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 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!
We experienced it 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 unfamiliar with sea kayaking! I would be delighted if you 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 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 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 places 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 are also available for rent at this time, so even first-timers who don't have 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, how to escape if it capsizes, and how to paddle using the paddle. After setting drinks and valuables in their designated places, preparations were complete. We practiced kayak operation a little in the shallows, and then it was finally time to depart.
What personally impressed me was the functionality of the kayak's storage. 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 hole, which felt 'conveniently designed' from an amateur's perspective.
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 I think the meaning will become clear as you read on.
The first things you feel are the 'waves' and the 'wind.' You can tell that even small waves and wind change the direction of the kayak, and skillfully operating the paddle to move forward without being defeated by the waves and wind is one of the joys. It felt like conducting a physics experiment.
As you paddle, 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 explains the types of seaweed, methods of cultivating marine products, and reasons for the shapes of the rock faces, and if you ask questions like 'What kind of seaweed is this?', she answers carefully, making it a meaningful and educational time.
By the way, Ishinomaki also suffers a lot from wildlife damage, especially on the Oshika Peninsula, where many Japanese deer live and graze on grass and tree buds. It was an opportunity to clearly see the serious damage caused by deer.
After about an hour of paddling, we took a break at 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 to deepen our interaction. The coffee, ground and brewed on the spot by Ms. Nakano, a coffee lover, was exceptional, 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 the daily life on the beach, such as seeing a fisherman, an acquaintance of Ms. Nakano, preparing for fishing. Moreover, we saw many beaches and forests that are inaccessible by land, which made me feel like I got a little extra.
Returning to the starting point, the fulfilling 3-hour experience, including preparations, came to an end! It was such a quick 3 hours that I felt like, '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 gave me the following three points. These three points are what I also felt during the experience, and I hope that readers will also feel them.
① Enjoyable regardless of age or gender. As I found out myself, it doesn't require overly difficult techniques, and you can paddle forward with little effort, so anyone of any age 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 that 'I paddled all this way myself.' Being able to go to places inaccessible by land also seems to be a factor in 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.
This time, experiencing sea kayaking with Nakano Kayak, I felt that I had a fulfilling time that went beyond just marine activities.
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