Ikei Island
Ikei Island offers Okinawa's best east-coast waves, catching E-SE swells when the popular west-side breaks are blown out by onshore winds. The island is accessible by car via bridges, but getting to the surf requires a long paddle to the point—worth it for those who make the effort. The reef break works for all levels, with beautiful coastal scenery and significantly fewer crowds than Sunabe. Tide-dependent like all Okinawa breaks, with surfing limited to higher tides.
Ikei Island surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- E (100°)
- Direction range
- 60° - 150°
- Size range
- 0.8m - 2.5m
- Ideal size
- 1.6m - 2.1m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 12s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- W (270°)
- Offshore range
- 230° - 310°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- high
- Optimal range
- 0.8m - 2m
- Danger below
- 0.5m
Water temp
27°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
5/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: Drive to Ikei Island via bridges. Long paddle out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Ikei Island?
Ikei Island is a reef break in Uruma, Japan, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at Ikei Island?
Ikei Island picks up swell from the ENE round to the SSE, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the E. It starts working at around 0.8m and handles up to about 2.5m, with the sweet spot around 1.6 to 2.1m. Period matters too: aim for 12s or longer, as anything under 8s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Ikei Island?
A W wind is dead offshore at Ikei Island, and anything from the SW round to the NW keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 5am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Ikei Island?
Ikei Island is at its best around high tide, roughly 0.8m to 2m on the local chart. Below 0.5m it gets dangerously shallow.
When is the best time of year to surf Ikei Island?
The most reliable run of swell at Ikei Island comes Apr to Nov. There's a second window in Dec to Mar too. East coast works when west has onshore. Typhoon season best.
How cold is the water at Ikei Island?
The water at Ikei Island averages around 27°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Ikei Island good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 5/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 3/10). Long paddle to point. Very shallow at low tide.
How do I get to Ikei Island?
The nearest airport on our list is OKA, then it's roughly a one-hour drive. Drive to Ikei Island via bridges. Long paddle out.
What other surf spots are near Ikei Island?
The closest breaks we track are Sunabe Seawall (27 km), handy when Ikei Island isn't working. Fun fact: it's the second most southerly break we track in Japan.
Best Season
Peak: Apr-Nov
Secondary: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
East coast works when west has onshore. Typhoon season best.