Shikoku’s Best Beaches

Justin Dobbs

2025-2026 MIKAN BLOG Editor

Justin is a second year JET based on the edge of Ehime in Shikokuchuo. Coming from a writing/communications background in suburban Georgia, he is excited to write about the JET experience in a place with such amazing natural beauty. “It hasn’t been very long since coming here, but the kindness of the people and seemingly endless places to discover in Shikoku make it the perfect canvas for storytelling.” Justin enjoys hiking, cycling, coffee, and getting lost exploring the island.

“Actually my job, it’s just beach.” – Ken

Back in 2023 Greta Gerwig’s Barbie was released in theatres causing the world to once again fall in love with everyone’s favorite plastic princess. Fueled by the “barbenheimer” effect this movie and its wild cast of characters entered the cultural zeitgeist unlike anything before it. While Barbie herself was undoubtedly the star, Ken, Ken, and well, Ken, stepped into the spotlight with their deep passion for all things beach. So, if Ken were to find himself in Shikoku instead of Los Angeles, where exactly would he go?

At first glance, Shikoku doesn’t seem like the hottest beachside destination. As an island known more for its more rugged, untouched nature, many of the beaches feature long stretches of hidden sandbars with sweeping ocean vistas and few buildings to break the skyline. While that is perfectly on brand for Shikoku’s “hidden gem” identity, it doesn’t quite have the same world-renowned appeal as say, Bondi Beach in Sydney, or Laguna Beach in California. Still, to say there are no good seaside spots to enjoy would be a huge understatement. In fact, there are at least four famous beaches across Shikoku that even Ken would roll out the towel for. These, in addition to the dozens of other local favorites scattered across the island make it an unexpected underdog for beach culture. You just have to know where to look.

Futami Seaside Park

Undoubtedly, the first place Ken would look would be our very own Mikan-“ken”. With plenty of islands and a huge coastline, Ehime has more beautiful beaches than there are Barbie movies…well almost. While most of these are fairly local in scale there are two that make considerable waves. The first is Futami Seaside Park. Just 50 minutes from Matsuyama Station, this is the closest the prefecture comes to a Santa Cruz-style boardwalk. True, it’s nowhere near the scale of that American icon, but that’s ok. It’s just as full of that cheesy beachside character as the best of them.

Featuring a menagerie of trendy restaurants, ice cold refreshments, and the obligatory Ehime/Setouchi gift shop, Futami Seaside Park is exactly what you think a beach should be. Chicken, beer, sand? Check. Moai statues, a bell archway, and a lover’s cape for cute pictures? Check. A long boardwalk and lounging area for sunbathing and swimming? Check. It has all the essentials and more for a fun day out. More than that though, it’s just beautiful – especially at sunset. Listed as one of the top 100 sunset viewing spots in Japan, seeing the sky burst into array of burning colors from the Lover’s Promenade at the center of the beach is an unforgettable experience that more than earns it a place on this list.

Hakata Beach

Futami is unapologetically “beach” in the best way, but it’s far from the only one. Out in the Shimanami Kaido on Hakata Island lies another ocean-side spot that’s equally worth a visit – so long as you’re willing to bike a few hours to get there. A major rest stop on the world’s most scenic bike route, Hakata Beach is arguably the most internationally recognized piece of coastline the Shikoku Prefectures have to offer. Hundreds of thousands of people from across the world roll up to its shore each year on their journey across the Seto Inland Sea. Why? Well, have you tried the ice cream?

Hakata Beach is about much more than sand castles or beach balls – it’s a reward. A refreshing soft-serve oasis, it sets itself apart by simply being in the right place at the right time. Picture this. It has been an entire day of challenging hills, and amazing descents across world famous island scenery. Sweat is dripping. Legs are aching. There are still about 20 kilometers to go until the finish line in Imabari. That’s when, like an angel descending from the heavens, a beautiful stretch of white sand comes into view with cold soft cream and the perfect bridge-side view for relief. Not only is the water sparkling but the intricate redbrick walkway makes the welcoming environment even warmer. That heavenly feeling and perfect sense of timing is exactly what makes this place so special. Hakata Beach may not have lifeguard towers or beach bonfires, but after a grueling ride it’s sun-side salvation. And sometimes, that’s more than “kenough”.

Katsurahama Beach

Outside of Ehime, another place brimming with “beach” is Kochi Prefecture. Famous for surfing, fresh fish, and miles of wild coastline, it’s an obvious place to look for a good time in the sand. Take Oki, Sakura Hama, and Kashiwajima beaches for example. These are all trip-worthy destinations featuring Shikoku’s signature untouched beauty. However, those aren’t the ones Ken would come to see. The real gem of the prefecture is just a 30-minute drive from Kochi Station on one of the most dramatic stretches of coast the island has to offer.

