
Surf Forecasts:
Big Ben surf forecast from 8 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 14s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 11 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, SSW swell with 4,048 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 9 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 14s period with SSE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Big Ben this week:
The surf forecast for Big Ben over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Big Ben in the next 16 days are 2.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 11) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 13) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (JST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sat 11th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Ben over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer at Big Ben.
Right off the bat, the immediate forecast is a bit of a downer. We’re looking at a stretch of several days with nothing worth paddling out for. The swell is there, no doubt, but the wind is just messing it all up. Those cross-onshore and choppy conditions ruin any chance of clean waves for the first week or more.
The first real standout, and honestly the only one I’d get excited about, lands on Thursday, July 23rd. Wednesday morning, July 23rd, actually shows a small window. You’ve got a glassy morning with a light rain, and the wind is virtually dead – glassy conditions. Wave heights are only around 3ft from the east, with a weak combined energy (271). It’s not a pumping day, but it’ll be clean and rideable for a beginner-friendly break. This is likely the best you’ll see in the whole run.
Before that, the only other spot that gets a nod is the morning of Monday, July 14th. That Tuesday morning, July 14th, gives you a tiny bump of 2ft from the SSW with glassy conditions, but the wave energy is very weak (143). It’s a poor option for anyone but a longboarder wanting a glassy session. After that, the wind comes up again.
Later in the run, we get a small resurgence of longer-period S swell on Tuesday, July 21st and into Wednesday morning of the 22nd. The swell is a consistent 5ft from the south with a sweet 14-second period, which means proper groundswell energy. The combined energy shoots up to a moderate 1256. But – and it’s a big but – the wind is cross or cross-onshore, so it’ll be bumpy. For a more experienced surfer who doesn’t mind some chop, there might be a few workable waves in the morning, but it’s far from ideal.
Big Ben is inconsistent at the best of times, and this forecast is a classic example of a blank run. The winds are persistently unfriendly, and even when the swell direction matches the optimum (SE), the quality is ruined. For the second week, from about July 16th to the 22nd, you’re looking at a real dry spell with mostly poor conditions and no real standouts. Keep an eye on forecasts, because it tends not to stay this poor for long.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Fri morning, min 22°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 27°C on Sun morning, min 23°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wed 15 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1939 | 1421 | 1762 | 1968 | 1387 | 2668 | 3149 | 4048 | 3653 | 3769 | 3217 | 2694 | 1394 | 752 | 573 | 341 | 64 | 105 | 244 | 352 | 400 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 10:30PM1.34m | 1:37PM1.08m | 11:19PM1.34m | 3:18PM1.19m | 00:16AM1.35m | 4:12PM1.29m | 1:17AM1.38m | 4:50PM1.37m | 2:13AM1.42m | 5:22PM1.43m | 3:05AM1.46m | 5:51PM1.47m | 3:52AM1.50m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:12AM0.51m | 5:09PM1.01m | 7:21AM0.39m | 6:54PM1.11m | 8:19AM0.26m | 8:23PM1.14m | 9:08AM0.15m | 9:24PM1.12m | 9:51AM0.07m | 10:10PM1.09m | 10:31AM0.02m | 10:48PM1.03m | 11:08AM0.01m | ||||||||
— | 4:31 | — | — | 4:31 | — | — | 4:33 | — | — | 4:33 | — | — | 4:33 | — | — | 4:35 | — | — | 4:35 | — | |
6:55 | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:53 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 27 |
Feels °C | 26 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 12 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
1939 | 1421 | 1762 | 1968 | 1387 | 2668 | 3149 | 4048 | 3653 | 3769 | 3217 | 2694 | 1394 | 752 | 573 | 341 | 52 | 105 | 244 | 352 | 400 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | S 16 | E 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 16 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | S 5 | E 9 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 10 |
120 | 432 | 100 | 87 | 854 | 128 | 90 | 60 | 60 | 56 | 64 | 40 | 42 | 41 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 42 | 69 | 65 | 45 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 8 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | SE 14 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 9 | SE 8 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 7 | S 14 | S 14 |
120 | 95 | 122 | 100 | 120 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 27 | 25 | 15 | 15 | 40 | 18 | 64 | 96 | 18 | 4 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SW 5 | — | ENE 3 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 22 | 49 | 25 | — | 8 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 70 | 39 | 24 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 35 | 39 | 35 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Chiba | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Big Ben Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Big Ben provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Big Ben can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Big Ben surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Big Ben) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Big Ben may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Big Ben is 3 km (2 miles) from Kawaguchi. If you plan a holiday in Chiba, look for hotels and other accommodation in Kawaguchi. Kawaguchi has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











