General Wave Information of Japan

Though Japan faces to Pacific Ocean directly, as the most of the coastline around the islands are back behind the continental shelf, the swell reduces its power before it reaches to the coast line. But once the grand swell hits the islands, you can find great and superior waves here. The best surf season in Japan is summer to early fall when a typhoon passes near by the islands.

Focused in Shonan Area, where the beach well known as the Mecca of sufring in Japan for its accessbility from Tokyo and its mellow and fun waves. Waves there are ususally small, around 1~2 ft. But, the beach, mainly sand bottom, is shallow for some distance from the shore which makes the mellow and slow waves especially neat for the longboards. Also, the coastline stands bit back from the Pacific gathers and reshape the swell which helps to make fantastic waves when the big swell comes to the islands.

But, you must remember the word "Shonan Magic" which describes the situtaion that the wave totally disappears one day after the swell has hit the beach, which sometimes occur and disappoints me a lot..

Anyway,If you love surf trips, its not good idea to pass Japan and fly to Bali. Have a good luck and enjoy surfing in the mysterious oriental islands in the the far east!