Kujukuri Beach Surf Fishing Guide (Chiba): 7 Spots, Rules and Safety

When people in the Tokyo area say “surf fishing”, Kujukuri is usually the first name. But while researching it I found one rule that can get you in real trouble if you do not know it — so that comes before the spots.

About Kujukuri

Kujukuri-hama runs about 66 km from Cape Gyobu (Asahi City) in the north to Cape Taito (Isumi City) in the south — one of Japan’s longest sandy beaches. Chiba Prefecture divides it at Katakai fishing port into North and South Kujukuri. Since the 1970s the beach has been eroding as sand supply dropped, which directly affects the terrain.

22 headlands

Twenty-two T-shaped artificial headlands stick out from the beach — 12 in the north and 10 in the south — to stabilise the shoreline. Sand builds up behind them, and for anglers these are ready-made structure. At Ichinomiya, ten headlands sit 400–950 m apart and reach about 200 m out, giving clear, evenly spaced landmarks.

Not all of Kujukuri is shallow

Chiba’s tourism site describes Shirasato as a gently shelving beach 500 m wide. But the prefecture’s civil-engineering office says Ichinomiya’s shoreline has retreated 20–70 m and become a steep, eroded beach. So the same coast mixes shallow and steep sections — choose between long-distance searching or working the close drop-off depending on where you fish.

Most important: driving on the beach is illegal

Under a prefectural natural park ordinance, since 1 April 1998 vehicles have been banned from about 60 km of beach from Asahi to Ichinomiya — cars, motorbikes, buggies, bicycles, even horses. Penalty: up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 1 million yen. Only designated zones are exempt; Chiba publishes the list every year. The aim is to protect beach plants, little tern nesting sites and loggerhead turtle nesting.

Exception: Asahi City promotes Iioka beach as one of the few beaches in the Kanto region where you can drive onto the sand. Remember: Iioka yes, elsewhere no unless listed.

Parking: free before dawn

Kujukuri Town’s municipal car parks are open 24 hours and only charge on weekends and holidays from 6:00 to 15:00 — so weekdays are always free, and dawn starts on weekends are free too.

Fees: 1,000 yen in swimming season, 500 yen at other charging times. Ichinomiya’s municipal car parks charge from 25 April to 11 January, 6:00–15:00 — check each town’s rules.

Spots, north to south

First time? Base yourself at Katakai or Fudodo — 24-hour parking, lots of spaces, and you can move north or south. If facilities matter most, choose Taito.

• Iioka: sand, tetrapods and walls; whiting, croaker (ishimochi), flounder (karei and hirame), flathead, black bream. Some pier sections are closed — check signs.
• Motosuka: ~500 m long and ~160 m deep, so you have room whatever the tide. Watch for surfers and windsurfers.
• Katakai: home of Kujukuri’s sardine fishery — the port is a workplace; fishing activity comes first. Chiba warns of falls from people entering closed areas.
• Fudodo: whiting, croaker, flounder, flathead, seabass — the backup when Katakai is crowded.
• Shirasato: officially shallow, so long casts suit it; the city warns of strong rip currents in parts and no lifeguards outside swimming season.
• Ichinomiya: one of Japan’s “100 best beaches”; ten headlands and steep — fish all the way to your feet. Do not stand on the headlands.
• Taito: free parking, toilets and showers. Parts of Taito port are closed to fishing, and nearby Tsutsugaura has had restricted access since the February 2024 earthquake — check before you go.

Safety: rip currents at the headlands

The Japan Coast Guard warns that very strong rip currents can form around the headlands — sometimes faster than an Olympic swimmer; Kujukuri Town gives up to 2 m per second. Do not stand on the headlands; fish from the sand. If you are caught, swim parallel to the shore — rips are only about 10–30 m wide. Always wear waders together with a life jacket.

Safety: stingrays

Red stingrays bury themselves in the sand and have a strongly venomous spine. Shuffle your feet when wading. If stung, rinse with seawater and see a doctor. Gonzui (striped catfish) and haokoze also have venomous spines — do not handle unfamiliar fish.

Chiba rules

• Fish-attracting lights are banned (lights for seeing your feet are fine).
• Use only the minimum groundbait from shore.
• Allowed gear: rod and line, hand lines, landing nets, cast nets, rakes and hand collection; spears and crab nets are banned.
• Abalone, sea cucumber and glass eels are banned everywhere (up to 3 years’ prison or 30 million yen).

No rule explicitly bans fishing during swimming season, but avoid casting in swimming areas while beaches are open.

Tackle

Minagiman’s take

Few places within a day trip of Tokyo have surf on this scale. Learn the rules and the terrain — the beach-driving ban and the mix of shallow and steep beaches — and you will fish it far better from the first visit.

Read next

• Seisho surf fishing guide (Kanagawa)
• Omaezaki–Makinohara surf guide (Shizuoka)
• How to read a surf beach
• Japanese flounder (hirame) guide

MINAGIMAN

JAPAN ANGLER

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Born in 1994. Originally from Hyogo Prefecture, I moved to Iwata City in Shizuoka Prefecture in search of the sea. I am an Enshunada surf angler who enjoys surf fishing. I am also active on YouTube, and my fishing grounds range from Irago to Iwata.