Many of Roopt's share houses are located in the coastal areas of Miyagi Prefecture, allowing residents to enjoy not only fresh seafood but also many marine activities. We hope that Roopt residents and guests will also enjoy Miyagi's marine activities. This time, we bring you an experience report on sea kayaking in Ishinomaki City!
I experienced sea kayaking with the guidance of 'Nakano Kayak,' which offers sea kayaking programs on the Oshika Peninsula, a place rich in the charms of both sea and mountains. This was only my second time sea kayaking, and my first time with a guide. I hope this report conveys the "fresh" enjoyment I felt precisely because I was new to sea kayaking! I would be delighted if you read on with the perspective of "What kind of sea is the Ishinomaki 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 charter programs for families.
Furthermore, 'Nakano Kayak' is 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 before!" 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 places for sea kayaking. The white deer object '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 land-based instruction on how to get into and out of the kayak, and how to paddle with the paddle (the stick used to move through the water). We then set our drinks and valuables in their designated spots, completing our preparations. After a short practice of kayak operation in shallow water, we were finally ready to depart.
What personally impressed me was the functional storage of the kayak. You could secure drinks with a string, and after putting smartphones and other items in a dry bag (waterproof bag), you could store them by covering a hidden compartment. From an amateur'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 the Sea of Ishinomaki with All Five Senses," and I believe the meaning will become clear as you read on.
First, you feel the "waves" and the "wind." Even slight waves or wind can change the direction of the kayak, and skillfully operating the paddle to advance without being defeated by the waves and wind is one of the joys. It felt like conducting a physics experiment.
As you paddle forward, the nature of the Oshika Peninsula comes into view. Looking at the sea, you can see seaweed and small fish with the naked eye, and looking at the mountains, you can see magnificent scenery such as trees and rock faces. Ms. Nakano explained the types of seaweed, methods of cultivating marine products, and reasons for the shapes of the rock faces, and she patiently answered questions like, "What kind of seaweed is this?" It was a meaningful and educational time.
Incidentally, 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 heard many stories from Ms. Nakano, including why she moved to Ishinomaki and stories related to kayaking, making it a time for deeper interaction. The coffee, freshly ground and brewed by Ms. Nakano, a coffee lover, was 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 a glimpse of local life, such as seeing a fisherman, an 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 experience.
Returning to the starting point, the fulfilling 3-hour experience, including preparation, came to an end! The 3 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. These three points are what I also realized during the experience, and I hope readers will feel them too.
① Enjoyable for all ages and genders. As I found out myself, it doesn't require difficult techniques and you can paddle with little effort, so anyone, young or old, male or female, can enjoy it. The charm is that 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 having "paddled all this way yourself." Being able to go to places inaccessible by land also seems to contribute to that sense of achievement.
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, it's truly quiet without the sound of waves, so you can communicate well even if there's some distance between you.
This time, experiencing sea kayaking with Nakano Kayak, I feel that I spent a fulfilling time that went beyond just marine activities.
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