Surfing Japan

Kisakihama is Miyazaki's most reliable surf spot, a long uninterrupted stretch of beach nestled between the Kiyotake and Kaeda rivers. The rivermouth sandbars produce quality...

Aoshima is a jewel of Miyazaki surf culture, a long stretch of beach opposite the tiny Aoshima island with its famous shrine. The wave is forgiving and consistent, making it...

Tsurigasaki Beach, locally known as Shidashita, made history as the venue for surfing's Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Located on Chiba's Kujukuri coast, this exposed...

Onjuku is Chiba's mellow alternative to the competitive intensity of Tsurigasaki. This family-friendly beach town offers gentle waves that are perfect for beginners and...

Katsuura sits at the southern end of Chiba's surf coast, rewarding those who venture farther from Tokyo with beautiful waves and significantly fewer crowds. The beachbreak...

Kugenuma is the beating heart of Shonan surf culture, just 40 minutes by train from Tokyo's Shinjuku station. The beach represents Japanese surf history, celebrating the roots of...

Kaifu River is nicknamed the Japanese Pipeline, and when typhoon swells funnel into this rivermouth in southern Tokushima, the name is justified. The wave produces grinding...

Ikumi sits at the heart of Shikoku's surf coast, straddling the border between Tokushima and Kochi prefectures. This is where many of Japan's professional surfing contests are...

Niyodo Rivermouth is Shikoku's heavy-water gem, a challenging rivermouth break that features fast, powerful right-handers when the sandbanks set up properly. The Niyodo River is...

Okuragahama was named one of the "Best 100 Beaches in Japan," and the 4-kilometer stretch of white sand and quality peaks justifies the title. Located near Hyuga City in northern...

Takezaki is surfing at the edge of space—literally. This quality beachbreak sits beneath sandstone cliffs near JAXA's Tanegashima Space Center, where you can catch waves with...

Ikarashi Cospo is the heart of Sea of Japan surfing, producing consistent waves when Siberian winter storms sweep across from the northwest. The beach features white sand, dunes,...

Machino Rivermouth sits on the exposed Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture, jutting out into the Sea of Japan to catch maximum swell from Siberian winter storms. When northwest...

Hamaatsuma is Hokkaido's most accessible surf spot, a beginner-friendly beachbreak south of New Chitose Airport with consistent 2-foot waves and full facilities. The water is cold...

Shioya is where Japan's surf and ski cultures collide—a rivermouth break near Otaru that lights up with the same Siberian storms that dump legendary powder on Niseko and...

Sunabe Seawall is the most hallowed ground for surfing in Okinawa, a series of reef breaks along a seawall near American Village. The area features multiple distinct peaks—Bowls,...

Ikei Island offers Okinawa's best east-coast waves, catching E-SE swells when the popular west-side breaks are blown out by onshore winds. The island is accessible by car via...

Sendai-Shinko is described as one of Japan's best beachbreaks, producing barrelling peaks when solid swells arrive from the Pacific. Located on the Tohoku coast, this northern...

Shirahama is the Izu Peninsula's premier surf beach, a consistent beachbreak that hosts competitions and draws surfers from across the Kanto region. The white sand beach is...

Shizunami represents Shizuoka Prefecture's growing surf infrastructure, with a new surf stadium built nearby that signals Japan's investment in wave-riding culture. The...