Day drives from Nagoya: coast and mountain routes across Tokai
Koijigahama beach drive: a walk on the sand for two
Koijigahama is a white-sand beach near Cape Irago. Here is a calm way to spend a half day: drive out, park, and walk the shoreline together.
If you are planning a Koijigahama beach drive, this guide is for you. It covers a simple half day: driving out to the coast, parking, and walking the shoreline together.
Koijigahama sits near Cape Irago, at the tip of the Atsumi Peninsula. Below you will find the basics of the place, a gentle flow for the day, and where to check official information before you go.
What kind of place is Koijigahama?
The details here follow the Atsumi Peninsula Tourism Bureau’s page for the beach.
A white-sand beach near Cape Irago
According to the Atsumi Peninsula Tourism Bureau, Koijigahama is in Koijiura, Irago-cho, in the city of Tahara. The bureau describes it as a beautiful white-sand beach, listed among Japan’s “hundred best”.
You drive to the end of the peninsula, the land runs out, and the ocean opens up. That is where the beach begins.
Scenery you feel on foot
The same page notes that the beach faces the Pacific and runs for about a kilometre, from the Cape Irago Lighthouse to the rock arch known as Hiinoishimon.
At the water’s edge, the sound of the waves fills the pauses in conversation. Sand underfoot, salt in the air, the horizon far off. This is a beach for walking slowly and looking around.
Take photos if you like. But now and then, put the phone away and just look at the size of the sea. Standing side by side, facing the same way, is often the part you remember.
A name with a story
Koijigahama is known as the setting of “Yashi no Mi” (“The Coconut”), a lyric poem by Shimazaki Toson. Many people in Japan know it from school or from the song it became.
Together with the Cape Irago Lighthouse, the beach is also certified as a “Lovers’ Sanctuary”. The name itself translates loosely as “the beach of the lovers’ path”, so it is easy to see why couples think of it.
How to spend a Koijigahama beach drive together
Here is the day in order, from setting off to the drive home. There are no fixed times. Shape it around your own pace.
Before you set off
Share the plan with each other. Talk briefly about where you might stop for a break and how long you would like to spend on the beach. A little agreement in advance makes the day feel easier.
The coast can feel breezy. Check the forecast and bring an extra layer. Comfortable walking shoes in the boot are worth having too.
Try not to pack the day too full. Leaving plenty of time for the beach keeps the whole trip relaxed, all the way home.
Enjoy the road to the sea
The moment the sea first appears through the passenger window, the mood in the car shifts. The drive out is part of the day, not just the way there.
Sitting side by side, looking at the road ahead, conversation often comes more easily than it does across a table. Choose some music, talk about what you see, and take your time.
For ideas on planning a day out from the city, see Day drives from Nagoya: to the coast, into the mountains, along the roads of Tokai. For the shape of a full day on the peninsula, read An Atsumi Peninsula drive: a day out to Cape Irago.
Park, then walk the beach
The tourism bureau’s page lists parking as available, with 124 spaces.
Once you have parked, get ready to walk. Change your shoes, grab a jacket, and carry only what you need. Travelling light makes the sand easier.
Then head down to the water. On sand, your steps get shorter and conversation slows to match. Which way to walk can be decided on the spot.
Slow down and watch the sea
After your walk, find a place to sit and simply watch the ocean for a while. The shape of the waves and the quality of the light keep changing as you look.
There is nothing you need to do here. If the talking stops, that is fine. You are seeing the same view, and that is enough. On the drive home, the day’s scenery tends to become the conversation.
Getting there
Where to check official information
For access and parking details, see the Atsumi Peninsula Tourism Bureau’s Koijigahama page.
Travel time depends on where you start and on the roads that day, so we have not given one here. Please check the latest official information before you set out.
Pair it with Cape Irago
What to read next
The area around Cape Irago has more views worth seeing. For the scenery around the cape, read A Cape Irago drive: the lighthouse, the beach and the views along the way.
About TŌNORI
TŌNORI (遠乗り) is a car rental service planned to open in Nagoya in 2027, with Japanese and imported cars.
One car that comes to mind for a day by the sea is the Mazda Roadster. Low, light and simple in shape, it responds honestly to the driver. It is the kind of car that turns a peninsula road, with the wind around you, into part of the memory.
We are preparing to open. Members receive 10% off their first rental, with eligibility details to be announced at launch.
FAQ
What kind of place is Koijigahama?
It is a white-sand beach in Koijiura, Irago-cho, Tahara, near Cape Irago. The Atsumi Peninsula Tourism Bureau describes it as listed among Japan’s “hundred best”. It is known as the setting of Shimazaki Toson’s poem “Yashi no Mi”, and, together with the Cape Irago Lighthouse, it is certified as a “Lovers’ Sanctuary”.
Are there places nearby to visit together?
The Cape Irago Lighthouse is right in the same area. The tourism bureau notes that the shore runs about a kilometre from the lighthouse to the Hiinoishimon rock arch, facing the Pacific. For more views around the cape, see A Cape Irago drive.
Part of this guide
- Day drives from Nagoya: coast and mountain routes across Tokai
- Atsumi Peninsula drive: a day out to Cape Irago
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