Exploring Waterside Escapes Introducing Refreshing Experiences and Resort

This article introduces activities that fully harness the charm and pleasure of Japan's natural environment, showcased through the beautiful landscapes of lakes, riverbanks, and coastlines. Through these experiences, we anticipate a rising interest in local municipalities. We hope that through our photographs, one can appreciate the luxury of water and nature.

1, Yoshino River, Kochi

Tokushima Prefecture, where the Yoshino River is located, is a beautiful place full of nature, including the Naruto Whirlpools and Mount Tsurugi. It is also famous as the birthplace of the traditional performing art "Awa Odori". Many tourists visit the prefecture to see the beautiful nature and traditional culture. The Yoshino River, which flows through Kochi and Tokushima prefectures over a length of 194 km, runs east to west through the center of Mima City and has a long history as an "artery" for transporting people, goods, and culture. The river is characterized by its rapids, and especially in the upper reaches called Oboke and Koboke, visitors can enjoy an exhilarating river sport, rafting, taking advantage of the fierce current.

2, Yoshino River, Kochi

Rafting is a sport in which participants board a raft, a large rubber boat, and work together to paddle down rapids. The Yoshino River is praised by many rafting enthusiasts for its volume of water, vigorous current, depth of water, and varied terrain, all of which make it look like a dedicated course.
Participants receive a lecture at the starting point on basic movements and what to do in case they fall off the raft before beginning their adventure.
Rafting on the Yoshino River offers participants the chance to experience relaxing, gentle points as well as violent waves. Especially at Koboke Gorge, you can relax and enjoy the view of beautiful cliffs stretching out on both sides of the river. At this place, you can jump off the cliffs, swim and float, and enjoy your time to your heart's content.

3, Shimanto River, Kochi

The beautiful Shimanto River is considered the last clear stream in Japan, as there are no large dams on its main stream. In the peaceful atmosphere of Nakamura Town,river fishermen practice traditional methods to catch ayu (sweetfish) . The magnificent natural scenery can be fully enjoyed from a houseboat, with activities such as canoeing and snorkeling, or a sightseeing boat ride to relax and enjoy the scenery along the river.
Recently, SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) has become a popular activity to experience the Shimanto River. The appeal of this activity is feeling the magnificent current of the Shimanto River while riding the SUP, and looking at both the surface and underwater from a higher vantage point. First-time visitors don't need to be able to swim to enjoy the water fun. You will be able to fully enjoy the ride not only standing up, but also sitting or lying down.

4, Hyuga, Miyazaki

Hyuga City is a city with a mild climate, beautiful mountains, and magnificent nature influenced by the Kuroshio Current facing the Pacific Ocean. Miyazaki is characterized by a coastline that stretches in a straight line from north to south, facing the Pacific Ocean. Because of this gentle and wide coastline, it is easily affected by low-pressure systems, and even a small low-pressure system can produce good waves. Therefore, surfing can be enjoyed throughout the year. Many people, not only from within the prefecture but also from outside the prefecture, come to enjoy surfing all year round.
Hyuga City has been promoting a surf town concept project called "Relax Surf Town Hyuga" since December 2016. The project has been a great success, with the number of visitors for surfing now exceeding 300,000, far exceeding the initial goal set at the launch of the project.

５, Nanjo Umikaze Force Park, Okinawa

Nanjo City has valuable historical and cultural heritage with a deep history, including Kudaka Island, a Shinto island, the World Heritage Site of Seifu Utaki, and Gusuku, a castle built by a powerful family who ruled various parts of Okinawa from the 12th to 16th centuries. Furthermore, there are also sacred sites that are visited in a pilgrimage event called 'Agari Umai', such as places associated with the King of Ryukyu, and the traditional performing arts and folk customs that remain today are of academic importance and show the origins of Okinawa's history and culture.
At Umikaze Horse Farm in Nanjo City, visitors can experience the marine sport of sea horse riding, which takes place during the warm season from May to mid-October. Sea horse riding is a unique Okinawan experience where you can enjoy riding in the sea on a horse. This special experience takes advantage of the characteristics of the small and docile yonaguni horses and can be enjoyed by first-timers and non-swimmers alike.

