Nagahama is a long, flat beach on the west coast of Tanegashima, with a scattering of low-quality peaks that tend to gather around the rivermouths. The pick of the bunch sits at the northern end, where a fickle rivermouth peak breaks over boulders and sand. The lefts are the draw here, and on the right day they throw out long walls and the occasional tube. Be honest about the odds, though: Nagahama needs everything to line up, and that doesn't happen often.
When It Works
Swell arrives from southwest to northwest, and a west swell is what really switches the rivermouth on. The bank is usable from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 1.8 m / 6 ft, and when a solid west pulse fills in, the lefts start reeling. Waves peel both left and right, but it is the left that holds the length. Consistency is the catch, so treat it as a spot to keep an eye on rather than a reliable session.
Wind and Tide
Look for a southeast offshore to groom it, which is exactly the combination worth waiting for alongside a west swell. It can work through most of the tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
Intermediate surfers will get the most out of it, with the shifting rivermouth peak and boulder-and-sand bottom asking for a bit of experience reading where to sit. Expect a moderately busy lineup when it comes to life.
Access
There is a car park with free parking, plus roadside parking if you would rather pull up closer to the peak you want.
