Sagami River Mouth (Hiratsuka)
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Mixed, Ocean, Shallow
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Sagami River Mouth (Hiratsuka/Shonan) is a dynamic river-mouth venue where ocean conditions mix with river influence. Water can be described as dirty/cloudy with rapidly changing conditions, especially after heavy rain, when strong river currents and rip currents are more likely. For kitesurfing, winter months are repeatedly identified as the core period (January–April, and again November–December). Winds are described as southerly/frontal in the best months, with typical kites requiring moderate wind strength and gusts. Summer conditions can also bring more frequent strong sea breezes/thermal winds in the afternoon window. Because the area combines surfline activity and river-mouth hazards, checking whether kitesurfing is allowed locally (and maintaining safe distance from surfers) is a key prerequisite. For surfing, the break is characterized as beach/jetty exposed. Guidance emphasizes offshore North to North-Northwest winds as favorable for cleaner surf. Conditions are often described as producing small, fairly consistent waves, while other descriptions highlight sandbar-driven quality and longer peeling rides after storms or heavy rain reshapes the banks. Bigger swell/typhoon swell can increase danger: it may become very heavy and hazardous. Safety planning is essential here. Expect wave breakers at/near the river mouth, concrete structures, tetrapods, jetties, and debris. Avoid the river mouth immediately after heavy storms because water quality drops and debris increases. Locals often manage priority at the main peaks—so observe the lineup and keep clear of the surf zone when kiting.
- Afternoon sea-breeze/thermal pattern in spring–summer (roughly late morning through afternoon)
- Offshore North to North-Northwest winds improve surf cleanliness
- Sandbar reshaping after typhoons/heavy rain can improve surf quality
- Sea-breeze/thermal winds in spring–summer can provide consistent afternoon kiting potential.
- Surf can be shaped by sandbar formation and can offer peeling sections after storms/rain.
- Beach infrastructure and general coastal accessibility make it a practical spot to visit for wind/water sports.
- Kitesurfing access/legality may require special permission or local arrangement.
- Strong river currents/rip currents and floating debris are common after heavy rain/storms.
- Concrete wave breakers, tetrapods, and other debris create hazards near the mouth and jetties.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- S, SSW, N, NNW
- Offshore directions
- N, NNW
- No-go directions
- S, SSW, N, NNW
- Wind Range
- 12–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Fronts are referenced for winter/spring wind; sea-breeze and thermal winds are also noted for warmer months.
- Reliability
- Moderate in best months; winter fronts and summer thermals are described as moderately reliable.
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts
- Best Months
- January, February, March, April, November, December
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Mixed, Ocean, Shallow
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach adjacent to river mouth and jetties.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Medium — Also described as small/fairly consistent in some surf guidance; wave quality can vary with sandbar formation.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — River/ocean mixing can create variable surface texture; chop specifics were not consistently quantified beyond hazards and debris.
- Launch
- Small — Sandy area adjacent to the river mouth and jetties; small river-mouth launch zone.
Through the year
High crowds in summer and during good typhoon swells.
June is the rainy season; August to October is typhoon season.
By sport
What to expect for each.
River-mouth kiting with mixed freshwater and saltwater influence; wind pattern includes winter frontal winds and stronger thermal sea-breeze winds in spring/summer. Mixed flat water inside the mouth can pair with small waves on the ocean side.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Occasional windsurfing when winds are strong enough from frontal or thermal conditions.
- Sail Sizes
- 5–7 m²
Suitable for wingfoiling when the tide is high enough to clear the sandbars; river debris can be a hazard.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil-friendly conditions are indicated (subject to sufficient depth).
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
A river-mouth/jetty setup with beach-side surf that can range from small, fairly consistent waves to higher-quality sandbar-driven peeling sections after storms or reshaping.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- S, SE
- Swell Height
- 0.5–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed beach/jetty character.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore winds from North to North-Northwest are described as favorable for cleaner surf.
- Bigger Swell
- Typhoon swells can be handled, but conditions become very heavy and dangerous.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Also described as average in some guidance.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Some sources also characterize the surf as small and consistent; see ride-length notes.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Wave shape is described as peeling; other guidance notes mixed shape on small, consistent surf.
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — Can produce longer, peeling rides when sandbars are well-formed; elsewhere it is described as producing short rides.
- Ride Length Details
- Some guidance: small, fairly consistent surf rather than long/powerful rides; other guidance: longer peeling rides when sandbars are well-formed.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Sagami River Mouth (Hiratsuka) in the full forecast view.
Sagami River Mouth (Hiratsuka) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–13 ktsGusts 23 kts
- Direction
- NNE17°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2513 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.5–1.3 m7s period
- Temperature
- 12–25 °C
Over the next 7 days, Sagami River Mouth (Hiratsuka) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–13 kts, peaking around 13 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 23 kts. The prevailing direction is NNE. Waves run 0.5–1.3 m with a period of about 7s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Wave breaker
- Strong river currents and rip currents (especially after heavy rain)
- Tetrapods
- Concrete wave breakers
- Jetties
- River debris/floating debris after rain
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Lifeguard patrols are described as seasonal during the official summer beach period (July–August).
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Yes — Coast Guard coverage in the area, supplemented by seasonal lifeguard patrols.
- Emergency Info
- Emergency services can be reached at 119 (ambulance/fire) and 118 (maritime rescue).
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Priority at peaks is usually given to surfers; local riders establish positioning/priority.
Rules of the spot
Kitesurfers should keep distance from the surf lineup; priority at main river-mouth peaks is usually given to surfers.
- Kitesurfing may require a special permit or membership/permission from a local kite organization.
- Avoid the river mouth immediately after heavy storms/heavy rain due to increased debris and reduced water quality.
- Watch for local surfers who have established priority at the peak.
- Treat the area as mixed-use with changing conditions between river and ocean influences.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Hiratsuka
- Nearest Town
- Chigasaki
- Parking
- Paid public parking available at Hiratsuka Beach Park (Route 134 access noted).
- Access
- River-mouth area near Sagami River mouth; access described via the river-mouth beach/jetty zone in Hiratsuka.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Japanese
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Various hotels and guesthouses available in Hiratsuka and Chigasaki.
- Food & Drink
- Local cafes and convenience stores are located along the main coastal road.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is described as widely available through shops along Route 134 (regional baseline); spot-level specific rental confirmation was not provided in the enrichment feeds.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Sagami River Mouth (Hiratsuka)?
The best overall months at Sagami River Mouth (Hiratsuka) are November, December, January, February, March, April. The best wind months are January, February, March, April, November, December.
Which wind directions work at Sagami River Mouth (Hiratsuka)?
Sagami River Mouth (Hiratsuka) works with S, SSW, N, NNW winds. Offshore directions are N, NNW. No-go directions are S, SSW, N, NNW.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Sagami River Mouth (Hiratsuka)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Sagami River Mouth (Hiratsuka): Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Windsurfing: 5–7 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–25 kts.
What skill level is Sagami River Mouth (Hiratsuka) suitable for?
Sagami River Mouth (Hiratsuka) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner to Advanced.