Shibecha

The day of the activity was in early July, and the weather was quite pleasant—overcast but not rainy, and without scorching sun. The temperature was on the cooler side, so participants were advised to wear long-sleeved clothing and bring a warm jacket. I participated alone and was lucky enough to be assigned a Taiwanese instructor who was on a working holiday in Japan, so we communicated in Mandarin. There was also a Japanese driver to provide logistical support. As a complete novice with no canoeing experience, I was initially a little worried, but it was actually easier than I expected. The instructor first taught me the correct way to hold the paddle and the correct sitting posture, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the canoe's balance. The two of us sat in one canoe, starting from Tōrō Lake, passing under the railway bridge of the Kushiro Main Line, and slowly drifting along the winding Kushiro River into the Kushiro Wetlands. The scenery along the way was ever-changing, from mudflats and reed beds to forests, with different habitats that were breathtaking. The instructor and I paddled while observing the birds on the riverbank and chatting about our hometowns. I took out my phone to record various bird calls—musical sounds that are hard to hear in the city. Although I rarely exercise, my arms started to ache after paddling for a while, but thankfully I could stop and rest, while the strong instructor kept paddling without stopping. Encounters with wildlife were the biggest surprise of the trip. There were relatively few land animals in the early part of the trip, but I occasionally saw an Ezo deer jump into the river to drink. Later, more and more deer were active on the riverbank, and I seized the opportunity to take photos and videos. In addition, I saw foxes and red-crowned cranes flashing by in the grass; these precious sights thrilled me. Interestingly, because the Kushiro River is right next to the Kushima Main Line railway, we sometimes heard trains, but we couldn't see them on the river – a very peculiar feeling. The actual activity time was shorter than expected. Although the description said 3 hours, we set off at 1 PM and disembarked at the Hosokaoka Canoe Port near Hosokaoka Station at 2:45 PM. For someone who doesn't exercise much, the physical demands of the standard route were manageable; only occasional breaks were needed. After disembarking, the driver and instructor worked together to lift the canoe onto the roof of the vehicle. Because I wanted to visit the Hosuoka Observatory, I asked the driver to take me to Rojiwara Station. However, the driver's return route didn't pass through that station, so he ended up taking me to Toya Station for free. From there, I took the train to Rojiwara Station on my own. Advice for future participants: Don't bring too much luggage; be sure to pack valuables in waterproof bags; sunglasses are recommended; and be sure to bring enough drinking water. If you need the driver to take you to Kushiro city center after the activity, there is a 1000 yen fee, so bring enough cash. Also, the driver will not return to the starting point, Tangji, so please don't leave your luggage there. In summary, this was a wonderful experience of getting close to nature and relaxing.