Japan Wakeboard guide

Japan has plenty of easily accessible water and plenty of enthusiasm for trying new things. That means that wakeboarding has become a popular sport in the country. In 2012, Japan hosted the Wakeboard World Cup for the first time. But you don’t have to be international competition standard to go on a Japan wakeboard trip.

Japan has several cable wakeboard parks where you can practice tricks and get lessons. There is a popular and well-established park near the city of Osaka, that hosts competitions and attracts some great riders, both local and from further afield.

There are several places in Tokyo Bay used by wakeboarders. The bay is quite industrial in places, but its still possible to find space to ride. Kachidoki Marina is a popular spot, where you’ll find wakeboarding hire and lessons.

If you’d rather get out of the city, try wakeboarding in the stunning surroundings of Okinawa Island. This white sand, blue sea island is a tropical paradise and a favourite of travellers looking for outdoor fun. The waters around the island are generally calm, making it great for wakeboarding.

Japan has some lovely inland lakes that are perfect for wakeboarding. In the central province of Nagano there are some beautiful glacial lakes, including Lake Suwa and Lake Nojiri. In summer, both make great wakeboarding destinations.

The biggest lake in Japan is Lake Biwa, with an area of around 670 square metres. It is a popular place with wakeboarders, with hire and lessons easily available.

If you want to take a Japan wakeboard trip, you’ll have plenty of choice over where to go. Wakeboarding is growing in popularity in the country, and with lots of lakes as well as a long coastline, that’s a trend likely to continue. Get involved…