Job Discussion Forums

uberscheisse · Joined: 15 Nov 2004 Posts: 94

hi,

i'm moving to japan in the new year. i have friends there and will have the first month or so to take my time looking for a decent job.

my main focus is finding a job near the ocean and some decent-sized waves, but with fairly painless access to tokyo and other places like that.

i was in hamamatsu, shizuoka-ken 2 years ago and there was a nice swell in march. of course miyazaki is legendary. i've also heard ibaraki is nice.

any surfers care to share?

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

I had a lot of students who were avid surfers when I taught in Chiba Prefecture. You might find better beaches elsewhere, but if you want convenient access to Tokyo, it's a good compromise.

TK4Lakers · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 159

The Ibaraki-prefecture is good too. Places in the southern part such as Kashima, Kamisu-shi and Hasaki are good places for beginners, but you do have to becareful of the high tide.

Hasaki is also close to points in the Chiba prefecture, and although it has no train station, it has a highway bus that runs to Tokyo Station.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Best place for a beginner surfer? Hawaii. Don't come to Japan. As one who as surfed up and down the coast from Chiba to Irago (in Aichi) I've never been too impressed.

Yes, it's all surfable but for the most part, small swells and very uneven breaks. And mostly all shore breaks at that.

If you can get hold of a longboard or maybe an 8' softtop funboard you'll be alright, but still, it's nowhere nearly as good as other places in the world.

I even know some who don't even touch the water unless there's a typhoon coming...

Anyway, good luck with that... And make sure you have a decent wetsuit. If you live in Chiba you'll probably need a 5/4 for a good part of the year.

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

I had a few friends and students who surfed when i lived in eastern Hokkaido. I can't imagine the water to have been very pleasant, and as far as easy access to Tokyo is concerned, it can't get much worse.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Good luck to you!
http://www2.wbs.ne.jp/~tatado/tatadoam.jpg

p.s. check out this beach as the typhoon approaches.

uberscheisse · Joined: 15 Nov 2004 Posts: 94

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

I think a month to leisurely find a job near howling off-shore barrel rides is optimistic at best, but I am sure that is exactly what you will do. Power on!
http://www.transworldsurf.com/surf/gohuge/0,20086,1650629-0,00.html

uberscheisse · Joined: 15 Nov 2004 Posts: 94

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

I think you were being a little too thin-skinned, ubercheisse. Jim was just being honest-and a little humorous. Don't take it personally. Very Happy

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 1:44 am Post subject:

I live in Yokosuka and I am fairly new to surfing. I got my board in LA and go out to the Hayama area. There are some local legends out there still surfing, such as the Batman and a few others you can read about in Shonan Surfing magazine. And you can get decent waves in Kamakura. The parkings way expensive but a few places have free or super cheap parking if you get there early--like 5am early. As I mentioned, I`m new to surfing, so the waves are good for me. Izu is nicer,but I love being near Kamakura and Shonan...so until I can get to Okinawa or Hawaii, I`ll stay here. Hope that helps! Very Happy

may be going · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 129 Location: australia

i have to disagree with the sentiments posted by jim. as an aussie who grew up on the beach and has surfed since 12, i also chose japan because i can do two importnat things, surf and work.

my home in oz is close to some of the best waves on the east coast, so it is hard to compare japan favourably. but in saying that, the east coast of japan (mainly chiba-ken and ibaraki-ken) offer far more than is being made out.

there are decent spots all along the east coast that hold all types of swell. some are more consistent than others but unless it's dead flat they will offer you some decent waves, relatively consistently. there are numerous websites that give daily info. so you can work out which places to go based on wind and swell direction.

typhoon season is best, but autumn is also pretty good.

and after 2.5 years here i've never come close to wearing a 5/4. i don't surf in jan/feb coz i'm not in japan, but outside those months i have a 3/2 with a vest under when it gets really cold. a 5/4 might be comfy for some but none of my friends have one. they all wear 4/3. booties in the chillier months too. come golden week through to october the most you'll need is a springsuit for chiba.

don't be put off. it ain't hawaii or oz or indonesia but it's not desolate either. i have a lot of fun most weekends. you just gotta know where to go.

best piece of advice i would give beyond that is get a car. it makes life so much easier if you really want to spend a lot of time surfing.

TK4Lakers · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 159

I have to agree with May here,

I've surfed in both the chiba and ibaraki prefectures, and a 5/4 is not needed in chiba for most of the year.

The big Tonegawa River is what actually splits the two prefectures apart. Above the river, the water is pretty cold for most of the year. Below the river, the water is warmer.

Recent trends show that during the warmer part of the year, south winds pick up making Ibaraki a good spot to hit up.

But colder/winter seasons a lot of north winds blow so Chiba ken is best for off-shore.