Many of Roopt's share houses are located in the coastal areas of Miyagi Prefecture, allowing residents to enjoy not only seafood but also many marine activities. We hope that all Roopt residents and guests will take the opportunity to enjoy Miyagi's marine activities. This time, we bring you an article about a sea kayaking experience in Ishinomaki City!
We experienced sea kayaking with the guidance of 'Nakano Kayak,' which offers sea kayaking programs on the Oshika Peninsula, an area rich in both sea and mountain attractions. This was only my second time sea kayaking, and my first time with a guide. In this report, I'll share the 'fresh' enjoyment I felt precisely because I was new to sea kayaking! I hope you'll read on with the perspective of 'What kind of sea is Ishinomaki's sea?'
Before the experience report, here's an introduction to 'Nakano Kayak'.
'Nakano Kayak' offers sea kayaking programs guided by its representative, Kana Nakano. They have plans to meet various needs, including half-day and full-day experiences for beginners, tours for experienced paddlers, and private programs for families.
Furthermore, 'Nakano Kayak' is also an authorized school of the Japan Safety Paddling Association (JSPA). Both first-timers who are 'challenging sea kayaking for the first time!' and beginners who have 'paddled a little bit!' can participate with peace of mind.
This sea kayaking experience took place in Ogihama on the Oshika Peninsula, located in the southeastern part of Ishinomaki City. Since Ogihama is an inlet, the waves are calm, making it one of the suitable locations for sea kayaking. The white deer sculpture 'White Deer Oshika,' a symbol of the 'Reborn-Art Festival' held since 2017, is also exhibited here in Ogihama.
First, we received explanations about the equipment and how to paddle a kayak. Wetsuits and marine shoes can also be rented at this time, so even first-timers without their own gear can feel at ease. *Reservations are required for rentals.
Before entering the water, we received instructions on land about how to get into and out of the kayak, and how to paddle using the paddle (the stick for moving through water). We then set our drinks and valuables in their designated spots, completing our preparations. After a brief practice of kayak operation in the shallows, we were finally ready to depart.
What personally impressed me was the functionality of the kayak's storage. Drinks could be secured with a cord, and smartphones could be placed in a dry bag (waterproof bag) and then stored in a hidden compartment with a lid. From a novice's perspective, I felt it was 'conveniently designed'.
Following Ms. Nakano's guidance, we paddled the kayak forward. I wrote in the title of this article, 'Savoring Ishinomaki's Sea with All Five Senses,' and as you read on, I believe you'll understand its meaning.
The first things you feel are the 'waves' and the 'wind.' You can tell that even slight waves or wind change the direction of the kayak, and skillfully operating the paddle to move forward against the waves and wind is one of the joys. It felt like conducting a physics experiment.
As we paddled, the nature of the Oshika Peninsula came into view. Looking at the sea, we could see seaweed and small fish with the naked eye, and looking at the mountains, we could see magnificent scenery of trees and rock faces. Ms. Nakano explained the types of seaweed, methods of marine product aquaculture, and reasons for the shapes of the rock faces, and she kindly answered questions like 'What kind of seaweed is this?', making it a valuable learning experience.
By the way, Ishinomaki also suffers from a lot of wildlife damage, especially on the Oshika Peninsula where many Japanese deer live and graze on grass and tree buds. It was also an opportunity to clearly see the serious damage caused by deer.
After about an hour of paddling, we took a break on the beach where the aforementioned 'White Deer Oshika' is exhibited. There, we had the opportunity to hear many stories from Ms. Nakano, including why she moved to Ishinomaki and her experiences with kayaking, which deepened our connection. The coffee, freshly ground and brewed by Ms. Nakano, a coffee lover, was simply exceptional, especially combined with the pleasant fatigue.
After a good rest, we started paddling again, and since I still had plenty of energy, we decided to circle the entire Ogihama and return to the starting point. We caught glimpses of local life, such as a fisherman acquaintance of Ms. Nakano preparing for his catch. Moreover, we saw many beaches and forests that are inaccessible by land, which made me feel like I got a little extra out of the trip.
Returning to the starting point, the fulfilling three-hour experience, including preparations, came to an end! The three hours flew by so quickly that I thought, 'Next time, I'd like to try the full-day course.'
During this experience, when I asked Ms. Nakano about her recommended points (i.e., charms) of sea kayaking, she shared the following three points. These three points are things I also felt during the experience, and I hope all readers will also get to experience them.
① Enjoyable for all ages and genders. As I realized when I tried it, it doesn't require difficult techniques and can be paddled with little effort, so anyone, regardless of age or gender, can enjoy it. It's appealing because you can enjoy it alone, with friends, or with family.
② A sense of accomplishment from reaching your destination by your own power. Slowly but surely, you realize you've paddled quite a distance, and you can experience the sense of accomplishment of 'I paddled all this way myself.' Being able to go to places inaccessible by land also seems to contribute to that sense of accomplishment.
③ Conversation flows easily and it's refreshing. Unlike fast-paced sports like cycling or touring, you paddle slowly and take breaks, which makes conversation flow more easily. When the sea is calm, there's no sound of waves and it's truly quiet, so you can communicate well even if there's some distance between you.
Experiencing sea kayaking with Nakano Kayak this time, I feel that I spent a fulfilling time that went beyond just marine activities.
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