Surfing in Japan

Posted on April 13, 2007 by Angie Davis

When I first came to Japan as a JET, regardless of the fact that I was going to live in the mountainous, landlocked prefecture known as GunmaOne of Japan's 47 prefectures. It forms the Northwest corner of the Kanto area.-ken, the surfer in me packed my trusty surfboard and wetsuit quiver, knowing that I would eventually make it down to the beach.

That first trip to the coast was indeed back in October of 2005, a three day weekend away to stay at a friend of a friend’s shack in Torami, ChibaOne of Japan's 47 prefectures. Located just East of Tokyo and home to such well known sites as Narita International Airport and Tokyo Disney Land.. We got waves that weekend, and despite the reasonably dirty, black sandy beaches, I took an instant liking to Torami and the Chiba Pacific coast, and pondered upon my return to the mountains if maybe one day I would be able to move there….

Last June, I made the move to Ichinomiya, the next town to Torami, and am currently teaching at a conversation company called Surf English. Moving down to the beach was the best decision I’ve ever made. Within a couple of months, I’d surfed quality waves on a daily basis, walking to the beach within a minute from my new apartment, met some of the friendliest Japanese people ever, taught the wives and kids of a handful of pro-surfers, and even picked up a wetsuit sponsor, with the promise to go in some contests in the coming year. Life is pretty sweet down this side of Japan, no high rise buildings, smiling faces everywhere you look, and a general relaxed feel of stoke floating about the place. I love it here.

For those surfers who are considering coming to Japan to live, or just surf, or for those who are landlocked like I was and considering the move, or even those who are interested in learning to surf or visiting the beach for a long-weekend, I insist that you make it down to Chiba, and especially to Ichinomiya, Torami, or the southern beaches such as Katsuura or Kamogawa. There’s loads of breaks, consistent swell which can really turn it on in the typhoon season, most of the Japanese Professional Surfers live in this area and frequently surf the local beaches, the people are friendly and there’s a great range of cafes, restaurants and surf shops to keep you entertained.

If you are in need of equipment, CYNET Japan sells Town and Country Hawaii and Clapper Surfboards as well as great quality Equipage Wetsuits (Japan owned and made company-very good!), at very reasonable prices. Contact Miyajima Yoshide in Japanese on 0475-42-7252, or Angie Davis for English on 090-9341-3161, or visit the CYNET website at http://www.cyn.co.jp.

Happy Nihon Surfing!