Tsurigasaki Beach is a popular coastal destination in Ichinomiya Town, Chosei District, Chiba Prefecture. Located at the southern end of Kujukuri Beach, one of Japan’s best-known stretches of Pacific coastline, it is famous for its excellent surfing conditions and sweeping ocean views.
Tsurigasaki Beach gained international recognition when it was selected as the venue for surfing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Today, it remains an important destination for surfers from Japan and around the world, while its wide sandy beach and distinctive cultural traditions also make it an attractive sightseeing spot.
Tsurigasaki Beach forms part of Chiba Prefectural Kujukuri Nature Park. The coastline is known for waves that are suitable for surfing throughout the year, attracting surfers of many different skill levels.
The beach is sometimes affectionately called a “Naminori Dojo,” or “Surfing Dojo,” reflecting its reputation as a place where surfers can practice and improve their skills. Beginners, experienced riders, and professional surfers all gather here.
The area attracts approximately 600,000 surfers and visitors each year, and its reputation as a surfing destination has also contributed to the growing popularity of Ichinomiya Town as a place to live.
One of the most distinctive sights at Tsurigasaki is the Shinto torii gate standing on the beach. The gate symbolizes the area’s connection with nearby Tamasaki Shrine and provides a striking contrast against the Pacific Ocean.
The beach is also used for traditional religious ceremonies, including events associated with the Kazusa Twelve Shrines Festival, giving the coastline a cultural significance that extends beyond surfing.
Tsurigasaki Beach Plaza provides practical facilities for visitors, including a paved parking area, showers, and environmentally friendly toilets.
Tsurigasaki Beach has hosted numerous surfing competitions from Japan and overseas. In 2016 and 2017, it was the venue for the WSL QS6000 Ichinomiya Chiba Open, one of the highest-level professional surfing competitions held in Japan at the time.
The beach subsequently attracted international attention when it was selected as the venue for the surfing competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. A test event, READY STEADY TOKYO – Surfing, was also held here in 2019 in preparation for the Olympic competition.
At the southern end of Tsurigasaki Beach is Shidashita, one of Japan’s most renowned surfing spots. The point has a special place in Japanese surfing culture and has been used for numerous competitions over the years.
The name “Shidashita” is said to have originated from a beach hut operated by the Shida family from 1958 to 1985. Over the decades, the point has become a training ground for many accomplished surfers.
For surfing enthusiasts, Shidashita is more than simply a place with good waves. It is a location closely associated with the development of competitive surfing in Japan and has produced surfers who have gone on to compete at national and international levels.
Surfers who developed their skills at Shidashita and later achieved recognition in Japan and abroad include Hiroto Ohhara, who became the first Japanese surfer to win the U.S. Open of Surfing in 2015; Reo Inaba, who has competed successfully on the international stage; and Tenshi Iwami, who became the first Japanese winner of the U.S. Surfing Championships.
Tsurigasaki Beach is also an important location for the religious traditions of nearby Tamasaki Shrine.
Every September, the beach becomes the site of the shrine’s major annual festival, known as the Kazusa Twelve Shrines Festival, or Kazusa Hadaka Matsuri. The tradition is said to date back to 807 and has been designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Chiba Prefecture.
The festival brings together portable shrines and participants from the surrounding area, creating a dramatic scene on the beach. The event offers visitors an opportunity to experience a traditional Japanese religious festival in a remarkable coastal setting.
Another traditional ceremony, known as Tamano-ura Misogi, is held at Tsurigasaki Beach every June. Misogi is a traditional Shinto purification ritual involving water, performed to cleanse the body and spirit.
These ceremonies demonstrate how Tsurigasaki Beach serves not only as a surfing destination but also as an important place in the local religious and cultural landscape.
Over the years, Tsurigasaki Beach has hosted a wide range of major surfing events. Examples include:
Surfing is naturally the main attraction, but visitors do not have to be experienced surfers to appreciate Tsurigasaki Beach. The broad Pacific coastline offers a beautiful setting for watching the waves, enjoying the sea breeze, and observing surfers in action.
The combination of the open Pacific Ocean, expansive sandy beach, and iconic torii gate creates a distinctive landscape that represents the character of the Ichinomiya coast.
Because Tsurigasaki is an active surfing destination, visitors should pay attention to designated areas, local rules, safety information, and the behavior of experienced surfers. Those who are new to surfing can enjoy the atmosphere while learning about beach safety before entering the water.
The nearest railway station is Kazusa-Ichinomiya Station on the JR Sotobo Line. Shuttle buses have been operated for major events, including during the Tokyo Olympic period.
Another option is Torami Station, also on the JR Sotobo Line. From the station, Tsurigasaki Beach is approximately 20 minutes on foot.
When traveling by car, the beach can be reached using the Kujukuri Toll Road and the Kujukuri Beach Line, part of Chiba Prefectural Route 30 (Iioka-Ichinomiya Line).
Parking is available at Tsurigasaki Beach, including the paved parking area at Tsurigasaki Beach Plaza.
Tsurigasaki Beach is a distinctive destination where Japan’s modern surfing culture and traditional coastal customs coexist. Its reputation as a surfing mecca has been strengthened by major international competitions and its role as the venue for surfing at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
At the same time, the beach’s connection with Tamasaki Shrine and the historic Kazusa Twelve Shrines Festival reveals a much older cultural tradition. The torii standing against the Pacific Ocean is an especially memorable symbol of this connection.
Whether you come to surf, watch professional athletes, photograph the coastline, or experience a traditional Japanese festival, Tsurigasaki Beach offers a memorable way to discover the natural beauty, sporting culture, and traditions of Chiba’s Pacific coast.