Preserving Shigetomi Beach
Expansive tidal flats are rare in the pot-shaped Kinkowan caldera bay, as the shore tends to drop off abruptly. However, sediment from the Omoi and Beppu Rivers collecting in the Shigetomi Beach area has created some shoals and tidal flats. While land reclamation projects have spread over most of the flatter areas of the bay, Shigetomi Beach has escaped that fate. The beach’s tidal flats are a priceless treasure to protect for future generations.