Summer Swimming in Hiroshima

Jun 28, 2022

Summer Swimming in Hiroshima

With summer upon us, one of the most refreshing ways to fight off the humidity of Hiroshima is to cool off with a swim outdoors. There are numerous places to have a relaxing summer swim in the Hiroshima prefecture, from fine beaches where you can enjoy the golden sand and crystal clear waters of the Seto Inland Sea to family-friendly pools and water parks. Here are some of the best places.

Hiroshima Prefectural Beach

This golden sandy beach south of Kami-Kamagari is among Japan’s top 100 beaches. It stretches out for 400 meters and is packed in the summer months with bathers dipping in the Seto Inland Sea or participating in one of the activities on offer. You can try a spot of sea kayaking, stand-up paddling (SUP), or even tennis if you fancy something more than relaxing on your back in the ocean. The beach is part of a complex that includes restaurants, cottage accommodation, spas, a hillside observatory, and even salt-making classes. All of which makes it an excellent choice for a long weekend break – but book early!

Website: https://kenhama.jp/en/

Chuo Koen Outdoor Family Pool

Only open for two months a year (July and August), this outdoor facility is hugely popular with families. Chuo Koen Outdoor Family Pool has three pools, centrally located next to the Green Arena gym, the Children’s Museum, and Hanover Park. In addition to the standard 50-meter pool divided into two lanes, a ‘loop’ pool with current carrying swimmers around the facility and a shallow paddling pool for young kids. Because this is an all-ages facility and usually populated with large numbers of children, it’s not suitable if you want a serious swimming workout, but it is the perfect place for a family day out in the hot sun.

The cost is 790 yen for adults and 340 yen for children and seniors (over 65), plus you can rent an inner tube for 100 yen. The pool has a maximum capacity of 1,000 people, and you can check the number of people in the pool on the website (updated every two hours).

Website: http://www.midoriikimono.jp/pool_top.html

Saka Bayside Beach

Saka bayside beach is an artificial beach that stretches for 1,200 meters alongside route 31. It doesn’t tend to get as crowded as Hiroshima prefectural beach and is open 24 hours, so it is ideal for relaxing, swimming, or sitting on the sand at night watching the stars. It’s the closest beach to the city center, about a 30-minute drive away, and is right next to Mizushiri station. During the summer months, you can find activities such as beach volleyball and beach soccer.

Address: 90754 Mizushiri, Saka-cho, Aki-gun

Chupea Waterpark

A small drive away from the center and along route two just past the Miyajima ferry port, this is the only waterpark in Hiroshima. It features seven attractions: a waterslide, a wave pool, a current pool, and a whale-shaped mini slide for young children. Only open from July to September each year, it’s another facility that tends to get busy quickly. The site is linked to the Chugoku Shimbun newspaper, and kids can also participate in newspaper-making activities. You can rent chairs in shaded areas if you don’t fancy getting wet yourself, and there are vendors selling snacks, refreshments, and street food bites. However, English-speaking staff is rare so take a phrase book or Japanese-speaking friend if you are not fluent in the language.

Website: https://chupea-park.jp/pool/map-pool.html

Tsutsumigaura Beach

Tsutsumigaura beach is perhaps the most well-known of several gorgeous sandy beaches located on Miyajima Island, a small island within the prefecture in Hiroshima Bay. The beach is on the island’s east side, a stretch of nearly a kilometer within a nature park and about a 10-minute drive from the pier. It’s only open during the summer season, but with log cabin accommodation available within the park, it is an excellent base from which to explore the beaches and mountains on the island. The sea is relatively shallow and so suitable for children and beginner swimmers. You can also rent fishing equipment or go on a boat cruise.

Address: 1195 Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0588

melvil, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons