Number of swimming beaches in Japan down 30% over 30 years

TOKYO - The number of approved swimming beaches open during the summer in Japan has fallen by around 30 percent over the past three decades, a study by a travel association shows, as municipalities are increasingly choosing not to operate them due to fewer visitors amid the scorching heat and shoreline retreat.

According to the Japan Travel and Tourism Association, the number of such beaches totaled 1,379 in 1993 and remained steady in the 1,300s until the early 2000s before declining. The number fell below 1,000 for the first time in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and stood at 969 in 2024.