Hanamizu River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s be straight with you—this is a tough one for Hanamizu River. The next 16 days are looking bleak, with hardly a wave worth paddling for. The forecast shows a long stretch of nothing, then a few days around the end of the month and into early August where the swell tries to show up, but the conditions just aren’t cooperating.

For the first week, from July 20th right through to the 26th, it’s flat and messy. You’re looking at tiny swell, mostly 0.3 ft to 1 ft, and the wind is almost always cross-onshore, chopping it up. No point even looking at the board. The combined energy is weak, often under 30. There’s a brief moment on the morning of the 21st where it’s glassy, but the swell is still barely a ripple at 0.7 ft. That’s a lake, not surf.

The only faint glimmer comes on the morning of July 27th. The swell bumps up to 2 ft from the south with an 11-second period, and the wind is glassy—dead calm. Combined energy hits 92, which is still weak but at least it’s something. The water temperature is 26°, which is about average for the time of year. This is the best you’re going to get, but honestly, it’s still ordinary. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and that’s being generous. This is a beginner-friendly spot, so if you’re learning and just want to feel the water, it’s an option. But don’t expect a proper ride.

After that, it’s back to poor conditions. Towards the end of July and into early August, the swell tries to build a bit. On the morning of July 31st, there’s a 4 ft swell from the southwest—that’s about the biggest it gets—but the period is only 7 seconds, so it’s weak and jumbled. The combined energy is 285 (moderate), but the wind is onshore and the conditions are marginal. Not worth the drive. The 28th and 29th of July have some SSW swell around 3 ft to 3 ft with a 12-second period, which gives a bit more push, but the wind is light cross-onshore or unknown, and the waves are just poor. For a beach/sandbar spot like this, that short-period, cross-onshore stuff is just a mess.

The second week is a washout. By August 1st to the 4th, the swell drops back to tiny, with wind picking up again. The 3rd of August has a 12 mph cross-onshore wind, which is just choppy and horrible. No standouts here. If you’re a kite surfer, the setup might be more interesting on those breezier afternoons, but for paddle surfing, forget it.

Bottom line: there’s one morning—July 27th—that’s the best on offer, and even that’s a long shot. The rest of the 16-day window is a gap of poor, tiny, or blown-out surf. It’s rough, but it tends not to stay this way forever. Forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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