Minamiizu: Yumigahama and Sea Turtles

At Yumigahama Beach in Minato, a distinctive coastal landscape comes into view: the approximately 1.2-kilometre-long white sandy beach forms an arc, is lined with pine trees and is known for its gentle waves. It lies east of the mouth of the Aono River. Together, the sand, curved shape, trees and wave conditions create a clear picture of this place in Minamiizu. Yumigahama is therefore a clearly defined coastal destination for travellers who make landscape the starting point for their plans.

A coastline with a distinctive origin

Yumigahama is a sandspit formed by sediment deposits carried by the Aono River and shaped by ocean currents. In simple terms, the river transported the material, while the currents helped deposit it. The visible shape of the sand therefore has a geological explanation that relates directly to this beach. Yumigahama is also one of Japan’s 100 Selected Beaches. Its formation and its designation as a selected beach offer two different points of reference: one explains the landform, while the other recognises the beach as a selected coastal destination.

The beach, turtles and a regular event date

The natural environment also includes loggerhead turtles laying their eggs: they come to the beach every year, and the town protects the eggs. In due course, it releases the hatchlings back into the sea. Yumigahama thus brings together two different timescales: sediments and currents shaped the sandspit, while the annual egg-laying and the town’s conservation efforts relate to the animals’ life cycle. For travellers interested in natural processes, this connection makes the place interesting beyond its visible coastal form.

The Yumigahama fireworks display is another reason to visit: it takes place every year on 8 August at 8 pm. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the event details for your travel year before setting off. Unlike the shape of the beach and its connection to the turtles, this is a fixed date that you can take into account when choosing your travel dates.

Practical directions and choosing accommodation

There are specific practical directions for the Mokimaru pier. It is located past the lock on the Aono River, near the river mouth; parking is required before the pier. For navigation, the operator recommends the address 902-1 in Minato. Check the navigation details before setting off and use them as the destination for the pier.

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Minamiizu, you can first decide what you want to shape your stay: the coastline and how it was formed, the connection to sea turtle conservation, or a trip timed around the fireworks. If Mokimaru is part of your plans, include the pier as a separate destination. Then compare the locations of potential accommodation with the places you actually plan to visit; consider the event date separately when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Kawazu, Kosai, Numazu, Fukuroi, Shimada, Kamo District, Omaezaki, Fujieda.

For the broader travel overview: Shizuoka Prefecture.