The north coast of Java Island faces severe coastal problems such as coastal erosion, coastal flooding, and land subsidence, which threaten critical industrial and residential areas. Although various coastal protection measures have been implemented in the region, many of these interventions have been reactive and uniform in approach, relying on traditional hard structures such as seawalls, revetments, and groins, with limited consideration of underlying coastal mechanisms. To reconsider coastal management practices, this study investigates three coastal areas along the north coast of Java, Indramayu, Pekalongan, and Rembang, in which coastal erosion has been particularly pronounced. By combining field observations with long-term shoreline change analysis, this study clarifies the area-specific coastal erosion mechanisms, including the offshore transport of cohesive sediment, shoreline retreat driven by land subsidence, and the interruption of longshore sediment transport. This study also proposes coastal measures based on the local conditions and emphasizes a coastal management that reflects the area-specific coastal mechanisms.