Jodogahama Beach

Jodogahama Beach is one of the Sanriku Coast's most striking natural landscapes, located just outside Miyako City in Iwate Prefecture. The beach gets its name from a monk who is said to have remarked that this was truly the Pure Land of Buddha upon seeing its otherworldly beauty. Sharp white rhyolite rock spires rise from the turquoise waters, creating a dramatic backdrop to the white pebble beach. The area is part of the Sanriku Fukko National Park, and visitors can take sightseeing boat tours to explore the caves and rock formations from the water, often accompanied by flocks of black-tailed gulls. The Jodogahama Visitor Center provides exhibits on the area's geological history and the ecology of the Rias coastline.