Jodogahama Beach

Table of Contents

1 About Jodogahama
2 Best Season
3 So, what can you do there than swimming
4 Information

About Jodogahama

Jodogahama Beach (浄土ヶ浜,) translated as “Pure Land Beach” , is a beautiful beach. One of the most famous places of scenic beauty on the Rikuchu Coast of Iwate Prefecture.

Jodogahama features a beautiful white pebble shoreline and clear, calm waters punctuated by jagged, rocky islands. This memorable landscape invokes images of the “Pure Land”, by a Buddhist monk named Reikyo, hence the name “Jodogahama.”

The coast is also a breeding ground for seabirds, such as the black-tailed gull. And when we visited there, there was too many birds there.
It is indeed a great beach for swimming, with clean water and gentle waves. And it is ranked as one of the top 100 swimming spots in Japan.
The area is part of the Sanriku Fukko Park ( A park extends to the north and south approximately 220 km. Was devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011 and Reconstruction in 2013.)

Many seabirds – black-tailed gull.

Best Season

The area is popular in summer for swimming.
But we were there in the March , when in it still was cold.

So, what can you do there than swimming

There is a visitor center that located at the main parking lot of Jodogahama Beach. (The parking lot is free.)
The center has a small, free museum about the coastline and its natural features.
It has a several short walking trails lead from the visitor center to the beach.

Cruise:

From the center they also have boat rides, called – Blue Cave Cruise

The rides last around twenty minutes. And give visitors a close up view of the sharp, rocky islands opposite Jodogahama Beach
Unfortunately, when we visit there the wind was strong and the boat wasn`t open.
As the boat name, it also takes you to the Blue Cave (Aonodokutsu), a small cave that is only accessible from the sea and is named for its cobalt blue water. We really need to back there .