Katsurahama Beach is a spectacle. More than just a splashing good time, it’s the sheer power that makes it so noteworthy. For one, swimming isn’t allowed due to strong currents, big waves, and even bigger rocky outcroppings. Rather, it’s best enjoyed by strolling down the long black sand pathway while feeling the cool ocean spray, and hearing the roaring waters crash against the cliffside. And that’s just the start. To get the full experience you’ll have to take the stairway up along the narrow ridgeline which leads to the Watatsumi Shrine – Katsurahama’s crown jewel. Featuring a beautifully intricate design and bright ruby red color, it creates a striking contrast with the perilous deep blue waves far below. It’s the perfect place to stop and appreciate the untamed nature of Kochi’s most famous beach.

Still, it’s not exactly beach volleyball and lounge chairs, is it? With such a powerful, nature-focused atmosphere someone like Ken might not be interested…that is if it weren’t for a certain celebrity appearance. As it turns out, the prefecture’s very own national hero Sakamoto Ryoma also calls Katsurahama home. Known as one of Japan’s most historically influential samurai for his role in helping to end the Tokugawa Shogunate and modernizing the country, you’ll have likely seen Ryoma’s face all across Shikoku. However, here he has been forever memorialized with a giant statue looking over the beach. It is said he often walked these very shores while thinking of how to improve Japan. For anyone who wants to learn more, make sure to visit the Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum located just atop the hill. It’s incredibly informative and offers a bird’s-eye-view of arguably the most culturally significant beach on the island.

Chichibugahama Beach

So far, all of these amazing beaches have offered something a little different. From relaxation, beautiful views, culture, and just an overall good time, it’s hard to go wrong with any of them. The question still remains; which one has the most “kenergy”? That honor (in this writer’s opinion) would go to Chichibugahama beach (父母ケ浜) in Kagawa Prefecture. Meaning “father and mother beach” Chichibugahama has been living up to its large name by growing this area into one of Shikoku’s most iconic beach destinations.

Not long ago it was a trash-filled, no-name stretch of sand that very few people knew about. However, in recent years it has undergone an amazing transformation. Cleaned up, scrubbed down, and brimming with new life, it is a true rags to riches story in the making. But why this beach in particular? Well, that’s all due to the tide.

When the water recedes, it does so incredibly far, leaving a sun-swept sandscape filled with tidepools, crabs, and seashells. It turns an already beautiful beach into something of a watery nature walk where the panoramic ocean views blend with the clear sky to create one continuous flow of color. In fact, it’s this view in particular that has made Chichibugamaha so nationally famous. On a calm day, the hundreds of tidepools act as mirrors reflecting not only the sky, but also anyone who walks by. Nearly everyone who visits takes their turn posing in front of the pools for the perfect mirrored pic. Best experienced at sunset, it’s hard to match the sheer dramatic flare this beach has to offer. Just be careful not to step on a crab.

In terms of raw beachside beauty Chichibugahama more than meets Ken’s high standards. However, it wouldn’t be complete without a Mojo Dojo Casa House (Ken’s over-the-top dream house). Thankfully, aside from just “beach” there are plenty of restaurants and other rest areas to sit back and enjoy the salty air. Taking a more western approach, it often feels more like California than it does Japan. Featuring a burger place that plays Blink 182 and My Chemical Romance, a donut shop with a giant pink donut sign straight out of the Simpsons, and even a flamingo-filled taco restaurant, it’s a crazy blend of 2000s American culture. Simply put, it’s an extremely unique beach experience – particularly for Shikoku. It may not have huge waves or horses, but in every other respect this piece of coast has more “kenergy” than anywhere else on the island.

Admittedly, Ken might not be the best judge for a beach’s quality. A highly flawed character obsessed with the patriarchy and surfing, there’s a reason he was the antagonist of Gerwig’s hit film. At the same time, however, his ridiculous antics were part of the reason the film was so beloved in the first place. Like Shikoku’s coastlines, it’s the flaws, quirks, and irresistible weirdness that make Ken and this island unforgettable. Both may be taking second place to much bigger names, but that’s ok. We’re just Shikoku. He’s just Ken. And anywhere else we’d be a ten.

Hey everyone! Thanks for checking out this month’s travel article. It has been really fun getting to share some of Shikoku’s best beach destinations with you all. If there is a story, experience, or idea you’d like to share please reach out to us at themikanblog@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you!

Best, Justin