Shobutahama Public Beach — Attraction in Shichigahama

Seaside walk along a sea wall. Very scenic fishing village. Several trails connect the road with beach. The author stands next to the Shichigahama Tsunami Memorial, which he helped to build with 20 or so other volunteers in July 2012, at the main beach access.

We spend many happy hours on this sandy beach especially at low tide. Usually we would get up at the crack of dawn (around 5:00 A.M., earlier if there was light), wiggled out of bed, dressed ourselves and made a bee-line for the coastline, which we lovingly dubbed "the Mile Beach." Once on the beach, we scoured (every inch of shoreline, or so it seemed) for sand dollars (whole or broken) and other big or small seashells, fishing net glass ball bouys, and a host of other "treasures"...

I've been to this beach many times. Those times, I have seen numerous Japanese people with tattoos freely enjoying the beach.

Unfortunately there seem to be new management, and the beach patrol has arbitrarily decided that tattoos are not allowed on the entire beach.

Initially, we were told that you just cannot swim. After an hour, they changed their mind, and kicked us out entirely.

It is clear that Shobutahama is no longer a foreigner friendly beach. Really disappointing behavior from the staff....

Beach is one hour away from Sendai station.You can take train to Tagajo station and from there you can take bus for Shobutahama beach.Its beautiful beach and not very crowded in weekdays. Beach timing is till 4 pm in...