Fifty-five beaches, including one on a river, have been named as the best and the cleanest bathing locations in Japan in a list released March 12 by the Environment Agency.
Agency officials said the selection is part of its ongoing campaign to encourage local governments to promote nature conservation at beaches and provide more recreational opportunities for the public. According to the agency's Water Quality Bureau, the 55 locations include Gennadaikai Marine Park in Hokkaido, Yura Beach in Yamagata Prefecture, the upstream beach on the Nagara River in Gifu Prefecture, Shirahama Beach in Wakayama Prefecture and Isegahama Beach in Miyazaki Prefecture.
The beaches were chosen from 186 locations nominated by 38 prefectures, the officials said. Water quality, security, accessibility and the roles the beaches are playing in local communities were used as criteria, they said. No beaches in Tokyo were selected, and Osaka failed to nominate any because of its water quality problems, they added.