Surfing Tsurigasaki Beach (Shidashita): The Complete Guide

Tsurigasaki Beach (Shidashita) is a sandy-bottom beach break located in Ichinomiya, Japan, offering both lefts and rights along Japan's coastline. Tsurigasaki Beach, locally known as Shidashita, made history as the venue for surfing's Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Rated as intermediate difficulty with crowded conditions, this beach break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is ESE (110°), with workable conditions from NE to S (45°–170°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Tsurigasaki Beach (Shidashita) needs a minimum of 0.8m / 3ft to start working and handles swells up to 2.5m / 8ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 8 seconds, with 12 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Secondary Swell: NE winter swells also work well

Wind: True offshore here blows from the WSW (250°). The full offshore range spans SSW to WNW (210°–290°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at all tides. Optimal tide range is 0.3m–1.5m.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Tsurigasaki Beach (Shidashita) runs August, September, October (Aug–Oct). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Secondary Season: A secondary window opens November, December, January, February, March (Nov–Mar). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Typhoon season Sep-Oct best. Winter NE swells also work.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 22°C / 72°F. A shorty or spring suit is recommended for longer sessions.

Getting There

The nearest airport is NRT, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes by road.

Access: Train to Kazusa-Ichinomiya station, then bus or taxi.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

👥 Crowded — Gets very crowded
🌀 Strong rips — Dangerous currents

Very crowded on weekends. Strong currents on bigger days.

Safety Tips:

Study the currents before paddling out. Know your exit strategy
Surf early mornings or off-peak days to avoid the worst of the crowds

Skill Level: This spot is rated intermediate (4/10). Crowd Level: Typically crowded (8/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Tsurigasaki Beach (Shidashita)? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Tsurigasaki Beach (Shidashita) is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*