Kumamoto prefecture has a large coastline as well as several islands. This means one thing: beaches! Although Kumamoto is most famous for its volcanoes, river rapids, and hot springs, it has a number of great beaches that are ideal for a day out.
Mogushi Beach
Arguably the best beach in Kyushu is Mogushi Beach for its exceptionally-clear waters and white sands. It’s a popular snorkeling spot for all the colorful fish and sometimes even turtles — during May and June, turtles come to this beach to lay their eggs. Mogushi Beach is never especially crowded, even during the peak season that runs from July to August. It’s during these months that showers are available for use after your swim.
Location: Ushibukamachi, Amakusa (map link)
Yunoko Beach
Yunoko Beach has calm, shallow waters and a playground nearby, making it the perfect place for a day trip with the family. In fact, you should consider staying for a whole weekend to take advantage of the nearby onsen.
Location: Yunoko, Osako, Minamata (map link)
Ashikita Seaside General Park
If you want more than just a beach, a good option is Ashhikita Seaside General Park. This is a playground on the seafront with all sorts of activities, including zorbing (rolling downhill in a large, transparent ball), roller luge (downhill go-karting), and kayaking. All the activities are available to adults and children alike.
Location: 1400 Tsurugiyama, Ashikita (map link)
Nishime Beach
A relatively-unknown spot is Nishime Beach, also called Calm Beach for its gentle waves. The white sands span 300 meters alongside the beautiful blue water. This is the ideal place to go if you want to feel close to nature — you’ll encounter few people, there’s rarely any trash on the beach, and you’ll be within view of the Mount Sengan hiking trail. Another advantage is that parking is free, although you will need to pay if you want to use the changing rooms, showers, or barbecue area.
Location: Matsushimamachi Aitsu, Kamiamakusa (map link)
Hiai Beach
Perfect for swimming, Hiai Beach (also called Pearl Sun Beach) is another 300-meter stretch of white sands. After you take a dip, you can take advantage of the showers and changing rooms. When the weather is too cold for swimming, Hiai Beach is a great place to take a stroll or have a picnic — you’ll have views of Mount Unzen directly across the water. The beach is most attractive at high tide, when you’ll see fish darting around the rocks. At low tide, though, it’s possible to walk out to Takamoku Island.
Location: Matsushimamachi Aitsu, Kamiamakusa (map link)
Shirogahama Beach
Unlike the others on this list, Shirogahama Beach is artificial, created by adding a strip of white sand along the coast. Receiving 100,000 visitors each year, it’s the busiest beach in Amakusa — although there only tend to be crowds on the weekends. It’s especially picturesque during the sunset.
Location: Ariakemachi Kotsuura, Amakusa (map link)
As the weather starts heating up, there’s nothing more pleasurable than a day at the beach. Plan a trip to one of the above spots when you need a dip to cool off.
Hashi photo, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
