Japan Surf Coaching Week for Novice and Intermediate Surfers

The daily routine is flexible and built around the surf and the tides, but the pattern goes something like this: wake up, look at the beach out front, and decide whether to paddle straight out or load into the van and drive up or down the coast. Some surf missions are short — a couple of hours at a nearby peak — while others turn into full-day excursions to more distant zones. Most days you'll surf twice, and on a few days the group skips surfing altogether for a land-based excursion.

Coaching happens both in the water and on land. The instructor gets in the water with you often, which is more hands-on than some of the operator's more advanced trips that lean mostly on video review. Every session is filmed, and the footage lands in a shared Dropbox folder each day so you can watch your own turns, pop-ups and wave selection. Afternoon sessions sometimes swap surfing for Smoothstar skateboard drills, which are used to work on technique and body positioning when the surf is flat or you've already had enough time in the water.

The group is deliberately small and mixed by ability — you need to be able to surf out the back, but the trip isn't about hunting heavy, steep waves. Expect gentle peelers and a few slightly more challenging sessions once everyone has warmed up. Most people who join are from New Zealand, though the operator regularly has surfers from other countries along for the ride, and the atmosphere is supportive rather than competitive.

Accommodation-wise, the base is a surf camp right on the beach with communal kitchens, lounges, outdoor BBQs, board racks and a skateboard bowl. Rooms are small but comfortable and all have air conditioning, which matters in the Japanese summer. You can choose between twin-share, private rooms and bunk rooms, and the price adjusts slightly depending on which you pick. The surrounding area has outdoor eateries, parks, shrine walks and supermarkets within walking distance.

This isn't a luxury resort trip. It's a working surf camp in a rural part of Japan, and the appeal is partly that you probably know very little about the region before you go. You'll eat at local restaurants, try convenience store food as part of the experience, and get shown around by someone who knows the language and the customs. If you're the sort of surfer who wants to improve rather than just tick off a destination, this is the trip that fits.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation - Daily surf guiding and transport to surf spots - Comprehensive daily surf coaching on land and in the water - Breakfast daily plus tea and coffee at the surf camp - All lunches and dinners at local restaurants - All surfing video footage and photos downloaded to Dropbox daily - Assistance with language and customs - Visits to local attractions and sightseeing - Airport pickup and transfers in the destination

What's not included

- International flights - 1 night stay in Tokyo (can be arranged by the operator at extra cost) - Alcoholic drinks - Meals before arrival at the surf camp and after departure - Travel insurance - Personal expenses and shopping - Surfboard and wetsuit hire (bring your own or check with operator)