Quiet Beaches in Shizuoka

You've probably heard about how overpopulated Japan is, and, as an oxymoron in a way, you've hear how Japanese are not having enough babies to support the ageing.

Ok, they're both true. The same as everywhere, the big cities are truly overcrowded. Even smaller cities, like Susono, feel overcrowded to me, a native city-dweller. So the casual visitor to Japan just assumes that privacy cannot be had, and, oh, woe, to the introvert (i.e. me). Yet, with patience, and the desire to simply look beyond the surface, one can gain so much more out of Japan.

This weekend we went to Shizunamai beach, a fairly populous beach in Shizuoka prefecture, situated somewhere between Hamamatsu and Shizuoka interchange on the Tomei Expressway. Shizunami is a very populated beach, full of families, as well as young 'merchandise' who are there to see and be seen (men and women both of course!). Though not as posh as the Izu beaches, it's still a pretty cool beach to be at. Oh yeah, and there are a few Love Hotels around the area (look for hotels that have bright neon signs and advertise prices for 'rest' or 'stay'). Love Hotels are a great option, especially if you don't have a reservation, and you're checking in pretty late (after 10 pm). They have big rooms, cheap prices...anyway, more about that in a later post...

Now, we enjoyed Shizunami's "cultivated" beach, but then we moved on. Early in the morning on day 2, we decided to 'rough it' - sit on the beach without the benefit of a changing room, toilet, or vending machines. We also ended up enjoying a beach without the (dubious) benefit of beach houses and a million people surrounding us. Ok, not a million really, but pretty close.

Anyway - we went to a whole new beach today. One that isn't on the map. So I'm putting it on the map for you. From Tokyo, toward Nagoya, drive past Shizunami. maybe 4 or 5 kilometers. There is not an obvious turnoff to the beach at all. All the roads that lead to the beach look like tiny little drive-ways. There're not. But your best best, after passing Shizunami, is to turn into the parking lot of the Daily Yamazaki convenience store, and go through the other side. Turn right, and park in the weeds near the cement thing that leads to the beach. Or, if you have a 4WD, drive up and over the cement ramp right onto the beach.

Oh, an Yes, you need a car. If you are in Japan any longer than one year and not living in Tokyo, please, invest the time and money and get a car. You will be a much happier person.

Here is a map to the beach - you can click on the map and drag it around, as well as zoom in and out:


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