Upcoming Dates:
- $3850 NZD (approx $2465 USD) per person twin share or futon room
- $3950 NZD (approx $2530 USD) per person for couples in King bedroom
- $4050 NZD (approx $2595 USD) per person solo traveler in private room
- Fly to Tokyo – Enjoy a night exploring the city, then next morning take the 1 hour45min flight to the location of the surf camp where you will be picked up on arrival and taken to your nearby beachfront accommodation
Inclusions
✓ 7 nights accommodation
✓ Daily surf guiding and transport to the many surf spots located on east and south coasts
✓ Comprehensive daily surf coaching on land and in the water
✓ Buffet breakfast daily + tea and coffee + lunches and dinners at authentic local restaurants
✓ All your surfing video footage and photos downloaded to Dropbox daily
✓ 3 Restorative Yoga sessions (easy and relaxing)
✓ Assistance with the language and customs
✓ Visits to local attractions and sightseeing
Not included:
Flights, 1 night stay in Tokyo but we can help arrange it, alcoholic drinks, Meals before your arrival at the surf camp and after you depart.
Japan Surf Trip Overview
Japan is such a cool surf destination if you have the required spot and language knowledge to make a trip happen. The diversity of waves in the region we are going to combined with the rural landscapes, delicious food and the truly unique Japanese culture will leave a life long impact on you.
I deliberately haven’t named the region here, but we’ll be going in late Summer when the weather and water is extremely warm (as in warmer than Bali) and swells are consistent due to Typhoon activity out in the Pacific ocean. This one is aimed at Novice and Lower Intermediate Level and I’ll be doing my best to get you uncrowded sessions where you can focus on building confidence and improving your turns with a higher wave count. The coastlines are full of nooks and crannies, so if some spots are too big and challenging, there are usually several more mellow options, which is a real luxury and makes scoring the right waves for your level a lot easier.
Surfing aside, this trip could easily be a stand alone food and culture tour! Walk the neon alleys of the city on balmy nights, explore peaceful fishing villages, cool off in fresh mountain streams, find waves hidden down rice paddy roads….and experience all the quirkiness that is Japan on a daily basis. Shinto Shrines, Castle Ruins, Electrical Stores, Samurai Villages, Pachinko Parlours, Green Tea Plantations and Izakaya restaurants are all there to be experienced.
On the surfing front I’ll be coaching you in the water often, but video analysis will also be part of the daily plan. You can expect to surf quiet beachbreaks and coves, gentle cobblestone reef rivermouths and perhaps some sand bottom point-breaks too. There are also an abundance of reefbreaks that tend to be a bit more challenging, but we may give them a go if the waves end up being a good match for the level of the group.
If at present you aren’t content with your surfing level, this week of coaching will give you a strong sense of progress, autonomy and hope for the future. The Japanese surf culture is a breath of fresh air and seems to be less about the image and more about continuous improvement. 3 restorative yoga sessions are also included during our down times, so overall this will be an adventure that is food for the soul and highly rejuvenating. Step outside the norm.
Japan Surf Camp Highlights
✓ Enjoy a higher wave count and build confidence in your ability to surf more challenging conditions
✓ You’ll be immersing yourself in the uniqueness of a surf destination that you’ll know very little about in advance, and that’s the best way to travel!
✓ Overcome any of the common “Novice Sticking Points” that hold people back from improving, such as confused pop-up technique, low wave count, poor wave reading, fear with steep take-offs, trouble surfing backhand, difficulties with turning, speed generation and learning basic manoeuvres
✓ You’ll go home with a folder full of photos and videos of you surfing and exploring Japan
✓ Sharing your journey with a small group of like-minded and like-leveled surfers
✓ Eating in Japan is unforgettable, not just the tastes but the locations and atmosphere of the restaurants often feel surreal
✓ You’ll surf a huge variety of surf spots as there are 3 distinct zones we can access easily, the Northern breaks, the Fishing Port Coast and the Southern Bay – they all have different personalities
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in our destination around 10am after the short morning flight from Tokyo. The hotel we are staying at is very close so with a bit of luck you’ll be all checked in by 11am and ready for some lunch and your first surf session or two that afternoon.
Day 2 – 7: We’ll have 6 full days of surfing and exploring this large coastline.
Day 8: Our final day, we’ll have one last morning surf and you’ll be dropped back at the airport for you early afternoon flight back to Tokyo.
The Daily Routine: As on all our trips, the routine will be flexi and based around the surf conditions and tides, but here’s a general guide…
Wake up and check the surf immediately as our hotel is directly in front of a popular surf beach. Some days you might go for an early session out front, other days we might just load up on the buffet breakfast then jump in the van and head off to find an ideal spot up or down the coast. Depending on swell size and direction these surf missions could be short and sweet then back to the hotel, or they might be full day excursions to more distant surf zones.
Most days we’ll probably surf twice and go on some non-surf excursions in between those sessions. We’ll also have a bit of chill time at the hotel, and we’ll fit in some restorative yoga sessions or Smoothstar skateboard drills during the afternoons.
Lunches will generally be at whatever restaurants are close at hand on our surf adventures, many good ones can be found near all the breaks. At dinner time we can go out as a group and mix things up as there are lots of options from lively Izakaya (Japan’s version of the pub) to Soba Noodle houses, Ramen Shops and Teishoku “Set” restaurants, just to name a few. Trying festival food and even convenience store food is part of the experience too!
What level is this Surf Trip for?
This trip is for level 2 and level 3 surfers. You can check your level here
There will be a higher proportion of in-water coaching and support than on some of our other more advanced trips that mainly focus on video analysis and land-based drills. You can be quite a novice level surfer but it’s not for total beginners as there will be no coaching in the whitewater, you need to already be surfing out the back. We won’t be hunting the biggest and steepest waves with hard paddle outs though. More like gentle peelers and then a few slightly challenging sessions once you’ve warmed up!
Anyone from anywhere can join this trip. Most of our trips have a base of Kiwis but often a few people from other countries join us as well. The vibe has always been supportive and fun.
Accommodation
As already mentioned, our hotel is right in front of a beachbreak, it is long and mellow. There is a cool little surf vibe in the surrounding area with outdoor eateries, parks, walks to shrines, supermarkets and other stores.
All rooms have the much needed A/C (it’s everywhere in Japan due to the heat). There are options for Western style bedrooms with normal beds, or the traditional Tatami mat rooms where the futon mattresses are pulled out for sleeping at night. They are generally pretty comfy in my opinion. Prices change slightly depending on your preference.
The hotel is quite spacious with a garden area, it’s own hot spring, swimming pool and day spa.
Bookings
To secure your place, a deposit of $450 NZD will be needed, with the remaining balance due 90 days before departure. These coaching trips book up fast, so it is best to get in early to avoid missing out.
