10 of the best beaches near airports

Narita lies to the east of Tokyo, which puts it in reach of a 60-kilometer sweep of untamed dune-backed beaches. The Chiba area, popular among surfers, includes Tsurigasaki Beach, where the Tokyo Olympics surfing competition will debut in 2020.

A drive across the rural coastal plain to Yakata Beach in Sanbu district will take about an hour. A train to Naruto and then a short cab ride to Kujukuri will require about an hour and a half.

The weather-beaten towns strung out behind the dunes offer sporadic eating options. Many serve the regional specialty of sardines -- iwashi in Japanese -- caught right off the beach.