Chiba, Kanto, Honshu
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Positives
- Great rivermouth breaks
- Warm summer conditions
- Unique cultural destination
- Typhoon swells
Negatives
- Inconsistent
- Frequently small and mushy
- Crowds and pollution
- Very expensive
Chiba, Kanto, Honshu surf travel guide
Surrounding Tokyo, the Kanto region is exposed to late summer typhoon swells, or short lived NE groundswells. Although the long tradition of fishing has had a negative influence on surfing, with harbours and tetrapods built in many of the areas that catch the best swells, surfing is now a well-established sport. Kanto region is divided between Ibaraki Prefecture to the north of Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture to the south and Chiba Prefecture to Tokyo's east which holds the lions share of the surf spots.
Surf spots in Chiba, Kanto, Honshu
Research the 18 surf breaks in Chiba, Kanto, Honshu and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 18 breaks in Chiba, Kanto, Honshu.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Chiba, Kanto, Honshu
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Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Tourists
- 31,192,000
- Population
- 126,476,461
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- JPY
- Exchange rate
- $1 = 121.36 JPY JPY
Cost of living
Communication
- Dialing in
- +81
- Dialing out
- 010
- Language
- Japanese
Electricity
- Plug Type
- ab
Visas
Most countries can visit Japan visa free for stays of up to 90 days.
Getting There
Narita Airport is conveniently located W of Tokyo not far from Choshi. It’s only a 30-minute train ride to the coast from Tokyo.
Getting Around
The best way to get to the beach is by train. They are fast and frequent but expensive. Rental cars cost about $250/w, fuel’s about $1.20/l. Traffic, especially on the main roads, is intense and if you don’t speak or read Japanese then forget about driving on your own as you’ll get hopelessly lost. There are fees for parking at the beach and at certain popular spots.
Accommodation
Splash Guest House on Hebara Beach (fr $50/n) are fully set up with surf & Sup rentals, school & guides. The Minshukus, (family run, basic lodging) around Katsuura are the cheapest places to stay - about ±$100/dble including breakfast. Local cuisine is tasty and healthy.
Activities
Tokyo is a city buzzing with life. Visit the central Ginza area for its shopping, Shinkuju for night-time entertainment or Akihabara for electronic goods. The perfect volcanic cone of Mt. Fuji is well worth a visit.
Hazards & hassles
Locals are cool towards 'Gaijin' (foreigners). Avoid surfing on Sundays the beaches get engulfed by waveriders. Roads and traffic can be severe.
Handy Hints
In Tokyo, the Ochanomizu area has a whole street of shops dedicated to surf goods and culture. Murasaki Sports and Oshmans are nationwide chains that stock surf gear but at $900 a board, they are way overpriced. Crime rates are low, mutual respect is something that extends to all parts of daily life, including in the waves - there can be a hundred people on each peak, but no aggressive localism or jockeying for waves. Longboarding is becoming very popular.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.