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 article about a SUP experience in Ishinomaki City! We enjoyed SUP with a guide from 'Active Life Lab' in Hamaguri-hama, located in the northwestern part of the Oshika Peninsula.
Many people hear about SUP often these days but don't really know what it involves. This was my first time doing SUP, and I was a little anxious, but with careful guidance and many opportunities for sea play, it was a very fulfilling experience. If you want to "play in the Ishinomaki sea" as the title suggests, please read on.
'Active Life Lab' is operated by Ryodai Miyagi, an environmental activist from Ishinomaki who grew up with the Ishinomaki sea. He runs two types of businesses: 'Active Life YADO,' an environmentally-focused guesthouse where people can learn about environmental issues and gather with like-minded individuals, and 'Miyagi Outdoor Lab,' a facility for training in how to enjoy nature through outdoor activities like the SUP experience mentioned here.
Since the Ishinomaki sea, where he played as a child, became unsuitable for swimming after the earthquake, he has been engaged in environmental activities and providing programs with the desire to "do something about the sea that was lost in the disaster." In addition to the above, he also organizes monthly beach cleanups and self-catering events, making it a research institute that addresses environmental issues from all angles.
First, we gathered at a beach hut near Hamaguri-hama, signed consent forms, and chatted while introducing ourselves. This beach hut was apparently built by members who gathered with the goal of revitalizing Hamaguri-hama, not by a construction company. The interior is cute, isn't it?
After putting on wetsuits and life jackets, they carefully explained the terminology and usage of the SUP board and paddle. It wasn't just an explanation; quizzes would suddenly start, like "Mr./Ms. [Name], what is this part called?", making it fun to learn.
Hamaguri-hama, like other beaches on the Oshika Peninsula, is an inlet, making the waves calm and gentle for SUP beginners. Also, with Mr. Miyagi's guidance, I felt safe paddling, which allowed me to "play around" as mentioned in the title.
First, I got used to standing and paddling on the SUP board. For those without SUP experience, you might wonder, "Can you really stand on just one board in the sea?" but I was surprisingly able to stand up quickly. It allows you to feel your body's balance more realistically than in daily life, and it might even be an opportunity to get to know your own body.
Once you get used to it, you'll even have enough余裕 to strike a pose while paddling, like this.
The charm of this SUP experience is being able to feel the grandeur of nature while paddling. In Hamaguri-hama, where there's not a sound except for the clear chirping of birds, you can see small fish and seaweed when you look at the sea, and trees and rock faces when you look at the mountains. Surrounded by such magnificent nature, you even feel like your mind is clearing, forgetting all the worries of daily life.
Also, falling is one of the joys of SUP, not just paddling. It's what you call a "splash." It's surprisingly refreshing to fall and be thrown into the sea, and you can act like a child, splashing in a funny way or intentionally pushing others in.
There's an unmanned beach inaccessible by car, which we stopped at as a rest spot during the SUP trip. While resting and drinking tea, we walked a bit towards the mountains, picked up seaweed, and skipped stones together. We enjoyed activities beyond just SUP, and all participants had a great time. I used to play a lot in the sea when I was little, so it felt like reminiscing about the past.
The 3-hour SUP experience was so fulfilling that it felt like it ended in an instant. Being refreshed in a natural setting and playing in the sea made it a moment of complete physical and mental rejuvenation!
After experiencing SUP for the first time with Active Life Lab, the first thing I thought was, "It's important to return to childhood innocence." As adults, we carry many burdens in our daily lives, but precisely because of that, taking time to forget everything and just play around refreshes our minds and bodies, making daily life more fulfilling.
Mr. Miyagi provides careful guidance, and it's an activity that can be enjoyed even if you can't swim, so I felt it's a sea activity that anyone can enjoy. If you're interested after reading this article, please search for "Active Life Lab"!
Roopt, which operates share houses in Miyagi Prefecture, accepts not only long-term residents but also overnight stays and short-term stays. Stays from one night, or short-term stays of a week or a month tailored to individual lifestyles, are also possible.
Also, for Active Life Lab's SUP, all equipment such as SUP boards and wetsuits are available for rent, so you can enjoy SUP with just yourself. Stays just for the summer are also very welcome, so if you "want to do SUP in Miyagi," please feel free to contact us.
FIND YOUR STAY
Feel free to contact us for inquiries about accommodation reservations, residency consultations, viewing appointments, interviews, etc.
Contact Us
