Japan's Sand Dunes & Sandy Coasts

About this book

Japan is not supposed to have sand — and then, on the Sea of Japan shore, it produces a desert. This complete guide presents 200 dunes, sandy shores and sand traditions in one uniform, comparable format: the great Tottori dune field and its horse's-back ridge; singing beaches that fall silent when they are dirty; the Chirihama shore that serves as a public road; sand baths, raked Zen gardens, shrine courts of white sand, iron-sand country and dune farms; the plants, animals, volunteers and laws that keep the sand; and a closing part on reading and visiting sand — ripples, tides, seasons, hours and manners. Every entry closes with visiting notes that send you to the official local information for current access and rules, so the book describes the character of each shore, not this month's arrangements. Meet the oasis that comes and goes, the beach that is a border of drift plastic, the sand museum, and the dune that turns green and must be defended against grass.

Written and created in Japan by Japanese author Aki Wakamatsu. Published by Takikawa TOKOTOKO Kids LLC, a Japanese publisher in Hokkaido, Japan. Authentic Japanese content, carefully made in Japan — not mass-produced.