Hidden Wonders | Japan's Only Beach You Can Drive On

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A gentle sea breeze drifts across the shore as the sound of waves rolls in. Along the water's edge, sightseeing buses and motorcycles speed across the sand, sending up sprays of seawater. Nearby, the aroma of grilled clams wafts from beachside food stalls.

Stretching about 8 kilometers (5 mi) from the town of Hodatsushimizu to the city of Hakui in Ishikawa Prefecture, the Chirihama Nagisa Driveway is the only beach in Japan where cars and buses can legally drive on the sand.

Calling it a driveway, however, is something of a misnomer. It is not a national or prefectural road under Japan's Road Act. It is simply a stretch of beach, with no lane markings or traffic lights. As buses bounce over the sand in a ride that feels almost like skimming across the waves, passengers often break into cheers.

It is a thrilling experience, yet the vehicles neither tip over nor sink into the sand.

Why the Sand Holds

The secret lies in the beach itself. Located on the western coast of the Noto Peninsula, Chirihama is made up of exceptionally fine sand, with grains measuring just 0.1 to 0.2 millimeters across—about one-quarter the size of those found on a typical beach. Seawater seeps into the sand, packing it tightly and creating a firm surface capable of supporting vehicles.

Officials at the Hakui Civil Engineering Office in Ishikawa Prefecture say the beach requires surprisingly little maintenance. Heavy machinery is rarely needed because the waves do most of the work.

The driveway is closed for about 20 days each year, mainly during the stormy winter season along the Sea of Japan coast, but once the seas calm, the beach naturally returns to a drivable condition.

A Changing Coastline

Like many beaches across Japan, however, Chirihama is gradually disappearing. According to Ishikawa Prefecture's River Division, the shoreline recedes by about one meter each year. Combined with rising sea levels, this is steadily narrowing the beach.

Authorities have considered building artificial reefs and replenishing the sand, but finding replacement sand with the same exceptionally fine grain size has proven extremely difficult.

Glowing in the colors of sunset, the Chirihama Nagisa Driveway is a landscape unlike any other in Japan—and one that deserves to be preserved for future generations.