Iwami Seaside Park (Anegahama Beach)

Iwami Seaside Park sits on Anegahama Beach, a 3.5-kilometre arc of white sand on the Sea of Japan coast in Hamada City, and is one of the largest and most developed beach parks in Shimane Prefecture. The sand is fine and pale, the water notably clear, and the beach has been recognized as one of Japan's Top 100 bathing beaches. Because the beach faces the open Sea of Japan directly, it carries more swell and wind exposure than the sheltered coves further east, giving it a livelier, more active feel that supports organized marine sports rather than just still-water wading. The park rents stand-up paddleboards, banana boats, and wakeboard equipment during the summer season, and the open bay gives these activities room without crowding swimmers. Alongside the beach itself, the park includes motor campsites and cabins for overnight stays, tennis courts, and other recreational facilities, making it more of a full-day or overnight destination than a simple swim stop. Summer lifeguards are posted during the official bathing season, adding a layer of safety for families mixing swimming with the more active watersports on offer. The scale of the 3.5-kilometre beach means crowds spread out even in peak season, and visitors can find quieter stretches away from the main rental and lifeguard area near the park's central facilities. Free parking is available on-site, which is unusual for a beach of this size and popularity in Japan, and it makes the park an easy stop for drivers touring the San'in coast. By public transport, the beach is reached via JR San'in Line to Hamada Station followed by a 15-minute taxi or rental car ride, as there is no direct bus service to the beach itself. The combination of camping, marine sports rental, and tennis courts gives Iwami Seaside Park a broader, activity-driven character than a purely scenic beach, appealing to groups and families planning a longer stay rather than visitors looking only for a quiet swim.