Surfing in Japan is incredibly underrated! When most people think of Japan, they think of skyscrapers and game centers, or maybe shrines and kimono. But other activities, away from the crowds of international tourists, are often left by the wayside.
In fact, surfing is actually quite popular in Japan. There are tons of interesting beaches and surf towns all over the country, and some you can even find fairly close to Tokyo, such as in nearby Chiba Prefecture. These beaches are often purely surf beaches, and aren’t the best for a relaxing rest by the water, but make for perfect places to catch some waves and experience surfing in Japan.
Here, we will first take a look at surfing culture in Japan and surfing’s role in the Tokyo Olympics, followed by an introduction to the top five famous surfing spots around Japan.
Is Surfing Popular in Japan?
With Japan’s east coast being nicely exposed to waves and swell from the Pacific Ocean, there are tons of surfing spots all over the country. Seeing as there are so many great surfing spots, it’s not surprising that there are so many people who love to surf, too! It’s estimated that there are over 2 million avid surfers in Japan, all just waiting to catch the next big wave.
Another form of surfing had already been around in Japan before the modern-day version made its stronghold. This form of surfing was called Itago, or Itago-nori. It came originally from youngsters using the removable floorboards from boats as a sort of float. The Itago boards were flat and rectangular, and people would usually lie front-down to use them, a bit like body boards.
It wasn’t until the mid-1900s that modern-day surfing came around. American servicemen based in Japan made for the coastline with their boards during downtime, and Japanese citizens were quick to give it a go.
Since then, surfing has been a popular pastime, and many beaches have surfboard rentals.
Surfing as an Olympic Sport in Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Surfing first appeared as an Olympic sport at Tokyo’s very own 2020 Olympics. Due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the Games themselves were held in 2021, but much of the branding and naming remained the same.
The decision to include surfing was not the smoothest ride. In 2015, the Tokyo Olympic committee sent in a proposal to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include four new sports: karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing. There were concerns that surfing might not be accepted, because it could pose issues for land-locked countries hosting the Games in the future, and also due to its hazardous nature as a sport. However, all four sports were accepted by the IOC, with the president of the institution noting their importance among the younger generation of athletes.
Surfing at the 2020 Olympics involved 20 men and 20 men competing on high-performance short boards, and consisted of a four-person heat structure. The best two of each heat progressed to the next round, and the heats were held at Tsurigasaki Beach in Chiba prefecture, about 40km away from Tokyo.
But, other than being the first country to host Olympic Games with surfing included, Japan had other reasons to be proud that year, too. In both the Men’s and Women’s competitions, the Japan team scored a medal. Kanoa Igarashi took home the silver for Men’s Surfing, and Amuro Tsuzuki took home the bronze for Women’s Surfing. What a great feat for Japan as a host country!
5 Famous Surf Spots in Japan
Now that we know a bit more about Japan’s surfing culture and just how popular it really is, you’re probably wondering where you can go to catch the best waves around Japan, so let’s take a look at some of the best surfing spots.
Depending on the location and time of year, the water can get pretty cold. There are about 1-3 months during the year where you can swim without a wetsuit, but you’ll certainly need a wetsuit for the rest of the year. So just remember to check weather conditions and what to bring before heading off to one of these recommended spots.
Tsurigasaki
First up is Tsurigasaki in Chiba prefecture (pronounced “tsoo ree ga sack ee”).
We’ve already mentioned that Tsurigasaki was the chosen location for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and there’s a good reason for that.
Tsurigasaki beach welcomes over 600,000 surfers every year. If it weren’t for the pandemic, those numbers would likely have risen sharply with overseas visitors after the Olympics. Given its visibility, though, it’s not unlikely that the beach will become more and more popular in the next few years.
The beach is one of the easternmost points of Japan, making it very easy to catch swells from almost any direction depending on the time of year.
One of the main reasons the beach is so popular for surfing is its consistency. It’s a short beach, but has surrounding jetties that help keep things consistent by keeping the sand in place and slowing down erosion. While you may not catch huge energetic waves here, you’re almost guaranteed to catch something at least.
Generally, when surfing in Japan, it’s best to rent a car and bring all your equipment in the car. That way you can easily get to beaches that are more out of the way, and you don’t have to lug your gear across multiple trains and buses.
Tsurigasaki Beach is not much of an exception. To get to the beach from Tokyo Station, you’ll need to take two trains out to Torami Station, totalling about 1.5 hours. From Torami Station, your only option is to walk or pray that you can find a taxi. The walk from the station to the beach is about 30 minutes.
