Embark on a grand adventure in a pristine stream steeped in mythology! Enjoy a breathtaking canoe experience in the Kahada Valley of Matsusaka, a place said to have been visited by the Shinto goddess of the sun herself.
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Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture is located almost in the center of Japan, where you can enjoy world-class gourmet Matsusaka beef, rich history and culture, and beautiful nature. During the Edo period, Matsusaka was the final post town for pilgrimages to Ise-mairi (a pilgrimage to Japan's highest-ranking shrine). These merchants succeeded in trading Matsusaka cotton in Edo and brought prosperity to Matsusaka.
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Table of Contents
- What is the Kahada Valley?
- Experience Nature through Expert Guidance with i-Sierra
- Canoe through Myth and Legend
- Summary
What is the Kahada Valley?
Leaving the city center of Matsusaka is like emerging into a different world—green mountains covered in new leaves rise around hamlets of quaint, rural residences and towering trees framing the country road. Pilgrims and travelers from around the country once trekked this land alongside the striking Kushida River, its crisp, emerald green waters weathering the rock smooth in the region since the time of old Shinto legend.
This place of living, historic beauty is the Kahada River Valley, spanning nearly two-thirds of the city of Matsusaka with forests, rivers, and mountains.
Experience Nature through Expert Guidance with i-Sierra
Bridging the connection between this natural history and the adventurous is i-Sierra, a non-profit organization and collective of guides dedicated to sharing the place they call home through outdoor experiences. Since its founding in 2018, i-Sierra’s passionate guides have encouraged enthusiasm for nature and the great outdoors through various community pursuits, like taking local elementary schoolers on their first canoe rides and leading hikers of all levels to the peaks of the stunning mountains making up Matsusaka’s Kahada Eleven.
i-Sierra leads seasonal canoe and kayak tours down the Kushida River through which you can explore the local history and legend of Matsusaka’s Iitaka region from the water’s surface and enjoy the summer sunshine and breeze in Japan’s lush countryside.
Canoe through Myth and Legend
The cool waters of the Kushida River stream from the majestic Mt. Takami, the Matterhorn of the Kansai region, and flow down the Kahada Valley of Matsusaka through lands that pilgrims, travelers, and Shinto kami once walked in age old tales and bygone history.
Midway through the tour, take a dip into the cool river water! Dive into the deep end from the river-worn rocks near the centuries-old sacred tree of Mizuya Shrine and enjoy the crisp, clear water to your heart's content.
Paddle your way downstream and search the water for vibrant coral and white koi swimming past the great Tsubuteishi, a legendary boulder said to have been tossed into the river by the female Shinto deity of the sun, Amaterasu Omikami, herself.
Summary
Watch the story of Matsusaka’s Iitaka region come to life before your eyes as you explore summertime in the great outdoors at the Kahada River Valley with i-Sierra’s expert guidance. Just bring your enthusiasm and thirst for adventure.
Click the link below to see more details on i-Sierra’s river tour offerings.
Want to discover more stunning nature that Matsusaka has to offer? Explore refreshing hiking trails, historical walking courses, and soothing natural spots throughout the city, all in the articles linked below.
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