“Smoky karaoke bars and small fishing villages.” Not a bad way to spend your days. But include a couple hours time to explore the coastline for a handful of sessions? Perfect.
I was born in Tokyo (my mother is Japanese) and have spent a dozen or so summers/falls there, and let me tell you: it is everything you think it is. Red-faced salary men drink way to much Asahi Super Dry on the Shinkansen and Harajuku girls roam wildly. In stark contrast, the coastal communities are true island communities that couldn’t feel further from the craziness of one of the most bustling cities in the world. This juxtaposition, not more than an hour or three removed from one another, is a big part of why I love Japan so much.
With all that in mind, the Billabong team out of New Zealand headed north to explore the wonderfully weird streets of Tokyo…
…before hopping a train (board bag in hand)…
…to the eastern stretch of Shikoku.
There, they caught their fair share of fun waves.
But it wasn’t firing, and Japan didn’t look its best. No worries. Luckily for everyone involved, Lombok is but a short flight (or, more accurately, a couple flights) away.
And if you avoid the Bali Belly on your layover, Indo is a near guarantee of great waves.
Look at those lines.
…they’ll send you sky high.
Good on you, boys. Good on you.
