If visiting Tanabe, don't forget to bring a pair of sunglasses; the sun is blinding here.

If visiting Tanabe, don't forget to bring a pair of sunglasses; the sun is blinding here. (Photo: Virginia González)

Tanabe Ogigahama Beach

Taking a dip in the Pacific Ocean

Virginia Gonzalez Aug 13, 2013 - 1 min read

If visiting Tanabe, don't forget to bring a pair of sunglasses; the sun is blinding here.

The beach is located behind a park just a 5 minute walk from the train station.

A promenade with numerous seats connects the beach to the parking lot.

In the last hours of sunlight, people come here to enjoy the ocean breeze.

The waves filled the shore with tiny sea snails.

Despite being an urban beach, the sand and the water remain quite clean.

Tanabe is close to Shirahama, a city famous for its artificial white sand imported from Australia.

Tanabe Ogigahama is considered to be a "tsunami hazard area" but, under normal circumstances, the sea is calm.

The beach is not large; however, it is not crowded, so it is easy to get a lot of space for yourself.

During the Tanabe Festival, at night, the beach was full of kids playing with firecrackers

The beach counts with a skate park, a refreshment stall, toilets and changing rooms.

There is an additional beach next to Ogigahama that remains closed to the public.

Tanabe is the second largest city in Wakayama prefecture, with an estimated population of 80,000. In contrast with the mountainous landscape of its neighbouring Shingu, Tanabe is a coastal city. Its major attraction, Tanabe Ogigahama Beach, is a perfect place to pass away a hot summer day.

The beach can be easily reached from the city center and it is a short walk from the Kii Tanabe Station.

If you are not a fan of sunbathing, I suggest you take a book and read it in the promenade facing the Pacific Ocean which is also located in the shore. I can't think of a better way to spend a summer evening.

Virginia Gonzalez

Virginia Gonzalez @virginia.gonzalez

21 year old English and Literature student from Spain, mostly interested in film, travelling, indie music and pizza.