Katsurahama, Historic beach in Urado, Japan

Katsurahama is a beach in Urado, Japan, that curves in an arc between two headlands and is backed by pine forest. Dark ocean meets coarse sand, and rocks mark each end.

Warlord Chosokabe Motochika built a castle behind the shore in 1591, showing his control of the region. When the Yamauchi clan moved to Kochi in 1603, the structure was left empty and gradually fell into ruin.

Katsurahama appears in the Tosa folk song Yosakoi-bushi, and the beach is known for its moon viewing. Each year on the night of the mid-autumn full moon, locals hold the Meigetsu Sake Kuyō, reciting poetry and sharing sake in memory of the Kochi-born poet Ōmachi Keigetsu, whose monument stands in the park.

Swimming is banned along the whole beach because of strong waves and currents; rescue drills are held here every year after drownings in August 2011. The beach lies between Ryuzu and Ryuo capes, with the main sand strip, Honhama, in the middle. Buses from Kochi Station or Harimayabashi run roughly every one to two hours to the terminus.

The moon-viewing gathering is called Meigetsu Sake Kuyō and honours Ōmachi Keigetsu, a poet from this area. It is held on the night of the harvest moon, when residents talk literature and share sake. A monument to him stands in the park.