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- Sunrise on the sand — Katsuura faces the open Pacific, so the first light hits the water with zero skyscrapers in the way. Locals come out early with thermoses; the sky and the fishing boats make for great photos, and it’s the perfect slow start before the crowds and heat arrive.
- Watch the morning tuna auction and eat the catch — This is what gives Katsuura its personality: a working fishing port with high-volume tuna landings. Seeing the auction scramble and then walking a few minutes to a market stall for a fresh tuna bowl is about as honest a breakfast as Japan offers. (Personal favorite: nothing beats that first bite of ultra-fresh maguro after the auction.)
- Snorkel or dive the rocky reefs — Unlike wide, featureless beaches, Katsuura’s coast has rocky outcrops and kelp beds close in,
- Sunrise on the sand — Katsuura faces the open Pacific, so the first light hits the water with zero skyscrapers in the way. Locals come out early with thermoses; the sky and the fishing boats make for great photos, and it’s the perfect slow start before the crowds and heat arrive.
- Watch the morning tuna auction and eat the catch — This is what gives Katsuura its personality: a working fishing port with high-volume tuna landings. Seeing the auction scramble and then walking a few minutes to a market stall for a fresh tuna bowl is about as honest a breakfast as Japan offers. (Personal favorite: nothing beats that first bite of ultra-fresh maguro after the auction.)
- Snorkel or dive the rocky reefs — Unlike wide, featureless beaches, Katsuura’s coast has rocky outcrops and kelp beds close in, so you’ll find small reefs teeming with fish, crabs and nudibranchs. If you’ve dived before, local operators run short shore dives; snorkelers can find much life from shallow rock pools too.
- Coastal walks and clifflookouts — The shoreline alternates stretches of sand with pine-covered bluffs and viewpoints. A short hike along the coast rewards you with sweeping views of fishing boats, sea-sculpted rock, and small hidden coves—good for a quiet picnic away from the main beach.
- Evening calm: stargazing and fishing-boat lights — Katsuura doesn’t have the neon of big resort towns, so after sunset the beach turns quiet. On clear nights the stars are very visible, and returning fishing boats with deck lights make unexpectedly photogenic silhouettes on the water. Finish the night with an oceanside onsen soak if you want to keep the coast vibe going.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.