Winter Surfing in Hokkaido
Have you ever felt the need to jump into the freezing ocean and go surfing? Well if so, or you are looking for something different and challenging on your next trip to Niseko, we have detailed the logistics on how you can do it – including where to hire gear, what you need and most importantly, where to go.
Let’s dive right in…excuse the pun.
Hokkaido is definitely not on people’s radar when it comes to surfing. You may have heard of places like Miyazaki, Shimoda and Gobo but these are all on the main island of Honshu and quite far from Niseko.
Did you know Japan’s north island of Hokkaido has some amazing surf locations?
Did you also know that there is an ever growing number of people living in Hokkaido who brave the conditions all year round? Considering Hokkaido is one of the snowiest places on earth, this is some real commitment to the craft when it comes to catching a wave in winter.
What you will need:
Wetsuit – something in the 6mm range will suffice
Hood, gloves and booties if not built into your wetsuit these are a must
Surfboard – for a majority of locations in Hokkaido a board with ample buoyancy is required.
Cold water wax – look for the box with Cold Water Wax for +/- 5° on it
Fuel – snacks and fruit for before you surf and hot/warm drinks and food for after you surf.
Big towel and warm clothes for when you get out
A strong desire to be extremely cold
The above list is just an outline of the basics needed to get into the water. Chances are if you are here for a winter holiday you will not be bringing all of your snow gear plus your surf gear. Below we list 2 places to rent gear and we will add more as we discover them.
Remember though, you have to put that wrapper back inside your wetsuit and not in the ocean.
Places to get gear, lessons and info:
Something I used to do back in Australia when we had big days in the water surfing was to stuff a couple of Mars bars inside the sleeves of my wetsuit. Somewhere they would not be in the way but easily accessible. It’s amazing how good a hit of chocolate feels when you are sitting on your board in 5° water with a -15° windchill just waiting for the set to roll through.
Where to go:
If you are new to winter in Japan, driving in heavy snow or just like the company, we recommend you take a surf guide with you. They will know the best locations based on the conditions and your experience. Think of it like a mountain guide but for the surf.
A short 35 minute drive from Niseko is the little coastal town of Minato. It is here that the Shiribetsu river meets the ocean and is also the place for some small to medium waves when conditions are right. There’s a protected area near the tetra pods and river mouth that is easy to paddle or further up the beach towards the tunnel you can often find some decent lefts and rights breaking across the banks.
For the more committed, you will need to drive at least 1.5 hours to get down to the Oshamambe coastline. This region boasts many different beach breaks as well as some nice waves forming along the concrete walls surrounding the village fishing ports.
Below is a list of resources to help steer you in the right direction when planning a surf adventure in Japan.
Swellnet.com – fork out for the paid version and get access to the long range forecast and more.
It is also good to treat winter surfing like any extreme sport. Have a plan, think about safety, tell people where you are going and when you will be back and always go with a buddy.