A lovers' sanctuary steeped in the story of a tragic romance

An approximate 1-kilometer stretch of gorgeous white sand beach from Cape Irago Lighthouse to the Hii no Sekimon Stone Gates winds along Tahara City's section of the Pacific Ocean. This wonder of nature goes by the romantic name of Koijigahama—literally meaning "Lovers' Road Beach". Such a magnificent name may seem like a shameless way to draw in tourists, but it actually has a long history going back to a Japanese poem from the Edo period. Legend has it that long ago, a man and woman of royalty fell into a forbidden love, and escaped to the beach after exile.
The location is also famous for being the setting of Toson Shimazaki's lyric poem "A Coconut". While standing on the beach, you may find yourself whispering its lines, "From an unknown and distant island washes ashore one single lonely coconut."
With such a romantic ambience, the beach is also home to the Bell of Eternal Love and the Key to Fulfilled Wishes. Koijigahama Beach and the Cape Irago Lighthouse are together known as a "Lovers' Paradise” and the perfect spots for not only dates but wedding proposals.