Living in Tokyo, we're lucky to have access to many beaches just outside the city, and there’s no better way to spend a summer weekend than basking in the sun by the sea. And in Japan, the best way to hit the beach in style is at an umi no ie (beach house). These often temporary surf-side hangouts are a highlight of the summer season, providing all the essentials you need to enjoy a day on the beach.
You can get meals and cocktails, as well as rent your own deck chairs and parasols to upgrade your experience. Some beach houses are even equipped with luxurious lounges while others offer water activities. Here are our four picks of the best beach houses near Tokyo this summer.
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Seaside Living Zushi
This relaxing beach house in Zushi has a swanky bar serving refreshing cocktails all day long. Seaside Living’s menu is created by Cafe and Dining Sakae, which prides itself on using local produce sourced from Zushi and surrounding areas.
The Cuban sandwich (from ¥1,200) with smoked chicken and cheese is the most popular item to just grab and go, but the Hawaiian dishes like loco moco (¥1,500) and spam avocado bowl (¥1,300) are commendable, too. Pair your food with an ice-cold Zushi craft beer (¥900) or a housemade lemonade (¥700) and you’ll be happy as a clam.
If you’re here with a group of friends, it’s worth booking a barbecue set (from ¥3,900; for groups of at least four people), which comes with beef, pork, chicken and shrimp, plus a grilled onigiri and plenty of Shonan veggies to cook on the grill.
When: until September 1
Where: Zushi Beach, 2-10-18 Shinjuku, Zushi, Kanagawa
Sunset Beach Park Inage
It's been 40 years since Inage Seaside Park opened to the public and Chiba prefecture has made efforts to revitalise the attraction with new features. In addition to new parks, restaurants, a glamping area and an outdoor pool that opened in summer 2022, Inage Seaside Park now also offers a spectacular seaside café that sits on the 1.2 km-long pier. Weekends and holidays are the liveliest as there are music performances to entertain the crowds.
When: Seaside Café is open year-round
Where: Inage Seaside Park, 7-2 Takahama, Mihama
Happy Go Lucky
Happy Go Lucky has been around for over a decade and it’s still one of the most popular beach houses with locals, who revel in its lavish, resort-inspired offerings. Anyone can just rock up to the bar and dining space, which offers Chinese noodles with deep fried mackerel (¥1,000), sausage platter (¥800), garlic shrimp (¥1,200) and honey mustard chicken pizza (¥1,200), just to name a few. The menu also lists around a dozen cocktails (from ¥700) and fruity margaritas (¥1,000), plus fruit juices (¥500), smoothies (¥750) and soda (¥500).
For those looking for an active beach outing, book an outdoor yoga session at 9am on Sundays (or 9.30am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) for ¥1,500. Since space is limited, reservations must be made in advance via Instagram.
When: until September 1
Where: Zushi Beach, 2 Shinjuku, Zushi, Kanagawa
Oriental Resort in Shonan
This resort-chic beach house at Koshigoe Coast boasts one of the largest food courts in the Shonan area. It offers a range of local and international dishes like grilled seafood, steak, sausages and nasi goreng (fried rice). Access to the standard lounge area costs ¥1,000 per person, and it’s equipped with cabanas, plenty of couches and even a pool in the centre.
If you’re looking to splurge, get one of the seafront glamping tents (from ¥5,000 per hour). These luxurious abodes come with lounge sofas, barbecue pits and a communal jacuzzi. Oriental Resort gets especially festive over the weekends – you'll get to enjoy Tahitian dance and Polynesian fire shows over a sumptuous barbecue.
When: until September 1
Where: Koshigoe Coast, 2-9 Koshigoe, Kamakura, Kanagawa
This article was originally published on August 16 2019 and updated on July 3 2024.
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