Inamuragasaki Beach

There is a secret black-sand beach close to Tokyo, where you can escape the crowds of the city — Inamuragasaki Beach.

Have you ever been to Kamakura? The area has stunning shrines and beaches great for surfing, but as a popular tourist spot outside Tokyo, it is always pretty crowded. Most tourists, though, don’t know that a tiny train can get you to the relaxing and spacious beachside in an instance. The train line Enoshima Dentetsu (which heads to the island of Enoshima) is a beautiful way to see the seaside of Kamakura.

Explore the rural parts of Kamakura by this train line, as it is the most beautiful train route you can experience so close to Tokyo.

The landscapes you will pass are the breathtaking cliffs and coasts here in Kanagawa Prefecture. If you have the time, it’s worth it — and recommended — to get off at each station and enjoy the countryside of Japan and the beaches there. (Those beaches are separated by the rough cliffs along the coast.)

The most impressive beach is Inamuragasaki with its dark-grey to blackish sand and towering cliffs. The sand gets its dark color from iron in the sand — a picturesque scene in this costal area in Kanagawa.

Keep an eye out, because if the weather is nice enough you can also see Mount Fuji from this point. Though it is not the biggest beach, but it is really clean and spacious. Swimming is possible, but you should be careful of the strong waves there. The beach is more-so recommended for enjoying the landscape.

The best secret time to visit is during May at dawn. The weather is perfectly mild and the beach season hasn’t started yet. After visiting the beach, you can get clean and relax by treating yourself at Inamuragasaki Hot Spring, which is just a few minutes’ walk away.