Surf Forecasts:
Big Ben surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 20s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, SSE swell with 2,763 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s period with E 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. 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 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (JST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 20s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Ben over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty comin' at ya. Let's have a look at what's on the table for Big Ben.
Right off the bat, the first few days are a bit of a write-off. We've got some small, choppy, cross-shore junk from Friday the 21st through to Sunday the 23rd. Not worth paddling out for. The water temp is sitting at a warm 81°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so at least you won't freeze while you're waiting for something decent.
But hold on, because Monday the 24th is where the magic happens. The early morning is looking absolutely pristine. We're talking a solid 5 foot of groundswell rolling in from the SSE, with a super long 19-second period. That's proper energy, pushing a combined swell energy of 1908 – that's a strong pulse. And the wind? Dead calm, glassy conditions. For a beginner-friendly spot like Big Ben, this is about as good as it gets. Clean, lined-up waves, and the long period will make paddling out a breeze. Just be aware it's exposed to the swell, so it'll be sizeable. This is the standout session of the whole outlook.
Later that Monday afternoon, the wind swings onshore and the swell jumps up to 7 feet, which starts to get a bit dicey for a beach/jetty setup, so the morning is the window.
Tuesday the 25th keeps the size up around 8 feet from the S, but the wind stays cross or cross-onshore, so it's not going to be as clean. Wednesday the 26th drops a bit to 5 feet but still has that cross-shore wind. For experienced surfers, it's rideable, but the magic is gone.
We then hit a rough patch of poor conditions with onshore winds and wind swell from the 27th through to the 29th. The 30th of August shows a little bump back to 4 feet from the SSE, but the wind is messy.
The start of September brings a new pulse. The 31st of August and 1st of September see another solid push of E swell, 7 to 6 feet, with moderate cross-shore winds. The energy is moderate to strong (around 1485-1608). It's not the perfect glass of the 24th, but it's consistent and there's plenty of push. The period is around 11-12 seconds, which is a decent groundswell.
After that, the swell tapers off through the first week of September, dropping back to 4 feet by the 3rd and getting a bit sloppy. The 5th of September has a final small pulse of SSW swell at 4 feet, but it's cross-onshore.
So, overall, you've got a long wait for the good stuff. The absolute standout is Monday morning, 24th August at Big Ben. That's your one. After that, the 31st of August and 1st of September offer the next best chance for some solid, chest-to-head-high waves, even if the wind isn't perfect. For the rest, it's a lot of waiting.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 23°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 19 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | E 14 | E 13 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
65 | 66 | 175 | 231 | 198 | 120 | 106 | 209 | 1515 | 2429 | 2763 | 2091 | 2249 | 1370 | 750 | 669 | 390 | 206 | 289 | 277 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:37PM1.39m | 9:26PM1.33m | 4:10PM1.33m | 00:01AM1.29m | 4:16PM1.41m | 1:46AM1.34m | 4:31PM1.46m | 2:51AM1.43m | 4:50PM1.50m | 3:40AM1.52m | 5:08PM1.52m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 5:40AM0.51m | 7:19AM0.44m | 8:35PM1.23m | 8:26AM0.35m | 9:17PM1.13m | 9:13AM0.27m | 9:46PM1.02m | 9:53AM0.22m | 10:14PM0.89m | 10:28AM0.21m | 10:42PM0.76m | |||||||||
— | — | 5:03 | — | — | 5:03 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | |
6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:14 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 |
Temp °C | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | SSE 13 | SSE 19 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | E 14 | E 13 |
65 | 66 | 175 | 231 | 198 | 120 | 83 | 209 | 1515 | 2429 | 2763 | 2091 | 2249 | 1370 | 750 | 669 | 390 | 179 | 289 | 277 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | ESE 12 | ENE 9 | SSE 12 | E 12 | E 15 | E 11 | E 13 | E 13 | SSE 10 | E 12 | E 12 | E 14 | SW 11 | SW 10 |
44 | 52 | 47 | 46 | 32 | 30 | 83 | 84 | 294 | 175 | 267 | 84 | 284 | 215 | 125 | 138 | 97 | 206 | 92 | 46 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SSE 5 | ESE 13 | SSE 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 15 | SW 10 | E 14 | SW 10 | SSE 10 | E 12 | E 16 | E 15 | E 11 | SE 13 | SSE 10 |
30 | 47 | 16 | 29 | 7 | 54 | 106 | 106 | 99 | 42 | 33 | 140 | 16 | 42 | 145 | 47 | 110 | 83 | 7 | 38 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | NNE 4 | NE 4 | ENE 4 | NE 5 | — | SSW 9 | SW 10 | — | — | — | — | SSE 9 | S 10 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 |
5 | 24 | 21 | 16 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 12 | — | 56 | 74 | — | — | — | — | 177 | 226 | 177 | 195 | 107 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 30 | 120 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 6 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 39 | 35 | 30 | 30 | 70 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
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.











