Japan on the beach side: Hayama 葉山町

Tokyo bay beaches

Today, the village has retained all its charm thanks to its wooded hills, its pretty beaches bordered by umbrella pines, its limpid waters and its splendid coastal landscape . The Emperor's villa still serves as a vacation home for the imperial family , adding to the aura of this small coastal town, nestled between mountains and sea. For beach lovers, Hayama is certainly one of the best places to visit. get quickly from Tokyo . The buses coming from Zushi (n ° 11 and 12) run along the coast and you will find several beaches ( kaigan in Japanese) along the road or sometimes a little behind.

• Morito Kaigan

It is a long beach of golden sand and in summer it is the most lively of the beaches in Hayama. Gargotes (called umi no ie "houses by the sea") and bars welcome summer visitors while lifeguards watch over swimmers. At the end of the beach, on the left, the Morito jinja Shinto shrine overlooks the sea. On the other side, there is a small cove from which, on a clear day, you have a superb view of the island of 'Enoshima, the Hakone Mountains and Mount Fuji. The small red torii lost in the distance among the rocks completes this enchanting landscape , especially at sunset.

See also: Enoshima

• Isshiki Kaigan

Overlooked by rocks and green spaces, two circular arcs extending over a kilometer in length make up Isshiki Beach , located right next to the Imperial Villa. In 2014, Isshiki Kaigan was ranked 65th on CNN's list of the 100 most beautiful beaches in the world.

You can go canoeing, windsurfing, but also quite simply swim there. At the end of the beach, a large rock forms a small, easily accessible island where it is good to dry off in the sun or admire the many fish swimming around. Don't forget your masks and snorkels! In summer, a few restaurants offer simple meals, lockers and pay showers. On weekends, the Blue Moon hosts concerts .

To read: Where to dive in Japan?

The beach is overlooked by a park where you can also picnic (watch out for kites who can run straight for your food!). Here too, in good weather, the sunsets are fantastic.

• Tateishi

This beach is part of the municipality of Yokosuka and not that of Hayama, but it is located only a little further south of Isshiki Kaigan, along the splendid coast road. It is served by a bus from Zushi Station.

Tateishi Park overlooks two lovely little coves (alas, not always clean!) And offers magnificent views of the coast and Mount Fuji . The scene was immortalized in the 19th century by the famous painter Hiroshige. Just after the car park, below, another long sandy beach hosts small restaurants in summer. You can swim and bodyboard there while the coves are perfect for snorkeling (but beware of jellyfish from mid-August).

At the risk of repeating ourselves, the sunsets from Tateishi Park or from the small hill on the beach overlooking the two coves are breathtaking!

To discover: 5 views of Mount Fuji