Surf Spots

Kabune

Shonan, Japan

Kaguchihama

Kyushu, Japan

Kaguchihama is a beginner-friendly beach break near Takanabe in Kyushu, Japan, working on both wave directions with southeast swell performing best. Northwesterly winds are ideal, though rip currents are a noted hazard.

Kaifu Rivermouth

Shikoku, Japan

Kaifu Rivermouth is a right-hand river-mouth wave at Kaiyo in southern Tokushima. Southeast swell and northwest offshore wind can line up for hollow surf, and the break has hosted national and international contests. The area is reached from Route 55 or Kaifu Station; check the river mouth and current conditions before paddling out.

advanced · shortboard

Kamakomae

Shonan, Japan

Kamakura

Shonan, Japan

intermediate · advanced · shortboard

Kanegahama

Kyushu, Japan

Kanegahama is an exposed beach break in Hyuga, Miyazaki, with left and right peaks that favor southeast swell and northwest wind. Rip currents require care. Hyuga City links the beach to Kyushu's early surfing history and states that it provides neither lifeguards nor a designated summer swimming zone here; assess conditions independently before entering.

Kanehama

Kyushu, Tanegashima-Island, Japan

Kanehama is a surf beach on Tanegashima's northern east coast, near Nishinoomote. The Pacific-facing shore is known for larger waves. Steps lead down across rounded stones before the sand, so take care carrying a board to the water; a local surf photographer also documents toilets and showers at the beach.

Kashima

Shizunami, Japan

Katahama

Shizuoka, Japan

Katsumatagawakakou

Shizunami, Japan

Kazamoto

Kyushu, Tanegashima-Island, Japan

KDDI

Kyushu, Japan

Keifuen mae

Shonan, Japan

Kobukei

Kyushu, Japan

Kodomonokuni

Kyushu, Japan

Koigaura

Kagoshima, Japan

Koiso

Shonan, Japan

Kojiki

Shonan, Japan

Koshigoe gyoko

Shonan, Japan

Koudono

Kochi, Japan

Kurone

Niijima, Japan

Kusoshita

Shonan, Japan

Loko

Irako, Japan

Longbeach

Irako, Japan

Mamashita

Niijima, Japan

Matsunami chikado mae

Shonan, Japan

McDonalds mae

Shonan, Japan

Mikuni

Fukui, Japan

Mikuniko

Fukui, Japan

Minato

Irako, Japan

Minato-teibo migi

Irako, Japan

Minegahara

Shonan, Japan

Mirror

Irako, Japan

Misawagyokou

Aomori, Japan

Misileshita

Izu, Japan

Monobekakou

Kochi, Japan

Nagahama

Kyushu, Tanegashima-Island, Japan

Nagata

Kagoshima, Japan

Nagau/Arasaki

Shonan, Japan

Nakayama

Tanegashima, Japan

Namiaru mae

Shonan, Japan

Nishiiso

Isonoura, Japan

Niyodogawakakou

Shikoku, Japan

** Niyodo is a challenging rivermouth sandbar break that produces heavy, fast right-handers when conditions align properly, typically during larger swells. The sandbar shifts with river flow and tidal movement, making the takeoff inconsistent. Smaller swells during summer months, particularly September, allow longer waves suitable for single-fins and logs. Both lefts and rights form depending on sandbar configuration and swell angle, though it primarily works with solid south-facing swell and offshore north winds that help define the wave shape. The break's primary hazards stem from strong tidal dynamics and river outflow. Rip currents run directly from the rivermouth, and the freshwater undertow combines with saltwater flow to create unpredictable currents that make exiting the water difficult and require respect during all conditions. The spot draws surfers seeking uncrowded sessions, but limited space and powerful water movement keep it a serious-only destination unsuitable for inexperienced swimmers. Access is straightforward from Kōchi Prefecture with free parking and close road proximity to the beach, making the spot convenient to reach by car from the local region.

Ohama-Maiiso

Izu, Japan

Ohama-Main

Izu, Japan

Okuiso

Isonoura, Japan

Omaezaki

Shizuoka, Japan

Omaezaki is a south-facing beach and reef break that harnesses swell from multiple angles, with south-facing swells driving the most consistent peaks. The shallow seafloor creates tight barrels and tubes at lower tides while becoming more forgiving and workable at high tide. Wave heights typically run 3–5 feet in the summer months, with hollow sections offering challenge to intermediate and advanced surfers. The break is sheltered by its coastline orientation and works best when northeast offshore winds keep the water glassy, though coastal conditions between October and April tend toward strong and gusty airflow. Omaezaki has hosted an annual World Surf League qualifying series competition since the early 2020s, drawing Japanese national talent and regional competitors. The event runs typically in September, coinciding with typhoon season when Pacific tropical cyclones drive substantial swell into the region. During these late-summer swells, the spot can produce consistent barrels over multiple days—a draw that elevated its profile within Japan's competitive and recreational surf community. The working harbor town sits about 30 minutes south of Kakegawa Station via local transit. Marine Park Omaezaki offers 460 free parking spaces and facilities including restrooms and refreshment stands, while the adjacent long beach section provides alternate beach access. Visitors should expect a rocky intertidal zone exposed at lower tides, particularly near the working reefs that shelter more sheltered channels during higher water.

Oniguchi

Kyushu, Japan

Oniguchi is a typhoon-dependent beach break on the southwest coast of Kagoshima, beneath the volcanic cone of Mount Kaimondake. The Ryukyu Islands to the south effectively block nearly all regular swell; the break comes alive only when tropical storms or typhoons move through the East China Sea from June through November, with August and September offering the highest probability of rideable conditions. The wider Kyushu region has a modest place in Japanese surf history as a destination for chasing typhoon swells, though Oniguchi itself appears to have attracted less documented attention than nearby breaks in Miyazaki Prefecture like Kojima. Access remains challenging due to narrow, unmarked coastal roads and the remote setting typical of this region of the Satsuma Peninsula. The area is otherwise known for hot springs and volcanic landscape rather than as a developed beach destination.