Japan surf forecast

Surfing in Japan

Japan's best-known surf coasts face the Pacific, from Chiba and Shonan near Tokyo down to the Izu Peninsula, the Izu Islands, Shikoku, and Kyushu's Miyazaki coast with Tanegashima to the south. The surf season is driven by weather systems rather than steady groundswell, so the coast can sit flat for spells and then come alive quickly.

The key swell source is typhoons. From late summer into autumn, roughly August to October, typhoons tracking towards or past the archipelago send south to south-east swell that produces the biggest and most reliable waves of the year on Pacific-facing beaches. Winter brings north-east swells from low-pressure systems in the North Pacific, which favour east-facing beaches such as Chiba but are often accompanied by strong wind. Spring and early summer tend to be smaller, which suits learners.

Most mainland surf is beach break, with sandbars shaped by groynes, piers and river mouths, so tide and bank shape make a big difference from one session to the next. Wave quality ranges from gentle, beginner-friendly days in Shonan to powerful shorebreak on the Izu Islands. Lineups close to Tokyo get very busy at weekends, and etiquette in the water is taken seriously, so give way and wait your turn. A 3/2 wetsuit covers most of the mainland coast outside deep winter, when thicker rubber and boots are needed further north. Use the area pages below to compare spots.