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kittycat
Joined: 21 May 2006
Posts: 6
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 Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:51 pm Post subject: where are the best beaches near big city fun??? |
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| i love the beach/ocean/swimming/surfing...and have only lived in large cities so far in japan ... i'm looking to re-locate to somewhere (and preferably south of iwate/or ideally not much higher up than chiba) with the best beaches but also very close to big bustling city life as i cannot either survive without good clubs/shops/live music venues/galleries/wide variety of restaurants and drinking holes (!) etc - does it sound like i want my cake AND eat it? yes!!! but i work so hard and so desperately need to play hard (big city life suits that) and relax too (beach life is perfect for me) - if anyone could therefore give me some ideas as to where is the best area in japan to research i'd be over the moon!!! thank you! cat xxx |
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markle
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 1316
Location: Out of Japan
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:38 am Post subject: |
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Hawaii??
Seriously why live in Japan? If you are after big cities and beaches Japan is not the best place to be. |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:53 am Post subject: |
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| I agree. Would be nice but don't see it happening here. |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:27 am Post subject: |
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I recommend Yokohama. If you are there, you are in a big city (and close to Tokyo) while also being close to Shonan -- a popular surfing beach in Japan.
The breaks aren't that great, sandy bottom, overall surfable but I'd recommend a longboard. You could probably try some skimboarding or bodyboarding there too.
Take a look here: http://www.outdoorjapan.com/activities/surfing/activities-surfing-introduction.html
Outdoor Japan has good info on this sort of thing. |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:47 am Post subject: |
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Definite overachiever, aren't you Jim!?!? Never had you pegged for a surfer. Aren't you from Canada, and if so where did you get into surfing?
Next you are going to tell me that you have a pilot's license and a brown belt in Karate!
Said it before and I am saying it again, wish I could have met up with you when you were in Tokyo---next time! |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:22 am Post subject: |
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| Sweetsee wrote: |
Definite overachiever, aren't you Jim!?!? Never had you pegged for a surfer. Aren't you from Canada, and if so where did you get into surfing?
Next you are going to tell me that you have a pilot's license and a brown belt in Karate!
Said it before and I am saying it again, wish I could have met up with you when you were in Tokyo---next time! |
Sorry to disappoint you, Sweetsee -- but I have no pilot's license (I actually DID do ground school but I finished with a very low grade -- too low to actually become a pilot) and I've never done karate -- though I've been doing Wing Chun style kung-fu for about 10 years or so. Dunno what belt that amounts to, as my see-bok (elder uncle) who was my last instructor didn't use any kind of belt system. It was a tradtional Chinese system where you jsut kept on learning until you were good enough to surpass the teacher -- and I still got a long ways to go.
Funny story about the surfing.... In order to get married, my wife and I eloped to Hawaii and we got some lessons in Waikiki. It stuck, and so when we got to Japan, I bought a board since the ocean is so easily accessible.
Anyway, I'd be glad to give anyone a ring to go for a drink or a meal if I'm in their neck of the woods. 
(BTW, I don't think its overachieving -- but I absolutely HATE to be bored... Maybe it's a form of ADD or something, but I need lots of hobbies to stay sane!) |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:38 am Post subject: |
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Okay, that makes sense about the surfing. Too funny Jim!!!
Two more questions if you don't mind:
tennis?
your sign? |
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pastis
Joined: 21 Jul 2006
Posts: 82
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 6:16 am Post subject: |
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I'd say Chiba. When it comes to water recreation/sports etc., I'm not all that big on non-tropical beaches, so I'm not really sure. But apparently Chiba's got the most/biggest beaches around Tokyo. Kujukuri Beach is an example (supposedly popular for surfing). I think in the summer, the nicer beaches get crowded, plus I don't know how clean the water is (probably not bad, but there are some industrialised areas along the coast you'd want to avoid swimming near). Plus the water's probably a bit chilly. I imagine the further south you go, the warmer the water gets.
