Hyuga surf forecast
Hyuga's main break, Okuragahama, is an east-facing sand beach that picks up swell from north-east round to south and cleans up when the wind blows from the west. It suits all levels, and it is one of several Hyuga beaches known for surfing.
Hyuga waves, wind and tide hour by hour
The table shows our forecast for Okuragahama, the beach break we use for Hyuga, hour by hour. Waves between about 0.9 and 2.0 m are the sweet spot here, under 0.5 m is usually too small, and from 3 m it gets too big. Tide times for the area are published for nearby Hososhima port.
Updated 16:58next run 21:40Open-Meteo wave and wind models
13:00–17:00 · offshore
Today 3 Nov
Marginal 07-11: wrong tide, head-high, cross-offshore NNW.
Best window: 07:00–11:00
Tide and daylight
- Low
- 06:36
- High
- 13:45
- Low
- 19:50
- Sunrise
- 06:31
- Sunset
- 17:21
Every hour, 05–21
Tomorrow 4 Nov
Marginal 07-11: average, head-high, cross-shore N.
Best window: 07:00–11:00
Tide and daylight
- High
- 01:21
- Low
- 07:46
- High
- 14:35
- Low
- 20:40
- Sunrise
- 06:32
- Sunset
- 17:21
Every hour, 05–21
Thursday 5 Nov
Skip: average, overhead, cross-offshore NNW.
Tide and daylight
- High
- 02:36
- Low
- 08:42
- High
- 15:04
- Low
- 21:25
- Sunrise
- 06:33
- Sunset
- 17:20
Every 3 hours
Friday 6 Nov
Worth it 13-17, clean overhead, offshore NW.
Kiwi's best shot: 13:00–17:00
Tide and daylight
- High
- 03:29
- Low
- 09:30
- High
- 15:30
- Low
- 22:00
- Sunrise
- 06:34
- Sunset
- 17:19
Every 3 hours
Forecast point: Hyuga (32.430, 131.668). Waves = estimated breaking height at the beach. Data: Open-Meteo wave and weather models (CC BY 4.0). Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information. Surf at your own risk.
Watch the wind column first. West wind is offshore at Okuragahama, while east-north-east to south-east wind is onshore and adds size. One local forecast, for example, called for light to moderate west to north-west wind in the morning and onshore wind during the day.
Surf spots in and around Hyuga
Hyuga is a port city whose beaches are popular with surfers. Okuragahama, Kanegahama and Ise-ga-hama sit a little south of Cape Hyuga, and the north and centre of Miyazaki are mostly beach breaks that work for beginners through to experienced surfers. Hyuga wave reports (日向 波情報) are published for Okuragahama.
Okuragahama (Kokuragahama)
Beach breakAll levelsA sand-bottomed beach in Hiraiwa, Hyuga, facing east, with its best offshore wind from the west. It reacts readily to swell from east-north-east to south-east.
There is parking, toilets and showers at the beach. It also hosts contests, such as junior events in the Miyazaki series. Sources: nami-jouhou.com · surfers-ocean.com · m.bc01.com
Kanegahama
Beach breakMajor spotAnother of Hyuga's well-known surf beaches, listed among the main beach breaks of Miyazaki. It faces east-south-east. Sources: surfers-ocean.com · en.wikipedia.org
Ise-ga-hama
BeachSouth of Cape HyugaIse-ga-hama is named alongside Okuragahama and Kanegahama as one of the Hyuga beaches known for surfing. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Shiomi River mouth
River mouthHyugaA river-mouth spot in the Zaikoji area of Hyuga, where the beach faces east-south-east. Sources: surfers-ocean.com · nami-jouhou.com
Mimitsu
Cobblestone bottomHistoric townMimitsu has a cobblestone bottom rather than sand. The old port town keeps a protected district of 19th-century buildings, earthen walls and stone paving. Sources: nami-jouhou.com · en.wikipedia.org
What Hyuga needs to fire
These are the exact rules behind Kiwi's rating for this spot. Every hour of the forecast is scored on all four, then turned into a rating of 1 to 5 stars.
Swell
East swells light it up
Okuragahama faces east and takes swell from north-east round to south. It reacts most readily to east-north-east to south-east swell.
Wind
West wind is offshore
Wind from the west blows offshore and grooms the faces. Last December the wind was offshore on about 87% of days.
Tide
Mid tide works best
Our forecast rates Okuragahama best around mid tide.
