Chichibugahama Beach in Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture, is a beach where the sky and people are reflected like a mirror in the tide pools that form when the tide goes out. It is also called “Japan’s Uyuni Salt Flat,” and many people visit to take photos.
In this article, I introduce the scenery of Chichibugahama with photos from my own walk, and cover how to get there, parking, the swimming season and the etiquette you should know before you go.
I walked along Chichibugahama at around 3 p.m. on May 4, 2024. In the morning of the same day, I visited Kotohira and Marugame. All photos in this article were taken that day.
About the information in this article
- Information checked on: October 17, 2026 (on the official Mitoyo City website and the Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association website)
- The photos of the scenery were taken on May 4, 2024.
- Please check the latest information before you go.
1. What is Chichibugahama? | A 1 km sandy beach that reflects the sky
Chichibugahama is a beach in Nio-cho, Mitoyo City. The official Mitoyo City website introduces it as a swimming beach with about 1 km of sand running north to south.
The water stays shallow far out to sea, so when the tide goes out, many tide pools form on the sand. On windless days, the sky and people are reflected on the surface of the water. This view came to be called “Japan’s Uyuni Salt Flat” and became widely known through social media.
2. The scenery I saw at Chichibugahama
A shallow sea full of tide pools
When I arrived at around 3 p.m., the tide was out, and sand and shallow water stretched far out to sea. Many people were walking well beyond the water’s edge.
Silhouettes reflected on the water
When I held my camera low, the people standing out on the sand were reflected upside down in the tide pools. It is a view where you can hardly tell where the sky ends and the sea begins.
People walking with parasols were reflected on the water just as they were. Including a silhouette of a person makes a photo that feels typical of Chichibugahama.
A small island and the shallow sea
Offshore, you can see a small, rounded island. Putting the island in the background adds an accent to the scenery.
The town of Nio seen from the beach
If you turn around with the sea at your back, you can see the town of Nio along the coast and green mountains. The beach is wide, and just strolling along it feels pleasant.
3. How to take photos with beautiful reflections
- Go when the tide is out. Tide pools form when the tide is low. Check the tide times before you go
- Choose a day with no wind. If the wind ruffles the water, the reflections will blur
- Hold your camera (or smartphone) low. Shooting from just above the water makes the reflections look bigger
- Sunset is also popular. In the evening, more people come to photograph the sunset sky reflected on the water
4. Getting to Chichibugahama and parking
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 203-3 Nio-otsu, Nio-cho, Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture |
| By car | About 20 minutes from Sanuki-Toyonaka IC on the Takamatsu Expressway |
| By train and bus | From JR Takuma Station (Yosan Line), take the Mitoyo City Community Bus (Nio Line) and get off at the “Chichibugahama” bus stop. It runs Monday to Saturday (except national holidays), and there are not many buses |
| Parking | Free for private cars (some paid parking requires a reservation) |
| Contact | Mitoyo City Tourism Exchange Bureau 0875-56-5880 |
The parking information is from the official Mitoyo City website (updated July 14, 2026), and the access information is from the Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association website. Buses are infrequent, so check the timetable before you set out. Please do not park on the street, as it disturbs local residents.
5. Swimming season and things to know before you go
In summer, Chichibugahama becomes a swimming beach. In 2026, the swimming season ran from Saturday, July 25 to Sunday, August 16 (closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, except national holidays). There are hot showers (paid), but no changing rooms.
- Be careful when photographing people. Mitoyo City asks visitors to respect portrait rights when they take photos of people and post them on social media
- Take your trash home with you.
- Do not fly drones when it is crowded. Visitors are asked to refrain from flying drones at busy times, such as on holidays and in the evening
- Your feet will get wet. You walk through tide pools, so shoes or sandals that can get wet are handy
6. FAQ
Q. Where is Chichibugahama?
A. It is in Nio-cho, Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture. By car, it is about 20 minutes from Sanuki-Toyonaka IC on the Takamatsu Expressway. By train, take the community bus from JR Takuma Station.
Q. When can I see the “Japan’s Uyuni Salt Flat” view?
A. The best time is when the tide is out, tide pools have formed and there is no wind. Check the tide times before you go.
Q. Is there parking?
A. Yes. According to the official Mitoyo City website, parking is free for private cars, and some paid parking requires a reservation.
Q. Can I swim there?
A. You can swim during the summer swimming season. In 2026, it ran from July 25 to August 16. There are no lifeguards outside the season or on closed days.
7. Summary
Chichibugahama is a scenic beach in Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture, where the sky and people are reflected in the tide pools.
- A shallow sandy beach about 1 km long, running north to south
- When the tide is out and there is no wind, the sky and people are reflected on the water
- Holding your camera low makes the reflections look bigger
- By car, about 20 minutes from Sanuki-Toyonaka IC. By train, take a bus from JR Takuma Station
- Follow the etiquette on portrait rights, trash and drones
I introduce Kotohiragu Shrine in Kotohira, which I visited on the same day, in Kotohiragu Shrine History.
Official information referred to (checked on October 17, 2026)
- Swimming beaches in Mitoyo City | Mitoyo City (Japanese) (length of the beach, swimming season, parking and notes)
- Access information for Chichibugahama | Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association (Japanese) (how to get there)
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