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!
I 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. In this report, I'll share the "fresh" fun I experienced 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, Kana Nakano. There are plans to suit 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 can also be rented at this time, so even first-timers without equipment can feel at ease. *Rentals require advance reservations.
Before entering the water, we received instructions on land about 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 shallow water, we finally set off.
What personally impressed me was the functionality of the kayak's storage. Drinks could be secured with a string, and smartphones could be put into a dry bag (waterproof bag) 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 is "Savor Ishinomaki's Sea with All Five Senses," and I think you'll understand its meaning as you read on.
The first things you feel are the "waves" and the "wind." You can feel the kayak's direction change even with slight waves or wind, and skillfully maneuvering 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 we paddled on, the nature of the Oshika Peninsula came into view. Looking at the sea, we could see seaweed and small fish with the naked eye, and looking at the mountains, we could 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 kindly answered questions like "What kind of seaweed is this?", making it a meaningful 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 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 to deepen our interaction. The coffee, freshly ground and brewed by Ms. Nakano, a coffee lover, was simply 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 go all the way around Ogihama and return to the starting point. We saw Ms. Nakano's acquaintance, a fisherman, preparing for fishing, giving us a glimpse into the life of the beach. 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 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 gave me the following three points. These three points are what I also felt during the experience, and I hope readers will also feel them.
① Enjoyable regardless of age or gender. As I found out myself, it doesn't require difficult techniques and you can paddle with little effort, so anyone of any age can enjoy it. It's appealing that you can enjoy it alone, with friends, or with family.
② A sense of accomplishment from reaching your destination with your own power. Slowly but surely, you realize you've paddled quite a distance, and you can experience the sense of accomplishment of "I paddled all the way here 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 you're a bit far apart.
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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