Is the summer heat getting you down? You’ve come to the right prefecture. Flush against the Sea of Japan, Niigata is blessed with around 634km of coast, providing not only an abundance of mouth-watering seafood, but sunny sandy beaches perfect for swimming, splashing, or simply lounging. Here are the six top-rated beaches from north to south.

Sasagawa Nagare – 笹川海水浴場

Apart from its luxurious wagyu beef , Murakami City is known for its gorgeous 11km coastal park, Sasagawa Nagare, which has been designated as a national Place of Scenic Beauty. The gem of this pastoral park is Sasagawa Nagare Beach, with its fine white sand, lush pine trees and magnificent rock, reefs and caves formations carved by the sea. They say that on a clear day, you can even spot the outline of Niigata’s Awashima Island  in the distance.

●Location: Murakami City

● How to get there:
・15 minutes on foot from JR Uetsu Main Line “Kuwagawa Station”
・41 minutes by car from Nihonkai Tohoku Expressway “Murakami Senami Onsen IC”

● Fees:
・Standard cars: 1,000 yen
・Large cars: 1,500 yen

Sekiyahama Beach 関屋浜

Ahh, the bustling capital of the prefecture. Nigata City’s proximity to the sea makes it not only a crucial port town , but also as host to some beautiful beaches, like the ever-popular and accessible Sekiyahama Beach. Behind a wall of black pines lies a wide stretch of sandy shore lined with a plethora of beach houses, giving the beach the air of a festive promenade. For those interested in more than swimming, you can head out past the wave-breakers for some kayaking or jet-skiing, or explore the nearby aquarium of Marinepia Nihonkai.

● Location: Niigata City

● How to get there:
・20 minutes from JR Niigata Station by bus bound for Shinano-machi/Seibu Eigyosho via Hamaura-cho, ride for, then get off at Matsunami-cho 3-Chome stop, 5 minutes’ walk from there
・20 minutes’ drive from Hokuriku Expressway Niigata Nishi IC

● Fees: Free parking

Teradomari Beach Area – 寺泊中央海水浴場

The city of Nagaoka may have a nationwide reputation for fireworks, but its beaches are equally impressive. Nagaoka’s Teradomari area encompasses a 16km stretch of spacious coastline where you can find a wide variety of spots to swim and catch a suntan, like Teradomari’s calm and shallow central beach only a 5-minute walk from the fragrant Fish Market Street. If water sports are more your thing, you can head to Nozumi Beach, which has recently become a Mecca for wind-surfers.

● Location: Nagaoka City

● How to get there:

Teradomari Central Beach
・10 minutes on the JR Echigo Line by bus bound for Sakaimachi/Onozumi from “Teradomari Station”, ride, then 5 minutes on foot after getting off at “Omachi”
・40 minutes by car from “Nakanoshima-mitsuke IC” on the Hokuriku Expressway

Nozumi Beach
・30 minutes by bus bound for Ohnozumi from “Teradomari Station” on the JR Echigo Line, then 5 minutes on foot after getting off at “Ohnozumi”
・30 minutes by car from “Nakanoshima-mitsuke IC” on the Hokuriku Expressway

● Fees: Free parking

Kujiranami Beach – 鯨波海水浴場

Besides being home to the sacred “Mt. Fuji of Niigata”, Kashiwazaki is truly a summer paradise with a lengthy 42 kilometers of coastline and 15 swimming beaches, including Kujiranami Beach. Rated one of the “100 Best Beaches of Japan”, Kujiranami is a lively and scenic beach, ranging from its remarkably clear blue water, to its fascinating rock formations and caves. Likewise, it attracts both children playing in shallow shores and adults who’d like to take advantage of the volcanic crags that jut out of the sea.

● Location: Kashiwazaki City

● How to get there:
・A convenient 1-minute walk from JR Shinetsu Main Line “Kujiranami Station”
・10 minutes by car from Hokuriku Expressway “Yoneyama IC”

● Fees: Free parking

Naoetsu Beach – なおえつ海水浴場

While the mountains of Joetsu are the home of Japanese skiing, there’s plenty to appreciate about its wide shores as well. A stoneless sandy beach awaits you with the added natural background of towering mountains teeming with trees. The calm shallow waters make it a popular spot for children, as well as for those living in landlocked prefectures, like the neighboring Nagano. After grilling on the beach, why not check out the nearby Joetsu Aquarium Umigatari, or, if you’re really in the mood for a getaway, take the Naoetsu Port ferry across to Sado Island.

●Location: Joetsu City

● How to get there:
・20 walk from Hokuriku Expressway “Yoneyama IC”
・15 minutes by bus from Naoetsu Station on the Echigo Tokimeki Railway Myoko Haneuma Line
・15 minutes drive from Joetsu IC, Hokuriku Expressway

● Fees: Free parking

Futatsugame – 二ツ亀海水浴場

Speaking of beaches, what better place to find one than Niigata Prefecture’s largest island? There, you’ll find a handful of highly regarded spots along Sado’s 280 km of coastline, like the aptly-titled Futatsugame Beach. Located at the northern tip of the island, Futatsugame is named after its massive grassy rock formation that resembles the shape of two large turtles facing each other. Due to Futatsugame’s emerald-like water, it has been rated one of the “100 Best Swimming Beaches in Japan” and also holds 2 stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan.

● Location: Sado Island

● How to get there:
・10 minutes walk from Futatsugame Station (Uchikaifu Line)
・Approximately 50 minutes by car from Ryotsu Port

● Fees:
・Free parking
・Hot water showers (3 minutes/200 yen)

The Sea of Japan is one of Niigata Prefecture’s most-prized assets, and definitely comes in handy during the sweltering months of June to August. Every summer, beachgoers make their way up and down the coast to their favorite spots, or to try and discover a new hidden locale. Should you find yourself in Niigata and feel the urge to beat the heat, slap on some sunscreen and head to any of these golden gems.

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Even though Joshua Furr is from North Carolina (home of bluegrass, flight and Pepsi), he prefers a life outside the U.S. Currently you’ll find him in Warsaw, Poland. He has a beautiful wife and two sons, all whom he forces to listen to Japan-based conversation and 80s music. Around lunch, he dreams about eating gyudon at Sukiya. When he’s not spending time with his family, he’s writing, teaching or tinkering with Adobe software.