Size
Best at 0.9–2 m
Waves from about 0.9 to 2.0 m give the best sessions. Below 0.5 m it is usually too small, and at 3 m or more it gets too big.
Shortcut: an east swell of about 0.9–2 m, a west wind and a mid tide is the classic good day at Okuragahama.
The best months to surf Hyuga
We replayed Kiwi's rating on every day of the last year and counted how often Hyuga's best window reached 4 or 5 stars.
Nov–DecThe most reliable months
About 63% of November days and 68% of December days rate 3 stars or better, and December has the most days rated 4 stars or better at 55%. The water cools from about 23.5 °C to 20 °C.
Jan–AprCooler and leaner
Only about a quarter to a third of days rate 3 stars or better, though March still has 29% of days rated 4 stars or better. This is the coldest water of the year, about 17.5 to 19.4 °C.
May–JulGood spells, with a June dip
May and July are strong, with about 61% and 58% of days rated 3 stars or better. June drops to 30% with no 4-star days, and it falls in the rainy season.
Aug–OctWarm water, typhoon season
About 40% to 48% of days rate 3 stars or better, and the sea is at its warmest, up to about 29 °C in August. Summer in Hyuga often brings typhoons, so check the forecast closely.
Before you go
Hazards
Rips are a hazard at Okuragahama, so watch where the water runs back out before you paddle in.
On big days local reports warn beginners that the sea is dangerous and to stay out of the water and away from the shore. Sources: m.bc01.com
Getting there
Okuragahama is in the Hiraiwa area of Hyuga, in central Miyazaki Prefecture. Hyuga's downtown is centred on Hyūgashi Station.
There are plenty of rental car firms for surfers around Miyazaki Airport, which makes Miyazaki a convenient trip destination. Sources: nami-jouhou.com · en.wikipedia.org · surfers-ocean.com
Parking and facilities
The beach has parking, toilets and showers.
During contests the parking and beach house can be restricted, and parts of the beach may be closed off. Sources: nami-jouhou.com · ii-nami.com · m.bc01.com
Crowds and etiquette
Expect a crowd on weekends at Okuragahama.
Miyazaki is known for an open, friendly attitude to visitors, without bad localism. Sources: surfers-ocean.com
Water temperature and wetsuit
From January to April the sea sits around 17.5 to 19.4 °C.
In May, June and November it is about 22 to 24 °C, and from July to October about 26 to 29 °C.
Local advice is to go one step warmer on cloudy days, near river mouths, or if you are slim. Sources: surfers-ocean.com
Best time of day
One local forecast recommended an early session, before the daytime onshore wind picked up. In that forecast the Hyuga area was expected to have lighter winds than other parts of Miyazaki. Sources: m.bc01.com
Checking the waves
Several live cameras point at Okuragahama and Kanegahama, though some feeds have been paused at times.
Surf shops, surf schools and board rental are easy to find across Miyazaki, which helps if you are just starting out. Sources: surfers-ocean.com · ii-nami.com
Where the numbers come from
The method
Kiwi takes Open-Meteo's wave and wind models (ECMWF WAM, Météo-France, NOAA GFS and Open-Meteo's best-match blend) at a point about 5 km off Hyuga. There is no buoy correction here yet: these are the models as they come.
Each hour is scored on the four rules above (swell, wind, tide, size). The stars are calibrated on a full year of data for Japan, so 4 stars at Hyuga is a genuinely good day by that country's standard.
What we can say
The season chart and the stars use the same rules, replayed on the archive: a month marked good was good by these rules, not by a surf report.
Without a buoy nearby, the size at the beach is our model's estimate, not a measurement.
Hyuga surf questions
Is Hyuga good for beginners?
Yes, Okuragahama is a sand-bottom beach break suited to all levels. Watch for rips, and stay out on big days, as local reports warn beginners.
When is the best time to surf Hyuga?
November and December are the most reliable months, with about two-thirds of days rated 3 stars or better. May and July are also good.
How cold is the water in Hyuga in December?
The sea is about 20 °C in December.
What wind is offshore at Okuragahama?
West wind is offshore at Okuragahama. Onshore winds from east-north-east to south-east add size.
Is there parking at Okuragahama?
Yes, there is parking, plus toilets and showers. Parking can be restricted while contests are running.
Does Okuragahama get crowded?
It is often crowded on weekends. Miyazaki as a whole is fairly uncrowded because few people live there.
Check the Hyuga forecast before you go
Look at the hourly table above for swell, wind and tide at Okuragahama, and aim for a west wind and a mid tide.