What to know
The Chirihama Beach Drive (千里浜なぎさドライブウェイ, Chirihama Nagisa Driveway) is a one-of-a-kind attraction at the western foot of the Noto Peninsula. This eight-kilometer stretch of beach along the Sea of Japan is open to private cars, letting you take a short drive right at the water's edge. Traffic flows both ways, and there is no fee to drive on the sand.
Besides the thrill of driving on a beach, many visitors park their cars to one side and wade into the water to collect seashells. Several food stalls at the southern end offer local treats like grilled clams and grilled turban shells. These stalls close for winter from early December to mid-March.
The Chirihama Beach Drive sits conveniently next to the Noto Satoyama Kaido expressway. The northern and southern ends of the drive are right by the Chirihama and Imahama interchanges, respectively.
How to get to and around the Noto Peninsula
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- Closed
- Admission
- English name
- Original name
- Chirihama Beach Drive
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.