Zushi Beach

photo by Tadashi Okoshi · CC BY 2.0

Since 2014, no alcohol or music on the beach: the number of beachgoers has halved.

Small waves and a gently shelving seabed: this is the beach you bring children to, and it is no use to anyone who wants to surf. What sets it apart is an administrative decision: a 2014 ordinance banned alcohol on the sand, barbecues, unauthorised music and the intimidating display of tattoos, and imposed a closing time on the beach kiosks. The following year there were half as many beachgoers.

The beach of the town of Zushi, on the bay of the same name. The ordinance that came into force on 27 June 2014 brought visitor numbers down from 417,000 in summer 2013 to 201,300 in summer 2014, that is, by exactly half, and it is the most cited Japanese case of a beach regulated by ordinance.

ℹ️ Supervised swimming season from 3 July to 6 September 2026, sixty-six days, with lifeguards from 9:00 to 17:00. The beach kiosks close at 21:00 at weekends, on public holidays and from 10 to 14 August, and at 20:00 on other days. ⚠️ Barbecues are banned, drinking alcohol on the sand is banned, events with music without authorisation are banned, and the intimidating display of tattoos is banned. ⚠️ Kites snatch food held in the hand.

🚉 Zushi・Hayama · 11 min walk

Sources: city.zushi.kanagawa.jp · japantoday.com · matcha-jp.com

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