Things I didn't try early on: Exploring Japan's beautiful beaches

I come from a country that has some incredible coastlines, and incredible beaches to go with it. When I moved here, I didn't really think of Japan as a beachy destination, and it was probably almost 2 years into my Japan journey that I really started to appreciate the beaches here.

One of my first beach experiences was at Shirahama Beach in Shizuoka, which is an absolutely gorgeous spot and can be done as a day trip from Tokyo if you have your own car...although I would recommend a longer stay if you can manage it!

I'm also a huge fan of Okinawa, and although it's not somewhere I can just visit whenever I'd like, it's well worth it for views like the one below (Okuma Beach).

If you're new to Japan and wondering how you'll spend the summer months here when they roll around, I highly recommend scoping out what beaches are close to you, or even ones further afield that might take your fancy. There are some incredibly picturesque spots to enjoy!