1.5 RECREATION

　　The Seto Inland Sea is beautiful place with reputation of "white beach with green pine forest", and occupies the great position as recreation places in Japan. About 25 % of total coastline of the Seto Inland Sea is designated as "the Seto Inland Sea National Park". There are amenity facilities to be familiar with the nature as well as to protect naturally beautiful places. For these reasons, not only people living around this sea but also many Japanese people visit this area and enjoy the natural resources. 　　Although the urbanization and industrialization around the coastal zone reduce many bathing beaches, there still remain bathing beaches. Location of the main bathing beaches is shown in Figure 1-14.

　　Environment Agency of Japan surveyed in main bathing beaches in Japan in June 1997, and has disclosed the water quality data of which more than 10,000 persons in bathing beaches and more than 5,000 persons in lake and river bathing beaches swam in the previous year. The water quality data of all the 114 bathing beaches shows to be appropriate level for swimming. The classification of water quality level for swimming is shown in Table 1-12. "AA level" is 60 bathing beaches (about 53 % of total), "A level" is 35 bathing beaches (about 31 % of total) and "B level" is 19 bathing beaches (about 17 % of total) according to the classification.

　

 Table 1-12 Classification of Water Quality Level for Swimming
Class
Fecal Coliform Group
Oil Film
COD
Transparency
Wat. Qual.
AA
Not Detected
(detection limit 2 cells/100mL)
Not Observed
≦2mg/L
(≦3mg/L in Lakes)
≧1m(depth)
Wat. Qual.
A
100 cells/100mL
Not Observed
≦2mg/L
(≦3mg/L in Lakes)
≧1m(depth)
Wat. Qual.
B
400 cells/100mL
Not Observed
5mg/L以下
　

Note: Proposed by Environment Agency of Japan

　

Note: 1) swimming places with more than 10,000 tourists in 1996
　　　2) after data by Environment Agency of Japan (June in 1997)

Figure 1-14 Location of the Main Bathing Beaches in the Seto Inland Sea

　

　　In order to popularize the bathing beaches with good water quality and amenity, Environment Agency of Japan also established the praising system and selected 55 bathing beaches all over Japan as "The Best 55 Bathing Beaches in Japan - Clean, Safe and Happy Beach -". 9 bathing beaches in the Seto Inland Sea were selected as shown in Table 1-13.

　　The purpose of the prizing system is to recommend the excellent bathing beaches all over Japan from the viewpoints based on the report "What Should The Future Bathing Beaches Be?" proposed by "The Round-Table Conference About What Should The Comfortable Bathing Beaches Be?" Environment Agency of Japan has selected the best 55 bathing beaches among 186 bathing beaches recommended by 38 prefecture. In this selection, the standards of "water quality, natural environment and scenery", "community and clean", "safety" and "convenience" were examined and took into account by "The Examination Meeting About The ComfortableBathing Beaches" set by Environment Agency of Japan.

　　There are 10 resort plans around the Seto Inland Sea which are based on "the Comprehensive Health Resort Construction Law" as shown in Figure 1-15.

　

