Australia has some of the best beaches in the world, so Aussies tend to be tough critics when it comes to visiting overseas beaches while on holiday. The beaches of Okinawa are well known to most but you may not know that Kochi Prefecture also has some spectacular and uncrowded beaches that are well worth the visit on your next trip to Japan.
Kochi Prefecture has some beautiful beaches and some are featured on Japan’s Top 100 beaches. We’d like to introduce two of those beaches and a little island we think deserves to be on the list as well.
If you are looking for a magical photo spot, Irino Beach in the town of Kuroshio should be on your list! The four kilometres of clean white sand are backed by pine forests that are carefully preserved as a prefectural natural park. While it is a lovely peaceful spot during the day (where you might spot whales playing off the coast!), its true ethereal beauty appears when the tides change in the morning and late afternoon. The tides create mirror-like sheets of water that reflect the colours of the sky and people walking on the surface, making this a great spot for photography fans to capture the rather enchanting atmosphere.
At the end of Summer, people in Kochi take every last opportunity to enjoy a day on the beach. Little Kashiwa Island, on the southern side of the prefecture, is connected to the town of Otsuki by a bridge. Thanks to the Kuroshio Current, the waters around the island are warm, and attract around 1,000 different types of fish that live in the thriving coral reef colonies off the shore. Of course, this means snorkelers and divers flock to the area to see the beautiful sea life under the waves!
Katsurahama Beach is located at the very centre of Kochi and is known for its pristine sand, coastline, pine trees, and ocean views. Due to the fast current and high tide, swimming is unfortunately prohibited at Katsurahama, but the beach attracts tourists as a ‘must see’ sightseeing spot. A short climb up the rock stairs provides a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and the perfect location for moon viewing. Katsurahama is just 30 minutes from the centre of Kochi city and our consultants at Japan Holidays will be delighted to provide you with the details of how to enjoy Kochi’s beautiful beaches on your next trip to Japan.