``Let's enjoy! Outdoor sports life in Minami Mie'' by Katsuragi, a comedian who lives in Mie and belongs to Yoshimoto Kogyo, a PR ambassador for outdoor sports that takes advantage of the rich nature.

We are Katsuragi, a comedian living in Mie and affiliated with Yoshimoto Kogyo. We have been appointed as the "PR ambassador for all outdoor sports that take advantage of the rich nature" of Minami Mie (ShimaCity, MinamiiseTown, WataraiTown, OdaiTown, KihokuTown, OwaseCity, KumanoCity, KihoTown). I experienced outdoor sports in 8 cities and towns. We had a great time doing various activities at the sea, mountains, and rivers.
We will introduce the fun of outdoor sports that we have experienced.

[Minami Mie outdoor sports digest version]

First, we will introduce outdoor sports in ShimaCity.
I came to Tomoyama Park. This is a place with a panoramic view of the Rias coast, and the numerous capes, islands, and floating pearl rafts are enveloped in a golden hue at dusk.
This is a place you should definitely stop by when you come to Shima, as you can enjoy the beauty of Ago Bay.

I tried waterball at Shima Nature School in ShimaCity.
Its unique feature is that you can step inside a large ball and take a walk on the sea, but since the ball is transparent, you can see the beautiful sky and sea. What's interesting is that it's difficult to stand inside the ball, and the secret is for both of you to breathe in sync!
If you are a lover or a couple, it may shorten the distance between you and your partner.

The waterball experience was led by Mr. Nishii, an instructor at Shima Nature School. Even beginners can enjoy the experience with confidence, as they will carefully teach you how to get on and off the ball, as well as the attractions and key points.
They always supported me while I was on the water, so I was able to enjoy myself to the fullest.

[Outdoor sports in Minami Mie ShimaCity edition]


[Shima Nature School]
Address: ShimaCity
Phone number 0599-72-1733
Business hours 9:00-17:00
Regular holidays Irregular holidays
Access: Approximately 60 minutes from Ise Expressway “Ise Nishi IC”

Next up is outdoor sports in MinamiiseTown.
Before introducing them, we first visited the Mieshima Observation Deck at UguraPark Enchi, a tourist attraction in MinamiiseTown.
Kasaragi Pond, which can be seen from this observation deck, looks heart-shaped, so it is recognized as a sacred place for lovers. There are monuments to pledge your love and a key stand for vows, so why not go out with your partner or couple and deepen your love?

In MinamiiseTown I experienced skydiving for the first time in my life at Ise Shima Diving School.
The helicopter takes you up to 3,000m above the ground, and the moment you take off into the air, you fall at 250km/h into an uncharted zone. After opening your parachute, the spectacular view of Ise-Shima's ria coastline will make you forget time.
Among the only 5 skydiving locations in Japan, this is the only one where you can experience an ocean view! Why not try it out?

Kieren Robert from New Zealand, who assisted us, seems to only come to Japan for this work. With over 7,000 jumps experience, you can trust your body with confidence.
While providing support, they will smile and ease your anxiety.
Skydiving from the skies of Ise-Shima with a real instructor is the best experience.

[Outdoor sports in MinamiiseTown Edition]

[Ise Shima Skydiving]
Address: Taso Shirahama Center House, 124 Tasoura, MinamiiseTown Watarai-gun
Phone number 0599-77-4526
Business hours 8:00-17:00
Closed on Wednesdays
Access: 20 minutes by car from Kintetsu “Ugata” station

Next, we visited MiyaRiverWataraiPark to introduce outdoor sports in WataraiTown.
There are plenty of facilities such as the playing pool ``Kagami'' which is crowded with children in the summer, tennis courts, lawn area, playground equipment area, and event stage, so you can enjoy the whole day with your family.
The scenery surrounded by the clear Miyagawa River and mountains is also amazing!

I experienced SUP at MiyaRiverWataraiPark! SUP is an abbreviation for stand up paddleboarding, which is a water activity where you stand on a board and paddle.
It is very luxurious to be able to take a walk upstream of the clear Miyagawa River on a SUP. It is also attractive that you can get on the ride in a short time and can be enjoyed by people of all ages and genders.

Mr. Kawaguchi, the instructor, taught me SUP.
He also enjoys surfing, so he has tanned skin and a bright personality. We were able to enjoy the experience with peace of mind as we were given detailed instructions on how to ride SUP and the real pleasure of walking on the water in the clear Miyagawa River!

[Outdoor sports in WataraiTown edition]


[MiyaRiverWataraiPark]
Address 2 Tanahashi, WataraiTown Watarai-gun
Phone number 0596-62-2416 (WataraiTown Industrial Promotion Division)
Business hours 8:00-17:00
No regular holidays
Access: Approximately 10 minutes south of Ise Expressway Tamaki IC

Next, we will introduce outdoor sports that you can enjoy in OdaiTown!
Sakura no Sato Park, located in the middle reaches of the Miyagawa River, is full of nature. The Miyagawa River is a clear stream that has been ranked first in water quality surveys by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism many times, and the entire area of OdaiTown has been certified as a UNESCO Eco Park.
Beautiful nature spreads out before your eyes!

What I was able to experience here was a jungle cruise in the great outdoors on SUP. When you take a slow SUP ride along a quiet river, you will feel as if the trees spreading out in front of you are closing in on you.
One of the best parts of SUP is that you can paddle while seated, and your line of sight is much closer to the water's surface, giving you a more adventurous feeling.

