Kamakura is both a historic capital and a modern summer escape, just under an hour from Tokyo. Its beaches draw families, surfers and students, creating an atmosphere that shifts easily between tradition and youth culture. Beyond the sand, wooded hills shelter temples and shrines, lending the town a sense of depth often missing in resort areas. Street stalls selling kakigori (shaved ice) and seaside fireworks festivals give it a nostalgic summer flavour. Like Cousins Beach, it’s a place where rituals, however small, become anchors of memory.

Part of the pull of Cousins Beach in The Summer I Turned Pretty is how it condenses the rituals of summer into one magical place. While the town itself is fictional, its spirit is scattered across coastlines worldwide. Whether in New England, Cornwall or Kamakura, these are towns where the season slows, family traditions take root and the backdrop feels timeless enough to step straight into a story.