Sunayama Beach
砂山ビーチ24°50′ N 125°17′ EBeach
Sunayama Beach is a short, west-facing white-sand beach north of Hirara reached over a sand dune, and it has no lifeguards and a fenced-off rock arch.
Sunayama means sand mountain, and you reach the beach by climbing a dune from the free car park, then sliding down to a short cove of white sand. The natural arch at the left end made it famous. Rockfall led the city to fence the arch off in October 2018, and the closure was expected to last.
The water shelves into sudden depths, and it is not a designated swimming beach, so nobody watches the water. Four swimmers died in two incidents in 2014, and wave advisories were in force on both days. Come for the sunset over the East China Sea, and stay out of the water when the west wind is up.
Before you swim
- The rock arch has been fenced off since October 2018 because of falling rock
- Steep drop-offs offshore; stay in the shallows
- Waves build quickly in a west wind
- Two incidents in 2014 killed four swimmers during wave advisories
- A tiger shark killed a swimmer 40 m offshore in 2000
December to March
Marea Miyakojima puts March water at 21–23 °C, and JMA normals give Miyako a February average high of 21.1 °C. The beach faces west, so the usual north and north-east wind blows from behind the dune. There are no lifeguards in any season.
Our ratings
- Swimming
- Snorkelling
- Sunset
- Quiet
- Families
- Scenery
Worth knowing
- The climb back up the dune is tiring; walk in other people's footprints.
- Sunayama Cafe is a five-minute walk from the beach.
FAQ
Quick answers about Sunayama Beachよくある質問
Can you swim at Sunayama Beach?
Only at your own risk. Sunayama is not a designated swimming beach and has no lifeguards, and steep drop-offs lie offshore.
Can you walk under the Sunayama arch?
No. The city fenced off the rock arch in October 2018 because of the risk of falling rock.
Is Sunayama Beach good for sunset?
Yes. The beach faces west over the East China Sea.
Is Sunayama Beach worth visiting in winter?
Marea Miyakojima puts March water at 21–23 °C, and JMA normals give Miyako a February average high of 21.1 °C. The beach faces west, so the usual north and north-east wind blows from behind the dune. There are no lifeguards in any season.
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