In addition to fishing from the upper deck, you can also observe the seabed and schools of fish swimming from the porthole on the lower deck. can.

The entire island of Tobishima is known as a good fishing spot, but the sea fishing park is recommended as it has good footing and equipment rentals, so both beginners and children can safely enjoy fishing.

Tobishima Sea Fishing Park＜Information＞

• Facility name: Tobishima Sea Fishing Park
• Location: 173 Katsuura Otsu, Tobishima Katsuura, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0234-22-3910 (Tourism Strategy Section, Exchange and Tourism Division, Regional Revitalization Department, Sakata City)
• Business hours 1: 9:00-17:00 (4th Saturday of April to July 19th, August 21st to 3rd Sunday of October) 
• Business hours 2: 8:00-18:00 (July 20th - August 20th)
• Closed: Wednesdays (excluding holidays and July 20th to August 20th)
• URL: Sakata City official website

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Miyaumi Beach (Miyaumi: Sakata City)

This is a beautiful sandy beach located north of the Sakata Joint Thermal Power Station, where you can enjoy a two-shot shot of wind turbines and Mt. Chokai.

There is a parking fee as a donation, but it is well-equipped with toilets, showers, changing rooms, and a first-aid room, and there is also a beach hut during the season, making it popular as it is close to Sakata City.

The seawall of Sakata North Port, which is adjacent to the beach, is famous within Yamagata Prefecture as a good fishing spot, and many anglers come here to enjoy casting fishing from the beach outside of the opening season.

Miyaumi Beach＜Information＞

• Beach name: Miyaumi Beach
• Location: Miyaumi, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0234-26-5759 (Sakata City Exchange and Tourism Division)
• Swimming time: 9:00-17:00
• Swimming period: July 22, 2023 (Sat) - August 20, 2023 (Sun)
• Parking: Available (charged)
• URL: Sakata City official website

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Gillnet fishing experience and food festival

“Gill net fishing experience” and “Miyaumi Food Festival” will be held as events during the 2023 sea opening period.

The gillnet fishing experience will be held twice on July 23rd (Sunday) and 30th (Sunday) for one hour from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. You can enjoy fishing experience.

Since the beach is a good fishing spot, you can see many different types of fish.

In addition, the food festival will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 30th, with many food trucks and food stalls set up at the beach, offering a variety of dishes such as grilled seafood, steak, curry, and pasta. You can taste it.

Miyaumi Food Festival/Gillnet fishing experience <Information>

• Event name: 2023 Miyaumi Beach | Miyaumi Food Festival/Gillnet fishing experience!
• Venue: Miyaumi Beach, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Sponsored by: Miyaumi region revitalization planning proposal organization
• Location: 53 Miyaumi Sabi, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: Not listed

Yunohama Beach (Yunohama: Tsuruoka City)

Yunohama Beach is one of the largest beaches in the prefecture, and is a long beach in front of Yunohama Onsen, which has a retro Showa atmosphere.It is popular with families and couples as it is a hot spring inn where you can enjoy swimming.

Even if you don't stay at a ryokan, there are two day trip hot spring baths in the hot spring town. You can also enjoy marine sports (surfing, sea kayaking, etc.), making this beach popular among young people.

Yunohama Beach <Information>

• Beach name: Yunohama Beach
• Location: Yunohama, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture (Yunohama Onsen Tourism Association)
• Phone number: 0235-75-2258
• Swimming time: 9:00-17:00
• Swimming period: July 14th (Friday) to August 20th (Sunday), 2023
• Parking: Available (charges apply)
• URL: Yunohama Onsen Tourism Association Official Website

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Tsuruoka City Kamo Aquarium transformed into “Jellyfish Dream Hall”

Located about 5km south of Yunohama Onsen, there is a large jellyfish tank that is said to be one of the largest in the world.

More than 50 types of jellyfish are on display, and the group dance of jellyfish illuminated by blue lights will give you a mysterious impression that you won't find at other aquariums.

You can enjoy a sea lion show in the courtyard outside the building, and there is also a feeding area for black-tailed gulls.

In addition, there is Kamo Rain Beach, a man-made sandy beach and rocky shore nearby, where you can enjoy swimming.

Jellyfish Dream Hall <Information>

• Facility name: Jellyfish Dream Hall (Tsuruoka City Kamo Aquarium)
• Location: 657-1 Imaizumi Okubo, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0235-33-3036
• Business hours: 9:00-17:00
• Regular holidays: Open all year round
• URL: Tsuruoka City Kamo Aquarium Official Website

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Yura Beach (Yura: Tsuruoka City)

This beach is so scenic that it has been selected as one of Japan's ``100 Best Beaches'' and ``100 Best Beaches in Japan,'' and is famous for its clean sand and highly transparent seawater.

Also, the sunset over the Sea of ​​Japan here is said to be especially spectacular, and there are toilets, hot showers, changing rooms, and even running water for camping, so you can enjoy BBQ and camping while basking in the sunset.

Yura Beach <Information>

• Beach name: Yura Beach
• Location: 2-21-1 Yura, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0235-73-2250
• Swimming time: 8:30-17:00
• Swimming period: July 15th (Saturday) to August 16th (Tuesday), 2023
• Parking lot: 300 spaces (paid)
• URL: Tsuruoka sightseeing navigation

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Hakusan Island, the symbol of Yura Coast

This island, also known as the ``Enoshima of Tohoku'', is connected to the Yura Coast by a red bridge, and you can walk around the island in about an hour, and from Hakusan Shrine located on top of the stone steps, you can see Tobishima offshore.

Yura Kaiyo Fishing Pond and a cafe ``Umi Terrace Yura Iso no Kaze'' on the island , and the fishing pond is popular because women and children can easily experience sea fishing.

Yura Beach <Information>

• Facility name: Hakusan Island (Yura Marine Fishing Pond, Sea Terrace Yura Iso no Kaze)
• Location: Yura, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0235-73-2250 (Yura Onsen Tourism Association)
• Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (Yura Ocean Fishing Pond), 10:00-16:30 (Umi Terrace Yura Iso no Kaze)
• Business period: Open only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from April 22, 2023 (Saturday) to October 15, 2023 (Sunday)
• Parking lot: 150 spaces
• URL: Tsuruoka City official website

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summary

This year's sea opening in Yamagata Prefecture is scheduled for either the third Saturday and Sunday of July or the following Saturday and Sunday.

The coastline of each beach stretches from north to south, and during the day you can play to your heart's content under the view of Mt. Chokai, and in the evening, you can rest your tired body while watching the sunset over the Sea of ​​Japan.

Although the coastline is short, the beaches in Yamagata Prefecture are rich in individuality, such as beaches with rocky areas where small children can play without waves, and beaches with waves big enough for surfing that are suitable for young people who enjoy marine sports.