Sunabe Seawall
Sunabe Seawall is the most hallowed ground for surfing in Okinawa, a series of reef breaks along a seawall near American Village. The area features multiple distinct peaks—Bowls, California, Hawaiians, Hotels—each breaking over rock reef with dedicated paddle channels. The consistent windswell from October through March combines with occasional typhoon groundswells to produce fun waves in tropical water. Shallow reef means you surf around high tide and wear booties, but the warm water and welcoming community make this a Waikiki-like experience.
Sunabe Seawall surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- W (280°)
- Direction range
- 240° - 320°
- Size range
- 0.8m - 2.5m
- Ideal size
- 1.6m - 2.1m
- Height multiplier
- 1.03×
- Ideal period
- 12s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- E (90°)
- Offshore range
- 50° - 130°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- high
- Optimal range
- 0.8m - 2m
- Danger below
- 0.5m
Water temp
26°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
5/10
Crowd level
7/10
Access: Near American Village. Easy access from Naha.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Sunabe Seawall?
Sunabe Seawall is a reef break in Chatan, Japan, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at Sunabe Seawall?
Sunabe Seawall picks up swell from the WSW round to the NW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the W. 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. SW typhoon swells also work. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Sunabe Seawall?
An E wind is dead offshore at Sunabe Seawall, and anything from the NE round to the SE 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 Sunabe Seawall?
Sunabe Seawall 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 Sunabe Seawall?
The most reliable run of swell at Sunabe Seawall comes Oct to Mar. There's a second window in Jul to Sep too. Oct-Mar for NW swells. Summer typhoons possible.
How cold is the water at Sunabe Seawall?
The water at Sunabe Seawall averages around 26°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Sunabe Seawall 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. It gets busy (crowd 7/10), so mind the pecking order. Shallow reef. Booties recommended. Only surf around high tide.
How do I get to Sunabe Seawall?
The nearest airport on our list is OKA, then it's roughly a 30-minute drive. Near American Village. Easy access from Naha.
What other surf spots are near Sunabe Seawall?
The closest breaks we track are Ikei Island (27 km), handy when Sunabe Seawall isn't working. Fun fact: it's the most southerly break we track in Japan.
Best Season
Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Jul-Sep
Oct-Mar for NW swells. Summer typhoons possible.