Iso Beach

**Swimming season:** Official season is July 1–August 31 with lifeguard supervision. Water temperature reaches 25–28°C in summer — warm and comfortable. Outside official season, swimming is allowed but no lifeguards and facilities are closed. The black sand heats quickly in sun (hot underfoot) — bring sandals. **Sakurajima sunset:** The beach faces east toward Sakurajima, making sunrises spectacular (6:00am in summer) but sunsets are behind you. However, late afternoon (16:00–18:00) provides the best volcano photography — side-lighting creates texture on Sakurajima's slopes and any eruption plumes glow golden. The beach is nearly empty after 17:00. **Post-beach onsen:** The nearby Sengan-en area has public baths (銭湯, sento) where you can rinse off salt and sand properly for ¥450.