National Apr 23, 2020
Defying virus warnings, crowds take to Japan's beaches and mountains
Some leisure spots near Tokyo have seen crowds of visitors recently despite government instructions to stay home amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, prompting local residents and municipalities to voice concerns about further potential spread of the virus. Although it was a weekday, a beach near ...
World / Science & Health Jan 18, 2020
U.S. starts dumping sand on Miami Beach to tackle climate change erosion
Dozens of trucks have started dumping hundreds of thousands of tons of sand on the beach in Miami Beach as part of U.S. government measures to protect Florida's tourist destinations against the effects of climate change. "We have erosion hot spots," said Stephen Leatherman, an ...
Business / Economy Sep 6, 2019
'Crazy Rich' Asian beaches go quiet amid Chinese tourism U-turn
by Siraphob Thanthong-Knight, Harry Suhartono and Nguyen Xuan Quynh
From quiet beaches in Bali to empty rooms in Hanoi's hotels, pangs from China's economic malaise and weakening yuan are being felt across Southeast Asia's vacation belt. A boom in Chinese outbound travel in recent years that stoked tourism across Southeast Asia is now in ...
World / Science & Health Aug 7, 2019
Britain undertakes first coastal 'sandscaping' to save homes as seas rise in changing climate
A giant sand dune is being built on England's east coast to save 400 homes from storm surges, in Britain's first attempt to use "sandscaping" to stave off rising seas and prepare for a changing climate, engineers said on Tuesday. The novel project, set to ...
Travel Aug 4, 2016
by Chinatsu Yajima
The summer is here. You've kept your New Year's resolution and stuck with that diet or new exercise regimen ... right? It doesn't matter. These beaches are so beautiful, nobody will be looking at the people. Usu Beach in Date, Hokkaido Usu doesn't get much ...
National Aug 18, 2015
Shark sightings keep tourists away after authorities impose swimming bans
An increasing number of shark sightings at beaches across Japan this month is affecting tourism, with visitors shunning popular summer destinations where authorities have imposed swimming bans. Sharks have recently been spotted at several beaches in Ibaraki, Kanagawa, Shizuoka and Kagoshima prefectures. In Ibaraki, about ...
National Aug 11, 2015
High waves and strong tides following the passage of a typhoon pulled four family members who were visiting Irabu Island in Okinawa Prefecture away from the shore and three of them drowned. The accident happened Monday while they were snorkeling near Toguchi-no-Hama Beach in the ...
National Aug 11, 2015
Swimming safety alert raised after hammerheads are spotted off Ibaraki, Shizuoka
Recent sightings of sharks off beaches in Ibaraki Prefecture have put local authorities on alert, but they have also been spotted in Shizuoka as well, raising safety concerns in the midst of the swimming season. The most recent sharks spotted are all believed to be ...
National Jun 26, 2015
Zushi opens with eye on reviving summer buzz
by Andrew McKirdy
Zushi Beach in Kanagawa Prefecture opened for the summer on Friday as it battles to attract visitors following a clampdown on rowdy partygoers that saw numbers drop by more than half last year. Cloudy skies greeted participants in an opening ceremony featuring around 400 children ...
Environment Jun 18, 2015
Warm currents washing swarms of red crabs up on Southern California beaches
Hundreds of thousands of tiny crabs have been washing up on Southern California beaches, marring the sandy coastline with streaks of red, as warm ocean currents carry them farther north and closer to shore than usual, officials said on Wednesday. The red tuna crabs have ...