Tokyo Weekender August 2017

SEEKING
WHITE
SAND
Words and photos by Annemarie Luck
Craving an island escape? Here are three
destinations in Japan that should be on the
list of “Asia’s best beaches”
Japan is not revered for its beaches. A quick Google search for
“best beaches in Asia” will testify to this. And a not-so-quick
train journey to Zushi will only emphasize the point – at least,
if white sand and turquoise ocean is what you’re after. Yet after
a few vacations spent hunting down that dream island beach
experience (I’ve tried Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines), I
surprisingly ended up finding it right here in Japan. From one utopian day
on Okinawa’s Tokashiki Island to one Golden Week on the Izu Peninsula,
here are my three favorite beach escapes in Japan.
TOKASHIKI ISLAND
When the ferry from Naha dropped us off at the island’s port, the sky was
overcast and I began to wonder if the decision to visit Okinawa out of season
was such a wise one after all. On the plus side, we told ourselves, there were
hardly any fellow tourists so we would have the beaches to ourselves – even
if it rained. The hotel shuttle bus whisked us through winding, hilly roads
and lush vegetation, past grazing goats and a spectacular bird’s-eye view of