Shichirigahama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s on the cards for Shichigahama, Shichirigahama (Japan) over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. We’ve got a long wait on our hands before anything worth paddling out for shows up.

The first week is basically a write-off. From Monday the 27th of July right through to the end of the month, we’re looking at tiny, weak swell with poor surf conditions. The combined energy is barely a whisper, with values like 38 (on Monday morning) to just 12 (on Friday afternoon). It’s mostly cross-on or onshore wind, and the swell heights are hovering around 0.3 ft to 2 ft. The water is sitting at 81°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only highlight. You’d be wasting your time trying to ride any of this.

We get a slight glimmer of hope as we roll into the first week of August. On Saturday the 1st, we see a tiny 0.3 ft swell, but with a fresh offshore breeze from the NNE (30 km/h), it’s clean. Still, it’s tiny. Sunday the 2nd is a little better, with 1 ft SE swell (period 15 seconds) and a moderate offshore wind. The energy is creeping up to 67, but it’s still not enough to get excited about.

Now, the real standout – and the only window worth marking on your calendar – is the stretch from the 3rd of August through to the 6th of August. On Monday the 3rd, the swell picks up to 2 ft from the ESE (period 15 seconds), and the wind is offshore from the NE at 20 km/h. The combined energy hits 154, which is moderate. This is where it starts to get interesting. The water is still a touch warmer than average, but we’re not talking about a big anomaly here.

By Tuesday the 4th, we’ve got a solid 4 ft swell from the SE (period 18 seconds), with cross-offshore winds from the ENE. The energy is up to 704, which is strong. This is the best of the bunch. The swell direction (SE) is a bit off the optimum for the break (which is SSW), but the long period (18 seconds) means it’s a proper groundswell, with shape and power. The wind is clean, and the waves should be rideable for intermediates. However, with the swell over 4 ft, it’s not a beginner’s day. The break is a river mouth, so that long-period swell might wrap in nicely, but don’t expect perfection.

Wednesday the 5th is similar, with 4 ft from the SE (period 17 seconds) and a fresh offshore from the NNE (30 km/h). The energy is 689. The wind is clean, but the swell is a bit on the bigger side for the average punter. Thursday the 6th sees the swell peak at 4 ft from the ESE (period 18 seconds), with a light cross-shore breeze. The energy is 835, which is strong. The morning looks clean, but the afternoon turns onshore, so get in early.

After that, it’s a rapid drop. Friday the 7th has a glassy morning with 3 ft swell, but it’s short-lived. The second week of August is a return to tiny, weak, onshore conditions. The combined energy drops to 34 on Saturday the 8th, and it’s all downhill from there. There’s a massive gap from the 8th to the 11th with no worthwhile surf.

So, the one standout is the Tuesday the 4th to Thursday the 6th of August. The best bet is Tuesday the 4th morning, with the 4 ft SE swell, clean cross-offshore wind, and strong energy. The river mouth at Shichirigahama could be a bit inconsistent, but with that long period, it’s worth a look. Don’t expect crowded conditions – it’s not a secret spot, but with the mediocre forecast, it might be quiet. If you’re a beginner, give it a miss; the swell is a bit too chunky for you. For the experts, it’s a solid session.

That’s the long and short of it. A tough two weeks, but there’s a window if you’re keen.

Rusty.

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