Kugenuma is the beating heart of Shonan surf culture, just 40 minutes by train from Tokyo's Shinjuku station. The beach represents Japanese surf history, celebrating the roots of 60s and 70s surf culture with a chill, welcoming community. The waves are small and inconsistent—dependent on typhoon swells—but the cultural significance and accessibility make this a pilgrimage site for any surfer visiting Japan. Views of Mt. Fuji on clear days complete the experience.
Return flights to HND, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
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Water temp
23°C
Wetsuit
Springsuit / 2mm
Difficulty
2/10
Crowd level
9/10
👥 Summer Break (Jul 20 – Aug 31) — expect extra crowds
Access: Odakyu Line from Shinjuku to Kugenuma-Kaigan station.
Kugenuma Beach works best on a mid tide, ideally between 0.2m and 1.2m on the local tide chart. The tide chart above shows today’s strike window.
Offshore wind at Kugenuma Beach blows from the N (0°). Anything in the 320° to 40° range grooms the faces; outside it, expect chop or bumpy conditions.
Kugenuma Beach wants SSE swell (120° to 200°) between 0.6m and 2m, with a period of 10s or more for quality waves.
The main season at Kugenuma Beach is Jul-Sep. A secondary window runs Oct, Nov. Typhoon season only. Often flat outside storm windows.
Fly into HND, then allow about 60 minutes by road. Odakyu Line from Shinjuku to Kugenuma-Kaigan station.
Kugenuma Beach is a beach break, a peak with lefts and rights. Difficulty is rated 2/10.
Peak: Jul-Sep
Secondary: Oct, Nov
Typhoon season only. Often flat outside storm windows.
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