Otherwise, like others have said, there's not much for terrific beaches in mainland Japan. Of course you could always go to Okinawa, but that's another dimension. |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:38 am Post subject: |
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| What are your criteria as far as beaches KC? |
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kittycat
Joined: 21 May 2006
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:21 pm Post subject: any beach with sand - any water with delicious surfer types |
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wow - thank you for your ideas - yokohama/chiba...i've checked out the outdoor japan websites and got some excellent info about where best to surf/bodyboard ... and as for my other main 'beach criteria' it's got to be shamelessly simple but shallow - lovely sand to lay on, lovely water to swim in and delicious surfer types to gaze upon! i apologise for sounding like hoochie...!
anyway, jim, i think you're probably one of the most humble but genuinely 'golden boy'-ish guys i've come across so far on this forum! well impressed! sweetsee - i reckon he's got to be either an aquarious or leo...and would no doubt give sampras/becker/agassi a run for their money! what do you think? lol!
now, if anyone could also possibly offer up any ideas about what kind of teaching work i should head for next (i've been modeling and teaching efl/esol for about 9 years in japan/uk and about to retire from the fashion stuff ... am 28 and need to totally re-locate and go into full-time tefl - have qualification and experience and desperately don't want to join the major eikaiwa really low paid rat-race ... my future aim is to get into a teacher training position .... please do offer up any ideas as i'll truly be so so grateful!!)
thanks for your time!!
cat xxx |
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bornslippy1981
Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 271
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Sweetsee wrote: |
Okay, that makes sense about the surfing. Too funny Jim!!!
Two more questions if you don't mind:
tennis?
your sign? |
Mr. Sweetsee, why do you want to know Jim's sign? |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:24 pm Post subject: Re: any beach with sand - any water with delicious surfer ty |
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| kittycat wrote: |
anyway, jim, i think you're probably one of the most humble but genuinely 'golden boy'-ish guys i've come across so far on this forum! well impressed! sweetsee - i reckon he's got to be either an aquarious or leo...and would no doubt give sampras/becker/agassi a run for their money! what do you think? lol! |
Hehe... I'm flattered! But don't get me wife TOO jealous 
In any event, I'm a Sagittarius.... Dec. 19th to be exact -- in case you want to tell me what's in store for me. Year of the tiger in case you want to mix East & West.
Anyway, just so I don't threadjack this TOO badly, some extra info for the OP... The water & waves are one thing, but the beach itself in Shonan is unfortunately FILTHY. You're almost literally tripping over peoples' litter.
You may also want to consider Nagoya or Okazaki. Both are near Irago which is one of Japan's better surf spots... They usually host the "Tahara Pro" surf tournament every year (in August). Lotsa pro surfers come to town and it's literally a huge party! THe *ahem* scenery tends to be a little nicer there too (for men AND women)... Then, you are not TOO unreasonably far from Nagoya, which is a large enough city to have some nightlife.
Finally, if you can find a surf shop in Japan (almost any shop will do) pick up a copy of Beachcomber magazine (the locals just call it "BCM" or "BCM magazine." It's free but often you have to ask for it at the counter. It's really invaluable... It gives you local maps to all the surfing beaches, and tells you exactly what kind of suit you need for each month of the year (if you live in Chiba an you'll be bundled up in a 5/4 with hood and booties for a good few months of the year). Also, just to keep on good terms with the shop (as the magazine IS free) I usually try to buy something while I'm there -- even if it's just a stick of sex wax or something -- I'm always losing mine anyway. |
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Perpetual Traveller
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 651
Location: In the Kak, Japan
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:25 pm Post subject: |
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I would have thought that was obvious, it's so that he can check that the planets are aligned in his favour (Sweetsee's) on the day that he proposes their match! 
PT |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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Wow Cat thanks, you are right about the tennis but you got the sign wrong!(wishing) How about a couple of words to describe Leos or Aquarians?
Plenty of beaches like you described and if you pm me I will give you a link where you can get awesome photos of daily surf conditions. Fortunately but unfortunately for you, the beaches you described are hours away from city life.
Howdy Slippy--reason was because I like him a lot and was sure we shared the same sign. If there were more people like Jim and Kent from the Thai forum here the vibe here would be really sweet. Oh well!
Howdy PT--would like to get Jim on the court, or anyone that can hit!
Enjoy,
s |
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azarashi sushi
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 562
Location: Shinjuku
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| Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:08 am Post subject: |
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How about a couple of words to describe Leos or Aquarians?
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Fixed fire (Leo) vs. fixed air (Aquarius). Fire and air is generally a good combination... The fire warms the air and the fire needs air to breathe. Both are fixed signs so there may be a bit of stubborness on both sides. Leo is a born ruler and needs to rule his domain no matter how large or small it is... Power struggles with Leo are a possibility (if power and control is your thing) |
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