6, Lake Tazawa, Akita

Lake Tazawa is a nearly circular lake with a circumference of 20 kilometers and the deepest in Japan at 423 meters. The lake is shrouded in a mystical atmosphere, and its four seasons delight visitors with their different appearances. The lakeside area is not only full of historical sites and historic places of interest, but also many leisure spots, where you can enjoy driving, cycling, sightseeing boats and campsites.
The lakeside has a well-maintained cycling path with few ups and downs, making it easy for beginners to enjoy. You can also rent various types of bicycles by the lake, including gear-shift, electric-assist and road bikes. Cycling around the lake takes between one and one and a half hours, and there are numerous restaurants, cafés, shrines and other places to stop along the way, so you can enjoy the lake's surroundings while having fun.

7, ENTO, Shimane

Shimane Prefecture has a number of historical heritage sites, such as the World Heritage Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, Izumo Grand Shrine and Kamoiwakura Site, which are popular with tourists. There are also places to enjoy nature, such as Okifuse Beach, Washigamine, Fudoki Botanical Garden and Manpukuji Garden. Festivals and local performing arts are also popular, with the Matsue Suigo Festival and Yasugibushi Festival being the most famous.
In July 2021, a new complex called Entô was established in Shimane Prefecture. Entô is located in Ama Town, a half-farming, half-fishing island surrounded by the rich sea influenced by the Tsushima Warm Current and abundant spring water, including the waters of the Amagawa River, one of the 100 best waters in Japan. The Oki Islands are made up of 4 inhabited islands and more than 180 uninhabited islands, located approximately 80 km off Shimane Prefecture and about three hours away by ferry. Of these, Ama Town (Nakanoshima Island) is the third largest island in the Oki Islands, with a population of 2,300.

8, ENTO, Shimane

Entô is a Geopark base facility where you can stay overnight. It is a complex facility that combines an accommodation section where you can learn about the nature and culture of Oki Islands as a "Geopark" and enjoy the great outdoors, and an exhibition section. On the third floor of the newly built annex, there is a suite room, limited to one couple per day, with a view from the spacious window frame. Also on the first floor are exhibits about Ama Town and the Oki Islands, and a Geopark interpreter is on hand to provide free activities that take guests to the Geo Lounge and Rainbow Beach.
Overlooking the caldera sea, the dining room offers seasonal course meals using ingredients from Ama Town and Shimane Prefecture. The staff introduces the ingredients and the stories of the producers, allowing guests to taste the seasonal bounty nurtured by the Geopark's land.

9, Kawana Hotel, Izu

Located in the Tokai region, Shizuoka Prefecture is about an hour away from Tokyo. This prefecture, along with Yamanashi Prefecture, is known for its expanse of Mt. Fuji, and offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of both the sea and the mountains. Izu is a particularly popular tourist destination in Shizuoka Prefecture.
In Kawana, a scenic spot in Izu, there is the Kawana Hotel, a classic hotel that has existed on a grand scale since its opening in 1936, and is known as one of the most spectacular resort hotels in Japan, having welcomed numerous guests from Japan and abroad. The hotel is also renowned for having hosted Marilyn Monroe during her honeymoon. The main building and the Japanese restaurant "Inakaya" are designated as registered tangible cultural properties. The traditional and elegant interior of the hotel features a golf course, a lounge where you can unwind with a cup of tea, an atmospheric bar, a fitness room, and a souvenir store with a wide selection of original products.
The grounds also include a natural grass tennis court, an observation deck overlooking the ocean, and swings, allowing guests to spend time relaxing on the hotel grounds.

10, Kawana Hotel, Izu

Kawana Hotel's golf course is located on a scenic hill overlooking Sagami Bay with views of Mt. Fuji and Oshima Island. The golf course was designed by English landscape architect Charles Hugh Allison in 1936. It is said that Mr. Allison was so fascinated by the beauty of the sea and topography of Kawana that he spent many days in his hotel room engrossed in designing the course. On a clear day, the golf course offers a spectacular view of Mt. Fuji, the Tanzawa mountain range, Mt. Oyama, the Shonan area, the Miura Peninsula, Sagami Bay, the Boso Peninsula, Oshima Island, and Izu islands (Toshima and Niijima). In addition, the Yokohama Landmark Tower and the Tokyo Sky Tree, which is about 100 km away, are also in view, making this a unique and special place with a panoramic view of Sagami Bay.

Thank you for enjoying Japan's festivals and fireworks traditions. Please experience the charm of Japanese summer and create wonderful memories.

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