Shirahama: Lake Tazawa’s White Sand Beach

Shirahama stretches along the eastern shore of Lake Tazawa, the deepest lake in Japan. The beach's white color comes from a high concentration of quartz in the sand. The lake's water is exceptionally clear, fed by surrounding river systems, and the deep blue color is visible even on overcast days. In summer, the beach is used for swimming, paddleboarding, and pedal boating. A one-kilometer footpath connects the boat dock to Horai-no-matsu, a roughly 300-year-old pine tree with an elevated view across the lake, backed by the surrounding forested mountains.