Plan before you go
Check official opening dates, hours, lifeguard coverage and areas open for observation. Look up weather, waves and tides for your place and date.
Open the activity checklist →VISITING JAPAN
Make the most of Japan’s coast.
Understand the place you are visiting, and connect your learning with practical preparation.
Check on arrival
Check swimming areas, flags, access restrictions and evacuation routes. Ask lifeguards or staff if a sign or instruction is unclear before acting on it.
Explore coastal safety →Plan your return
Follow the tide through your return time when exploring tide pools. A lower path may go underwater even while the rocks you are on remain dry.
Explore changing tides →Read the place and time carefully
JMA tide tables use Japan Standard Time (JST). Choose the relevant station and date, and check units and the height datum. Numbers in our learning diagrams are not forecasts for your destination.
Check your return transport and how to stay in contact with your group. Leave room to change plans as conditions change. Swimming and rocky-shore observation need different checks and equipment.
Useful questions for local staff
- Where is the designated swimming area?
- 遊泳区域はどこですか？
- Is swimming prohibited today?
- 今日は遊泳禁止ですか？
- Which way is the evacuation route?
- 避難経路はどちらですか？
Care for the place you visit
Follow collecting and access rules. Leave animals in their own tide pools and observe without damaging habitats. Keep litter secure against the wind and take it home.
Official guidance
- Japan Coast Guard: precautions at sea (Japanese) ↗
- JMA: tide-table guide (Japanese) ↗
- Ministry of the Environment: observing rocky shores (Japanese) ↗
- JNTO: visitor support ↗
Sources checked: 2026-09-20
Draft guidance awaiting specialist review
Follow current local information and instructions. This guide cannot decide whether an activity is appropriate at a particular place.