Koijigahama

Koijigahama Beach stretches for about one kilometer along the Pacific Ocean from the Cape Irago Lighthouse to Hiino Sekimon. This beach takes its name from the legend of a tragic love story that tells of a noble woman and man who escaped here from the city after falling in love against their families’ wishes. This spot is also famous as the setting for Toson Shimazaki’s lyric poem Yashi-no-mi, where he describes it as “a single coconut from a nameless, far-off island.” To recreate the sentiment of this poem, every year there is an event where coconuts are cast off from far-off Ishigaki Island in Okinawa with a wish that they reach Cape Irago.

Koijigahama Beach is a beautiful white, sandy beach, selected as one of the 100 Best Beaches in Japan and one of the 100 Best Views of White Sand and Green Pines in Japan. There is a boardwalk in the area which makes for a perfect stroll while listening to the sound of the waves. At sunset on clear days you can see the illuminated lighthouse and sky burning red against an ocean backdrop, setting a truly romantic mood. This is also a popular date spot which was designated a “Lover’s Sanctuary” (a location particularly appealing to couples) along with the Cape Irago Lighthouse in 2006. Many people visit this power spot symbolizing love with its Happiness Bell where people pledge undying love, the Fortune Lock, and the Birthplace of Four-leaf Clover Happiness.