Chirihama Nagisa Driveway: Japan's Only Beach You Can Drive On
Drive about 8 km of firm sand beside the Sea of Japan in Ishikawa: free, 15 minutes one way, 40 minutes from Kanazawa. Access, sand tips and when to go.
Feb 16, 2026·✍️ olablog·⏱ 7 min read
Drive about 8 km of firm sand beside the Sea of Japan in Ishikawa: free, 15 minutes one way, 40 minutes from Kanazawa. Access, sand tips and when to go.
On the Sea of Japan coast of Ishikawa Prefecture (石川県), the Chirihama Nagisa Driveway (千里浜なぎさドライブウェイ) is the only place in Japan where ordinary vehicles can drive directly on a sandy beach. For roughly 8 kilometres you roll along the edge of the surf with the sea breeze coming through the window.
This guide explains what makes the beach drivable, how to get there, how to drive on sand without getting stuck, when to go and how to fit the drive into a wider trip around Ishikawa.
1. What makes the Chirihama Nagisa Driveway unique
What sets Chirihama apart is that you need nothing special to drive it: an ordinary passenger car will do. The grains of sand here are very fine, and once they soak up seawater they pack down hard enough to carry the weight of a car. Motorcycles, buses and even bicycles use the beach as well.
The drivable stretch runs for about 8 km between Hakui City (羽咋市) and Hodatsushimizu Town (宝達志水町). The waves break just beside your wheels on one side, and a wide, flat sweep of sand stretches away on the other. It is a real, open road rather than a fenced-off attraction, which is exactly why it feels so unusual.
The light changes the mood through the day. Early morning brings soft, golden light, while in the evening the sun sinks into the Sea of Japan and turns the horizon red, and the colour is reflected in the wet sand. If you can, time your drive for sunset.
2. Basic information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Chirihama Nagisa Driveway (千里浜なぎさドライブウェイ) |
| Location | From the Chirihama north entrance (千里浜北口) in Hakui City to the Imahama entrance (今浜口) in Hodatsushimizu Town, Ishikawa Prefecture |
| Length | About 8 km |
| Cost | Free |
| Driving time | About 15 minutes one way |
| Nearest exits | Imahama IC (今浜IC) or Chirihama IC (千里浜IC) on the Noto Satoyama Kaido (のと里山海道) |
| From Kanazawa | About 40 minutes by car |
| Road status | The road can close in bad weather. Check Ishikawa Michi Joho Net (石川みち情報ネット) before you set out |
3. How to get there
The Chirihama Nagisa Driveway is a road, so the way to experience it is from behind the wheel. From central Kanazawa, allow about 40 minutes by car. Take the Noto Satoyama Kaido and leave at either Imahama IC or Chirihama IC; the beach road begins right after the exit.
Driving the beach yourself means bringing a vehicle, so for most visitors from overseas a rental car is the practical choice. Because the beach section takes only about 15 minutes one way, it also fits neatly into a longer road trip up the coast. Our Noto Peninsula road trip guide picks up where the sand ends.
✨ Want to feel the sand under your tyres? Rent a car with OlaChill and drive Chirihama on your own schedule.
4. How to drive on the sand
Driving on a beach is easy here, but it is still sand, and a few habits make the difference between a relaxed cruise and a stuck car.
- Stay on the damp, firmly packed sand. Avoid the dry, loose sand farther from the shoreline, and avoid the soft, muddy patches right at the water's edge. The firm band of damp sand in between is where your tyres grip best.
- Take it slowly and watch for people. This is a beach as well as a road. In summer people come to swim and to see the sand sculptures, so keep your speed down and give everyone plenty of room.
- Pull over only where it is safe. If you stop for photos, keep to firm sand and stay clear of other traffic.
- Rinse your car afterwards. Roadside Station Noto Chirihama (道の駅 のと千里浜) has a free tyre shower, so you can wash off the sand before you continue.
5. When to go
- Summer is the classic season. The beach is at its liveliest, with swimmers in the sea and sand sculptures on the shore.
- Sunset is the most beautiful hour at any time of year, when the sun drops into the Sea of Japan and the sky and wet sand glow red.
- Early morning brings soft light that is ideal for photos, and a calmer start to the day.
- Winter and stormy days need more care. Weather on the Sea of Japan side can change quickly, and the road may be closed in bad weather, so check the forecast and the road status on the day.
6. Photo tips
- Use the golden hours. The 30 minutes around sunrise and sunset give the softest, most flattering light.
- Frame your car against the sea. A simple shot of your car on the sand with the surf behind it, like the one above, is the classic Chirihama photo.
- Look for reflections. When a thin film of water lies on the wet sand, it can mirror the sky and your car. A low camera angle makes the effect stronger.
7. Fitting Chirihama into your trip
A drive on the beach works well as a half-day trip from Kanazawa, or as the opening stage of a longer journey around the Noto Peninsula:
- Drive from Kanazawa on the Noto Satoyama Kaido, about 40 minutes.
- Leave at Imahama IC or Chirihama IC and drive the beach, about 15 minutes one way, stopping for photos on firm sand.
- Wash off the sand at the free tyre shower at Roadside Station Noto Chirihama.
- Carry on or head back: continue north along the Noto Peninsula, or return to Kanazawa. Time the beach for late afternoon and you can finish with the sunset over the sea.
If you are planning a wider road trip, Chirihama also features in our round-up of scenic drives in Japan.
8. Practical tips
- ☁️ Check the weather and road status: The beach road can close in bad weather, so look at the forecast and Ishikawa Michi Joho Net on the morning of your drive.
- 🚗 Book your car early in summer: Rental cars go quickly in the peak summer season, so reserve a week or two ahead.
- ⛽ Fill up before rural stretches: If you are continuing into the countryside, start with a full tank.
- 📱 Download offline maps: Save the Ishikawa area in Google Maps before you go in case the signal drops.
- 🍙 Stock up at convenience stores: Chains such as 7-Eleven and FamilyMart are handy for snacks and drinks before you reach the coast.
Few roads anywhere let you drive an ordinary car along the edge of the sea, and on the Chirihama Nagisa Driveway it costs nothing. Check that the road is open, keep to the firm sand, stay for the sunset, and rinse off the sand before you move on up the coast.
