As Japan is an archipelago, you'd be forgiven for thinking that it is blessed with some pleasant beaches. The truth is that industrialization has blighted much of the coastline and that many of the decent beaches are covered with litter and/or polluted. The best beaches are those furthest away from the main island of Honshu, which means those on the islands of Okinawa south of Kyushu, or the Izu and Ogasawara islands south of Tokyo.

Incredibly, Japan's market for surf goods is the world's largest, and when the surfers aren't hauling their boards off to Hawaii and Australia, they can be found braving the waves at various home locations. Top spots include the southern coasts of Shikoku and Kyushu. Closer to Tokyo, pros head for the rocky east Kujukuri coast of the Chiba peninsula, while the beaches around Shonan, near Kamakura, are fine for perfecting your style and hanging out with the trendiest surfers. Check out www.outdoorjapan.com for more information on surfing locations around Japan.

Diving in Japan is expensive, but if you want to explore under the oceans, the best places to head are Okinawa , around the island of Sado-ga-shima, near Niigata, and off the Izu Peninsula, close to Tokyo.