Surfinesse Japan

Surfinesse Japan is a bilingual English-Japanese surf school in Chigasaki on the Shonan coast, Kanagawa Prefecture, about an hour from Tokyo by train. It presents itself as the original English surf school of the area and teaches with Mount Fuji in the background, a 20-minute walk from Chigasaki station (station pick-up on request).

Lessons are private or in small groups, with trilingual instructors. The standard lesson lasts three hours, because the school believes two hours is too short for a first day; it does not run mixed group lessons. It also offers guided rental sessions and day trips to other spots. Lessons run year round, every day when conditions allow, and are postponed by email the evening before (by 8 pm) if the surf requires it.

Students are given homework to practise at home. Rental gear is available for lessons, and the school can have custom wetsuits made to buy. Advance booking by email is required; the school replies between 5 pm and 8 pm.