Shonan - surf spot statistics

Shonan, Japan, offers varying surf conditions throughout the year, with the best windows for consistent waves and favorable winds typically occurring in late summer and autumn. The swell data shows that ground swells, which provide cleaner and more powerful waves, are most frequent from August to October, peaking in August at 16%. Wind swells dominate the rest of the year, particularly from March to May and again in October, with percentages above 60%. However, wind conditions are generally poor across all months, with good wind days rarely exceeding 15% (best in October and November). The mean swell size remains modest, averaging 0.6m to 0.8m, with slightly larger waves in March, September, and October. For surfers seeking the most reliable conditions, September and October stand out as the prime months. These months combine a higher percentage of ground swells (15% and 14%, respectively) with slightly improved wind chances (13% and 15% good wind days) and a mean swell size of 0.8m. Late summer (August) also sees a spike in ground swells, though wind quality remains poor. Winter months (December-February) and early spring (March-May) offer more wind swells but suffer from consistently bad onshore winds. Summer (June-July) tends to be the least favorable, with smaller swells and persistent poor winds. Overall, autumn provides the best balance of swell energy and marginally better wind opportunities for surfers willing to wait for clean sessions.

May at Shonan offers small to moderate surf, with an average swell height of 0.7m and a decent period of 7.4s, providing relatively clean and rideable waves. The swell direction is predominantly from the southeast (ESE, SE, SSE), which aligns well with the beach, though smaller swells from the south (S, SSW) can also contribute, especially in the 0.5-1.5m range. The most consistent wave heights fall between 0.5-1m, occurring frequently from ESE (12.24%) and SE (7.70%), while larger waves (1.5-2.5m) are rarer but most likely from SSW. Wind conditions are less favorable, with only 11% of the time offering ideal offshore or light cross-shore winds (typically from the north or northwest). Stronger onshore winds from the south and southwest (SSW, SW) are more common, often blowing 10-30kph, which can create choppy conditions. Overall, May is a decent month for beginners and intermediate surfers due to the smaller, manageable waves, but advanced surfers may find limited opportunities for powerful or clean rides unless catching the occasional larger SSW swell with favorable wind windows.