This time's instructor is Mr. Noda. You can enjoy the charm of Miyagawa SUP with Mr. Noda's unique guide who knows everything about this land and the charm of SUP.
Taking a break from work and going on a SUP cruise in the great outdoors will surely reset your mind and body!

[Outdoor sports in Minami Mie OdaiTown]


[Verde Odai Tourism]
Address 308 Shimomate, Odai-machi OdaiTown Mie Prefecture
Phone number 080-4840-7315
Business hours 9:00-17:00
Regular holidays Irregular
Access: 10 minutes by car from Kisei Expressway Omiya Odai IC

This time we will introduce outdoor sports in KihokuTown.
I tried sea kayaking in KihokuTown. Our instructor, Mr. Yamamoto, kindly and carefully taught us how to carry, ride, and row a sea kayak. Thanks to Mr. Yamamoto, we will be able to enjoy the charm of sea kayaking for the first time.

At first, I was not used to it, but once I got the hang of it, I gradually got better at it and enjoyed exploring the ocean.
It's so much fun that you'll lose track of time, passing through rocky areas that can only be accessed by sea kayaking, and the ocean is so beautiful that you can explore the ocean using underwater goggles as you row.

It's great to feel like an adventurer when you land on a deserted island, admire the sea creatures, and enjoy a hot cup of coffee on the spot.
We were also very satisfied with the adventure story on the majestic sea.

[South Mie outdoor sports KihokuTown edition]


[Kiaora Paddle]
Address: 83-2 Dose Shokudo, Kihoku-cho, Kitamuro-gun KihokuTown
Phone number 080-1605-1036
Business hours 9:00-19:00
Regular holidays Irregular
Access: 10 minutes by car from Kisei Expressway nagashima IC

Next, we will introduce outdoor mountain sports in OwaseCity.
OwaseCity has the Owase Trail, which has a total length of 37km. This time, we were guided by our guide, Mr. Uchiyama, and had the opportunity to experience the Owase Trail a little bit.

First, we climbed towards Iwayado.
When you arrive at Iwayado, you will see a sacred place with the main statue of Sho Kannon and 33 stone Buddha statues, and the light of the candles is mysterious and time passes slowly. I feel like my heart is being cleansed as well.

Next, we passed through the Kumano Kodo, a World Heritage Site, and arrived at Yakiyama Kojindo. This time, thanks to the kindness of OwaseCity, Mr. Uchiyama was given a special opportunity to unveil the book. *Normally, opening of books is not possible.
The calm and contemplative statue of Buddha in the opening room seemed to be telling us something. I wasn't able to go to other mountains this time, but I would like to conquer the Owase Trail next time.

[Outdoor sports in Minami OwaseCity edition]


[Cooperative Owase Tourism and Products Association]
Address 12-14 Nakaicho OwaseCity
Phone number 0597-23-8261
Business hours 8:30-17:15
Closed: December 29th - January 3rd
Access: 15 minutes by car from Kisei Expressway Owase Kita IC

Next we came to Atashika Beach in Kumano. The sea on this coast is highly transparent, and many fans come from far away.
A marine sports festival is held every year, and the waves are calm, making it a great place for beginners in sea kayaking and SUP.

Experience SUP at AtashikaBeach! First, we received a basic lecture on how to row, such as how to move your legs on the board and how to put your weight on it, and then headed out to sea! The waves were calm but there were some, and it took me a while to be able to row freely.
For intermediate and advanced skiers, we also recommend a walk on the sea to the mouth of Gama, which is known as the ``Blue Cave of Kumano''!
If you're lucky, you might even see wild dolphins!

The person who provided guidance was Mr. Tano, chairman of the Kumano Marine Sports Promotion Committee.
He is a very kind and easy-going person, and he gives us detailed instructions one by one, so we were able to quickly experience walking on the sea with SUP.

[Outdoor sports in Minami KumanoCity edition]


[Kumano Marine Sports Promotion Committee]
Address: 796 KumanoCity
Phone number 080-3814-6876
Business hours 10:00-12:00 13:00-15:00
Regular holidays Irregular
Access: 15 minutes by car from Kumano Odomari IC on the Kumano-Owase National Highway

Next is outdoor sports in KihoTown.
We arrived at the newly renovated Hisetsu-no-takiFalls campsite. The scent of cypress in the center house soothes your soul.
Our instructor, Mr. Satake, taught us about the fun of outdoor sports KihoTown.

First, try an activity at Hisetsu Falls, which you can see right in front of you!
You can ride a rubber canoe called Ducky and play around the waterfall basin. When you enter the waterfall, you will be surprised by the water hitting you from a height of 30 meters!
From behind the waterfall, you can enjoy a view you've never seen before.

The next activity is mountain stream trekking, which can be experienced upstream of Hisetsu-no-takiFalls. It felt like a secret playground, and I was able to float along with the current, slide down the natural mountain stream slide, and have fun as if I was a child again.
Would you like to travel back in time to your childhood and play at Hisetsu-no-takiFalls?

[Outdoor sports in Minami KihoTown edition]



[Hisetsu-no-takiFalls Campsite]
Address 1409-1 Asari, KihoTown gun
Phone number 0735-21-1333 (Reception hours 9:00-17:00)
Business hours 9:00-17:00 (reservations accepted)
Closed: July-August (No holidays) April-June, September-November (Tuesday) December-March (Tuesday, Wednesday)
Access: Approximately 50 minutes (approximately 35 km) from Kumano Owase Road Kumano Odomari IC on National Route 42 towards Shingu