But the thought of Japanese beaches might not be an automatic choice. And yet, this country of islands — more than 6,500 of them — is packed with beaches, strung along the nation's 34,000 ...

In our July issue (out now), we take you to the tiny fishing village of Nima, in the Shimane prefecture in southern Japan where we pay homage to the ... the unusual 'singing' sand of nearby Kotogahama ...

(Mainichi/Akihiro Kawakami) KAMAKURA, Kanagawa -- At around noon on Aug. 20, a beautiful blue sky spread over Yuigahama Beach in this east Japan city. As the sun shone down, people could be seen ...