Umi no hi 海の日, day of the sea. One of the many holidays that Japanese citizen (and foreigners working in Japan) enjoy. Following the advice of what the name stands for, I went to the sea and it was really refreshing. These days, temperatures in Tokyo are up to 38 degree and the humidity is about 80-90%. If I am not somewhere in a building with air condition, I feel like I am trapped in a huge sauna.
Anyways, on Umi-no-hi, we went to 鵠沼海岸 Kugenumakaigan, one of the more famous beaches in Japan. Conversely, although the country itself is a huge island and therefore offers enough access to the sea in every direction, Japan doesn't have much places to go swimming. Or put another way, there are barely incentives to create nice looking beaches. This might have to do with the Japanese phobia of getting brown skin by exposing themselves too much to the sun.
Having said this, one of the areas where there are some decent beaches is in Kanagawa prefecture 神奈川県, West of Tokyo. Although not comparable to beaches in Florida or Hawaii, this is probably the closest one can get when staying in proximity to Tokyo. Kugenuma Kaigan is reachable via Odakyu Line 小田急線 from Shinjuku Station 新宿駅. From there, take a rapid bound for Odawara 小田原 and change into another rapid bound for Katase-Enoshima 片瀬江ノ島 in either Sagami-Ono 相模大野 or Machida 町田. Kugenuma Kaigan is the second last station on the train bound for Katase-Enoshima 片瀬江ノ島.
View from the station. Enoshima 江の島, Kanagawa's beautiful island can be seen from the station's bridge.
In front of Kugenuma Kaigan Station 鵠沼海岸駅. Those Odakyu shops are everywhere. They are basically a mix between a convenience store and a kiosk.
Going further along the way to the beach. Many small shops selling clothes and beach accessories.
Kugui 鵠 is the old writing for Hakushou 白鳥, or swan. Numa 沼 is the Japanese word for swamp. Hence, the name of the place means swan swamp shore 鵠沼海岸.
The pathway is usually crowded, with convenience stores everywhere.
A very interesting picture showing a very old police car from Japan.
Arrived at Kugenuma Kaigan 鵠沼海岸.
Some palms give the tropical feeling.
And a huge place for the kids to play.
Kugenuma Kaigan 鵠沼海岸 with Enoshima 江の島 in the background.
Looking at the other side.
Besides bathing, Beach Volleyball seems to be very famous.
People walking along the beach promenade.
The statue to the right is depicting a naked man holding a bird in his hand. Mmh strange.
When walking along the promenade in the direction of Enoshima, one arrives at Katase-Kaigen 片瀬海岸. Here is the party place of all the beaches around. Booths are found en masse and the dance halls open around noon for the public.
People dancing and performing at the beach.
This famous house can be found near the bridge leading to Enoshima 江の島. It says one can sing Karaoke カラオケ there.
Enoshima Station (Enoden Line). 江の電線江ノ島駅.
Not to be confused with Odakyu Line 小田急線, this is the local train going from somewhere near Fujiwara 藤原 to Enoshima 江ノ島.
Short before the sunset near a canal near Enoshima 江ノ島.
Anyways, on Umi-no-hi, we went to 鵠沼海岸 Kugenumakaigan, one of the more famous beaches in Japan. Conversely, although the country itself is a huge island and therefore offers enough access to the sea in every direction, Japan doesn't have much places to go swimming. Or put another way, there are barely incentives to create nice looking beaches. This might have to do with the Japanese phobia of getting brown skin by exposing themselves too much to the sun.
Having said this, one of the areas where there are some decent beaches is in Kanagawa prefecture 神奈川県, West of Tokyo. Although not comparable to beaches in Florida or Hawaii, this is probably the closest one can get when staying in proximity to Tokyo. Kugenuma Kaigan is reachable via Odakyu Line 小田急線 from Shinjuku Station 新宿駅. From there, take a rapid bound for Odawara 小田原 and change into another rapid bound for Katase-Enoshima 片瀬江ノ島 in either Sagami-Ono 相模大野 or Machida 町田. Kugenuma Kaigan is the second last station on the train bound for Katase-Enoshima 片瀬江ノ島.
View from the station. Enoshima 江の島, Kanagawa's beautiful island can be seen from the station's bridge.
In front of Kugenuma Kaigan Station 鵠沼海岸駅. Those Odakyu shops are everywhere. They are basically a mix between a convenience store and a kiosk.
Going further along the way to the beach. Many small shops selling clothes and beach accessories.
Kugui 鵠 is the old writing for Hakushou 白鳥, or swan. Numa 沼 is the Japanese word for swamp. Hence, the name of the place means swan swamp shore 鵠沼海岸.
The pathway is usually crowded, with convenience stores everywhere.
A very interesting picture showing a very old police car from Japan.
Arrived at Kugenuma Kaigan 鵠沼海岸.
Some palms give the tropical feeling.
And a huge place for the kids to play.
Kugenuma Kaigan 鵠沼海岸 with Enoshima 江の島 in the background.
Looking at the other side.
Besides bathing, Beach Volleyball seems to be very famous.
People walking along the beach promenade.
The statue to the right is depicting a naked man holding a bird in his hand. Mmh strange.
When walking along the promenade in the direction of Enoshima, one arrives at Katase-Kaigen 片瀬海岸. Here is the party place of all the beaches around. Booths are found en masse and the dance halls open around noon for the public.
People dancing and performing at the beach.
This famous house can be found near the bridge leading to Enoshima 江の島. It says one can sing Karaoke カラオケ there.
Enoshima Station (Enoden Line). 江の電線江ノ島駅.
Not to be confused with Odakyu Line 小田急線, this is the local train going from somewhere near Fujiwara 藤原 to Enoshima 江ノ島.
Short before the sunset near a canal near Enoshima 江ノ島.
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