Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) in Shimoda
Why Shimoda's sheltered coves are ideal for a first SUP lesson, and what to expect.
Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) began in Hawaii in the 1960s and has become one of the easiest ways to get out on Izu's water: you stand on a wide, stable board and paddle like a canoeist. Most beginners can paddle in a straight line after about an hour, even without any experience of water sports.
Where
Shimoda is ideal because it has sheltered coves as well as surf beaches. Lessons are usually held in shallow inlets with small waves, such as Nabeta, or in calm bays like Sotoura. On a clear day you paddle over emerald water and look down at the rocks below.
Booking a lesson
- Several surf schools around Kisami and Shimoda run SUP lessons that include the board and wetsuit hire.
- When we first wrote about it in 2016, a one-hour lesson cost about ¥7,000 and two hours about ¥9,000. Ask for current prices.
- Bring a swimsuit, a towel and sunscreen. Lessons depend on wind and swell.
Sources
