Many of Roopt's share houses are located in the coastal areas of Miyagi Prefecture, allowing residents to enjoy not only seafood but also a variety of marine activities. We hope that Roopt residents and guests will take the opportunity to enjoy Miyagi's marine activities. This time, we bring you an experience report on sea kayaking 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. This report will 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, Ms. 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 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 who don't have their own gear can feel at ease. *Rentals require advance reservation.
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 (oar). We then set drinks and valuables in their designated places, completing our preparations. After a short 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 pouch) and then stored in a hidden compartment with a lid. From an amateur's perspective, I felt it was 'conveniently designed.'
Following Ms. Nakano's guidance, we paddled the kayak forward. The title of this article mentions 'savoring Ishinomaki's sea with all five senses,' and I believe its meaning will become clear as you read on.
First, you feel the 'waves' and 'wind.' You can tell that even slight waves and wind change the kayak's direction, and skillfully maneuvering the paddle to overcome them 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 explained the types of seaweed, methods of marine product aquaculture, and reasons for the rock formations, and she kindly answered questions like 'What kind of seaweed is this?', making it a valuable and educational time.
Incidentally, Ishinomaki also experiences 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 understand the serious current situation of deer damage.
After about an hour of paddling, we took a break at 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 stories related to kayaking, which deepened our interaction. 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 got a glimpse into the life of the beach, seeing Ms. Nakano's acquaintance, a fisherman, 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 preparations, 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., attractions) of sea kayaking, she shared the following three. These three points are what I also felt during the experience, and I hope readers will also feel them.
① Enjoyable for all ages and genders. As I found out myself, it doesn't require difficult techniques and can be paddled with little effort, so anyone, young or old, male or female, 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 a sense of accomplishment, thinking, '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 or take breaks, which makes conversation flow more easily. When the sea is calm, there's no sound of waves, making it 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 a marine activity.
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