Katsuura – Malibu Point
Another option out in the same area of Chiba prefecture is Katsuura (prounced “kat soo oo ra”).
Katsuura is a cosy and traditional fishing community with and older Japan vibe. There’s tons of nature – think thick green forests and impressive cliffs – but there are also some great beaches that somehow manage to avoid the crowds.
But Katsuura doesn’t just have one beach, it has many beaches, large and small. One of the most well-known is Malibu Point.
Malibu Point is an exposed reef break with fairly inconsistent waves, but when the waves get going, you’re in for a treat. To get the most consistently clean waves, your best bet is to visit in autumn, particularly in the month of November. According to Surf Forecast, you’ll be able to find clean and surfable waves 21% of the time in November.
You will need to be careful when the surf is up, as rocks and debris can get churned up and caused injury.
This is one of the rare beaches in Chiba that has easy access from Tokyo Station. Take the Wakashio 13 Limited Express straight to Katsuura Station, and from there it’s just a 10 minute walk.
Katsuura – Hebara Beach
Still staying within the Katsuura area, the 2km-long Hebara Beach (pronounced heh bah rah) is where a number of national surfing contests have been held. But with all the space on the beach, even at peak season you won’t feel like you’re gasping for space.
The grassy cliffs and nearby towns make for picturesque surfing trips. And if you want to take a break from surfing, the water is clear enough to go snorkelling and see what sea life is joining you on your beach break.
Not far from our previous Malibu Point, the conditions here are fairly similar. November is usually the best month to visit, and autumn the best season. There are exposed reef and jetties breaking the surf, creating quite consistent surfing conditions.
After tiring yourself out with the waves, it’s also a great idea to visit the local town. As it’s so close to the sea, it’s not much of a surprise that the seafood in the area is pretty darn delicious and can be found for reasonable prices if you do your research.
If you leave in the morning, you can get to Hebara Beach by public transport from Tokyo Station using a train to Onjuku Station and then a bus the rest of the way.
Isonoura
Further south, in the Kansai region (home to Kyoto and Osaka), lies Isonoura Beach. (Pronounced ee so no oo ra.)
Isonoura is loved by surfers of all kinds, as it’s closest surf spot from the popular city of Osaka. The beach is divided into a swimming area and a surfing area, so you don’t have to worry about surprise swimmers wondering into your surf path.
Given the easy access and great nearby facilities (including hot spring baths, delicious sea food, and a cute town), Isonoura makes for a wonderful surfing trip destination. However, it seems that most of Japan also knows that, because it can get pretty crowded.
This is a great surfing spot for beginners to advanced surfers, but expect swell in low pressure conditions and if there are nearby typhoons.
At Isonoura Beach, the average water temperature doesn’t fall below 15℃, and gets as high as 27℃ in August. While the summer months may seem like a great time for wetsuit-less surf trips, the air temperature is also incredibly hot and humid, so this may be too hot, especially if you come from cooler climates. Make sure to pack a lot of sunscreen and water whatever season you visit.
Access to Isonoura Beach takes about two hours from Osaka Station. One of the preferred routes is to take the train to Isonoura Beach Resort station, changing at Shin-Imamiya and Wakayamashi on the way.
Kaifu Rivermouth
Over on Japan’s large island of Shikoku, you’ll find Kaifu River (pronounced kai foo) within Tokushima prefecture.
Kaifu Rivermouth is one of the most famous surf points for big waves. After heavy rains and typhoons, there is often a strong south-eastern swell, resulting in huge waves. This is great news for expert surfers looking for a challenge, but should be avoided by beginners as it can be quite dangerous.
Waves at Kaifu Rivermouth can be somewhat inconsistent due to its exposed nature and offshore winds. The best time to go surfing at Kaifu Rivermouth is during autumn, and in most years October has been the best month. However, according to Surf Forecast, even in October, 59% of the time the waves are considered too small for surfing.
In the area, you’ll find a few other beach resorts, and generally speaking this is quite an out-of-the-way location where you’re unlikely to find hordes of tourists. The area is surrounded by nature and is great for other outdoor activities like kayaking and snorkelling.
As this is a destination quite far out from most regular tourist spots, it’s recommended to stay somewhere nearby if you’re visiting for the surfing. It takes around 5 hours by public transport to Kaifu. Although it may take roughly the same amount of time to rent a car and drive from Osaka, it is much easier to get around by car than relying on public transport in this area.
Surf in Japan
If there were any doubts in your mind about how popular surfing is in Japan, hopefully we’ve cleared things up!
Here, we have covered just a small portion of the ample surfing opportunities around Japan, so we hope you get exploring and find more surfing spots for your next Japan trip.