Many of Roopt's share houses are located in coastal areas of Miyagi Prefecture, offering opportunities to enjoy not only fresh seafood but also a wide variety of marine activities. We hope that all Roopt residents and guests will also enjoy the marine activities that Miyagi has to offer.
This time, we'll be sharing an article about a SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboarding) experience in Ishinomaki City! We enjoyed SUP with a guide from Active Life Lab in Hamagurihama, an area located in the northwestern part of the Oshika Peninsula.
Many people have heard of SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboarding) recently, but don't really know what it entails. I myself tried SUP for the first time, and was a little nervous, but thanks to the thorough guidance and the many water activities, it turned out to be a very fulfilling experience. If you're thinking, "I want to have fun in the sea of Ishinomaki," as the title suggests, then please read on.
Active Life Lab is run by Ryodai Miyagi, an environmental activist from Ishinomaki who grew up by the sea there. He operates two types of businesses: Active Life YADO, an environmentally-first guesthouse where people can learn about environmental issues and gather with like-minded individuals; and Miyagi Outdoor Lab, a facility that teaches people how to have fun and experience nature through outdoor activities such as SUP, as demonstrated here.
Since the sea in Ishinomaki, where he played as a child, became unsuitable for swimming and other recreational activities after the earthquake, he has been providing environmental activities and programs with the desire to "do something about the sea that was lost in the disaster." In addition to the above, he also holds monthly beach cleanups and self-catering events, making him a research institute that addresses environmental issues from all angles.
First, we gathered at a beach hut near Hamahama beach, where we chatted and introduced ourselves while filling out consent forms. Apparently, this beach hut wasn't built by a construction company, but by the members themselves, who came together with the goal of revitalizing Hamahama beach. The interior is really cute, isn't it?
They carefully explained the terminology and usage of SUP boards and paddles while we were wearing wetsuits and life jackets. But it wasn't just a lecture; they also started impromptu quizzes like, "Mr./Ms. [Name], what's the name of this part?", making it a fun and engaging learning experience.
Like other beaches on the Oshika Peninsula, Hamahama Beach is located in a cove, making it a calm and beginner-friendly beach for SUP. Furthermore, thanks to Mr. Miyagi's guidance, we were able to paddle with confidence and truly "have fun," as the title suggests.
First, I got used to standing on the SUP board and paddling. People with no SUP experience might wonder, "Can you really stand on just one board on the water?" but surprisingly, I was able to stand up quite quickly. It allows you to feel your body's balance more realistically than in everyday life, and it might even be an opportunity to learn more about your own body.
Once you get used to it, you'll even have the余裕 (leeway/confidence) to strike a pose like this while paddling.
The charm of this SUP experience lies in being able to feel the grandeur of nature while paddling. At Hamagurihama, where not a sound can be heard and the birdsong is clearly audible, you can see small fish and seaweed when you look at the sea, and trees and rocky cliffs come into view when you look at the mountains. Being surrounded by such magnificent nature makes you forget all the worries of everyday life and gives you a sense of peace and tranquility.
Furthermore, with SUP, the fun isn't just in paddling, but also in falling in. It's what's known as a "splash." Being thrown into the sea with a splash is surprisingly refreshing, and you can relive your childhood by having fun splashing in or even intentionally pushing others into the water.
There was an uninhabited beach that couldn't be reached by car, and we stopped there as a rest stop during our SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) trip. We relaxed and drank tea, took a short walk towards the mountains, picked up some seaweed, and tried skipping stones together. Everyone was having a great time enjoying activities beyond just SUP. I used to play in the sea a lot when I was little, so it brought back some old memories for me.
The SUP experience lasted three hours, but it was so fulfilling that it felt like it flew by. Being surrounded by nature and having fun playing in the sea made it a truly refreshing experience for both mind and body!
My first ever SUP experience with Active Life Lab made me realize how important it is to reconnect with your inner child. As adults, we carry a lot of burdens in our daily lives, but that's precisely why taking time to forget all of that and just have fun refreshes our minds and bodies, making our daily lives more fulfilling.
Ms. Miyagi provides thorough guidance, and the activities are enjoyable even if you can't swim, so I felt that anyone can enjoy this kind of ocean activity. If this article has piqued your interest, please search for "Active Life Lab"!
Roopt, a shared housing chain operating in Miyagi Prefecture, accepts not only long-term residency but also overnight stays and short-term rentals. Overnight stays are available from one night, as well as shorter stays of a week or a month, tailored to individual lifestyles.
Furthermore, Active Life Lab offers SUP rentals including SUP boards and wetsuits, so you can enjoy SUP with just yourself. We also welcome those staying only during the summer, so if you're interested in SUP in Miyagi, please feel free to contact us.
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