Machino Rivermouth sits on the exposed Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture, jutting out into the Sea of Japan to catch maximum swell from Siberian winter storms. When northwest winds howl down from the continent, this rivermouth lights up with powerful peaks—some of the biggest barrels Japan has to offer. The remote location means empty lineups, but also cold water, limited facilities, and serious commitment. This is frontier surfing for those who earn their waves.
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Water temp
12°C
Wetsuit
5/4mm + boots
Difficulty
5/10
Crowd level
2/10
Access: Remote drive to Noto Peninsula. Car essential.
Machino Rivermouth is a beach break in Noto Peninsula, Japan, with peaks that run both left and right.
Machino Rivermouth picks up swell from the W round to the NNW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the NW. It starts working at around 1m and handles up to about 3m, with the sweet spot around 1.9 to 2.5m. Period matters too: aim for 10s or longer, as anything under 7s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
An ESE wind is dead offshore at Machino Rivermouth, and anything from the E round to the SSE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 11am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
Machino Rivermouth is at its best around mid tide, roughly 0.3m to 1.4m on the local chart.
The most reliable run of swell at Machino Rivermouth comes Dec to Mar. There's a second window in Apr and Nov too. Winter only. Noto Peninsula catches maximum swell.
The water at Machino Rivermouth averages around 12°C, so you'll want a 5/4mm with boots. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
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 2/10). Remote peninsula. Cold water requires full winter gear.
The nearest airport on our list is KMQ, then it's roughly a 2-hour drive. Remote drive to Noto Peninsula. Car essential.
Peak: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Nov, Apr
Winter only. Noto Peninsula catches maximum swell.