Table 1-13 Bathing Beaches Selected as "the Best 55 Bathing Beaches in Japan - Clean,
Safe and Happy Beach -" in the Seto Inland Sea
Name of Swimming Place Pref./City
Outline
Keinotatsubara Pine-grove
Hyogo/Seidan Town		 Potential of community activity is high. Voluntary activities by many communities including cleaning voluntary by junior high school students are observed. Several ten thousands of Dine trees including old pine trees with age of several hundred exist in the broad pine grove with south-north wide of 2.5 km. And Shodoshima Island can be seen in the offing.
Shibukawa
Okayama/Tamano City		 This swimming place is located in the Seto Inland Sea National Park. And faces to Seto-oohashi Bridge. Both scenery and water quality are excellent. Consideration about safety can also be estimated, as sorrounded by protection net from attack by shark. Balance among several facters is excellent.
Kenminno-hama Beach
Hiroshima/Urakari Town		 Kenminno-hama Beach. which is blessd with beautiful natural sea-shore, has different amenity facilities such as different sport facilities and hot spring building for astronomical observation and others. Tourist can enjoy all seasons. Potential of community activity is also high and total balance is excellent.
Setoda Sun Set Beach
Hiroshima/Setoda Town		 Water quality is excellent as AA class has always been kept for these 3 years. This beach can also be estimated with respect of being a core of sport activity as it is replete with tennis court, camping facilities and others. There is aso a histrical story concerned to Michizane Sugawara. This beach can totally be estimated excellent.
Nijigahama Beach
Yamaguchi/Hikari City		 This beach is famous of the seashore with black pine trees and bright color and located in the Seto Inland Sea National Park Many local events are held in the beautiful seashore with long black pine grove and broad shallow zone which expand with gentle arc. This beach can totally be estimated excellent.
Tanoura Beach
Yamaguchi/Bouhu City		 Water quality is excellent as AA class has always been kept for these 3 years. The island where the beach located is designated as a natural monument for living place. Tourists also can enjoy camping and fishing. Though there is no aetificial facilities, tourists can have enough of silent nature. Taste different from urban swimming places can be estimated excellent.
Doigahama Beach
Yamaguchi/Toyokita Town		 Water quality is excellent as AA class has always been kept for these 3 years. It is said that the sea is so clean and beautiful that no one can forget it if sees it once. The beach is located at the west side of Nishinagato Seashore Prefectural Natural Park, receives many tourists for swimming and camping. This beach can totally be estimated excellent.
Ariakehama Beach
Kagawa/Kannonji City		 Community activity is high as local development events, such as Zenigata festival, are held.　This beach is geographically safe as shallow beach expands broadly.　Kotobiki park with enough green color is located in the hinterland of this beach.　Sand picture of Zenigata which is familiar by Heiji Zenigata can be seen in the beach.
Kashima
Ehime/Seikai Town		 This swimming place is located in Kashima floated in Asizuri-Uwa Sea Quasi-national park. Water quality is excellent as AA class has always been kept for these 3 years.　And tourists can appreciate coral and enjoy snorkeling in the sea blessed with natural environment.

Note: after data by Environment Agency on March 12 in 1998

　

Number in Fig.
Pref. Name
Name of Plan
Area of specified Zone(ha)
Municipalitied Concerned
Priority regions
Admission Date
1
 Hyogo Pref. Awaji Island Resort Plan
60,000
 Sumoto city and other 11 cities and towns
9
88.10.28
2
 Wakayama Pref. "Kirameki"Black Current Resort Plan
162,000
 Wakayama city and other 21 cities and towns
7
90.12.19
3
 Hiroshima Pref. Seto Inland Sea・Sun Resort Plan
121,000
 Takehara city and other 23 cities and towns
8
89. 6.23
4
 Kagawa Pref. Seto Inland Sea・Sun Resort Plan
110,000
 Takamatsu city and other 29 cities and towns
6
90.12.19
5
 Ehime Pref. Ehime Setouchi Resort Development Plan
140,000
 Matsuyama city and other 27 cities, towns and villages
10
90. 6.29
6
 Fukuoka Pref. Genkai Recreation・Resort Plan
143,000
 Kitakyushu city and other 26 cities, towns and villages
9
89.10. 4
7
 Oita Pref. Beppu-Kujuu Resort Plan
149,000
 Beppu city and other 12 cities and towns
9
89.10. 4
8
 Yamaguchi Pref. Sazenseto・Sunshine Resort Plan
35,000
 Yanai city and other 8 cities and towns
4
93. 2.22
9
 Okayama Pref. Hiruzen-Mimasaka Resort Plan
163,000
 Tsuyama city and other 16 cities, towns and villages
11
93. 3.30
10
 Tokushima Pref. Human Resort Tokushima, Sea and Forest Plan
157,000
 Tokushima city and other 21 cities, towns and villages
8
94. 3.30

Figure 1-15 Resort Plans around the Seto Inland Sea