Windsurfing in Omaezaki

One of Japan's best-known wave spots. Winter westerlies blow side-shore from the right over chop and Pacific waves, up to mast high on big days.

Riders park in the long free car park on Prefectural Route 357, about 2 km west of Omaezaki Lighthouse, cross the road and take the steps down to the beach. The beach is narrow, about 20 m from the sea wall to the water, and there is less sand every year. Toilets and a foot wash are at the lighthouse end of the car park. By car it is about 25 minutes from Sagara-Makinohara IC on the Tomei Expressway. The classic wind is the strong winter westerly, side-shore from the right along this south-facing coast. The season runs from about November to April. An easterly or north-easterly blows side-offshore from the left and gives clean down-the-line waves. This is open Pacific water: small to head-high waves on normal days, up to mast high on big days. Onshore days give messy waves. The bottom is sand and reef, with some rocks in the sand. Strong currents build in the winter westerly and when the swell gets bigger. On big days the shorebreak is hard to get through, even for locals, and the gusts can be strong. On a good day the water is busy with windsurfers and surfers. The beach is a turtle nesting site, so stay off it at night from May to September.