Any half decent places to swim and cliff jump in rivers or lakes around Iwate? Or even just wade a little?
(I saw the post with recommendations for people around Tokyo, so I know some of you all must be water babies like me)
I’m well versed in water/whitewater/ocean activities from both Hawaii and Oregon, but I’ve been living in Hanamaki for three weeks now and the water is calling.
I’m experienced in exploring up rivers on my own and researching the weather upstream for flashflooding; we’ve been having a bit of that lately, but it’s starting to mellow out and of course I want to find some spots for later too.
Once I get a car, I’ll be exploring up as many roadside rivers as I can on my weekends/after work, so please suggest anything at all up here. For now though, I’m bike/train/bus bound (on that note: anyone need to offload a reliable car?).
Also curious about good swimmable coves on the Iwate coast. Or any body of water nearby that sometimes has wind on it? I was teaching windsurfing and wingfoiling before coming here…and I miss them both.
To those who say Japanese don’t swim in rivers because its dangerous, I’ve heard that a lot too (and also the same sentiment from city/suberbia folk in the USA), but I’ve actually seen plenty Japanese Instagramers river swimming and even saw some families with floaties and river rock jumping on the local news when they we talking about avoiding heatstroke the other day (of course I’m still a toddler language-wise so sadly I couldn’t catch if they mentioned where).
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You might want to check Chichibu, where people raft and swim in the Arakawa river. There are lots of spots to jump in, and while they don’t openly recommend doing it, it’s not prohibited either. It’s quite a nice area as well for a visit.
A bit far from you, but the Akiu area has waterfalls and swimming spots along the river.
Much farther, but I know the Tedori river gorge area in Ishikawa has rafting and swimming holes with cliff jumping. There are cabins for rent along the river as well that look nice.
-Plug 滝 or 渓谷 into google maps (waterfalls tend to indicate the river valley is going to be scenic)
葛根田渓谷 looks promising.
-scout for viable rivers and valleys
-profit
>japanese don’t swim in rivers
That is up there with top bullshit statements I have seen on this subreddit.
On the winding road to Kuji, there are many places to jump in the river. Did so a lifetime ago with friends…better to bring some of your own along to be safe and share the fun!