Category
Ocean and Beach
ActivitiesOcean and Beach
Nearly 30,000 kilometers of coastline means Japan’s ocean activities run from Chiba’s beginner-friendly surf breaks to Okinawa’s coral reefs and the pristine dive sites of the Bonin Islands. Our complete guides to surfing in Japan and diving in Japan cover both in full, region by region. This section also holds our full archive of snorkeling, sea kayaking, and beach travel content, from Hokkaido’s cold-water breaks to the subtropical south.
Scuba Diving
Diving in Japan: The Complete Guide to the Best ...
From Okinawa's coral reefs to the wrecks of the Bonin Islands — where to dive and snorkel in Japan, when to go, and what's down there.
Surfing
Surfing in Japan: The Complete Guide to the Brea...
From Chiba's Pacific swells to Okinawa's reef breaks — where to surf in Japan, when the waves are best, and how the local scene works.
Adventure Travel
Uncovering the Hidden Flow of the Kumano Kodo Is...
The Kii Peninsula, a vast and mountainous hand reaching into the Pacific, has been my lodestar for over twenty years. It is an ar...
Adventure Travel
A Legacy of Adventure at Sea in Itoman
Travelers come to Okinawa to unplug and refresh, to dip their toes in the sand or their fins in the water. Yet the most memor...
Conservation
Amami’s Unlikely Eco-Warrior
A self-described delinquent youth who followed his dream to become a professional surfer now finds himself at the center of a...
Autumn
The Mermaids of Mie
Overfishing, ocean pollution and sea bed crawling, which destroys ocean floors, are just a few of the threats the ocean is facing...
Adventure Travel
Getting Dirty in Japan
“Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
Chiba
48 Hours in Katsuura, Chiba
Chiba’s stunning seaside town of Katsuura is considered one of the best coastal destinations in the Kanto Region. It is close eno...