Out of season beach trip

The official beach season in Japan is generally about the six weeks that coincide with the summer school holidays. Beaches 'open' from around mid July to the end of August. Outside of that season often facilities are closed and there is no lifeguards on duty. However, you are still able to visit most beaches. Moreover, because most Japanese follow the rules, the beaches are much emptier out of season. Generally, you'll see mainly surfers and water sports enthusiasts, if you visit the beach outside the official season.

Japan had its hottest summer on record in 2023. And judging by the temperatures so far in September, I speculate that it is also the hottest September on record too. Frankly, it seems crazy to me that the beaches are 'closed' when the weather is still so hot. But the advantage of them being closed is that they are not busy at all. On our most recent beach visit, apart from the dozens of surfers, there were only two other families there to play. You can really appreciate the beauty of the beaches when they are not full of dome tents and swarmed with half naked people! 

Generally, mid September is a lovely time for the beach in the Kanto region. However, this past weekend, the first weekend of Silver Week, the daytime temperatures were about 36 degrees.The cool ocean temperatures offered a refreshing respite until early afternoon, when it got too hot to be seaside, even with a sea breeze and temperate water. Thankfully, in Kashima we had options of fun things to do indoors near the beaches we visited. 

There are a few of things you need to be careful of when visiting a beach out of the official season:

1. There are no lifeguards so you need to be extra vigilant with children.
2. Some beaches actually lock up their facilities. I've even been to one in Chiba that even locked their toilets and turned off their shower heads!
3. Beaches that have beach huts during the summer months may not have them in September. Therefore, if you are planning to spend the day at the beach, its probably best to bring a bento with you.
4. You will have to bring your rubbish home as the bins are sometimes locked or even removed!
5. I've never personally encountered this, but I have read that sometimes they even blockade the parking lots of beaches to deter people visiting out of season.
6. There are often more surfers than during the beach season. Most of them are very careful, but you do need to keep an eye out so that you don't collide with a surfboard!

Despite all that, I personally prefer visiting beaches out of season. Mainly, because it is way too hot for me to visit them during the summer months, when not only are temperatures often above 36 degrees, but the days are so humid its like being in a sauna! But also, because the most beautiful beaches are really busy so the facilities are also busy and it is just not as relaxing as a beach visit out of season.